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Hi,

OH and I have camped for years, first in a 2-man but quickly upsized to a 5-man (venture 500) which has served us brilliantly for many years home and abroad.

However, with the arrival of sproglet last year we really have outgrown it, particularly for living space and storage, and want to do a fortnight in France next year.

Been looking for a while now and we keep coming back to the 8-man vis-a-vis tents (Tigris 800 and Gelert Horizon 8 in particular) - but would this really be too big for 3 of us?

We like having a big bedroom (space to get dressed!) and another for sproglet, but then are debating whether the 6-man ones we've seen really give us enough storage space.

How does everyone else get by? Any other suggestions? (BTW our tent budget is around £250 + a BIT extra for accessories so can't stretch to Monty etc)

Oh, and OH is 6'1" so likes headroom!

Any advice greatly appreciated!

We are a family of 3 including a 3 year old lad and went for the Vango Columbia 600 as it has a 2/3 bedroom option, large open living space and enclosed wet weather entrance for wet shoes, balls, toilet at night, etc. The 2/3 bedrooms means that the large bedroom with divider gives us and our son our own "space" but I can reach over and tuck him back in his bedding at night without getting out of bed. The other separate bedroom is then used for storage, keeping the living area free from clutter. In the living area we have a kitchen set up, separate playmat/ Thomas trainset area and dining area - so plenty of room! An 8 berth would IMHO be overkill - but some like big!

The steel poles, the TBSII internal strapping for windy weather and 5000HH waterproofing also means that the tent is incredibly stable. At the moment there are still a few around for £280 or even less in some retailers (RRP in 2009 £450) - a real bargain for a top end featured tent. For the extras - those for the similar shape but lower spec Sungari 600 will fit.

Helen

Imho there is no such thing as "a tent that is too big for us".

Most manufacterers are a little , how shall I put this, over enthusiastic or optimisitic when it comes to declaring their tent is a 4 person eg. What they mean is , you can fit 4 self inflating mats (60cm wide max) in and the people sleeping on them must have no gear and must not be wider than the mats.

So add 2 berths on to make up for this.

That brings you to 5 berth .

Then with a sproglet (your words not mine lol) comes lots of gear so adding another berth for that wouldnt do any harm :)

So now we are at 6 berth.

Now does 8 berth seem excessive? Not at all :)

Angie

How about say the Tigris 600 plus a side canopy, to keep the cooking stuff etc out the main tent? If you got the one with the door it would hold quite a lot of stuff. We (family of four, 2 adults + kids of 14 & 9) use a similar older style of Vango (Oregon 600) as a weekender tent, add the side canopy for a bit of extra sheltered space if necessary and use our Oregon 800 as a long stay tent, with or without canopy as desired. A canopy gives a lot more flexibility and also protects the side door so you can leave it open when it rains and also is a welcome bit of shade in summer.

Have to say though that there's not a huge amount of difference in either pack size or pitching speed between our Oregon 600 and 800. Also they're both long skinny tents so usually fit on most pitches. Never had any problems with either. The Tigris is a direct descendant of the Oregon in general design and size so the same will apply to it. I'd just go for the 800 tbh.

Helen - I did see the Columbia 600 last year and LOVED it, but couldn't convince OH (and it was a fair bit dearer then...) - now I think he wouldn't consider one that he couldn't look round first, so with it not being a current tent I think my chances of changing his mind now are scuppered

We're not too concerned about pitching etc the tunnel tents as they look fairly straightforward with only 5 poles (hahaha, "famous last words", I can hear you all sniggering now!!!) and just a bit more pegging out than we're used to.

I do like the canopy/porch idea but they are about £100 extra and make an already big tent much bigger again!!! Is it generally difficult to get these accessories a few years down the line when there might be a bit more cash and the family might have expanded a bit more?

Am thinking we might go shopping again tomorrow, not sure where will have the best display this time of year though.

I agree that manufacturers' tent berth numbers are based on undersize bed/people sizes, and that one should allow an extra 2 berths for comfort.

I use a 3-berth tent for me and my dog, and a 4-berth one for two people and the dog, and they were just right.

DK

Hi Clueless

tent sizes are only a guide, for a weekend tent the berth number should be 1 and half times so 4 people equals 6 berth tent, then for longer trips the size needs tobe doubled so 4 people need an 8 berth tent to live in comfort. so what you're look at would leave room for a growing family as you are.

regards Nigel