Home

   Log in or Register



Insurance Quotes
forums Campsite Search Comp Directory tips virtual brochure Profile
Tent and Awning Reviews Competitions Caravans and Motorhomes For Sale Shopping Diary Contact Us

Advertisement

Message Forums

Welcome Guest Register Login Search The Forum Posts Since Last Visit
 Reception - All Forums
   Camping under canvas -  Tent talk. Advice, info and recommendations
Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email  Printer Friendly Version Print
Subject Topic: overnight tent recommendations please Post Reply Post New Topic
02/9/2010 at 10:02pm
 Location: EAST SUSSEX
 Outfit: Outwell Vermont plus others.
View Portia Hussey's Profile View Profile   Reply to Portia Hussey Reply   Quote Portia Hussey Quote  
Joined: 25/11/2005

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   679
Tent Reviews:   1

Site Reviews Total: 7
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

We have an Outwell for proper camping but I really need a smaller tent for quick overnight stops. I have used the £10 2-man tents from Wilkinsons which were OK but not great - one of the poles split last year so this year I bought a 4-man tent from Tesco.
To say it was rubbish is not fair to rubbish. On the second night of use the zip-tag fell off because it was sewn in with about a 1mm overlap. On the 4th use we noticed that the tent was starting to rip inside.
I accept that if you pay very little you don't get much but I expected a smidge more.

Anyway - can any-one recommend a good small tent that will fit 4 people that packs up fairly small? The Tesco tent was about 50-60cm long with a 15x15 (maybe 20x20)size. It was also quite light (obviously because they'd skimped on fabric and cotton!).

What I would ideally like is 2 bedroom pods with a gap in the middle but if its a small pack size just 1 bedroom pod would do although if there's a bit of a porch area that would be nice.


-------------
pork
Remember a good wife always helps her husband with the dishes.


Don't forget to leave a review of all tents you've used, for a chance to win fantastic prizes

New! Please upload a photo of your tent to the Tent Showcase!


02/9/2010 at 11:00pm
 Location: Sunny south coast
 Outfit: Columbia 600 Bude 4
View Speedcamp's Profile View Profile   Reply to Speedcamp Reply   Quote Speedcamp Quote  
Joined: 21/9/2009

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   3173
Tent Reviews:   8

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

We have the Coleman Rock Springs 4 which is small - 65? x 20 x20 and light-weight. It takes 1 large Coleman maxi-comfort double airbed and the matching single. Could sleep 4 on mats possibly? It has 2 entrances - front and back. The front one 90cm has a sewn in section of groundsheet and 2 windows (no window covers). The door can be put up as a porch. The unusual feature is the rear entrance, which doesn't use a pole but rather an extension of the fabric away from the tent (like a tunnel tent) giving a low level 60cm porch/storage area (no groundsheet). The door in the flysheet here is a vertical zip with the sides tied back. The inner tent also has 2 doors, the front one with flymesh. The fab thing about the back door is the wonderful ventilation you get with both doors open.

The tent as a 3 pole dome is quick to pitch and does the job of an overnighter well. We are a family of 3. The materials aren't the highest of quality but we've used it 4 times this year - once for 10 days (an emergency visit to my mother whilst on holiday) - and its stood up well. In an ideal world we'd have liked covers over the windows, flymesh on the rear door of the inner tent, lamp hanging point etc but for £60 it is a nice little tent.

You may be recommended a pop-up - Quechua XXL IIII for example, which seems very good - but for us has one big problem - how to dry it in the big/weekend tent whilst touring as it has to be almost pitched size to dry it. In contrast we can just drape the flysheet of the Rock Springs over furniture in the tent to dry.

Another good 4 man overnight tent is the vis-a-vis Kampa Minnis - which seems a genuine 4 man quick pitch tent. Kampa tents are really making an in road into the UK top end tent market this year. Note that the shop on this forum has incorrect specifications for the Kampa tents - best to refer to www.kampa.co.uk. Our son is only 3 years so prefer him next to us to keep tucking him back in at night - hence the vis-a-vis arrangement isn't for us.

Kampa also do several stand-up height 4 man tents that will take definitely 4 people including our Bude 4 but these take longer to pitch than we would like for an overnight tent.

Anyway - a few ideas,

Helen



03/9/2010 at 5:25am
 Location: Derbyshire
 Outfit: None Entered
View Emerald1's Profile View Profile   Reply to Emerald1 Reply   Quote Emerald1 Quote  
Joined: 03/7/2010

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   861

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Quechua pop ups up to seconds base size you shake the wet off before packing up, we have never had a problem yet.

-------------
Special Needs Mum, Overprotective With Serious attitude!

Your Ignorance Is My Child's Only Disability!



03/9/2010 at 8:52am
 Location: Sunny south coast
 Outfit: Columbia 600 Bude 4
View Speedcamp's Profile View Profile   Reply to Speedcamp Reply   Quote Speedcamp Quote  
Joined: 21/9/2009

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   3173
Tent Reviews:   8

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Quote: Originally posted by Emerald1 on 03/9/2010
Quechua pop ups up to seconds base size you shake the wet off before packing up, we have never had a problem yet.

Sorry - I wasn't rubbishing them, but its getting them completely dry to avoid mould growing when you only have a small space (eg. the inside of another tent) and they are going to be in their bag longer than 24 hours before getting home and being able to dry them properly.

