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Yes, this is another what-tent-should-I-get post. But please bear with me.

First up - there's the missus, me, and the bairns (7 and 10). We want a tent that's small enough to not cover half a field (like our old Royal Toulouse 9), but big enough to comfortably take 4 seats and a table plus 2 or 3 decent sized bedrooms. It will be used for 2 week holidays. While I'm not going to throw money away, I'd much rather spend £300 on a top tent than £150 on something which might blow away some night.

I had started to look at Robens tents because of their quality and mostly 5000HH (let's face it our previous makes Royal and Sunncamp aren't known for their expensive tents) - especially the Double Dreamer http://www.robens.de/Tent.aspx?b=Robens&bid=1&lid=1&l=en-GB&ID=105&pid=1 or Triple Dreamer.

After reading LOADS on here though, I started to look at Vango's, and in particular the Oregon 600 http://www.vango.co.uk/products/tentsinfo.asp?typename=223 .

However, after reading about how many tunnels tents have collapsed over the weekend, I'm now looking at different designs, esp. the Wild Country Halo43 or Family Khamsin http://www.fieldandtrek.com/product-Wild-Country-Tents-Family-Khamsin-Tent-32188.htm

So you see the problem - I am now officially confused ! The priority is a good quality tent we can be smugly safe inside, but have a LITTLE bit of comfort space. Can anyone help ?

[EDIT - forgot to add, no canvas frame tents. Yes, I know there are those who would have nothing else and are even now slowly and sadly shaking their heads - but that's the way it is  ]

We have a Oragon 600 which survived the winds and rain of the weekend.....as long as the tension straps and guys are used it always feels very stable!  We felt snug as a bug!!!

Having said that we are looking to at a new tent too!  Maybe a Outwell Montana or Indiana...or maybe Coleman Darwin 5......Its the thought of a SIG that is tempting us :)

Matt and Andy

Robens are good tents but they are not snug, apart from in the bedroom inners. Unless they've changed the design for 2007 their Dreamer tents don't have draft strips or riser groundsheets.

If I was looking for a good strong nylon family tent then i'd start by looking at Wild Country tents too. From what you say the Khamsin might be a bit too small though. So you'd be looking at a Halo or a Homestead I guess.

World of Camping have a good selection http://www.worldofcamping.co.uk/shop/Results.asp?category=16&subcategory=82  MT

Sorry, should have said that there is a good review on this site of the Aspen 700;

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/articles/view.asp?id=93

We have just used our Gelert Cyclone 6 with a HH of 2000mm for the first time and it was brilliant. 3 bedrooms more than enough room to stand up in (i'm 6') enough room for a table and four adults the cooker on a stand and we still had room to spare and we bought this last year in the Halfords sale for £160.00 (rrp £299.99) but have only been able to use it this year for the first time. Some problems with the front zip and also the guy ropes kept pulling out of the ground but that was due to the weather, the pegs and and the ground turning into a marsh, I would recommend it though all in all a lot of tent for your money a reasonable make. Does need 2 of you to put it up though and make sure you get decent pegs (I think they're on here somewhere Delta? pegs)

Hope this helps

Keith

p.s. 30mph + winds this weekend so it really did hold up well