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Subject Topic: Advice on the next tent for us please. Post Reply Post New Topic
Personctaplin
09/8/2016 at 5:21pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Outwell malibu 5 View ctaplin's Profile View Profile   Reply to ctaplin Reply   Quote ctaplin Quote  
Joined: 26/7/2005

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Hello all

We're starting the search for our next tent. We have currently got an Outwell Malibu 5 with all the expansions making it a huge tent. Its is on its last legs with a few rips and the material feeling brittle so apart from a long weekend booked already for bank holiday, it's on the way to tent heaven. I cant say its been an exceptional tent either. We got it cheap and that was the main reason for buying it!!!

The trouble is, since we've been camping for the past few years, we've grown a list of 'wants' in out next tent. A list that seems an impossible dream when looking around. Here it is!!! (and our reasons for them)

1) There's usually 3 of us camping so 5 man minimum (OK this isn't so impossible)
2) D shape doors all around (The Malibu has 'flappy' doors which don't seal at the bottom)
3) All doors to have mesh so we can keep the doors open without bugs getting in on warm days.
4) Some sort of fixed awning (preferable with a door to close down at night) The Malibu has a sloping door which we have added a tarp to keep the rain out when stepping in and out
5) Nothing too big. The tents that fit our criteria tend to be the 8 man ones. We're trying to reduce the size of stuff we travel with. Every trip we come back with something new and the budget wont allow for a car change too...
6) zip up curtains (Ok, this is a luxury but, I'd rather pay extra for this than spend 20 mins in the morning and 20 mins at night just sorting the the blinking curtains...)
7) Dark bedrooms that are full enclosed, not toggled partitions.
8) Something that will give us a good 5+ years of use. (The Malibu hasn't) therefore, willing to pay a premium if needs by
9) Needs to be an Air tent for speed of pitching and the fact that I normally have to do it single handed
10) I'm sure I'll think of a number 10 soon!

So here's ones I've seen so far by manufacturer

Vango
Rivendale (8 man - why cant they do a smaller version... grrrr)
Illusion (8 man - why cant they do a smaller version... grrrr)
Rhapsody (8 man - why cant they do a smaller version... grrrr)
Inspire 600 but then would need awning to enclose the front and give more front space for cooking in the rain etc.

Outwell
Harrier 6SATC (would need awning)
Phoenix 7ATC Tent (not totally happy that its part poles)
Cruiser 6AC (would need an awning) and no zip curtains nooooooo

Kampa
Hayling not a full closed door or mesh
Croyde same as Hayling

Open to other suggestions, this are tents we've seen and rated.
My top at the moment would be the Vango Rivendale or Illusion if only it could be slighlty small

Thanks for reading and I look forward to your comments.


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PersonSkiiddy
09/8/2016 at 5:49pm
 Location: Devon
 Outfit: None Entered View Skiiddy's Profile View Profile   Reply to Skiiddy Reply   Quote Skiiddy Quote  
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budget?

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2018 & so it begins.

April - please, just one weekend!
May - Who knows....
June - Tristram, Polzeath 10 nights
August - Dartmouth Regatta 4 nights


PersonAUSTINS
10/8/2016 at 7:54am
 Location: 
 Outfit:  View AUSTINS's Profile View Profile   Reply to AUSTINS Reply   Quote AUSTINS Quote  
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We do not have your location, if you let us know where you are, that little extra for you to get help, would help us to give you 'outlets' who have stuff you can see and feel while erected. Without this little extra I will say "Look at Attwolls in Whitminster, Gloucestershire. They have a vast range of both Vango and Outwell fully erected,inside the shop, and outside in the viewing area of more 'named' brands".
By the way we have experience of Vango air awnings for our 'van', and quite honestly we think they are the best of all air products. They had been making tents this way for many years. Then all of a sudden as soon as they made a drive away awning for 'vans'....the market became flooded with more and more air products both tent and awning. Good luck.