We use our overnight tent on the way to a main camp and between main campsites so it could potentially be in its bag for a week or so - mould would be happy to start growing in that time if the tent isn't dried properly.

If the overnight tent is to be used in a similar way - it is just a consideration.

Helen

 



Don't forget to leave a review of all tents you've used, for a chance to win fantastic prizes

New! Please upload a photo of your tent to the Tent Showcase!


03/9/2010 at 9:46am
 Location: 
 Outfit: 
View ritchie rich's Profile View Profile   Reply to ritchie rich Reply   Quote ritchie rich Quote  
Joined: 01/1/2010


Guest

Forum Posts:   750
Tent Reviews:   2

Site Reviews Total: 2
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

I'm guessing you dont want to pay the earth for this overnight tent?

http://www.outdoorworlddirect.co.uk/acatalog/easy-camp-galaxy-400-weekend-tent.html

http://www.somersetcamping.co.uk/products/wynnster-faro-4-tunnel-tent-unbeatablesale-price-bluegrey/384

http://www.somersetcamping.co.uk/products/khyam-2009-nomad-4-tunnel-tent-clearance-scoop-purchase/552/



Advertisement



03/9/2010 at 10:46am
 Location: West Midlands
 Outfit:  Karsten
View mzzy's Profile View Profile   Reply to mzzy Reply   Quote mzzy Quote  
Joined: 05/7/2004

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   3521
Tent Reviews:   5

Site Reviews Total: 10
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

We brought a Quechua 3 man, 2 second, pop up tent, and it was great!

Easy to put up (obviously! lol) but more importantly easy to put away too, it was just about big enough for the 3 of us for an over nighter, and even though we camped in a wood so it was damp, it dryed quickly.

I'm amazed we didn't think of doing over nights this way years ago it was so easy! The tent seems sturdy too so I would recomend them.



-------------
~*MZZY*~


03/9/2010 at 1:48pm
 Location: EAST SUSSEX
 Outfit: Outwell Vermont plus others.
View Portia Hussey's Profile View Profile   Reply to Portia Hussey Reply   Quote Portia Hussey Quote  
Joined: 25/11/2005

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   679
Tent Reviews:   1

Site Reviews Total: 7
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

The Quecha pop ups would be ideal for us if their pack size was smaller.
Some useful ideas. Keep 'em coming!

-------------
pork
Remember a good wife always helps her husband with the dishes.


Don't forget to leave a review of all tents you've used, for a chance to win fantastic prizes

New! Please upload a photo of your tent to the Tent Showcase!


03/9/2010 at 1:53pm
 Location: manchester
 Outfit: outwell montana 6.vango kairos 300
View maximurph's Profile View Profile   Reply to maximurph Reply   Quote maximurph Quote  
Joined: 03/4/2010

Silver Member
Silver Member

Forum Posts:   116

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

i have just bought a outdoor revolution starcamper 3 for similar reasons, done a trial pitch in the garden last night and was suprised how big the sleeping area was, plus it has a small porch, might be worth a look for you, payed £65 at camperland.


05/9/2010 at 12:00am
 Location: Shropshire
 Outfit: Bailey Pageant Auvergne
View Ronni54's Profile View Profile   Reply to Ronni54 Reply   Quote Ronni54 Quote  
Joined: 18/4/2004

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   1781

Site Reviews Total: 42
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 4  
Site Reviews 2021: 2  
Site Reviews 2020: 6  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 5  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 22
Site Nights 2021: 8
Site Nights 2020: 36
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 27

Just bought a Vango Alpha 300 for my Grandson as a pup tent. Bought from Towsure for £31.95 in the sale.  Personally, I wouldn't say it was a 3 man but plenty big enough for 2.  My daughter tried it out last weekend and it was fine.  Only one pod but a small porch area.

-------------
Ronni


05/9/2010 at 10:37am
 Location: EAST SUSSEX
 Outfit: Outwell Vermont plus others.
View Portia Hussey's Profile View Profile   Reply to Portia Hussey Reply   Quote Portia Hussey Quote  
Joined: 25/11/2005

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   679
Tent Reviews:   1

Site Reviews Total: 7
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Ah but I need a 4-man tent.

-------------
pork
Remember a good wife always helps her husband with the dishes.



In order to post a reply you will need to register, or if already registered please log in here

Prev       Next
Quick Links - All Forums - Tent talk. Advice, info and recommendations - Top of Page

Printer Friendly Version Printable version      Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email


Latest News, Discounts and Competitions  see all...














5973 Visitors online !

Free UKCampsite.co.uk Window Sticker  -  Recommend to Friend  -  Add a Missing Campsite

[Message Forums]  [Caravan Sites & Camping]  [Company Listings]  [Features / Advice]  [Virtual Brochure]  [Shop!]
[Reception]  [Competitions]  [Caravans & Motorhomes For Sale]  [Event Diary]  [Contact Us]  [Tent Reviews



Please note we are not responsible for the content of external sites & any reviews represent the author's personal view only. Please report any error here. You may view our privacy and cookie policy and terms and conditions here. All copyrights & other intellectual property rights in the design and content of this web site are reserved to the UKCampsite.co.uk © 1999 - 2024


Advertisement



Advertisement



Advertisement