Hi There,
We are looking for a tent to suit my wife, me and our 2 yr old daughter,
We are looking to spend around £200,
We have been to go outdoors and like the looks of the outwell montana 6 and the hi-gear frontier 6, i have seen them both on ebay for around £200 used.
Is it worth getting a used tent or are there any new tents for around this price that are just as good,
Thanks in advance.
Phil
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Nothing wrong with second hand tents, but be very wary of how old they are or how many times they have been used.
Canvas tents should last years if looked after properly but polyester tents (like the Montana and the Frontier) have a limited lifespan of generally 12-16 weeks of cumulative use due to UV rays degrading the fabric.
Obviously this is a general rule of thumb and depends on a number of factors, ie a tent used in generally British cloudy conditions will be expected to last longer than one used in the South of France exposed to large amounts of strong sunshine.
------------- May 2015 - Arrow Bank 4 nights
July 2015 - Manorafon 4 nights
August 2015 - Piccadilly Caravan park 3 nights
August 2015 - Wheal Rodney 11 nights
As already mentioned if you buy second hand you need one that has only been used a couple of times and is in as new condition. The main thing to look out for is mould and mildew. A tent could only have been used once but if it has been put away damp then it could be rotten, so best to go and see the tent you want to buy before parting with your money.
Having said that, I have bought a couple of second hand tents off ebay without looking at them and have taken the sellers word for it that they were in good condition...fortunately they were. However, one only cost me £70 and turned out to be almost brand new and the other, an ex display 6 man tent, only cost me £45 with postage although I did reproof it for another £22.
I sold them both for a good price and recently bought a brand new tent off Amazon for £180...the most I have ever spent on a tent...and I have to say I have not been too pleased with it for various reasons.
My advice therefore is to find the tent you feel you would like and then try to find it as cheaply as possible, and you can get some good second hand bargains providing you are careful.
Throughout the summer you will come across people who have bought brand new camping gear and then discovered camping wasn't for them and they want to sell it again. You can get some good bargains in this way and won't have made the same mistake they did spending a fortune.
Don't forget to leave a review of all tents you've used, for a chance to win fantastic prizes