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Fish like a matchman <*))))><


Personctaplin
10/8/2016 at 8:54am
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Outwell malibu 5 View ctaplin's Profile View Profile   Reply to ctaplin Reply   Quote ctaplin Quote  
Joined: 26/7/2005

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Hi - Thanks for the replies.

Budget is open. I'm not expecting to get everything on the list at a low cost.

I'm near Preston. Attwolls is a little far. I dont mind travelling an hour or so which would get me to Penrith up North or Chester going south.

I've seen there's a tent expo at Cotswolds in Keswick over the Bank Holiday Weekend but we've already booked to go to North Wales camping.

I'd be interested in knowing of other events like this. I've heard of a big expo in February. Would that be the Camping & Caravan show?

Thanks


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PersonCampernic
10/8/2016 at 6:28pm
 Location: Northern Ireland
 Outfit: Bell Tent Vango Coleman and Quechua View Campernic's Profile View Profile   Reply to Campernic Reply   Quote Campernic Quote  
Joined: 28/4/2013

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You'll get the best prices now, I wouldn't wait until Feb, or next year.


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Personctaplin
10/8/2016 at 6:36pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Outwell malibu 5 View ctaplin's Profile View Profile   Reply to ctaplin Reply   Quote ctaplin Quote  
Joined: 26/7/2005

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Yes you're probably right, with the exchange rate there's a good chance of higher prices for the same tents next year.

Because we're so flipping picky with our wants and needs, I wondered whether it was worth waiting to see if any new designs come out next year.

e.g. Vango Might add double zips to their doors
Outwell might bring out a tent with a decent size front pouch

I live in hope!!!


PersonThe Luggage
14/8/2016 at 1:54pm
 Location: Droitwich
 Outfit: Kampa Croyde Air 6 and Quechua Base View The Luggage's Profile View Profile   Reply to The Luggage Reply   Quote The Luggage Quote  
Joined: 06/1/2013

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Please don't buy Kampa. I invested, after much research, in the Kampa Croyde Air 6. First holiday and it leaked in many places especially pooling at base of beams in SIG. Tent going back and hoping for reimbursement. Before leaks neighbouring camper asked if it leaked and we said no as first time up. That night it rained and leaked nearly every beam. wouldn't mind so much but not driving rain and only light for a few hours.
Kampa being a right pain but camping retailer helping loads

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Better to be thought a fool and remain silent, than to speak and remove all doubt


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!


PersonMack84
14/8/2016 at 7:46pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Outwell hornet xl View Mack84's Profile View Profile   Reply to Mack84 Reply   Quote Mack84 Quote  
Joined: 18/6/2015

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Air tent can leak the first time in the rain as you blow up the beams you can stretch the cotton thread a bit this will let some water in at it just needs weathering.
I sprayed mine just along the beams the first time out and have had no issues.
If you read on some off the older post you can see that Gary from cross camping did say his kampa display tent did leak when the first rain came but had no issues with them since as they now have been weathered, so please don't let this put you off air tents


Personjacfrosty
15/8/2016 at 8:28am
 Location: Sussex
 Outfit: Vango Solace 400 Airbeam View jacfrosty's Profile View Profile   Reply to jacfrosty Reply   Quote jacfrosty Quote  
Joined: 09/7/2012

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We bought a vango solace 400 airbeam this year (2016). We love it. It's polycotton and looks a bit like the outwell wolf lake 5 pre 2012. I know it might not be quite as big as you would like, but we are having a great time with this tent this summer.


Personctaplin
15/8/2016 at 12:02pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Outwell malibu 5 View ctaplin's Profile View Profile   Reply to ctaplin Reply   Quote ctaplin Quote  
Joined: 26/7/2005

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Thanks Jacfrosty - I've not seen that one before. Looks like a contender. Would like to see it in person to judge the size though.

It looks ideal with the front extension on.



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