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Topic: Advice on buying a family tent please

Owens101

02/9/2011 at 10:40pm
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Hi after a weekend in a very cheap tent we have decided we would like to go again with a better one. We are a family of 4 on a budget, I have been looking on eBay as outwell tents look fab but are too expensive. I like the Nevada M and with the footprint, carpet and extension it would really suit us. There is one on ebay at 150 at the moment which is 2011 model, is 2nd hand a good way to go? Blacks have tent new for 200, so thought maybe get go outdoors to match and beat but with the extras it really does push it a little out of reach.

So I am hoping some more experienced campers could give me their thoughts on what I should do, or any suggestions of other deals of similar tent packages out there? Maybe I should wait for end of year sales?

Thanks in advance for any help

Post last edited on 02/09/2011 22:51:23

Post last edited on 02/09/2011 23:07:01

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kian06

02/9/2011 at 10:54pm
Location: Mcr
Outfit: Gelert Horizon 8

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Have alook at kampa tents,seem to b good quality e g frinton 5. remember you get what you pay for.

Owens101

02/9/2011 at 11:06pm
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Thanks, will look into kampa.

Just realised what I'm wanting is the Nevada M ;) have been looking at so many I'm losing track. It's my new obsession, lol

OArthur

04/9/2011 at 3:03pm
Location: Suffolk UK
Outfit: Outwell Arizona L & Kampa Holkham 6

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There's a fab family tent on the free ads on here!

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/forsale/v/Kampa-Holkham/Filey-6-Classic/10246

There are many others for sale too!...

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daveslisa

04/9/2011 at 3:17pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Too many!

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I've just got a vango Breakout 600 Dlx after it was recommended by another poster....if you google it it will take you to the site we got it from (outdoor direct)....on offer at the mo...tent, carpet and footprint for £200...lovely tent, very spacious, not too heavy and very easy to pitch......have I sold it to you yet

-------------
I am who I am

foggers

04/9/2011 at 6:25pm
Location: Sheffield
Outfit: Cabanon Guadeloupe Zephyros3

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Hi Owens101 - there is always that element of uncertainty with a 2nd hand purchase via ebay, because you can'[t check the quality of the item, unless the seller has provided detailed pics or they are near enough for you to see it pitched before deciding. On the plus side if paying by PayPal you have the protection of being about to open a dispute if there is a problem with the transaction.

The Vango Breakout 600package suggested by daveslisa is worth thinking about. It is a bigger tent than the Outwell Nevada M and the layout means the bedrooms are at both ends; on the other hand the Nevada M has a rainhood on its side door and has flexi-poles which are a bit stronger than ordinary fibreglass as they have a woven over-layer of fibres.

It is always a bit nail-biting making a decision, so good luck with weighing it all up!

CMP1701

09/9/2011 at 6:39pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Outwell or Kampa???

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Hi All,

Sorry to jump on this post but did not want to repeat what has already been asked.
I'm looking for a family tent and want to go the route of a tunnel tent mainly for the good living area.

My husband wants to buy a bell tent which I think would be great for when we both go camping, but I think as an addition it would be good to also get a family tent. Would love an Outwell Bear or Wolf Lake 5, but can't really stretch the budget.

I know this is a lot to ask, but can anyone recommend a very similar model but at a more reasonable price, but of good quality?

Would really love a poly/cotton tunnel tent, sleeping 5 (3+2), good living space and to have a front porch. I don't re4ally like sloping fronts as the ones I have seen let the rain in.
If poly/cotton is not possible then a really good, non-leaking nylon or polyester.
My budget is £400.

Thanks Charmie

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petemillis

09/9/2011 at 6:46pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Bell tent & lavvu & Coleman Avior X2

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Charmie, bell tents (5m ones) do make fab family tents. Loads of space to sleep and for day times, absolutely no feeling of claustrophobia as can be experienced in lots of typical tents with sleeping pods. 5 of us (2 adults, 3 kids) camp in ours and have plenty of space even with an inner tent fitted. And a nice canvas tarp attached to the tent gives heaps of covered space outside.

