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Hi Chezmarie & welcome to the forum

A canvas frame tent will stand up to bad weather far better than a modern synthetic tent, and is much quieter during a storm too - we bought a new Suncamp synthetic tent about 5 years ago, and when a slight wind started (not a storm) the fabric was flappy and the fibreglass poles were creaky. We sold that tent after just one 5 day holiday, and bought a second-hand frame tent. We've been through two thunder storms in the Elody without any problems at all.

There isn't a condensation problem with canvas tents either. You can cook inside a canvas tent if the weather is too bad to cook outside. Canvas doesn't heat up like an over in hot weather either. A synthetic tent has a 5-7 year lifetime, but a canvas tent can last 25-30 years.

The only downsides with a canvas tent is that it takes up more space in the car, but if you have the boot space, then go for it, especially with a young child.

hi there are many tents on ebay outwell are by far one of the best makes

we have a 3 and 4 year old and ours is amazing  cannot comment on all others but ours looks the part and most importantly no leaks fabric really good quality

cheers from max and david

Hi all

Thanks for the replies, very helpful! Frame tent sounds like the way to go! 

We always used to have frame tents when i was a kid so i have slept in one and helped put it up, space isnt too much of a problem as we have plenty of room in the car so im definately going to go for one rather than the Argos one.

The Outwells do sound great but even second hand a little out of our budget at the moment (maybe next year!) but the Trio 5 berth frame tent im watching on ebay has 1 hour to go on it and is still only at £50 so fingers crossed!

Aww no i didnt win it!  (perhaps shouldnt have advertised it on here lol!) It went for £132 in the end, i was trying to bid more but my work computer decided at that moment to be incredibly slow and i didnt get in another bid in time!

Oh well must be fate, ill have another go on the other ones im watching