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Hello Everyone!

I am after some help as always - We currenlty have a Montana 6 and have used this wonderful tent for 4 years now (for 2 adults and 2 kids) We have decided that although we adore out Monty, we want to buy a smaller, tunnel type tent that isn't as bulky to pack for short weekend and has a slightly smaller living area than our huge Monty.

• Would consider a sleeping pod that isn't at full standing height (as with the Monty) . 
• We must have Steel poles ( rather than  the polycarbon/ bendy one!) I feel much safer with these!
• Need a model that we can buy the front extension (like the Monty has)

Any ideas peeps?

thakns in advance as always!

Yes Merry, smaller packsize AND smaller living area (the Monty living area is massive whcih is great for a 2 weeker in France, but greedy for a weekend - lol!)

Have a look at the Kampa Frinton 4 - 4000HH, extra thick/quality flysheet, bug meshes, sleeptite inners, steel poles, shielded entrance, SIG etc. The Kampa range is getting a lot of interest this year as they are really going for quality.

Happy shopping!

(We are going for the smaller Bude 4 as a two night tent, but there are only 3 of us and we can put the bags in the inner with the single bed and easily clear that inner as a play area for our toddler if the weather is bad). Its compact, which is what we want but sufficient room to eat and sit in if its wet. Its actually bigger than our old ridge tent... The Frinton has an extra metre in living space relative to the Bude 4 so is a nice size for 4!

Helen

thanks all so much for the ideas.. we now have a good shortlist!!

 Merry we went to see the Artemis yesterday at go outdoors and we're impressed also the price is under £200 too! The Finton looks great too , Speedcamp, but a bit out of the price range i'm afraid as we need to buy the extension too..  Now i am just trying to find the Artemis as cheap as possible as go outdoors have them at £175 and then £60 for the extension... why cant I win the lottery?!!!

thanks as always peeps!

Camperlands currently have the Artemis 400 (2009) version in stock for £169.99 plus a further 10% off until the end of Feb.

Just a note - check your beds. The back of the tent is 245cm at its widest, which means that the inner is probably something like 225cm at its narrowest (allowing 10cm gap either side between the fly and inner tent) and making arround 110cm max for each half. Our Coleman comfort double wouldn't fit, nor two singles in the other half. If you use mats you may be OK - but worth checking first. Vango have the same narrowing inner issue in a number of their tents...

If you can find an affordable Vango Columbia 400 that has a true 140cm for each inner, steel poles, 5000HH - http://www.tents4less.co.uk/vango-columbia-400.html £239 (but one went for £174 on ebay recently).

Helen

thanks Helen,

I guess I need to measure our thermarests as we have 2 single ones with a special kit to make a double and then the kids have a single mat each too...  grrrr - OH said they would fit... if you want somethign done......!

Thanks helen for advice.. will let you know and then update the thread

Hi

What about the Vango Orchy 600 - thats what we use for weekends and shorter breaks - very similar but on a smaller scale.

Fiona

we deffo want steel frames  and Orchy has fibreglass - but thanks for the suggestion fi..   my sis has this and its perfect for them but we go in all weathers (and early / late season) so want a good old weather proof steel frame really.

sxis, We secretly really want the *Minny* as its like a miny Monty really  but the price put us off...... want to spend under £200 really.. plus need to buy an extention too......

Artemis is the front runner I think.. might take my thermarests to Go outdoors and see if they fit in the display model!!

Ooooh that minny's tempting.

We've also got a monty and it's lovely, but it would be nice to have something not quite so mahoosive for weekends.