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Topic: Recommend me a tent!

halfpint78

18/7/2012 at 7:15pm
Location: Black Isle
Outfit: Messina 200 vango artemis 500

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Hi there. I am a 4'10" single mum of a 9 year old. Last year I bought a Vango Artemis 500 - it was an impulse buy!! There are loads of features I love about the tent HOWEVER it isn't that easy for me to pitch alone (or with assistance from the boy) AND we have just returned our 2nd Artemis due to leaking and faults.

If I can get my money back I will probably look at getting something else. So I am looking for recommendations. I like the layout and features of the Artemis and had the canopy as well. We could live with something a bit smaller though. I need something easy to pitch. I am wary of the Vango now given the issues we've had.

Thanks in advance :)

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paul+kate s-o-t

18/7/2012 at 7:48pm
Location: stoke on trent
Outfit: Bailey 75-2

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Have a look at some of the Quechua pop up tents or if you've got spare cash at the min have a look at some of the smaller vango airbeams

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April Peak District Beech Croft Farm
May Peak District Duke of York
May Holland Delfse Hout
June Cotton Arms Nantwich
july/aug Cornwall Pentewan Sands
And quite a few local weekenders

bordercaz

19/7/2012 at 1:23pm
Location: Shropshire North Wales borders
Outfit: Adria Win

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If you can cope with something a bit smaller I would highly recommend the Gelert Atlantis 3 which I've recently bought.
I got mine on special offer with free footprint from Outdoor World Direct for about £90.

Easy to put up on my own and totally waterproof, inners are permanently attached. Plenty of room for me and the dog (large collie size).

-------------
Caz
If you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, just keep going till you go round the bend.

frogdropping

19/7/2012 at 2:17pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Monty-saurus 6

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Having looked at the Gelert Atlantis3,
I kinda think Caz might be pointing you
at the better alternative? I have a
Ventura 400, and can put it up
single-handedly just fine.

Anyway, the Gelert, real cosy looking,
good reviews, and the Outdoor World Direct
offer is a steal.

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RTS5

19/7/2012 at 4:19pm
Location: North Wiltshire
Outfit: Elddis & 3 tents

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The Vango icarus 300 (not standing height though) or Icarus 400 (standing height) are both great tents and very easy to erect alone or with company. I'd would go for the 400 though to give you that bit more room.

halfpint78

19/7/2012 at 7:07pm
Location: Black Isle
Outfit: Messina 200 vango artemis 500

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Thanks folks. I will try and get a proper look at them all once the boy is in bed. We actually have a cheap 4 man dome style but I like the SIG and layout of the artemis. £90 sounds a proper bargain...

frogdropping

19/7/2012 at 7:13pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Monty-saurus 6

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In case you like it enough ... the deal.

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bordercaz

19/7/2012 at 10:10pm
Location: Shropshire North Wales borders
Outfit: Adria Win

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It's £10 more now, but got a free carpet as well, I should have waited! But then I wouldn't have already had two weekends away in it.

Check the colour, mine is blue - I think OWD may only have blue, although I've seen it on other websites in brown, green and different shades of blue.

Also if you order elsewhere check it is this season's as last year's wasn't as tall.

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Caz
If you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, just keep going till you go round the bend.

MamieKate78

20/7/2012 at 9:06am
Location: Surrey but from Dumfries Originally
Outfit: Outwell Virginia 5

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Going to chip in my tuppence here, Outwell Virginia 5, 3 pole tunnel tent and I can pitch it on my own in 20-30 mins (but I am getting quicker) one big living area and a big sleeping pod which can be seperated with a drop down sheet. You can pick them up for about £160 at the moment.

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July - Honeybridge Park, West Sussex
August - 1 night somewhere close to home.
September - Swanage
October - Continent, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, France

(formerly Kate1978)

halfpint78

20/7/2012 at 9:25am
Location: Black Isle
Outfit: Messina 200 vango artemis 500

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Funnily enough the outwell is in my bookmarks as I liked the look of it too. I paid about £240 for tent and canopy plus 25 for footprint for Artemis. If I can spend less I'd be pleased tbh as we are skint :)

That Gelert Atlantis 3 also looks good and probably more suitable size for me and a 9 yr old. Sadly OWD are out of stock.

I need to see what vango are saying about the artemis before I buy anything anyway. They might just replace it rather than refund - and I doubt I'll get them to take back the canopy and footprint as well.

MamieKate78

20/7/2012 at 10:18am
Location: Surrey but from Dumfries Originally
Outfit: Outwell Virginia 5

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Read all the reviews on here as well, they give you a really good overall view on them from people who have used them, happy hunting

-------------
July - Honeybridge Park, West Sussex
August - 1 night somewhere close to home.
September - Swanage
October - Continent, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, France

(formerly Kate1978)

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

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frogdropping

22/7/2012 at 3:59pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Monty-saurus 6

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Halfpint just to say - I was at the Outdoor World Direct warehouse a couple of days ago. The guys in the office, Amjid, Dave and Danny are three great guys.

They couldn't do enough for me (I only went to pick up a tin of Fabsil) and to say I was impressed by the standard of service is an understatement.

As and when I buy a new tent, I'll buy from them simply because of the way in which they treat their customers. Anyway, whatever you choose, let us know.

It's always nice to know what someone ended up with after they'd made their mind up

Humbird

23/7/2012 at 11:47pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: 5M Bell Outwel WL5 Rosas Q Base II

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Hi halfpint, maybe look at a 4 metre bell tent also, or a pyrimid - perhaps a Hypercamp Escala - (it might suit you better because it will have one straight wall). I pitch both styles single-handedly very easily (approx 15 mins), while also keeping an eye on my 6 yr old boy, although he's now of an age where he's quite a help to me when pitching. Obelink do great pyrimids at very reasonable prices and are excellent quality. Good luck in your search.

halfpint78

11/8/2012 at 8:37pm
Location: Black Isle
Outfit: Messina 200 vango artemis 500

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The hypercamp one looks interesting. Like the wee porch bit. Still liking the gelert atlantis. I am still waiting to hear back from Vango and can't do anything until I know if I'm getting my money back. Sigh!

HEJC72

12/8/2012 at 4:14pm
Location: North Yorkshire
Outfit: Holi * Perran 4 * Airedale 5

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I love my Easy Camp Licata 400 which I can pitch solo in about 10-15 minutes (I'm a short, fat, unfit mum of 3)

I find the Licata a perfect size for me and my 10 year old son (other sons and OH aren't really into the whole camping lark!)

http://www.outdooraction.co.uk/tents-weekend-tents/easy-camp/easy-camp-licata-400-tent-pd-2199.php?gclid=CNu0iI2w4rECFUOIDgodFHgARQ

-------------
Helen xx
Mini Mad Mum

halfpint78

24/8/2012 at 3:18pm
Location: Black Isle
Outfit: Messina 200 vango artemis 500

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Hey there. Just wanted to say thanks for all the suggestions. Craigdon finally got back to me and said they would refund the tent and canopy which were bought as a package. I've immediately gone on and ordered the Gelert Atlantis. It's a lot smaller than the vango we had but the vango was an impulse buy and really far too big for us. I can't wait for the Gelert to arrive so we can do a trial weekend in it (before the winter sets in here in Scotland). I think I will get the canopy for the extra space. Tent and canopy together are still £110 cheaper than the vango package. Result!

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