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Hi, I'm hoping people on this forum will be able to help my hubby and Ichoose a tent that is suitable for us (we don't have kids...yet!).  We have camped a couple of times and loved it.  We bought a cheap tent (£99) which lasted 3 or 4 trips, until we had awful weather (High winds) in Cornwall this summer, which obliterated our humble offering, and subsequently we binned it as we left!  We are looking now to buy a sturdy tent that will comfortably accomodate us and all our stuff for a fortnights camping next summer, probably in Cornwall again.  The main criteria we have are - must be pitched fly first or as one and must have standing height in at least the living space, if not the bedroom space as well.  It must be relatively easy to put up. We have little space to dry a tent at home so a separate or preferably detachable groundsheet.  We had decided on a Darwin 5 as it easily ticked all the boxes, but have since found they are nearly impossible to get hold of (although the Darwin 7's appear to be everywhere!).  Any advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.  We have a budget in the region of £300-£400 (we want a good investment this time!!).

Thanks in Advance

Lisa

(Sorry to those that have already seen this - i've posted in the help and advice section too, but I want as many valuable opinions as possible!)

Hi there, Following a windy experience in a dome tent this year, we have just bought an Outwell Vermont M, having read a lot of reviews. There are just the two of us, but we wanted plenty of room, and above all, sturdiness! Lowest price we found was £329. Failing that it would have been an Outwell Montana 6. Hope this helps. Haven't tried it out yet, but looking forward to next year.

David

Quote: Originally posted by lisa r on 30/10/2008

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 ..... The main criteria we have are - must be pitched fly first or as one and must have standing height in at least the living space, if not the bedroom space as well.  It must be relatively easy to put up. We have little space to dry a tent at home so a separate or preferably detachable groundsheet.  .....

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When we started camping we made 3 or 4 mistakes with tents we have now bought an Outwell Montan 6  and what a great tent it is loads of room (plenty for future little ones) . On our first attempt at putting it up it only took us 35mins and the OH is only 5ft we've knocked another 10mins of that now  but i bet someone on here can do it faster it seems to fill all the criteria you were looking for headroom throughout is very good never used it in high winds but with steel poles and the shape i would imagine it being very stable its a single skin tent (no flysheet) with the bedrooms already attached so it goes up in one piece we used ours in some very wet weather in Yorkshire this year and boy do i mean wet and not one leak anywhere the sown in groundsheet (sig) keeps out all the drafts and there are plenty of windows to let light in on those wet rainy days we have so many of. Access is very good with a roll up door at the front an enclosed storm porch on one side and a single roll up door on the other side all in all a superb tent that im sure you would enjoy. Happy Camping!

Thanks for all the advice.  Merry - Bridgend is only about an hour away from us, so we're going to go to their shop on Sunday to have a look at the Darwin5 and some others. Thanks heaps everyone.

Lisa

Forgot to mention re the groundsheet - if you get a footprint groundsheet to go with whatever tent you chose, it will help resolve the drying out issue.

Regards,

David