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All I can say is that we are a family of four (2 littluns 5 & 7) and have just returned from our first 9 night trip in the new Montana Lake with Montana 6 Awning fitted. I would recommend the tent to anyone, not an experienced camper by any means as this is our first ever tent and it is also spangly new.

I was expecting a cartoon-like camping trip to reflect the sharp intakes of breath, as witnessed from others when i said i was going camping for the first time. However the experience was excellent,

What i liked: The tent was really spacious and was really warm in the evening and cool in the daytime sun. My parents had the  polyester Montana 6 next to us and complained of being a little cool in the evenings and a lttle stiffling in the midday sun. Not knocking the Montana 6 as apart from being a great tent itself, the deign is what guided me to the Lake version, however the benefit of Polycotton was clear to see. It was also noticeable that daylight streamed through the roof of the Montana 6 whereas the Polycotton controlled daylight better. (you get to sleep-in longer in the mornings..!) Headroom is amazingly good, i needed a large stretch to reach the ceiling to fit a light. We did have one minor leak but went away after drying out again - called 'weathering' apparantly and is to be expected. The facilities to unzip windows leaving them open with a mesh net only is also a good option too. It also pitches out into a grand shape, nice and taught with plenty of windows and zippable options. The double door porch is great too as we have the 'emergency toilet' in there. The zip-in grounsheet is thick pvc like i've never seen before, this really makes a difference underfoot. The poles are near 25mm alloy and visually look extremely strong too. The tent was surprisingly quite easy to pitch, pretty much on my own with a little help to hold bits in place whilst i pegged out guy lines etc. Nearly forgot to add - zero condensation with just a couple of the rear corner vents left open each evening. That was the best bit as nothing worse than waking up to that condensation thingie. Remeber it well from the venture scout vangos!

Also the Montana 6 awning & extension fit no problems, couldnt see the point on spending out on polycotton versions as there are gaping big holes either side anyhow, as extensions attach to any tent..!

What i didn't like: We bought the Montana 6/Lake footprint and carpet too, Extremely good quality products but waste of time really as they are both designed for the Montana 6 which is 300mm shorter. The carpet being a little shorter aint so bad as it just gives that little uncarpeted space for wet/muddy shoes and stops the rain dripping straight onto the carpet when opening the main front door. 

There are probably extemely good other branded tents out there, which you will soon be recommended, I can only speak of what i know and have experienced.

Andy (ps. threw a couple of pics of my tent under the tent review section, cant wait to go again)

Apparantly next season will see specific carpets and footprints for the Lake version if you want to be more specific.

Andy

I'd go straight for an all cotton canvas frame tent tbh. Warm in winter, cool in summer, far more UV resistant than synthetic (a good cotton canvas tent has a 30 year life span for normal use so it should last you two years). Yes a bell tent would be a good choice too but frame tents probably top them for usable space inside.

Or how about a trailer tent? You could get one for well under £1000 at this time of year and it would have a proper bed, good storage that you don't have to pack up between stops, a decent kitchen. Some come wired for electricity too. We've spent several holidays of up to two full months camping abroad in our TT and we've never felt cramped or uncomfortable. (There are four of us.)