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Topic: First Family tent - Recommendations?

Bob11

08/9/2014 at 5:45pm
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Hi all

First post, so apologies if this has been answered many times.

After several successful camping trips the kids and wife have decided we need our first family tent. Having a big gap in my camping experience having not been camping since I was around 14, I feel like I have a lot to learn!

In short we're looking at getting a family tent for 2 adults and 2 children under 11. Ideally spending less than £300, and something that isn't too complex to put up. Do want to out everyone off early on!

All recommendations would be appreciated.

Thanks.

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MrsQ

08/9/2014 at 7:11pm
Location: Leicestershire
Outfit: Outwell Glendale 5 & a Cabanon Emma

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You need to ask yourself some questions first:

Do you prefer vis a vis tents, where there are bedrooms on each end, see the higear zenobia tent from go outdoors for an example, or do you prefer bedrooms at one end , which is like the higear frontier or oasis 6 (both of these are out of your price range).

With your price range you are probably looking at grp poles rather than steel if you bought new, and air poled tents are definately out of you price range as is polycotton.

Think about where you can dry it out if you pack up wet, have you got access to a garden that is long enough and wide enough?

One thing I can say, is that you will need at least a 6 berth tent.

Don't discount buying second hand at first.

MrsQ

08/9/2014 at 7:19pm
Location: Leicestershire
Outfit: Outwell Glendale 5 & a Cabanon Emma

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http://www.best-buys.co.uk/tents/5-6-berth-tents/royal-tokyo-6-with-footprint-groundsheet.html

This is an end bedroom one in your price range.

This is the zenobia vis a vis in your price range and if you bought the footprint it would be roughky the same price as the example above.

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/hi-gear-zenobia-elite-6-family-tent-p286217

BRYANMITCH

08/9/2014 at 7:20pm
Location: GATESHEAD
Outfit: Shiney new ALASKAand tent collection

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Look up outdoor megastore...regular and trusted advertiser on here.Good selection of 6 berth tents at sale prices at the moment around your price.My opinion--go for the extra space and remember---you get what you pay for! Its a good time to buy as the 2015 models are coming out so bargains to be had

on last years tents.
Im a vango fan...other makes are available.

-------------
Bryan- TENT CAMPER...by choice!

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Bob11

08/9/2014 at 7:42pm
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Thanks for the help so far. I was aiming for a 6 man tent, so your comments just re-enforce that further. We had borrowed a 5 man tent for a weekend last year and quickly realised we needed more space for everything other than people!

We certainly aren't ruling out second hand as a first purchase, and can be a little flexible on budget if needed.

Fibreglass poles aren't out of the question - them being lighter than steel might actually help us be ever more enthusiastic as we get in the swing of camping. Or should they be avoided at all costs?

Any recommendations if I go second hand?

Bob11

08/9/2014 at 7:45pm
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BTW, we do also have a reasonable sized garden for drying a tent and could fit most 6 man tents in it.

KampaWendy

08/9/2014 at 10:54pm
Location: High Wycombe
Outfit: Outwell Nevada M + Extension

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First off unfortunately rumour has it Outdoor Megastore may be going into receivership

Although in many years of camping I have never broke a fibre pole and admittedly I only own a fibre poled tent I have to admit a steel poled tent is a lot more stable in the wind. The downside of coarse is the extra weight and expense but the plus factors probably outweigh this.

A friend had a Kampa Croyde and I thought this was an excellent tent very stable with its steel poles and a built in front canopy ticks all the boxes, as a single female just that bit too heavy for me. but worth checking out the reviews on the tent review section

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MrsQ

09/9/2014 at 7:44am
Location: Leicestershire
Outfit: Outwell Glendale 5 & a Cabanon Emma

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Another question you need to think about is the size of the living space you need. You say your children are both under 11. If they are 10 and 9 for example, on a rainy day they might be more inclined to sit and play a game of cards with you, whereas, if like me you have a 5 year old on a long rainy day, after the obligatory puddle jumping walk, a 30 minute game of snakes and ladders, she then has the need to be able to roll herself around bit, so we need a relatively large living space.

