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Hi again,

First of all thank you for all the advice given regarding taking my 6 year old daughter camping.

Anyway, I have returned the tent I was going to borrow and 'splashed out' on a new starter tent via ebay.  The reason I ask for advice again (sorry for being a pest, aren't I a typical newbie - all keen and no patience) is that I went more for price and size of tent just to begin with (its a 3 man tent and I have only paid £19 inc delivery to my door) - I would be grateful if you experts could inform me whether the tent seems ok and what the next essential would be to compliment it.

http://www.tentastic.co.uk/acatalog/info_21.html

Many thanks again

Steve

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/search.asp?search=tentastic&searchMode=allwords&searchIn=Topic&forum=3&searchSort=dateDESC&Submit=Start+Search

See here.

I think I would be inclined to spend a little more just to be on the safe side. I can understand you not wanting to pay out too much incase you don't enjoy camping.

There are some good bargains to be had if you look around.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

I personally wouldn't touch a tent from those people, though I know some people have had tents and had no problems - they do appear to be the minority.  You might have been better spending a bit more and going for something like this a good quality tent a bit of room to move in and a higher Hydrostatic head, we've got a 5 man similar to this from Easy Camp and it's a great tent.  There are plenty more like this for under £50.

Liz

Hi Steve,

Unfortunately you wont be able to tell if it was a good buy or not until you test it out.

If it leaks rain & blows over it wasn't a good buy, but if it stands tall & proud then good buy.

Probably stating the obvious there, sorry if it came across that way.

Hope this helps

Ian

Go out an have a go in your new tent .... I have a Vango delta 300 + which was only £40.00 including postage they are even cheaper now I think.. went camping in the lakes one night on the way to stay in Scotland (at friends) and it poured down and I mean poured down and it kept us snug and dry so I have every faith in my Vango. Give it a go in the garden if you want to try it out.

Have fun.

We bought a similar one dor my daughter & her 2 friends and thought we'd made a mistake when we went camping at Easter and endured wind, rain, hail, sleet & snow!!

However it stood upto all weathers, no leaks and passed the 'pot noodle' test!!

To explain, my daughter and her friend left 2 pot noodles in the porch area when they went to bed and they were still upright in the morning!  I couldn't believe it, especially as our 'better quality' tunnel tent was blown flat onto my face when I was in bed it was that windy!

Hi All,

Thanks again for the help - sealing the seam and recommendations on sleeping bags is exactly the kind of advice I need being a complete novice....so thank you.  I did impulse buy stove and 4 gas cannisters today so the bug has well and truly bitten.

Seems I might be in the lap of the Gods regarding the tent though I will definitely report back how it stands up to our first camping trip.  Of course I'm not too fussed if it goes horribly wrong - but my daughter might be more than a tad put off so fingers crossed (as a single dad I'm hoping camping could be the start of a great adventure for us both)....we've decided to go for Ripley Caravan Park in Harrogate for our first trip.

Addicted to the site already.

Thanks again

Steve