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My young daughters want to go camping.  I used to love the family holidays in the old frame tents - many many years ago - but was amazed at the choice that's out there.  Being a single mum, with the two kids (8 and 6) and a dog, I'd like something easy to put up, but with plenty of living space.  But I really have no idea which tent to go for.  I spent a whole afternoon wandering round a tent display last weekend and found the Vanga Albany 900 to be a good model, as well as the Sunncamp Haven 800.  I'd like around 220cm headroom, being pretty tall myself, and am just so confused by what's available.  The place I went to only seemed to stock Outwell, Royal, Vanga and Sunncamp - and only a select few - and I know there are so many other brands out there.  HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Please0.

Hi, Ladylula

I must admit I am a new convert to the Outwell Montana 6 but I would hate to try to put it up etc without another adult to help.  Up til now we have used a Khyam Galaxy 600 which is a quick erect tent and we found it very easy to put up and take down.  They don't make it any more but Khyam do something very similar.

I haven't experience of any other tents but I am sure you will get loads of responses.  People on here are very good at helping others out.

I'm not tall but I've been putting up tents for 30+ years. Even I would hesitate before tackling a tent this size. I know I can put up my Vango Oregon 600 solo if it's not too windy, but I only take my Oregon 800 when OH is coming. And I've got a huge beefy 11 year old Scout son for assistance.

The design of tunnel tents you've been looking at is probably the easiest design of big tent to put up. But they're still hard work for one person, tbh. If you do go for one this size rather than a 6-man, make sure you have two or three practice goes before tackling it alone on a campsite. And if it's at all windy then ask for help, plus leave the kids in the car. There'a a lot of canvas on one of these tents and a small person can easily become tangled up and dragged along. Synthetic tent canvas has little weight in it compared to cotton and a big flysheet can turn into a billowing parachute.

Having said all that, the Vango Wyoming is currently a very good buy.  

Hello and welcome to UKCS Ladylula. Val is right ( she ALWAYS is....) that a tunnel shape is the best for single handed adult putting-up.

What kind of budget do you have in mind? and do you want something just for summer camping, or something a bit more robust that will withstand spring to autumn weather in GB?

And do you have any ideas about the interior layout that would suit you? Do you want your girls to be next to you or at the other side of the tent at night?

We have a Campus (now Khyam) Indiana 8, which also comes in a 6, good head room and not bad to put up, I could do it with my children if my dh wasn't there. We have a large bedroom on one side of living area and two smaller ones on the other, but as it's only you with two children you could all go in the large bedroom and leave the small inner tents out for a bigger living area.  There are quite a few tunnel tents of a similar degign, if I were you I would go for somethign like this.

Good luck!

We have the khyam xxl classic which i can easily put up on my own. There are 5 of us and we find we have plenty of room. It comes with a 4 berth and 2 berth inner tent. The classic has sloping bedrooms, if you want full height then go for the excelsior.

Khyam aren't cheap, but for us, we were happy to pay a bit more for their quick erect system.

Dear All.

Thank you so much for all your responses, assistance and advice.  Yes, I think the vis-a-vis tunnel is the option I'll be going for and I think I've looked at most of those you've each recommended.  It's likely to be a "good weather" venture - but hey, we all know what surprises the good old British weather holds at the best of times .... snow over the country in April, with bright sunshine in the afternoon!!!!!!!!!!  This is a late May planned break - so who knows what the weather will be.  I'm leaning towards a model that has a sewn-in groundsheet, so know that limits my options. 

Again, thanks for all your help.

Hayley

Hiya we have the  Khyam Ontario 6   also known as Khyam Kansas it does have a SIG and as said has one huge room and two smaller ones, me and the kids use the big room when were on our own - and I have put it up on my own with the kids who were 7 and 5 at the time. It took us about 45 mins to get the poles in and up and a bit longer to peg everything out.  It's a great tent if you're tall - I'm 5ft 11 and  I like to be able to stand upright in the bedroom and living area.  To put this sort of tent up you need to get all the poles together (kids can do this) pull the fabric into the position you want the tent in and then kids again feed the poles through the fabric to you on the other side; when all poles are through start at one end and get the ring and pin set up we worked our way down the tent and then between us pulled the tent up, my kids held the first end up by the guys while I got the rest pulled out, and then we pegged out. Well they pegged out and I went round and tidied up after them, but they were so chuffed they'd done it.  In our gallery the picture shown is after we had put it up on our own.

Hope this helps.

Liz

Forgot to say it  put up with some pretty dire wheather last year and never once did I think there was going to be a problem.