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Subject Topic: First time camper looking for a tent!! Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonGib39
13/9/2015 at 9:50pm
 Location: County Durham
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I'm looking to buy a tent for next year and basically starting with zero knowledge. I've looked at many tents of varying cost for me, my wife and 3 year old son. I've seen one in Halfords for £160 with decent reviews on a number of websites however it's alot cheaper than other outlets so I'm unsure.

I have a number of questions please if anyone can help:

Is it actually possible to get a good 5 person tent for under £200?
Is the Halford urban atago any good?
What hydrostatic rating is adequate for UK?

Thanks


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PersonBob61
13/9/2015 at 11:38pm
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There are lots of 5 person tents for under £200. Look here

I would go for one that is standing height unless you want to be crawling around inside. The Urban Escape Atago 5 Man Tent looks ideal.

In the UK British Standards dictate that for a material to be sold as 'waterproof' it should have a minimum hydrostatic head of 1500mm. Anything above that will be fine and the Atago is 3000mm which is double the British Standard and about average these days. All a higher HH does is add to the price!


PersonGib39
14/9/2015 at 9:08am
 Location: County Durham
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Thanks for the response. I was thinking the same regarding the HH and unnecessary increased cost.


PersonBob61
14/9/2015 at 11:26pm
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My first tunnel tent was only 1500mm and suffered a few storms without leaking. I have since had a 2000mm and a couple of 3000mm and no leaks directly through the material.

I like the look of the Atago and the only things I don't like about it are the fibreglass poles as I now prefer metal poles which seem more stable, and the outside window curtains which seems a silly place to have them. I would certainly consider it if I needed a new tent.

Video

Post last edited on 14/09/2015 23:55:10


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PersonBRYANMITCH
15/9/2015 at 12:58am
 Location: GATESHEAD
 Outfit: Shiney new ALASKAand tent collection View BRYANMITCH's Profile View Profile   Reply to BRYANMITCH Reply   Quote BRYANMITCH Quote  
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Just been browsing JR LEISURE website...some really good deals on 2015 vango tents at the moment..the callisto 600 would be worth a look at a little over £200.Plenty of other stuff on there.Personally-I dont rate halfords as a supplier of decent tents and my only experience with one of their tent packages involved a skip!
Always buy the best you can afford--buy right -buy once.
Bob61 is right about steel poles..much better and stronger.Be careful with fibre-glass poles..the difference in quality is vast between cheap and expensive tents!
Its s good time to buy now --plenty of suppliers clearing out ready for 2016 models.
You dont show your location...the folk on here will let you know who,s got what and where they are.

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Bryan- TENT CAMPER...by choice!


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Personpaulinekezza
15/9/2015 at 7:44am
 Location: Darwen Lancashire
 Outfit: Khyam Colorado & Sunn Camp Breton 500 View paulinekezza's Profile View Profile   Reply to paulinekezza Reply   Quote paulinekezza Quote  
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Hi I have recently bought a Sunncamp Breton 500 Deluxe. It is currently up and being weathered/checked for leaks (since Sunday). It went up really easily even for the first time (only three main poles) and so far everything is nice and dry. Will be putting a review on once we have been away and used it. There are three of us and there is plenty of room. I paid £235 for it from Camping & General plus £25 for the footprint and delivered free. Most other suppliers are charging £265 just for the tent. It has steel side poles with fibreglass roof poles with two steel internal side roof poles for extra rigidity. It has a hh of 6000 and looks good too. I know this is over your £200 but the difference in quality for the money is huge.
Pauline

-------------
I have NEVER been lost, though I do admit to spending several hours locationally challenged

More tentage = Campus Sherpa 4 - reproofed and still going strong

In Memorandum = Vango Quest, Khyam Chatsworth, and a frame tent OH wouldn'try!!!!


PersonGib39
15/9/2015 at 8:49pm
 Location: County Durham
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All valid and worthy points thanks. My budget isn't really fixed but as the Halfords tent appeared to be at a good price for what u get I thought £200 would be a good budget to set for discussion. Since looking I've now seen the hi gear enigma 5 tent as well for £179 but again there's so much choice and the price varies quite abit. The vango calisto 600 looks ok as well as the 400 but this maybe a bit small. I do like the tents with abit of a canopy as well tho.

All feedback has been very helpful thanks.


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PersonBob61
15/9/2015 at 10:26pm
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I don't know why tents are still made with sloping front doors that let the rain and dew inside as soon as you open them, as well as the difficulty scrabbling around on hands and knees finding the zips. The flat front door with a little canopy above are much better.


