which tent

[on the road]

Im on the look out for a good family sized tent but dont know much about camping me self.

can anyone recommend a good quality tent for me ?

been looking at kyham ,vango and the like but would like some advice first.

hilleberg i gather are the best but are way to expensive so they are out.:)

also cos im a bit green do i want to prepare for no elec on site and buy gas lights and heating.

camping here i come!

[jonas parker]

It depends on the size of your family. I feel a pop-up dome tent is probably the way to go. Remember, you may have to carry it on your back, so don't go for the 8-room canvas models...

[the itinerant shrubber]

Im on the look out for a good family sized tent but dont know much about camping me self.

can anyone recommend a good quality tent for me ?

been looking at kyham ,vango and the like but would like some advice first.

hilleberg i gather are the best but are way to expensive so they are out.:)

also cos im a bit green do i want to prepare for no elec on site and buy gas lights and heating.

camping here i come!

How many is a family? Will you be using campsites with a car or hiking with it and camping in the wild?

[on the road]

cheers for the info lads

this is going to be for pure fun at campsites not hiking but maybe later.
Itll be going in the boot so size ,packing wise aint important and the family is 4 strong :)
might get a smaller one for when the shit hits and we have to take to the hills haha

think im going for this one

http://www.outdoorworld.co.uk/khyam-ontario-8-tent-p-1583.html

[adimon]

http://www.terra-nova.co.uk/Product_Type/Tents/Family_Camping

Terra Nova make the best tents at a decent price and a light weight.

I've used these in all imaginable conditions.

[on the road]

http://www.terra-nova.co.uk/Product_Type/Tents/Family_Camping

Terra Nova make the best tents at a decent price and a light weight.

I've used these in all imaginable conditions.


bit pricey but nice tents .cheers

[steevo]

I bought one of these today (http://www.outdoorworld.co.uk/vango-alpha-300-tent-ensignbluebell-p-1877.html?zenid=5c3570664a31c8d2d4a2d3cd0bd2ef06)

I already have one of these (http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/tents/vango-venture-500-tent/CORETFDAVENTURE)

And I now want one of these or something better (http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/vango-hurricane-300-tent/CORETMBAHURI300)

maybe one of these (http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/tents/vango-equinox-350-tent/CORETBACEQUI350)

or maybe this (http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/tents/vango-omega-350-tent/CORETBACOMEGA35)

Those massive tents look great, but I wonder if they would be very impracticle, not to mention heavy. BUT, if we lived in a tent city, then those massive ones would be like really good cos they would be like permanent dwellings. On_The_Road, that tent you are on about looks good too but it is very heavy IMO.

[on the road]

I bought one of these today (http://www.outdoorworld.co.uk/vango-alpha-300-tent-ensignbluebell-p-1877.html?zenid=5c3570664a31c8d2d4a2d3cd0bd2ef06)

I already have one of these (http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/tents/vango-venture-500-tent/CORETFDAVENTURE)

And I now want one of these or something better (http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/vango-hurricane-300-tent/CORETMBAHURI300)

maybe one of these (http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/tents/vango-equinox-350-tent/CORETBACEQUI350)

or maybe this (http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/tents/vango-omega-350-tent/CORETBACOMEGA35)

Those massive tents look great, but I wonder if they would be very impracticle, not to mention heavy. BUT, if we lived in a tent city, then those massive ones would be like really good cos they would be like permanent dwellings. On_The_Road, that tent you are on about looks good too but it is very heavy IMO.

those tents look good mate ,let me guess your a vango man :)

i was thinking of a practical tent for emergencies-one that i can put on me back with my survival stuff and just fook off, but thats going to be later on.this tent is going to be purely for fun with the misses and kids so two rooms and a nice space for chilling eating etc is a must.

do you do a lot of camping or are you just getting ready?

thinking on.... about when the shit hits -wouldnt push bikes be a cracking mode of transport no fuel very few things to go wrong? . push bike and a tent on your back -sounds good to me. :)

[steevo]

those tents look good mate ,let me guess your a vango man :)

No not really, it's just that there arent many tents to choose from in this damned country. Vangos are relatively cheap etc

I was thinking of a practical tent for emergencies-one that i can put on me back with my survival stuff and just fook off, but thats going to be later on.this tent is going to be purely for fun with the misses and kids so two rooms and a nice space for chilling eating etc is a must.

do you do a lot of camping or are you just getting ready?

I dont do alot of camping but i do some. The terrible summers that we have had over the last 2 years has meant that we havent been camping during that time (We like sunshine).

I want tents for all instances - An Emergency Tent (possibily very lightweight) ; Large tent for camping holiday say 4 nights (bigger, less lightweight) ; A small 3 man tent for unplanned 1 or 2 night camping weekends ; and other tents that i think might be useful eg. if we lived in a tent city.

thinking on.... about when the shit hits -wouldnt push bikes be a cracking mode of transport no fuel very few things to go wrong? . push bike and a tent on your back -sounds good to me. :)

Yeah I like the idea of that. I saw a bunch of students doing that the other day :)

[exmicrochipmafia]

I personally recommend any tent built by the Columbia Sportswear company; great Canadian company known for superior outdoor wear. I bought one of their tents last year- a double dome with divider for a second room. You can stand up in it in the middle and it has withstood some real ripping thunderstorms and inclement weather; don't know if they'd ship to England or if they sell product out there, but I'm an outdoor enthusiast and give this brand two thumbs up.

[tom bombadil]

Irrespective of which tent one finaly plumbs for, one should always ask for a few to be brought out for you to weigh each one and pick the lightest.

Change the pegs to lighter types and get a repair kit or adjust your emergancy box of tricks to include some rain proof patches.

I got myself a Tadpole 23. Its a one man and his dog sized two man semi-geo type. It weighs in at 2 kg, but I got one that weighed only 1.70kg by looking for the lightest in a bunch of three. I later got lighter pegs.

With this tent you need to watch for snow build-up on top (only rated as a 3 seoson) and by adding a 'valance' of light nylon mesh around the base of the flysheet, it can be reclasified as a 5 (if you watch for snow build-up on top).


For a family tent or a car bound (heavy) tent, I am going for the type that is round, has a pole in the middle, and has a sewn-in area that includes a metal chiminy space for a pipe from a stove. The one I want also has a fitted mat that goes on the floor. Albian (uk) make it I think.



Tom.

[tyler]

If in a rush, just go to one of the larger Tescos. They sell incredibly cheap camping gear, cookers, airbeds etc. Tents from £15. If they last a season that's good enough. Get one that is dark in colour. Camaflage.
Those tiny single pot gas cookers with the small gas cylinder are ideal. Stock up on extra gas cylinders. Only about £3.50 each. Don't forget a torch and spare batteries.

[sannox]

vango tents are amazing .
i use a storm and its been through hell never let me down .

[decim]

for long term & means permitting.

North Face Geodesic.

[lostandconfused]

Hi

We have been campers for years and have gone through about 5 tents
Last year pushed out the boat and got a Outwell "Bearlake 4" Its a new syle tent which is made of a fabric that looks like canvas. It has a zipped ground sheet so keeps all the draughts out great for British summers !!!.
Very cozy and warm you can even get carpet for it.
We got caught in the snow that came about May last year and we were still
not cold, so well worth it IMHO.
Draw backs 2 big bags which are quite heavy and its expensive but it will last for a good few years and as we tend to go camping most weekends in the summer we will get lots of use for it