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I'm looking to buy our first tent and am in need of some advice on what is good and what isn't.

We need a 6 man tent that has two bedrooms. A lot of the tents that I've seen have the bedrooms touching each other but we would like one with the bedrooms at opposite sides. We's also rather have 3 on each side as opposed to a 2+4. The top of our budget is £180.

I've seen one that fits our requirements that is called Litchfield Arapaho. Is this make any good or one to be avoided?

Any help or hints would be most appreciated!

is the tent to be used for 6 people? if so you will need to go for an 8 berth. tent makers say 6 berth but don't allow for all the gear that comes with the 6 people.

generally speaking a 6 berth like this would be ideal for 4 people.

a 3 berth inner would probably not fit a double and single airbed, only the foam type mats and you'd be very close together.

some good brands here in your budget , see the vango colorado 8 on the next page on that site too.

The magnum here is a great bargain too for £135, around half price,because  it's last years model. go to product overview and special offer tents.

Word of warning, please don't buy a ebay tent stormproof usa, and don't be tempted by some others on ebay that are so cheap, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is, as lots of people have found out and then had to buy a decent tent afterwards.

Quote: Originally posted by beefysmum on 27/6/2006

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.........as lots of people have found out and then had to buy a decent tent afterwards.

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Yup - that'll be me then!!!!  You've done the right thing coming on here first!

We mainly go camping with 2 friends. I read somewhere that it was better to get a six rather than a two man tent if there are fou of you.

The Magnum looks a bit big for what we are after.

Does anybody know anything about the Gelert Alaska 6 tunnel tent? 

Ignore the quoted "man" ratings on the tents and work on the basis of a std single airbed being 80cm wide and a double being 140cm wide. This will give you a good inidication if the tent is the right size for you or not.

The bedroom at each end is commonly referred to as a "vis-a--vis" set up - and is available from most of the good makers.

If you are not after too bigger tent, then look at a Vango Aurora/TBSOregon, Wynnster Hawk, Gelert Alaska/Quebec/Vancouver, Kham Indianna, Sunncamp Haven - but thare are other variations as well that are good.

ps: and the 2005 Sunncamop Magnum deal for £135 that beefysum pointed out - is a very good deal. That is a really excellent tent (my friend has it and I have slept in it numerous times) and a bargain at that price. It will pitch a little wider than a vis-a-vis tent, but it is not that much bigger than the tents listed above.

As the link from beefysmum goes to here , you should also take a look at the Gelert Quebec 8 + 4

I have been to this site to look at their range of tents (massive !!!) and the Quebec is an excellent tent.