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Topic: 1st timers buying a tent......help please

Lsnaj193

10/5/2015 at 6:48pm
Location: None Entered
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We borrowed a tent last year to see if we liked camping.....and myself, hubby and 2 (of our 3) children loved it. Want a decent tent, sewn in groundsheet is preference, has to sleep min of 5, (small chance our 17year old might come) don't want to spend a ridiculous amount as not sure how often we wil go. Definetly going once it warms up :). I have been looking at, (1st choice) the vango Icarus 500 in go outdoors. 2nd) gelert quest 5....purely cos of price and 3rd) the vango iris 600....but bit top heavy on price range. Any suggestions of tents or websites would be greatly received, thank you in advance.

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Graham

10/5/2015 at 6:56pm
Location: England.
Outfit: Tents (Lots of em)

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Can be worth looking on e-bay or similar as you may pick up one of your choices for a lot less cash....You wont save any money though because you will spend it on other 'essential' camping items that we all seem to need.

Then in two years you will want a bigger car.

Then the year after a tow bar and trailer....

Oh welcome to camping by the way....lol.

Just spend lots of nights on here and you will actually get lots of rather excellent info and tips. The campsite review section is superb.

-------------
Snowmen fall to earth in kit form........

Every day is a gift..That's why it's called the present.

Nostalgia is not what it used to be.

Stressed is just 'Desserts' spelt backwards

RichJean+Ellie

10/5/2015 at 7:24pm
Location: Telford Shropshire
Outfit: Kampa croyde 6 Series 3

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One thing for sure is you will need a larger birth tent than the number of people. A good rule of thumb is two more than the number of people as although a 4 birth will technically fit 4 people it will be a squeeze in the sleeping pods and not very much living space. So for 4 people consider a 6 birth. We have a 6 birth just for 3 of us!

A 6 birth should do you as your 17 year old can squeeze in if they only come every so often.

Also don't forget to budget for sleeping bags, airbeds/mats, stove, chairs, tables etc. As Graham says it soon mounts up. Space in the car is also important, with a family of 4/5 you will only have the boot so you may need a roofbox or trailer.

Have you a budget in mind?

-------------
May 2015 - Arrow Bank 4 nights
July 2015 - Manorafon 4 nights
August 2015 - Piccadilly Caravan park 3 nights
August 2015 - Wheal Rodney 11 nights

Lsnaj193

10/5/2015 at 8:18pm
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Thank you both!! We will def look at bigger tents now then for the space :) We have a four seater folding camping table and cool box anyway, and last year we did buy kettle with single gas cooker (which we now know wasn't big enough/used too much gas), also bought double sleeping bag,torches,and put together a plastic box of mugs,cutlery etc. both children had heavy sleeping bags n air beds in their christmas stockings ( as we learnt last year in the mid of the night the usual sleeping bags weren't warm enough even in August.....ooopppss) . No doubt there are still lots of other useful things we could buy. This year we need a double air bed for us and the actual TENT....when we find the right one. I don't want to spend more than £200 but hubby says might be worth going a bit more n than buying a bigger one in a year or two when 8 & 10 year old are bigger or if eldest does come but wants a friend too.....£250/300 max. We have an insignia so boot is a good size.

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Lsnaj193

10/5/2015 at 8:28pm
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Ps....on campsites do you get charged per person or per birth/size of your tent?

tentadventurer

10/5/2015 at 8:43pm
Location: Suffolk
Outfit: Vango Keswick 600 + 2 others

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Campsites vary... mist common is a price for a tent +2 people then small supplement per extra person.

Re tent... you definately need A 6 man for 4 people. The Vango Avington 600 is a nice size and under £300. Small, light pack size (in comparison to others), sewn in groundsheet, good living space, built on canopy. Plus blackoug pods in the bedrooms?

tentadventurer

10/5/2015 at 8:59pm
Location: Suffolk
Outfit: Vango Keswick 600 + 2 others

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If that's too much money for you, u've just spotted tge Eurohike Hampton 6 on offer at Millets for £224.50.

Haven't seen any reviews but looks a good price. They also give 10%off first order over £60 which MIGHT wirk with it anf bring it down to £202.05.

Eurohike Hampton 6

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Rhj296

10/5/2015 at 9:34pm
Location: Sweet Home Inversneckie
Outfit: Swift Elegance 565 Volvo V70 2.4

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If you want to maximise your buying power, try Gumtree or similar
You will find lots of tents that people have bought and just not used.
I would bargain hard and ensure you check them out first.

ddlkc

10/5/2015 at 9:34pm
Location: newcastle
Outfit: outwell carolina m outwel oakvill 500

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have a look at some kampa tents really good quality and the prices are really good compared to the likes of outwell

Lsnaj193

10/5/2015 at 10:36pm
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I have had a look on local gumtree, preloved and ebay but sadly can't find anything,thanks. Will look at Kampa too,thank you. The euro hike one looks good,will show hubby it tomorrow. Although I am not intending on going camping in the rain the good ole british weather is rather unpredictable.....so what should I be looking at for it being waterproof??

RichJean+Ellie

10/5/2015 at 11:03pm
Location: Telford Shropshire
Outfit: Kampa croyde 6 Series 3

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Can recommend Kampa, we have just bought a new Kampa Croyde 6, great tent and great value if a little heavy and bulky. The Kampa's are probably the best value for money at the moment!

The Kampa Hayling 6 is the fibreglass pole version of ours,

http://www.thefamilytentshop.com/PRD_ProductDetail.aspx?cid=11&prodid=2370&Product=Kampa-Hayling-6-Tent-2015

more compact and lighter due to the poles. The Family Tent Shop have it at £335, I know it's a little over your budget but it really would fit the bill. We got our tent from the same shop and had fantastic service from them, they are a family owned business that really do care about their customers. They even phoned me within an hour of ordering on line to arrange a convenient delivery.

As for waterproofness anything with a hydrostatic head (HH) of 4000 and up will be fine for British weather.

-------------
May 2015 - Arrow Bank 4 nights
July 2015 - Manorafon 4 nights
August 2015 - Piccadilly Caravan park 3 nights
August 2015 - Wheal Rodney 11 nights

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

New! Please upload a photo of your tent to the Tent Showcase!

ddlkc

11/5/2015 at 12:27pm
Location: newcastle
Outfit: outwell carolina m outwel oakvill 500

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if you are not too bothered about this years model you may be able to pick up a good deal on older versions

Frazzle-

12/5/2015 at 10:20pm
Location: Hampshire
Outfit: Outwell Montana 6P tent

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What about the Vango Tigris 800XL? which we are selling (when we get round to it). Is a tunnel tent with bedrooms at both ends. 4 man one end and 2 x 2 person at other. We also had the porch on the side for our kitchen area. They stopped making it last year so it should be cheaper to buy.

Now have a Montana 6p but as it is a current tent (albeit a previous year) it is still past your budget - although maybe second hand.

Airbed - we recommend the coleman dual (something or other). It has left and right areas to be able to be pumped up to different hard/softness.

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