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Hi

I have camped before with my husband but now we have 2yo twins, we require a bigger tent.  We are undecided about which tent to buy so I decided to come here for some advice.

We are considering either the 8 person Proaction Nevada (£160) by Argos or the Eurohike Hampton (£230) by Millets.  However, I have read that tents by Outwell are very good but they are far more expensive. 

We only intend to go camping in summer (once or twice a year) and will probably do so in Southern parts of the UK.  Therefore, my question is, are the Proaction and Eurohike tents good enough for the type of camping we will do?  I want a tent that will last for several years and be good value for money.  The hydrostatic head for both are good enough for the UK so what does the Outwell have that the other 2 don't, beside branding?

Many thanks for any advice received.

I've got a couple of the smaller Eurohike tents and they are fine despite the bad press they sometimes get on here. They've survived some horrendous weather and left me warm and dry. If you can spare a few quid more I can highly recommend a Coleman Sahara 8(got one of those too!!) It's a huge tent, 28' long so you'd have to consult another thread on here for campsites which take the larger tent. There's a half price offer on eBay for these tents(not from me!!) and if you really search around t'internet I'm sure you'll find one cheaper.

Sahara 8 here... http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/search.dll?MfcISAPICommand=GetResult&ht=1&shortcut=0&from=R41&query=coleman+sahara+8&category0=&Submit=Search

I would not consider a eurohike such a risky tent - I have also used one in the past with no issue.

For me, if you are going to do a few weekends then you can aford to take a risk - you can always choose your weekends for good weather and come home if it does nor work out without too much loss. If you are going away on booked holiday dates, for a week or more, then I would be less inclined to take a risk.

I woudl add that if you are thinking of a £230 Eurohike tent then you have a good budget - there are plenty of good tents you could get for around £200, from the likes of Canpus/Khyam, Vango, Wild country, Sunncamp, Gelert, Wynnster and others..

As an alternative, look for end of line tents - i.e new 2005/2004 models still round as end of line tents.

For example, here is a Wynnster Anglesey (which I have and can strongly reocmmend) for £190: http://www.allweathers.co.uk/index.asp?function=DISPLAYPRODUCT&productid=555 (note the bigger Excel version is only £10 more!).

Or a big Wynnster Cambrian 8 '2005 model for £195.ref: http://www.allweathers.co.uk/index.asp?function=DISPLAYPRODUCT&productid=442

I am sure there are similar end of line models from other makers - all good and reliable tents, just not this year's colours.

There's a Gelert 6 berth dome tent At Halfords for £160 at the minute and a Gelert 8 berth tunnel tent on Go Outdoors websites for £199, have a look at these, sound like bargains to me and good names too

kate

Sorry to carry on - but I also noticed this Royal Bairittz 6 for less than £200 - again not a trendy tent last year, but darn good (as others on here willtestify) and very comfortable.
http://www.qksrv.net/click-1428744-10297635?URL=http://www.wildday.co.uk/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=2421

And the best seen tonight - Aztec Sala 6 (2005 Model) - £125.
http://www.campingandkitecentre.co.uk/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=3&cat=1.+Tents+Clearance%2FBargains#

We've got a nevada 8, it's a cracking tent for the money, dry, warm and easy to put up. Argos have reduced it too, about a week after i got mine!! Grrrr. lol

For £130 i think its great value, we had storms last time we were out, it stayed dry and didn't move, even with my less than perfect pegging out..... 

Wow, thank you all for your extremely valuable advice.  I could not log on yesterday because one of my 2yo twins tripped on his way down the stairs and because he could not walk afterwards, we had to rush him to hospital to check for broken bones.  Thankfully, nothing is broken but he is badly bruised.

Anyway, I will look at the alternatives that have bee suggested before we take the plunge.  Oh decisions, decisions..........!

Thank you once again - great website!

Some more bargain end of line 2005 tents - Sunncamps - cheaper and better than your Argos option (most with SIGs) see the post I just stuck up: http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=3&TopicID=71254&PagePosition=1

Look at the Magnum XL on sale at £135 - excellent well made and very comfortable tent.