As already mentioned, steel poles do make the tent more stable, but there is no reason to discount fibreglass poles. Just make sure you take few spares with you and a stringing kit, oh and the usual duck tape, which can be used in an emergency and according to my Dad who is a retired engineering person, it 'holds the world together'.

Bob11

09/9/2014 at 12:21pm
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The kids are 8 and 11, and if imagine the card playing would make regent very happy. I was thinking of either a Coleman coastline 6 deluxe or Outwell Montana 6 (which is very good price right now).

Thoughts on these or other tents?

MrsQ

09/9/2014 at 12:31pm
Location: Leicestershire
Outfit: Outwell Glendale 5 & a Cabanon Emma

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Both Coleman and Outwell are well known manufacturers of tents. I can't see that either would be 'better' than the other.

It's just down to your preference.

dodge20

09/9/2014 at 5:00pm
Location: Ulverston South Lakeland
Outfit: monty 6 deluxe Vango Asante 500

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Nothing wrong with either of the tents you mentioned. The outwell does have a larger living area than the coleman however, but as mentioned above it's down to personal preference.

-------------
Dance before the storm and don't look back to where you've been.

If you can keep your head when all around you are losing theirs, you obviously haven't grasped the gravity of the situation.

I don't want it I just need it.

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Katieep

09/9/2014 at 8:38pm
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We find steel poles easier to get in and out of the tent sleeves and more stable. But had a fibre glass vango previously and never had any probs. sept is a good time to buy lots of bargains. Take a look at tent fabric too - generally thicker the better and polycotton is heavy and big but lovely!

Katieep

09/9/2014 at 8:40pm
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Also porches are really useful!

susiewoo

14/9/2014 at 12:00am
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Hi there Bob11, where abouts are you? I'm not sure if this is allowed on here, if it isn't I apologise and plz remove this post, I don't know how to message personally - but we are looking at selling our Outwell Nevada XL in the coming months as we want to get a brand new inflatable family tent. The tent was already pre-loved but only used twice and we have used it for 2xweekends away and 1 week away. It does have some signs of use that were already there before we bought it - e.g mildew on the mesh door windows (which we hardly notice at all anymore). We've found it a great tent for starting out. It sleeps 6 comes with the extension, footprint and carpet and has loads of room. A few issues which I would get/am in the process of resolving is during a stint of atrocious rain and wind last trip out water did start seeping through above the bedrooms (already ordered the outwell water sealant to hopefully resolve that), the back pole that supports the bedrooms has a broken metal bit that fits the poles together - its fine at the mo using heavy duty tape, and held up fine in the windy weather but I would try and attempt to fix it by getting a DIY pole kit. Also, my dearest husband accidentally ripped one of the pegholes on the footprint groundsheet - not entirely off so it can still be used but I am in the process of ordering (hopefully as it is from ebay) replacement footprint and (again hopefully) another carpet for the tent (as we have very young kids and a dog so the carpet we have had is abit grubby in places! - no promises on these though but I do want to try and replace just for peace of mind). We bought it for £200 and could do a deal depending on if I can get all above sorted - if you are interested and not too far away - we are in east Yorkshire x

Magnoliab1965

14/9/2014 at 6:07pm
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Kids are 8 and 10 but you don't say if boy and girl of same sex. Will they want to be sharing room or even by the time they get to teens possibly as far away from each other as possible? Haha!

Rik Brooks

20/9/2014 at 7:20pm
Location: South London
Outfit: Cabanon Aruba Force 10 Crux Storm

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The way I'd go is a second hand good old fashioned frame tent.

For under £200 you can pick up something excellent like a Cabanon in good nick which will last you long after anything you buy new for £300 has fallen to bits and been binned.

They're not "sexy" or trendy but they're a far nicer place to be than any cheap synthetic. What's more they're "fixable" if they get damaged.

Take care.

R

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