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hmmm..my 'devon-delight' of a bell tent, has a 'canvas and cast label' sewn on in devon..the rest of the work is done ...in China!!!  i though this was pretty normal!

maybe we need a listing on here of all the cheap nasties that are out there for the misfortunates to heed from!! a lot of these tents are ok to see if you like camping, but not for actually camping in lol

ultrafitt (our first mistake lol)

skandika

pro action

tesco value

halfords

errrmmm....any more for the list??

Quote: Originally posted by tinallkn4 on 18/6/2010

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hmmm..my 'devon-delight' of a bell tent, has a 'canvas and cast label' sewn on in devon..the rest of the work is done ...in China!!!  i though this was pretty normal!

maybe we need a listing on here of all the cheap nasties that are out there for the misfortunates to heed from!! a lot of these tents are ok to see if you like camping, but not for actually camping in lol

ultrafitt (our first mistake lol)

skandika

pro action

tesco value

halfords

errrmmm....any more for the list??

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yes

Rage tents and leben tents two more e bay specials  

Quote: Originally posted by tinallkn4 on 18/6/2010

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maybe we need a listing on here of all the cheap nasties that are out there for the misfortunates to heed from!! a lot of these tents are ok to see if you like camping, but not for actually camping in lol

ultrafitt (our first mistake lol)

skandika

pro action

tesco value

halfords

errrmmm....any more for the list??

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I don't think Pro Action are as bad as the rest tbh. They are a bit basic but they do last for a season or two. Actually I'm not convinced that Skandika deserve to be in there either. Really bad tents are the ones that self destruct when you first put them up, or dissolve in the first rainstorm, or collapse in the first breeze.

 

Yes, but the other tents mentioned, such as Pro Action and Halfords, are what they are; lower cost starter tents, this Skandika claims a RRP of £719.99 which implies it is an expensive, quality tent being offered at a bargain price, when in fact it's a lower quality tent at an inflated price. How easy for newbies to be drawn in, then disappointed.

Slightly off topic, but aimed at Vango lovers. Try spending the night in a cotton Vango Peace 800, when the wind is blowing, and turns through 180 dgrs, so the front is into the wind. The entire front is open, (2.8 mtrs of air gap) as there is no door to floor closure, and the bath tub does not stand up, as there are no fixings. It just baloons about and tries to take off. I say cotton, well really just a plastic bag with a cotton cover. For £250, I think it falls into the Skandika catagory. I have a few other Vango tents, and I've always regarded them as pretty good, but the Peace !!!!!!!  

I will be spending ten days in a Vango Aspen soon, and I'm really looking forward to it, as I love it. I think this is the fourth season with it. (don't know why the print style changed)

OK, back too the Skandika debate.

Quote: Originally posted by dadsbeaniemad on 18/6/2010

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The thing about Rage and Skandia and Leben is that they are only sold via eBay/internet and where do you go if something goes wrong and the seller decides not to bother responding to emails and or phone calls.

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Quote: Originally posted by raf48 on 18/6/2010

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Slightly off topic, but aimed at Vango lovers. Try spending the night in a cotton Vango Peace 800, when the wind is blowing,

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Quote: Originally posted by plasticsdirect on 18/6/2010

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Hi Gary Lincolnshire.

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Can I suggest you visit the Yeomans tent exhibition that is starting in Lincoln in a week or so? They don't carry every tent from every manufacturer but you can get a looksee at many different types. F'rinstance have a look at the Colemans and the Vangos for an idea of the quality difference, also look at the Outwells and compare them to your Skandika. They also carry the cheaper end so you can gauge what a quality product is as opposed to one that isn't so good.

I'm not a fan of the multi location stores, not a fan of corporate greed in any walk of life but you can get an idea of what is on the market and make a more informed choice.

But they don't carry everything, eg: We were looking for a 500 tent, either and Artemis or Icarus. The bod in the shop hadn't heard of the Artemis as Yeomans don't carry it. The same as the Maritsa, we love the 700 but when we asked about the 500 he was blank again, they don't stock it so it doesn't register with them. Check the web sites of the favoured manufacturers and find the one you REALLY want.

I think the old adage of "buy it cheap, buy it twice" rings true on tent purchases even moreso than for many other things.

BTW, you may have probs using ebay and Paypal to complain about your Skandika, I don't think foreign suppliers are as controlled by DSRs as UK suppliers.

Hi Everyone,

Just come across this thread and Im gutted. Having just got back from a thankfully mainly dry holiday camping in dorset (toms field near swanage!) we've had a really bad experiance with a yep, youve guessed it...Skandika toronto tent.  The quality is absolutly shocking! ive taken lots of photos if we need to go to the small claims court. Before we went away we put the tent up in the garden as suggested. A pole split. Alarm bells should have rung, but being new to camping I put it down to putting it up incorrectly.It got worse. When we arrived, Up went the tent, Ping! one of the internal bedroom hooks snapped off, Snap! another pole split. The whole tent was falling apart. When it actually rained the rain came pouring in through the roof and windows.the whole tent should just be binned. Although we didnt pay anything like the reccomended retail price, we did pay £184 including p&p. Not sure what to do really. I think we're too late to return it due to terms of conditions etc.... very very frustrated. If anyone would like to see the pics im more than happy to post them up. I am furious, and gutted I didnt read any of this to start with.