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we've got a hartford L & love it!

2 decent bedrooms, ample but cosy living space, and porchway for the dog. although we have also now got the fromt canopy which is fab to sit under in the rain

its all about personal choice really isn't it, as long as we all have a good time, that's what matters

I've got two 4 berth tents. 

It's horses for courses - On my own I would use the dome (vis a vis) as I can put it up on my own, but if my teens are with me we can erect the tunnel which gives us a lot more useable living space. I bought the tunnel as I understood from previous threads that they are easier to erect on your own, but I must have misunderstood!

Tunnel tent for me with removable inners. This means that when we're camping with friends, and they're in their dome, crouched and crawling about, we just take out two of the bedrooms and can seat 6 round a table for dinner when there's a downpour. Also tonnes of space for the nippers to play when it's raining. See... us tunnel tent owners are hospitable folk and take pity on the domeably disadvantaged ;op

If 'Nanna' comes camping, throw the extra bedroom back in and then I don't have to put up her tent too!

Quote: Originally posted by PigletandTigger on 12/7/2007

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Had a dome tent and sold it on. Way too much hassle to pitch and too closed in for my liking.

It seems to me that its the tent that new campers now buy because they think it's what they have to have.    They defend them to the hilt, recommend them to other campers and then in many many cases come back for recommendations for other tents that are easier to pitch.

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That's a good point.

I wonder if we should all try to indicate our experience of a tent when recommending it eg seen it on internet, seen it up, just bought it, camped once, camped in it all season, camped in it for years...

'Just bought it' and 'camped in it once' would be the ones to be careful of as these would indicate someone who had just invested hard-earned squids in a tent and so be inclined to overlook any downsides. MT

Just bought a Monty 6 as opposed to my original plan of getting a dome (in fact a Hartford XL - why?  because with 2 little ones we needed their bedroom to be close to us not across the other side of the living area - seemed like a better use of space all round - and I think looks better than the domes :-)

J

Quote: Originally posted by Merry Terrier on 16/7/2007

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Quote: Originally posted by PigletandTigger on 12/7/2007

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Had a dome tent and sold it on. Way too much hassle to pitch and too closed in for my liking.

I think there are many people in this debate who are put off a certain type of tent because they have had a bad experience with 1 particular tent . There are plenty of domes that are not closed in and are easy to pitch.

It seems to me that its the tent that new campers now buy because they think it's what they have to have.    They defend them to the hilt, recommend them to other campers and then in many many cases come back for recommendations for other tents that are easier to pitch.

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That's a good point.

I wonder if we should all try to indicate our experience of a tent when recommending it eg seen it on internet, seen it up, just bought it, camped once, camped in it all season, camped in it for years...

I've camped in domes for about 10 years and have just bought a new one this year, which will be my 5th. ( camped in it 3 times so far). I don't have anything against any other type of tent, it's just that all the tents that have appealed have been dome tents although my 2nd choice was a tunnel tent.

'Just bought it' and 'camped in it once' would be the ones to be careful of as these would indicate someone who had just invested hard-earned squids in a tent and so be inclined to overlook any downsides. MT

 

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Quote: Originally posted by outdoor crew on 16/7/2007

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Do you know, I am not sure what mine is,it might be a dome cos it is high and very spacious,or it might be a tunnel cos it is the same width all the way through,it might be semi geodesic cos it has crossover poles but I really don't care.My tent is fit for purpose,suited the budget and we have had a table for six in it as well,nice and cosy.But it is unique lol.

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I went for a dome as the I feel the design is more stable in windy conditions, put to the test on several occasions last year in Germany

We got minor damage but were still standing and in better condition than similar sized tunnels on the site some of which were completely wrecked.

This thread has made really interesting reading!  I am just trying to decide what kind of tent to buy for my family... I have a husband who has never camped.. a 2yr old, 4yr old and a dog.... and me who spent every childhood holiday in a frame tent.

Must admit to have spent quite a lot of time trying to work out where you put stuff in all these modern tents (pmsl.... I am only 32... not 80 honest!!)  Our tent always had a kitchen area, a wardrobe and loads of living space so I am struggling trying to cram different areas into some of the current tent designs!

Think I will be buying a tunnel tent for myself as seems a good trade off between price/size when up/size when down... still reading all your recommendations though!

Quote: Originally posted by PigletandTigger on 12/7/2007

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Had a dome tent and sold it on. Way too much hassle to pitch and too closed in for my liking.

It seems to me that its the tent that new campers now buy because they think it's what they have to have.    They defend them to the hilt, recommend them to other campers and then in many many cases come back for recommendations for other tents that are easier to pitch.

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I like both types. I appreciate that campers will defend their choice to the hilt, but to suggest that domes are bought by people who are novices and infer that they don't know any better is stretching it a bit.

Camped for many years, bought a fair few tents, always preferred domes. I do not knock people for their choice of tent. I consider that in spending the large amount of money some tents cost, people have consided very carefully before buying.

My wife assisted with a guiding group who upgraded their tents. Though they kept with the traditional utility tents, after careful consideration they purchased domes as accomodation tents.