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Well as the heading suggests, we really can't decide what is best.......

Until a couple of years ago, we used to go camping evey year, and loved it.  Then with the arrival of kids, we took a year off!!

We really want to get back into camping, and are now looking to buy a family tent.  (Gone are the days of turning up at a campsite with a little 2 man dome!)

We went to the Yeomans show yeaterday, and had a good look around.  So far we have come up with either getting a Vermont XL, a Hartford XL, or a Vango Diablo.  As far as I can see there are pros and cons of both.  The Vermont space is great, but the space in the others is pretty good as well, whereas the Vango's inner tent also covers the main living area, which I would imagine makes it warmer.  I also notice (though it wasn't at the camp show) that the Outwell Georgia looks similar in size to the Hartford, is this worth considering?

I'd also be interested to hear others comments about having the beedroms in pods vs in a row.

I guess our top budget is around £500, and we need a tent that will (for the time being) cope with 2 adults, a 2yo and 2mo old.

So many questions, but we're looking to buy a decent tent that will last us a number of years.

Anyhelp gratefully received!!

Speaking for myself I wouldn`t have a Vango as I don`t like tents that you have to pitch inner first, then put the outer on, or vice versa. I prefer a tent that goes up all in one and after seeing a couple with young children struggle to pitch a Vango in a good wind (airborne is a word that could be used here) I knew my decision to stay away from them was a good one. I know some people have Vango`s and love them, but as I say, personally I wouldn`t have one.

We are getting the Vermont XL as it is a tunnelt tent, so is more likely as a large tent, to be accepted on sites that a spread out pod one. We also love the size of the porch which gives you additional living area, which is geat when it`s pouring with rain and you can`t sit out at night. The more space the better I think when you have a family and the Vermont ticks all the boxes for us.

I have had a Hartford XL for about 5 years and have been  happy with it - have never been charged for an oversize pitch but sometimes it has been a bit of a tight squeeze! 

pros - loads of space - we sometimes use one pod just to keep luggage in but handy to have space for extra teenage guests.  you can also sleep extra people in the middle.  very sociable tent - the kids love it.

big living area with SIG and mesh on doors and windows.  This was great when camping in Ireland with loads of midges outside.  also brilliant for wet weather games. And last year we had 10 people inside all sitting on chairs and there was still enough room.

fantastic porch for storing wet gear or for watching the world go by on draughty sites

well made - good zips and stitching and no leaks

Cons - on older versions sleeping pods tend to sag after rain - but I think outwell have added extra poles for 2008

you need to be organised to pitch efficiently (otherwise it can take a while...)

after standing up to gales in Ireland and Wales and England over the past few years, strong winds last May snapped a couple of poles and we had to take the tent down in the middle of a rainstorm.  Not fun and in the processs, we snapped two more poles as willing helpers rushed to our aid and took it down in the wrong order!

I still really like this tent but I now want something with stronger poles!

Good luck with the search

Thanks beezers, muttley and daisyb for the words of wisdom!

Good advice to steer away from an inner first tent, I can imagine it now, the flysheet blowing off in one direction, whilst the toddler makes a break for it in the other!

We had looked at the Killington as well, but didn't like the fact that there wasn't a seperate 'door' between the porch and the main body of the tent, mainly due to toddler containment issues!

Given what you said about the poles on the hartford daisyb, I think that would limit us to the Georgia or the Vermont XL (I think).  I'm thinking more towards the Vermont, as the Georgia is an inner first pitch, though is the Vermont XL really £100 better than the Georgia XL!!

There is still a day of the yeomans camp left, and its literally at the bottom of the road, so I think I'll pop back and have another look.

Thanks again,

Beerand bells, if it was me I would go for the Vermont. It`s a tunnel tent so more likely to be welcomed on sites without having to pay double pitch fees. It pitches all in one, no messing about with inner and outers and it has a HUGE poch area. To me it`s worth the extra £100.

As I have said before I am not a fan of inner and outer pitching tents, I want to get onsite, get the tent up and move in, I can`t be bothered pitching an inner and then an outer, or an outer and than an inner. We went away to a site last year and when we arrived a couple were there starting to pitch a Vango, we pulled up, found somewhere to pitch, got the gear out, put our poles together etc then started pitching. We had our Nebraska XXL up and were moving beds etc while the other couple were still finishing their tent and they weren`t inexperienced campers. I suppose that`s the difference between all in one and tents that aren`t, it`s almost like you are pitching two tents. I also have absolutely no desire to become airborne in strong winds. If I wanted to fly I would have joined the RAF! Just my personal opinion.

We have the Georgia XL and pitching isn't really a major issue. Ok, fair enough you have to pitch the inner first.. it is made of a similar material to the outer and it dries quickly. We pitched it in torrential downpour last year. the inside of the inner stayed dry, with no water ingress at all.

The advantage IMO with this style is the main poles are lightweight flexipoles and are a easier IMO to pitch that the steel ones on the Vermont, Nebraska (we had one of those and it leaked like a sieve) that are heavy when you are trying to pitch the main body of the tent. It takes us about 40 mins to pitch the Georgia XL.

Also, the two skin tents such as the Georgia, Diablo and pre 2008 Harford is that they do not tend to leak, whereas the single skin Vermont's, Monty's, Nebraska's etc... have well documented leak issues.

The dome versions tend to be lighter than the equivelent size tunnel tents due to the poles being a mix of steel and flexi.

The bedrooms in the Georgia were bigger than those in the pre 2008 Harford's, but I haven't seen the 2008 Harfords to compare bedroom sizes.

With the exception of a C & CC site, we haven't been refused a pitch, or paid double... although I do appreciate that this isn't always the case.

I would seriously look at all of your candidates in the flesh if possible.. then you can make your own mind up... We all like to bloe the trumpets of our own tents and if we were all honest...are a little bias towards them too!

Hi again

I saw the Minnesota 4 today and was a bit disappointed.  Not nearly so nice as my old Hartford XL.

I considered just buying a complete new set of poles for my Hartford (perhaps the old ones which splintered were weakened by too many windy expeditions over 5 years or so). Biggest problem with Minnesota was no porch - the Hartford has a fantastic porch and the double skin living area is really cosy.

But problems remains that, for me, XL is just too big for my shrinking family.

Good Luck!

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