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Hello forum,

Just getting into this camping malarky and looking for a decent tent for me, mrs Stanton and our choc lab.

Mainly going to be used for short breaks probably no more than 2-3 days so i guess i need nothing too spectacular.

I have seen the Outwell Kansas 5 for £67 which seems to be good value, any one got one of these? what are the pros and cons and how easy to pitch etc. all comments and suggestions welcome and thanks in advance.

Arch x

We looked at this tent as a potential "weekender" but the thing that put me off slightly was the lack of headroom in the living area - it seemed to slope quite steeply.

Now looking at the Vango Idaho or the V500 thanks to recommendations from more experienced campers on here.

By the way, welcome to the most addictive forum on the Net!!

The Kansas has quite a slope on the front porch living area - I am 5'7" and it was brushing the top of my head, so I would find that very restictive and end up with a stiff back from stooping! Would this be a problem for you?

The Outwell Oregon 4 is not standing height at all - the Orgeon 5 is and has 2 bedrooms but is quite a lot more money that the Kansas. The Vango Idaho 4 is a good design with a domed living area and tunnel bedroom and it has a full sewn in groundsheet throughout the living area and bedroom. This may be best if your dog is a keen escapologist who may slip out under the edge of a flysheet on a tent that does not have full SIG. Also, would you want one bedroom or two? The Kansas and the Idaho are big single bedrooms, the Outwell Orgeon 5 has 2.

The Coleman Columbus 4 is a simple, well made tunnel tent with full SIG and 2 bedrooms. It has some nice design features like the rear vent across the back of the bedrooms (each of which is wide enough for a double airbed) and good specifications.

The Vango Venture 500 is the same as the Outwell Kansas but a little bigger so the living area is not so low ceiling. IT is a tried a trusted model and very well priced at around £90 I think. (Will go and check!) Found it at £84 on eDIrectory here though I don't know what they are like as a seller.

Thanks for that Foggers, I'm 6'2" so the living space in the kansas might be a little restrictive!

I've read good things about the Vango venture 500 so will do some more research before i decide, i'm hopeing to find a tent that will last a good few years and i'm not really bothered about having "this seasons tent".

Must admit I prefer the SIG as mrs Stanton is anti bugs so this should help slightly!

SIG's aren't always necessary if you daub Citronella oil around the tent fabric. This'll keep just about everything out of the tent.

If you go 'potty' about marks on the fabric with using this stuff, then put it on areas that can't be seen or on bits of cooton wool.

So if you see a tent that doesn't have a SIG, then it won't be the end of the world for your Missus!

Regards

Green Pesto