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Topic: weekend tent needed!!

crazymummy

17/8/2011 at 10:54am
Location: Notts
Outfit: Montana 6

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Joined: 20/1/2011

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HELP!!!!!

We are a family of 5 (kids 10,8,3) and we have the brilliant Montana 6 and also the front awning although this only goes up on camps of a week or more duration.

I am finding it increasingly difficult (ive put this down to my age lol!) to put the monty up for just a weekend as hubby is a bit of a chocolate teapot when it comes to camping although he does enjoy it when everythings set up etc.

Therefore to carry on enjoying camping as the kids absolutely love it, I am looking into getting a "weekend tent" that is a lot lighter and quicker to put up meaning that im am not constantly exhausted after setting up.

I havent got a lot of cash either as hubby still needs convincing of my plan. I have of course looked on e-bay, preloved etc, but it would be much more of a help if anyone has any recommendations please.

Look forward to any suggestions xx

Lauren57

17/8/2011 at 11:45am
Location: Essex
Outfit: Vango Maritsa 600 Icarus 600

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We have been looking at getting an Icarus 600 (lightweight but not as roomy) or a Calisto 600, which is basically the same design as our Maritsa 600 but is steel poled. Very easy to put up one pole at a time, and i'm sure i could do it on my own if i had to. Unless there is a better alternative.........?? x

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*~*2014 Wish List*~*
Cornwall; Norfolk Coast;

arsenaldes

17/8/2011 at 11:57am
Location: Aston Clinton
Outfit: Kampa Holkham + Outwell Yukon River*

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Hi
With 5 of you even for a weekend youre not going to want anything much smaller than the Monty unless you dont mind being cosy in the bedrooms. Fibreglas poles will save some weight compared to the steel ones. We have an Outwell Nevada M for weekends (5 berth bedroom split 3 & 2) there are 4 of us and its fine dont think I would like to squeeze another one in though to be honest

An Icarus 600 would probably be Ok and reasonably priced or the Icarus 500 if you dont mind being very cosy in one bedroom. Otherwise something like the Hi Gear Zenobia (Gelert Horizon).

Good luck with your search

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Experience enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.
Everything has been said before, but since nobody ever listens we have to keep going back and saying it all over again and again and again

lms0110

17/8/2011 at 12:17pm
Location: Sunny South Wales
Outfit: Knaus Sky Ti MX

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we use the Icarus 500 when only the 2 of us & the dog, lovely big bedroom for us but wouldn't want 5 in it, maybe the Icarus 600 would be a better option - its a really quick tent to erect - footprint down, poles inserted & pegged down 10 mins - the pegging of all the guys takes the longest time I find - but I love my icarus - its made weekend breaks viable, especially if we cant leave until 1ish on a Friday when my husband comes home

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rescue - my favourite breed of dog :-)

HarryBear

17/8/2011 at 12:38pm
Location: Northants
Outfit: Too many. I need therapy.

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I have struggled to find a weekend tent suitable for all of us - like you, I've got 3 children so realistically need a large 6 berth. I do have an EasyCamp Aspen see here, bought with the intention of taking the children on my own over the summer (circumstances haven't allowed so far, but maybe next week!) but there is no way we would all fit into it. Even if squeezed into the sleeping area, we would struggle with the living area - when my husband & I went for a couple of nights on our own we were surprised by how we filled it!

Just a thought - instead of taking a smaller tent, could you not scale down your current kit instead? For instance, leaving the awning behind and cutting down on any non essentials for instance.

mitchum44

17/8/2011 at 12:59pm
Location: leeds
Outfit: Hi Gear Mojave 5

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We have a Hi Gear Mojave 5, similar size to the Icarus 500, which are regarded as weekend tents, you definitely should be looking for something bigger than this.

Tidburyboy

17/8/2011 at 1:03pm
Location: Tidbury Green
Outfit: Swift Fairway SE 442

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"..............as hubby is a bit of a chocolate teapot when it comes to camping although he does enjoy it when everythings set up etc............"

Nah.......... Keep the tent, swap the hubby

cindy007

17/8/2011 at 1:53pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Vango Maritsa 700 & Vango Calisto 500

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We have a Calisto 500 for our weekend tent, its easy to put up, loads of space and poles and tent are in one bag. You can add a porch if needed. Great little tent.

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2012

June - Queens Jubilee week -

Blackbull Pickering
June/July - Turkey (no Tent)
Aug - Bank Holiday- Whitefield Forest IOW 10 days
Sept - Skeg

2013 Nothing as yet , trying to get new boyfriend to go camping soon. Selling Maritisa 700 , so we can put it towards a VW Camper.

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