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   Camping under canvas -  Tent talk. Advice, info and recommendations 		Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email  Printer Friendly Version Print
Subject Topic: Tent for dad and 1-2 young children? Post Reply Post New Topic
Personcaspian
29/5/2014 at 4:47pm
 Location: Warwickshire
 Outfit: Gelert Vesuvius 5 View caspian's Profile View Profile   Reply to caspian Reply   Quote caspian Quote  
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After a wind-swept and rainy night on the bank holiday weekend my wife has decided that camping's not really for her, at least until we can afford a top-spec tent with room for tables, chairs, campbeds etc.

I'd still like to take my daughter (6ys) and son (nearly 2yrs) camping, and while I think our current tent is great - it's a Gelert Vesuvius 5 - it needs at least two adults to pitch it and lacks some key features such as a sealed groundsheet.

Does anyone know of a decent tent with enough living space for the kids to sit and eat breakfast in the dry, but which can be pitched just by me (or with minimal help from the 6 yr old)?

Something along the lines of an Outwell Nevada MP although I'm not sure how easy that would be to pitch with just the two of us?


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Personshimmsie
29/5/2014 at 5:06pm
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Are you looking for a tent that can comfortably accommodate tables and chairs? Will it be for short breaks of 1 or 2 nights? What sort of budget do you have?

We have a Vango Icarus 500 for short breaks. It is fine for 4 but we wouldn't be able to get a table and chairs in there comfortably for eating. Mind you, there is a canopy you can get to go with but I don't know how easy it is to put up single handedly. Someone on here may be able to answer that one. However I can pitch the tent on my own (and I am a girl!!!).

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August 2013 - Kingsbridge, Devon
April 2014 - Ladram Bay,Devon
May 2014 - Whitehill Country Park, Paignton
July 2014 - Rivendale, Derbyshire


PersonCross Camping
29/5/2014 at 5:12pm
 Location: Hertfordshire
 Outfit: Anything I like !!! View Cross Camping's Profile View Profile   Reply to Cross Camping Reply   Quote Cross Camping Quote  
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You cant get much easier than inflatable but budget would need to be high, otherwise the next easiest tent is the Vango Kalu 400, take a look on youtube and you will see how easy it is to pitch. There is even a video of the Nevada being pitched by one guy... If he can do it being so fat and unfit anyone can... (its me)Just type in cross camping and you will find the channel

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Gary Cross - The masked camping guru.


Personcaspian
29/5/2014 at 9:07pm
 Location: Warwickshire
 Outfit: Gelert Vesuvius 5 View caspian's Profile View Profile   Reply to caspian Reply   Quote caspian Quote  
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Thanks for the replies - I'd like to keep the budget down, so that probably rules out an airbeam or similar.

The Icarus 500 looks about the right size - is the quality up there with the Outwells etc? This is mainly for weekend camping - two to three nights max.

I don't necessarily want a full table and chairs setup, but enough space for at least a couple of chairs and perhaps a small table to play cards on.


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PersonCross Camping
29/5/2014 at 9:27pm
 Location: Hertfordshire
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I would still say the Vango Kalu 400 would be the best, simple pitch and strong due to the steel frame.

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Gary Cross - The masked camping guru.


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Persongari
29/5/2014 at 11:15pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Trigano 340 Air 4 View gari's Profile View Profile   Reply to gari Reply   Quote gari Quote  
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I'm in a similar situation and was thinking of a smaller quick pitch tent. The smaller pyramid tents are supposed to be easy to pitch and have the advantage of being cotton. They don't seem to come up very often second hand so you may have to buy new. Obelink do one for £250 - I don't think it has a sewn in groundsheet though. Best to ask in the hypercamp appreciation thread if you're thinking of buying one.
Hypercamp Eldorado

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Post last edited on 29/05/2014 23:21:11


PersonMonsterBear
30/5/2014 at 1:35pm
 Location: Ross-on-Wye
 Outfit: Palamos 6 View MonsterBear's Profile View Profile   Reply to MonsterBear Reply   Quote MonsterBear Quote  
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For 2 or 3 night stays the Eldorado would be a good bet BUT you'd probably want a full size groundsheet instead of the lightweight thing they ship it with. It doesn't have a sewn / zip in groundsheet - traditional sheet and skirts. The bedroom pods are sewn in groundsheets though.

I'm assuming it will mainly be short notice fair weather camping.

Looks as though the Obelink Alaska has replaced the Escala 4... both these have ZIG's and you'll grow into them as a family / need more space. Bigger tents but should still be manageable to pitch if you're fairly fit.


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Personwelsh bob
30/5/2014 at 8:42pm
 Location: Bala
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Consider the 2014 Outwell Birdland M which is a three hoop tunnel construction. I have the 'S' version which I can easily pitch single handed, although perhaps not on a windy day.

One of the best features is that despite the sloping entrance, because of the 'rainsafe feature' (in reality a canopy) you don't get rain inside when you go in or out like a lot of modern tents.

Outwell Birdland M


Personcaspian
30/5/2014 at 9:28pm
 Location: Warwickshire
 Outfit: Gelert Vesuvius 5 View caspian's Profile View Profile   Reply to caspian Reply   Quote caspian Quote  
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Some good suggestions here, much appreciated. It will be for short-notice reasonably fair-weather camping - couple of showers are ok, but anything too wet and we'll either stay home or pack up and escape!

The Cross Camping way of pitching the Nevada looks managable with my daughter keeping the poles in place, but the Birdland M looks like a good bet, less than £250 which is also good. The front extension would also work as somewhere for the kids just to keep the sun off, but the aim would be to avoid spending long periods cooped up in the tent itself so a massive living area probably isn't as important.



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