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My girlfriend and i bought the 2009 model last summer from Go Outdoors. Even though i'd never been in a tent we managed to pitch it in half an hour on our first attempt. It's so easy. We never found the rain a problem unless we used the big front door. It's also got a very cosy feeling about it too. I will admit thouh, it's never going to be comfortable for 6 people. 4 people max with all your gear or all 5 of you if you can keep everything to a minimum.

Hopefully we're going to take ours to North Wales this summer. i can't wait!

I had an Orchy 600 and we have just sold it. there are 4 of us and its just got way to small. We had the large sun canopy and we ended up sleeping in the living area and the kids split the bedroom pod.

It is a great tent though, we loved it and its pained me to sell it.

Quote: Originally posted by Former Scout on 11/3/2010

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The chief difficulty is that the main poles are so long and floppy that you really need someone tall inside the tent to hold the living area up while others position and peg.

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I am an average 5`5" female and have pitched this tent alone with no problems on many occasions. Even when theres two of us we have never needed anyone to hold the living area up, when both the long poles are in the ring and pin position the living area dome will stand unsupported.......unless its really blowing a gale.

The poles in the 600 have always been thicker and better quality than the 400 / 500

Well I would agree with the scout as this aint no six man tent although I think you will get away with 2 adults and 3 children as last summer me and the mrs went the lakes as we do as often as we can with our orchy 600 but this time we took two friends so there was two men and two women (with all the stuff ladys take) and I must say we had no dramas with space. Okay we do have the extension which if i was you I would definetly buy as I stops the livin area smellin of whatever you have been cookin but we kept the bags in the living area and just sleeping bags and things we need to hand like wash kits was in the bedroom oh and we used the partion.

     But as far as claustrophobia I cant see how as it has three windows and the ceiling one which I have never seen before on other tentsand also the ventilation is excellent, we had to spend an hour with the four of us in there as there was a langdale valley rain special followed by the scorchin sun again without anyone crackin up inside. Also with it gettin wet inside well if erected propley this tent will not leak. Pitching is simple only takes about 30 mins with two of us i'm only 5"9 and the mrs 5"6 and we have no probs at all no need to stand inside it and we have had some wind when erecting especially in langdale valley when you get a random gust followed by a gale.

  Anyway hope that cleared a few things up gotta get back to work just cant wait to get home from Afganistan now and get back camping when on leave.

Oh I forgot take a look at this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwoFxVImi9o  Okay its a 500 but its one man erecting it in like 6 mins

Chris

Former Scout, I agree entirely with the sloping door scenario, its a nightmare, and I have been guilty of leaving the door slightly open on my return form a midnight toilet visit only to wake up in the morning to a swimming pool. We bought the large sun canopy to solve the problem. Without a canopy of any sort I have the same issue with all my tents...especially the smaller cabanon, which we got truly soaked in last autumn...carpet an` all.

I think the Orchy benefits from a canopy to camp in the rain..it makes it a completely different tent

Never had an issue withh the small windows ourselves, as we rarely use our tents for anything but sleeping in.... we bought a tarp so we could be outside if it rained. Also ours is an 2007 and I think the windows were actually bigger. and if it was raining I tried not to look out of the windows

I also agree that for more money you can get a better tent, but if you like the Orchy and it fits your budget its a cracking tent.........for no more than 4 people and then only if you`re very close!!!!!

Of al the tents on here it seems to be the Orchy which gets defended vehemently by its owners......that has to tell you something

LOL I agree that the appreciation society is a little over the top I just hope I didnt come over vehemently as I wasnt saying anyone was wrong just giving my opinions. Lets face it everyone pitches slightly differently and these slight differences seem to make a big difference.

The front door for example when we first pitched it I pegged it out before the guys and I got the sinking arch type thing in the door but if I put the guys in first for the door then peg it out and then reajust the guys I get no sink.

Anyway for me staying in this tent its like the MGM grand to me as I spend most my time under a poncho in the green zone lol, anyway hope I was of some help at least.

Chris

Hi

We have a 2008 Orchy 600 and it is our main tent for longer touring hols for just 2 of us, but I have used it with friends and relatives for a shorter break for 5 people and it was....snug to say the least!

The bedroom is a funny layout and you would propably end up with your smaller children sleeping along an edge at right angles to you in order to really fit 6 bods in there. You could do weekends with an extension  and with most kit left in the vehicle. However,  you would not have seating space for eating together and it would be unbearably crowded in wet weather.

I am 5'6" and put this up fine on my own in 20 mins- but I am a woman of many years of tent wrangling experience so make that a little longer for people who do nto have my instinctive level of tent wisdom!

So I suppose I am saying I am happy with this tent, but it may be a little too cramped for your particular needs. So yes it is a very good idea to go and see tents for real before deciding.