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Whilst camping in France this year, I started noticing family tents and to my amazement found myself falling for the tent pitched opposite.  Our current family tent is a big Ebay special, it's done us ok but is getting a bit ragged and water resistance isn't great, so I'd like to replace it.

I have never really drooled over tents before but this was great with a lovely big porchy bit to shade from the sun (in France) or the rain (in England).  I looked it up and found out it was an Outwell(????) Bear, if that makes any sense and retails for a staggering £800 - so I'm wondering, as the tent reviews are confusing me even more, if anyone can recomend something similar but cheaper or what to look for on the 2nd hand market.  There are 6 of us.  Many thanks.

If it's the outwell bear lake 6 (below) someone got a price match for it a couple of weeks ago - think they paid about £570 for it?

Still expensive but it's a really nice tent, solid as a rock

Quote: Originally posted by missmally on 25/8/2010

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Whilst camping in France this year, I started noticing family tents and to my amazement found myself falling for the tent pitched opposite.  Our current family tent is a big Ebay special, it's done us ok but is getting a bit ragged and water resistance isn't great, so I'd like to replace it.

I have never really drooled over tents before but this was great with a lovely big porchy bit to shade from the sun (in France) or the rain (in England).  I looked it up and found out it was an Outwell(????) Bear, if that makes any sense and retails for a staggering £800 - so I'm wondering, as the tent reviews are confusing me even more, if anyone can recomend something similar but cheaper or what to look for on the 2nd hand market.  There are 6 of us.  Many thanks.

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Thanks for all your replies, certainly food for thought.

This year we were child free for a week in a 3 man tent from Tesco and living out of the car, great for just the two of us in the sunny south of france.  Next year I'd like to take advantage of the weekends more and we are planning to go with the kids.  My eldest will be 16, he loves France and it's going to possibly be the last family holiday (sniff sniff) with him.  However I thought if I had something better than our leaky old tunnel tent, he may be persuaded.

I do like the canapies as we like to sit out but there are 2 alternatives: either we get a smaller tent and eldest son sleeps in the 3 man or we get a larger tent.  3 children live with us permanantly and my OH's daughter lives with her mum and us.  We are in no rush as it will be used nest season and I suppose our budget might stretch to £200 with a bit of saving (I know it's not much). 

Thanks to this forum I have gone from not being particularly passionate about tents to envying our neighbours tent on holiday, so it's all your fault and I'm counting on you all!