Personfoggers
15/9/2015 at 11:49pm
 Location: Sheffield
 Outfit: Cabanon Guadeloupe Zephyros3 View foggers's Profile View Profile   Reply to foggers Reply   Quote foggers Quote  
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Thinner fibreglass poles are inherently weaker, but tent makers have started to reinforce them with a sleeve of woven fibres which gives greater strength ( trade name for them is Durawrap). Steel poles are heavy and bulky, and for some campers, weight and size has to be a consideration, if you have limited packing space and limited physical strength.
The best poles are alloy, which give the best strength to weight ratio and have more flex than steel. Ever read Aesops fable of the bulrushes and the oak tree? It's the bendy rushes that survive the storm as they flex and bounce back. However, alloy poles are much more costly.....


PersonFrancais
17/9/2015 at 6:39pm
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Personally I would not entertain a Polyester Tent for family camping, great for back packing though.

My choice would be PolyCotton, which will push the budget up.

I went for 100% Cotton, only because we don't go camping in the UK, only the South of France during July for us.

A good compromise is Cabanon's "All Season Polyester" almost like PolyCotton in appearance, but arguably stronger and longer lasting than both Cotton and PolyCotton.


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Personfoggers
07/10/2015 at 11:04pm
 Location: Sheffield
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Quote: Originally posted by Francais on 17/9/2015


A good compromise is Cabanon's "All Season Polyester" almost like PolyCotton in appearance, but arguably stronger and longer lasting than both Cotton and PolyCotton.


That is an interesting claim to make about polyester, even from a high quality maker like Cabanon. Is there a waterproof PVC layer on the inner side of the material? That is usually how polyester and nylon tents are made waterproof, and it degrades due to UV light, thus leading to a shorter lifespan than cotton or poly cotton. I am really curious!


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PersonFrancais
08/10/2015 at 7:47am
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Yes foggers, I am quite sure that the Cabanon "All Season Polyester" canvas is from the "Tencate" Solaire stable, but which one I don't even think Cabanon would disclose, it may in fact even be an exclusive to Cabanon.

It's known that Cabanon's "All Season Polyester" was first developed for there commercial customers, who were replacing an ageing stock of "Cotton" canvas tents, so I am thinking Eurocamp and alike.

Also legend has it, that Cabanon tested many "PolyCotton" canvas variants, but none were suitable, and probably explains why Cabanon never came out with a "PolyCotton" canvas tent.

Oddly though Cabanon did manufacture tents in "Polyester" as well as "All Season Polyester".

But of course Cabanon is still best known for the quality of there "Cotton" canvas tents.


Personfoggers
08/10/2015 at 9:41pm
 Location: Sheffield
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Quote: Originally posted by Francais on 08/10/2015
Yes foggers, I am quite sure that the Cabanon "All Season Polyester" canvas is from the "Tencate" Solaire stable, but which one I don't even think Cabanon would disclose, it may in fact even be an exclusive to Cabanon.

It's known that Cabanon's "All Season Polyester" was first developed for there commercial customers, who were replacing an ageing stock of "Cotton" canvas tents, so I am thinking Eurocamp and alike.

Also legend has it, that Cabanon tested many "PolyCotton" canvas variants, but none were suitable, and probably explains why Cabanon never came out with a "PolyCotton" canvas tent.

Oddly though Cabanon did manufacture tents in "Polyester" as well as "All Season Polyester".

But of course Cabanon is still best known for the quality of there "Cotton" canvas tents.

How interesting! I am a fan of Cabanon and very happy to finally own one. Does their polyester have a PVC lining or not?


PersonFrancais
09/10/2015 at 11:27am
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Hi foggers, I am not sure about Cabanon's "Polyester" tents, they did do the Biscaya 370 and Cancun in "Polyester" and buyers did say that it was a thicker canvas than other makers of "Polyester" tents around at the time.

Interestingly the "Polyester" Biscaya 370, was the only model in the Biscaya range to have a SiG and not a ZiG.


Personyoulbury
09/10/2015 at 12:48pm
 Location: Cornwall
 Outfit: Outdoor Revolution Ozone 6.0 xtr Vario View youlbury's Profile View Profile   Reply to youlbury Reply   Quote youlbury Quote  
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Heres a quick list, in and around your budget.

We have the Vango Calisto 600 only in blue now and you will not find a canopy. Very solid steel poled tent.

Calisto


or the higher spec Asante 600 in blue for £20 more.

Asante 600

The above are steel poled tents that should provide a few years of camping without the worry of bending fibreglass poles in the wind.

If you want to look at a comparison look to the Urban Escape try Hi Gear or look at the Eurohike Rydal 500 around £140 + with discount codes

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It's better to ask a silly question than make a silly mistake.


Personfoggers
25/10/2015 at 3:21am
 Location: Sheffield
 Outfit: Cabanon Guadeloupe Zephyros3 View foggers's Profile View Profile   Reply to foggers Reply   Quote foggers Quote  
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Personally I would go for a reliable make like Vango over Halfords or Eurohike or Hi Gear. Their tents tend to have good design features, good build quality and I have found customer services to be helpful when needed.



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