after weeks of faffing around,changing my mind a hundred times and having my mind set on a porch,I now have a whole new way to choose my new tent.
last night we ended up sleeping in the car as it was really scarey in the tent,it was bending so far in it almost touched the floor.
we both agree that number one priority has to be weather and wind proof,in other words strong.
I also wanted the canopy to cook under if it was raining however the rain was so heavy last night you couldnt have stood up let alone cook.and I think I have read a canopy is worse in the wind than a sloping front?
so giving a new set of prorities can someone point me in the right direction.
1.budget about £500-£700max
2.wind proof and reliable in wind
3.plenty of living space
4.mostly there will be 2 adults and 1 child as older ones have pup tents but would need to take 2 single and 2 double air beds.
so far we are thinking of sticking to our original choice of the Montana but not bothering with the extension.OH has watched the Outwell video with the wind and rain test.
if anyone else was in Oxwich last night,hope your tent survived
------------- tent and gear all packed away now and making plans for 2012
plans so far..
Easter..Nantcols
August..Bristol balloon fiesta
August..Cornwall..of course!
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A secondhand Cabanon frame tent off ebay could be your best bet. A canvas tent with a steel frame has more tensile strength so will survive better in the wind & won't bend. If the wind gets really bad you can put a caravan awning strap across the whole thing.
If you want something that is very stable in the wind then it might be worth your while considering a pyramid tent.
First, you could try the Palamos 6 by Hypercamp. This would be plenty big enough and there are lots of reviews on here as well.
You could also consider the Esvo Beukennoot. Made with 320 gm ten cate cotton it is great quality and would last a lifetime if looked after. Would be worth while getting the screens and sun canopy which would take it over budget but would be well worth it.
Would agree with both Tentz and Tricky Tree but would also suggest your original choice of a Monty 6 is pretty sound.
Ours survived many a battering.
The Monty is a large tent but having converted to canvas it is worth pointing out that the pack size on canvas is much larger, therefore if space in your car is a consideration then do check out the pack sizes.
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Agree with the above! We have had some very high winds on the campsite in the last few weeks and the only standing height tent we've had here which I'd have been happy to be in was a middle aged Cabanon canvas frame tent. It has stood like a rock. We've had two Dutch canvas pyramids pitch up today and I'd expect them to perform similarly.
The standing height nylon tents varied in strong winds from noisy and flappy at best to downright scarey hula hula dancing! Open fronted porches/extensions make things a lot worse if they are left up, so its been good to see that some people do take them down if it starts to get windy.
------------- Tackling life the Western District way
My recommendation would be for a canvas frame tent too. We feel secure in ours when it's blowing a gale, and in thunder & lightening storms.
The other advantage of a canvas tent is that you can cook inside the tent (being careful of course), instead of under a canopy when the weather is bad.
I'd imagine the Montana 6 could take quite a battering, we've been in some horrendous weather in a Vermont L which is very similar. It moves a little but in no way collapses inwards owing to the steel poles.
It also gets pretty noisy with the wind whipping the polyester fabric, if you can stretch your budget to the polycotton Montana Lake then you'll fix that problem too!
The Montana is a good design for coping with the wind especially the 2011 models with the wind stabilisation system. However our Vermont has stood up to some pretty strong winds in its time as well and you get the front enclosed porch
------------- Experience enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.
Everything has been said before, but since nobody ever listens we have to keep going back and saying it all over again and again and again
I'll back the Monty for strength. I was away a few weeks back in north yorkshire and it was blowing a hooly.
Monty didn't move and we went about our business as normal.
There were other tents in the field which hadn't survived despite my best efforts with the owners. Sorry to say they were mostly cheap tents and HiGear tents even though some of them were realy well pegged. there was even an upended Trailer tent
As most owners will back me up, frame canvas tents didn't budge either.
------------- Outwell Montana 6 with awning, Vango Adventure Tarp and a trailer full of beer