I've finally narrowed our new tent choice for our family of 6 down to the Vango Vail 700 or the Outwell Indiana 8. Both have covered porch areas for cooking and it appears both have SIGs. On the net, I've found the Indiana 8 for £300, and the Vango for £350. Any advice on why the smaller Vango is more expensive and which tent is better for myself, wife, 3 teenage girls and my 2 year old son? If you know of cheaper places that will always be welcome too!
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If the SIG aspect is important to you then note that the Indiana does not have this type of groundsheet. It has a bathtub groundsheet which clips into the tent. I'm not saying that's a problem; just thought I ought to point it out.
I would consider what you intend sleeping on, then see if the beds/mats will fit in the bedrooms, for example a single campinggaz airbed is 73 wide so two are 146. A double airbed is 137 wide. The two bed areas in the Vail is 135 so would not fit two singles or would buldge.
We have the indiana and you can get two single airbeds in each half of the large bedroom at the back, this gives room inbetween them, you could not get three in one half. A double airbed fills the smaller bedroom at the front. But as already pointed out has SIG bedrooms and a bathtub groundsheet in the living area.
Hope this helps
------------- almost always Ruth
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My friend has the Indiana 8 and its a fab tent. Really easy to erect. (We went camping last weekend and I helped her put it up). Took us about 20 mins.
She doesn't use the bathtub groundsheet though as she prefers an eco mat. (Not for me though).
I saw the Vail today at Ashburton camping shop.
It is a HUGE tent. Very wide indeed. Looks fantastic with plenty of room for the 6 of you.
You will need a few bods to get this one off the ground though!
I think if you get the Vail, but then decide next year you want to camp more often in short bursts, putting this tent up will deter you, as its so big. I'd go for the Indiana which will be ideal for long/short trips.
And you will want to go more often than you think!!
don't want to put a spaner in the works but have you looked at the khyam ontario 8? we too are a family of 6 and we love it. takes lees time to put up than the outwell did (we sold ours) has loads of space with a big 4 man bedroom at one end which we have a queen size double hight air bed and a small travel cot. at the other end it has 2x2 man bedroom which will take 2 single air beds (just) we all so got the khyam sun canpoy which is great for cooking under (the tent all so as pole to hold the door up if your just doing a quick over night trip). the tent sells at£199 the canpoy at about £40 so both come to lees than the outwell and vango. and we find we have more space in the ontario than we did in the indiana