Zeelees

09/9/2011 at 7:35pm
Location: Ashford mx
Outfit: vango Calder 500

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Owens101,what about the outwell virginia 5 (only at yeomans) down to £150 at the moment,can get a carpet and front extension for it too,sleeps 3+2 and has a storm door,just an idea.

-------------
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April- Forest Glade
June-Grizedale
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and lots more besides

CMP1701

09/9/2011 at 8:04pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Outwell or Kampa???

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Hi petermills thanks for the advice.

I know we will definitely go the route of getting a bell tent, probably a 5m or a 6m Emperor and will try to buy from Holland.

Just thought for family camping especially with awkward teenage children the tunnel tent made more sense when we all went away together. Sometimes we just take the youngest.
Was unsure about the bell tent for room.

Charmie

poppy.dog

10/9/2011 at 12:55pm
Location: Rural Peterborough!
Outfit: Elddis Xplore 302 & Defender 110 CSW

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Charmie have you seen the Wynnster Perpignan in polycotton?

Currently £335 from Somerset Camping...
Sorry about size of pic, I'm using Chrome...badly!

-------------
Yes, the car is bigger than the 'van.

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valbarley

10/9/2011 at 1:25pm
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Is that a life size scale pic of the perpignan...?

poppy.dog

10/9/2011 at 1:45pm
Location: Rural Peterborough!
Outfit: Elddis Xplore 302 & Defender 110 CSW

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sorry Val!

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Yes, the car is bigger than the 'van.

CMP1701

11/9/2011 at 7:29pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Outwell or Kampa???

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Hi poppy.dog that is fantastic.
Good size, looks just like the Outwell even with the steel poles and poly cotton.
Price is fantastic.
Thanks loads.....that's prefect....

Will look at reviews.
Charmie

Finnboy

11/9/2011 at 8:52pm
Location: Medway Kent
Outfit: Base Sec 4.2 Base Sec 2 Sec+III

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Remember that Wynnster will weigh a tonne and take up a lot of room in a car.....

That might not seem important but if you have a smallish car fully loaded with your family and gear it could be a big issue.

A massive tent isnt always the way to go in my opinion. You pay for all that space with extra time spent pitching or packing away. Even more of a factor if you wish to use the tent for short trips away also.

You need to ask yourself a few questions.

Do you plan on spending dsaytimes in the tent or will you be out and about most of the time? If the latter, you dont need a big tent really.

Is it for long, short trips... or both?

Anyway, good luck with your hunt and there are a lot of deals on this time of the year. Personally I would buy new unless you can see a secondhand tent pitched first. Just my opinion!

-------------
(Quechua popup addict!)
Planned for next year, hopefully!

Summer Solstice wild camp.

Chilled in a Field, July.

Crantock, August. Fouth year with the fantastic Quechua Base Seconds 4.2!
..... and the odd night wild camping in my Argos 1 man tent...

petemillis

12/9/2011 at 9:49am
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Bell tent & lavvu & Coleman Avior X2

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That Wynnster Perpignan 6 looks pretty good value a the moment - £274.99 from the Wynnster web site http://www.wynnster.com/detail.asp?p=497. Quite heavy - 2 bags totalling approx 43kg. One is 16kg and the other is 27kg so still easily manageable.

If you are buying a polyester tent then I would definitely buy new and not second hand. The trouble with polyester is that is has a limited lifetime in terms of the total amount of time in the sun before it starts to degrade badly. Buying second hand you have no idea how much use it has had and you may find you have problems after just a few weekends of camping. I found this out myself with a second hand North Face dome tent. We got one weekend as a family, and I got a few extra days by myself, then when we went to pitch it again the following year, despite very careful storage, we found the waterproof membrane on the inside of the pole sleeves had degraded so badly that we wouldn't slide the poles in at all. The fly sheet also ripped when I got it out of the bag. Cotton canvas and poly-cotton are both much better in this respect, and make much more sensible second hand buys.

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