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Am about to dive back into camping after several years away (two young kids). Always had smallish dome tents before though now looking at something more substantial, lie the Outwell Montana amonst others including some Khyam ones.

Question is, with two children under 5, are any of these size tents able to be put up singlehanded? Will be doing a few week trips but long weekends will be more likely so dont want to spend much more than 30/45 mins putting up (single handed)...

Cheers in advance if anyone can help.

Hi Martski,

I have a friend who swears by the Khyam Rigidome - she puts it up on her own without much help from her two kids. I was swayed by a little man in a shop who (with the best intentions i'm sure) told me i could put up a Sunncamp Penta dome on my own with my two kids (9 and 7) and i have never met a more unfriendly 'single handed tent' in my life. True, i was new to the whole camping thing at the time and was swayed by the fact that the kids wanted a bedroom each and they liked the tent so much they were willing to go camping.

The worst part i find is trying to get the first flexi poles onto the little metal spikes which pushes the dome up - your trying to raise all the weight on your own and the flexible poles bend so much that i'm convinced they're going to break. And if there is a breath of wind .... I must admit i've restricted myself now to using it only when i'm off somewhere with friends who can help me. Andysstuff is right though, there are always people around who are willing to help if needed, it's just i don't want to go somewhere knowing i need to find someone to help.

I stumbled onto a tent display today at Trentham Gardens in Staffordshire and was severely taken with the new Outwell Minnesota 4. It's a frame tent (no flexible poles) and it looks small enough to put up single handedly but it has a large communal area for playing with the kids, eating, storage etc which is something i've found very useful when i've been away with my two - especially if it's raining (not that rain happens very often in the UK)

My advice would be not to go for anything bigger than you absolutely need. The Sunncamp Penta is 6 person and that is too big for me + two kids. Not that the kids think so, but then they don't have to put it up. The Outwell also looks like it's erected flysheet first, which helps when it's raining as the bedrooms and inside doesn't get wet when pitching, which is an important feature to me.

Hope this helps Martski, but if anyone has any comments on the Outwell Minnesota 4, i'd love to hear them.

Quote: Originally posted by Thunder on 09/4/2007

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Hi Martski,

I have a friend who swears by the Khyam Rigidome - she puts it up on her own without much help from her two kids. I was swayed by a little man in a shop who (with the best intentions i'm sure) told me i could put up a Sunncamp Penta dome on my own with my two kids (9 and 7) and i have never met a more unfriendly 'single handed tent' in my life. True, i was new to the whole camping thing at the time and was swayed by the fact that the kids wanted a bedroom each and they liked the tent so much they were willing to go camping.

The worst part i find is trying to get the first flexi poles onto the little metal spikes which pushes the dome up - your trying to raise all the weight on your own and the flexible poles bend so much that i'm convinced they're going to break. And if there is a breath of wind .... I must admit i've restricted myself now to using it only when i'm off somewhere with friends who can help me. Andysstuff is right though, there are always people around who are willing to help if needed, it's just i don't want to go somewhere knowing i need to find someone to help.

I stumbled onto a tent display today at Trentham Gardens in Staffordshire and was severely taken with the new Outwell Minnesota 4. It's a frame tent (no flexible poles) and it looks small enough to put up single handedly but it has a large communal area for playing with the kids, eating, storage etc which is something i've found very useful when i've been away with my two - especially if it's raining (not that rain happens very often in the UK)

My advice would be not to go for anything bigger than you absolutely need. The Sunncamp Penta is 6 person and that is too big for me + two kids. Not that the kids think so, but then they don't have to put it up. The Outwell also looks like it's erected flysheet first, which helps when it's raining as the bedrooms and inside doesn't get wet when pitching, which is an important feature to me.

Hope this helps Martski, but if anyone has any comments on the Outwell Minnesota 4, i'd love to hear them.

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The Minnesota 4 is the successor to the Montana 4, only without the enclosed side porch and with a reduced HH (3000mm instead of 5000mm on the Montana).

You might be interested to know that Blacks online still have stocks of the Montana 4, at a reduced price (£10 more than the Minnesota) and have 10% off until midnight, tonight. (Here) Comes out at £229.94 with carriage.

(I am not in any way connected to Blacks, by the way, just thought some folk might want to take advantage of this offer.)

I have been converted to the good old fashioned frame tent for single handed putting up.  Went camping for first time last week in my new sunncamp villa 4, took about 20 minutes to get the tent up and pegged out on my own while the kids were getting the dog and water etc sorted out.  Sleeps 4 of us and 1 labrador slightly squashed in but it has 1 big bedroom that takes 2 double airbeds and a similar sized living space so it's great for a few days away.

Mine's the same as this one.

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-5232-2978-1/1?AID=9479574&PID=1428744&mpre=http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SUNNCAMP-4-BIRTH-CANVAS-FRAME-TENT-USED-ONCE-EXECELLENT_W0QQitemZ150110388677QQcategoryZ36119QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Hi. I think Thunder makes some very good points. You need to find a tent which has enough room for your needs, but not so big that it becomes a pain to put up. And sure there are lots of tents you could put up on your own, but really you need one that you know you can put up as quickly and as easily as possible on your own.

The suggestions above for looking at Khyam QE or frame tents are both excellent ones. Failing that, tunnel tents are generally easier to put up than domes and flysheet first is usually quicker than inner first.

This BH we have had our first weekend away in a canvas Cabanon Pyramide tent and I defy anyone to come up with a tent that is quicker to put up or down! MT

I can put our Khyam Yale up single handed with no problems and I'm a 4ft 10in weakling. Quick to put up and take down. It would also be an ideal size for  a small family. You could have it as a big open space while they are young and you want them nearby and still have a good living area with SIG, or you could put up one or both of the bedrooms. Its not too big or heavy when packed to woman handle either You can see lots of photos at the weblink in my gallery.

Carol

Liddenham, Thanks so much for the tip. They'd taken the discount off by the time i got to their website even though it wasn't quite midnight but i rang them up and they gave me the discount without much fuss. I had to wait a week for them to get back to me. I've got one on order now and can't wait!!!

Happy days!