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Well hello everybody

I'm completely new to all this, so please, bear with me.

After much humming and hahing me and the other half decided to buy a tent.  Thought it'd be great for the kids (11, 6, and 17 months) to have a few nights under the stars.  We've just bought from Argos their 6 person starter set and have hit an immediate problem.  When choosing we new to look out for something with a hydrostatic head of 2000mm or more, which this tent has.  It's in their catalogue as 2000 mm, page 111 if anyone's got one to hand.  Anyway, just opened it up and in a clear plastic sleeve on the tent bag is it's information card.  6 person starter pack, made in China blah blah blah, HYDROSTATIC HEAD 1200mm.  So I rings their customer services to see if either the catalogue is printed wrong, or, hopefully, the printed information card is.  Unsurprisingly they know nothing about this, they can't provide a manufacturers telephone number as it's made in house, and their suggestion is to take it back to the store for a refund.

As I sit here typing away I've got an 11 year old and a 6 year old desperate to see it put up in the garden.  I don't want to do this if it is only a 1200mm head.  What I was hoping was that there may be someone out there with one of these that can tell me the right answer.

Help.  I just want to go camping, now, in the garden . . .

The sun's shining and everything! 

Hi and welcome.

Go ahead and sleep in it tonight. if you get rain overnight, you'll know if it's leaky before going away in it. If it doesn't rain tonight, get a hose and give it good soaking tomorrow, not just a light shower, a really good soak all over, like would happen in a proper downpour. .

If you aren't satisfied its waterproof after that, they will still refund you no problem. but you have to let it dry before taking it back.

argos tents are not the best quality tbh, but you may find its okay for summer use only.

Cheers.

I've not unpacked it any further.  Following some great reviews on this site I've just ordered a Lichfield Arapaho 6DLX for £139 from Great Outdoors Direct, which comes with a double and 2 single airbeds.  Sounds just perfect.

In fairness to Argos their customer service is excellent.  I know if I wanted to I could use it for the next few days then take it back, but that's not me.  Anyway I'm a big softie.  I get attached to things, even tents.  How could I take the poor thing back after sleeping in it.  I'm not some gigolo.

Has anyone mentioned how good this site is?

My friend bought a 6 person pro action tent first, though it never had a door on both sides as it showed in the photo so he had the 4 person starter kit, which he didn't expect another side door as it wasn't in the photo, but did include one.  He also had problems with rain leaking from the zips and is now also looking at getting the arapaho deluxe, though again from argos as he has £50.00 in vouchers.

I personally can't stand the colours of the deluxe.  If that's what they are?  Bright blue with yellow inners?  The DLX from elsewhere looks much better.  We're both away in august but I've told him social times will be in my tent due to the expected nausiea from his lol.

Quick Update.

Took the tent back to Argos yesterday.  Money back, no problem.

This morning the new tent arrived.  Splendid.  Just waiting for it to stop raining so that I can get it out in the garden (oooer).  The missus says she'll give me a hand getting it up (kyak kyak) so if it does prove to be a bit too hard (fnar fnar) I can always rely on her brains.

Will keep you posted . . .

hi A to z  , why are you waiting for the  rain to stop before putting the tent up?

best time to do it, you can check  its not  leaking, and know how you cope putting up the tent in the wet at the same time. get out there and get it up before the kids come home from school

i know this is kinda outta date but i'm glad you took the pro action back, AtoZ before using it. 

i bought mine (same model) last year under the same impression, but by the time i realised the hydrostatic head was 1200 it was too late.  i used the tent on a rather rainy week away, luckily we sprayed it with extra waterproofing beforehand.  and it just about survived.  the tent is full of design flaws e.g. mesh windows with the covers on the inside!!! the rain poored through those! 

still it only cost me £55 at the time, so not a great loss.  i'd certainly warn people away from buying pro action.

happy camping!