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Hello everyone - I have been lurking for a while, enjoying the great advice offered by so many people on this friendly forum.

Now I have the usual questionabout which tent to buy.  I am looking for a tent that I can stand up in (I am 6ft) for me and my girlfriend.

I was going to buy the Gelert Lokon Vario 4 (£139 on ebay with canopy included) after reading good reviews on here and elsewhere but saw a Royal Memphis 5 at a local tent display near Chichester and we liked the open front of this tent compared to what looks like a closed front on the Gelert. (Not seen this one in the flesh).  In addition I have found the Memphis on sale for £75 + p&p from http://www.hccc.co.uk/acatalog/Royal_Memphis_5_including_front_Canopy.html 

(Shame its not £75.01 and it would be free post).  I would buy locally normaly but the local supplier wont drop from £109 for the same tent.

Is the quality of the Royal worth the saving of £50?  Is the design of the Gelert advantageous for any reason?  I have not camped for years and then my tent choice was limited by the fact it had to sit on top of my rucksack as I interrailed round Europe!

I want to order the tent today so I can use it next weekend - apparently summer starts in September!

Tahnks for your advice

That's a good price for the Memphis, I have been in one of these and it has great space in it, feels really light and bright. Royal are a good make with many fans here on this forum. The Gelert is more of a tunnel than the Memphis and tunnels have great useable space. It is very like my Kestrel (see gallery) and in both the Kestrel and the Gelert you can move the entire front wall further back into the tent making a sun canopy. I would probably prefer it over the Memphis however at that price the Memphis is hard to ignore.

PS just check that your girlfriend doesn't mind the bugs or you'll be looking for a tent with a SIG after your first outing! Also, welcome to the forum.

Thanks for the replies.

I had a look in Millets and quite fancied the Eurohike Sandringham but think I will go for the Royal.  I have seen this one erected and liked the space and the openess.  I thought it had a SIG but now I realise it was only for the bedrooms.  I think my girlfriend might need to know this!  I actually don't think it will be much of an issue outside the bedroom - but better check first.

Nick