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Topic: what to look for in small 4 man tent?

free-range-children

30/10/2013 at 8:43pm
Location: Dorset
Outfit: Khyam Faro 500 Mazda Bongo AFT

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Hi.

We have a decent size 5 man kyham with porch but hoping to walk south coast footpath with kids this coming year and need a basic tent which is low to ground (can be windy!!) And fairly light as will be carrying it. Also needs good hh.

Thanks

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Tynxuk

30/10/2013 at 9:15pm
Location: Sunny Suffolk (West)
Outfit: inflatable dome Palamos6 frame tent

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Are you happy to all sleep in the same space? do you need a living space?

snappydragon

30/10/2013 at 9:17pm
Location: wiltshire
Outfit: Juno5 Zeal500 Lichfield3 Zephyros3

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Don't know what your budget is but Terra Nova Laser space 5 is lightweight, though perhaps higher than you want?

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Still trying to get the packing right.

free-range-children

30/10/2013 at 9:28pm
Location: Dorset
Outfit: Khyam Faro 500 Mazda Bongo AFT

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Happy to be in together as I am single camping parent (hubby not interested) and not worried about living space as we hope to be on the move constantly. Will look at above, budget flexible for right tent. Thanks

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splendidisolation

30/10/2013 at 9:52pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Karsten 220 De Waard Visdief+Kuifuil

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Hoolie 4

Wild Country Hoolie 4? No experience personally though. Are there still 4 of you or just 3 if hubby not camping? Perhaps 2 2 man tents would be more versatile if both adults are going and you don't mind being in separate tents?

VangoMan02

31/10/2013 at 7:28pm
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Do you need space to brew up or cook!

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Bramston

31/10/2013 at 9:10pm
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2 smaller tents may be erected end to end creating a coverable mess area between them at less weight than a 4 man tent.
The smaller tents are more easily carried having shorter poles and pack bags and so shared around the family/group.
I have carried a 3 man tent on my bike, I certainly wouldn't want to fit a 4 man tent with all my personal kit in a back pack.

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richtea78

31/10/2013 at 11:10pm
Location: None Entered
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Quote: Originally posted by snappydragon on 30/10/2013
Don't know what your budget is but Terra Nova Laser space 5 is lightweight, though perhaps higher than you want?

Really difficult to find one of these though. What about the Vango Equinox 450?

hankakampa

01/11/2013 at 9:36am
Location: uk
Outfit: Karsten - sun storm - doesnt matter!

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hi free-range-children

i was recommended a smallish tent similiar to your requirements by another member on here.

the vango ark 400.

i went to go outdoors and they have the 300 version - bit smaller on display. - it has what they call a clip-in groundsheet in the little storage area. i wasnt sure about this as basically the tent sides come down to the ground and then turn inwards (15cm ish ) for a bit then stop. so they look like flaps around the edges. then on top of this you clip in a groundsheet.

anyways other than this i liked the tent. it comes in a small very easy to carry bag and is light.

so i came home, went online and lo and behold someone was selling the 400 version but last years model which is all green ( its green and black this year ) but i wasnt bothered about the colour scheme as i like green tents anyways, so i bought it for 49.95!

about half price.

but the best bit was this - when it arrived few days later, i put it up and discovered the 2012 model has a completely sewn in groundsheet - not the clip-in system of the 2013 tents!.

i was over the moon!.

have a looky at the vango ark ds400. its very spacious in the sleeping area, has a small storage porch for all yout bits and pieces, its 3000mm h/h, small pack size and light to carry.

if you can get it on offer somewhere especially for the 2012 version with the sewn in ground sheet then you might have found the perfect little tent!

just to let you know, i also have a slightly larger small tent - the Kampa Minnis4, very nice tent too, slightly bigger than the ark - it has a vis-a-vis bedroom arrangement - with a very small living space in the centre - and its 4000 mm h/h and a completely sewn in ground sheet - but its about 12kg - its a small pack size but its heavy ish for carrying - twice the weight of the vango ark. but if you value the 2 separate bedrooms then its worth looking at. i paid 99.95 for mine and it has been a great tent.

hope these 2 give you something to consider -)

my kampa minnis4

library pic of the ark ( not pitched it properly yet lol)

the arks dimensions :-

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robnchar

02/11/2013 at 12:22am
Location: Notts Derbyshire
Outfit: Soulpad 5000tribe Vango 450

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We have a Vango Equinox 450 and it is to heavy for back packing . A great tent but a hugh fly sheet for one person to carry even if you split it up and take the inners out . At over 6kg it ain't light . We have two smaller tents for backpack a Vauda Taurus II and a Wild country duolite tour the total weight of both tents together is under 5kg . And there easier to split .
The Equinox is a big tent and would give good amount of space for 4 even having space to brew up .

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