Home Log in or Register

Message Forums

Welcome Guest

Reception - All Forums

Camping under canvas - Tent talk. Advice, info and recommendations

Topic: Returning to camping, buying secondhand?

wetnwindy

26/6/2020 at 9:52am
Location: None Entered
Outfit: None Entered

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 19/6/2007

Standard Member

Forum Posts: 20

Site Reviews Total:	0

Site Reviews 2025:	0
Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	0
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	0
Site Reviews 2019:	0

Site Nights 2025:	0
Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	0
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	0
Site Nights 2019:	0

It’s been over 10 years since we’ve camped, having fun with the kids, but now they’ve grown up, moved out and married, they are trying to persuade us to start again with them!

So, having gotten rid of most of our stuff, we’re virtually starting again. First priority is a tent, but don’t want to spend £££, so was thinking of secondhand. Any recommendations for what to go for? What are the good brands now? We don’t want to be cramped, so was thinking of 5 or 6 man for the two of us, with reasonable living area and possibly a porch, but didn’t want to spend more than about £200 on a used tent. Is that a realistic budget?

I’ve always used the advice of “Buy cheap, buy twice” and “You get what you pay for!”, as well as “Any fool can be uncomfortable!”

Any thoughts?

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!

wetnwindy

26/6/2020 at 10:07am
Location: None Entered
Outfit: None Entered

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 19/6/2007

Standard Member

Forum Posts: 20

Site Reviews Total:	0

Site Reviews 2025:	0
Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	0
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	0
Site Reviews 2019:	0

Site Nights 2025:	0
Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	0
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	0
Site Nights 2019:	0

We used to have a Vango Diablo, is that still a reasonable tent or has technology, style & performance moved on?

James Watt

26/6/2020 at 10:18am
Location: Costa Del West Sussex
Outfit: Tesco 4 Man Dome. Outwell Virginia 5

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 31/5/2010

Platinum Member

Forum Posts: 994
Tent Reviews: 1

Site Reviews Total:	1

Site Reviews 2025:	0
Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	0
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	0
Site Reviews 2019:	0

Site Nights 2025:	0
Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	0
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	0
Site Nights 2019:	0

Hello wetnwindy.

I've been looking for a cheap tent myself.

I have seen something of interest, it a Hi-Gear Enigma 5, size 465x320, height 210cms for £70.

https://www.gumtree.com/p/tents/hi-gear-enigma-5-tent/1376414687

It may be the one from Tenby, South Wales.

Regards James

-------------
In the beginning there was darkness.
Then I bought a tent.
I'm not destitute, I'm just poor.

Francais

26/6/2020 at 9:10pm
Location:
Outfit:

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 29/6/2008

Diamond Member

Forum Posts: 12116
Tent Reviews: 1

Site Reviews Total:	4

Site Reviews 2025:	0
Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	0
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	0
Site Reviews 2019:	1

Site Nights 2025:	0
Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	0
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	0
Site Nights 2019:	14

We got our tent back in 2008, and it’s been perfect for our fortnight campings for just the two of us, and is still in like new condition, if you can find one used it would be a good buy.

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!

DeborahTurner

via mobile 27/6/2020 at 7:53am
Location: London
Outfit: Vango Kalu Hypercamp Eldorado

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 11/8/2011

Platinum Member

Forum Posts: 1318
Tent Reviews: 3

Site Reviews Total:	24

Site Reviews 2025:	0
Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	3
Site Reviews 2022:	4
Site Reviews 2021:	1
Site Reviews 2020:	3
Site Reviews 2019:	1

Site Nights 2025:	0
Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	8
Site Nights 2022:	12
Site Nights 2021:	3
Site Nights 2020:	8
Site Nights 2019:	2

Vango are still a leading brand, also Outwell, Kampa, Zempire becoming v popular and well regarded.

Have a look at the ‘upgrade’ thread for some lower budget suggestions.

My reservations with second hand polyester tents is that they have a finite life as polyester degrades in UV light and if, for example, ‘used 3 times’ means 3 x 2 week hols in the S of France the tent will be half way through it’s time before deterioration starts.

So I would look carefully at a second hand tent before you buy.

katymg

29/6/2020 at 5:59pm
Location: Scotland
Outfit: Abbey Expression 500L

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 29/3/2015

Standard Member

Forum Posts: 96
Tent Reviews: 1

Site Reviews Total:	2

Site Reviews 2025:	0
Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	0
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	0
Site Reviews 2019:	1

Site Nights 2025:	0
Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	0
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	0
Site Nights 2019:	3

Hi

If you haven't camped for a while ... here are the things I think have changed: windows, built-in groundsheets, carpets, possibility of electric hook up, air tents.

You don't say what age/fitness you are ... I'm 50 with a 10 year old and I love my Vango Langley 400. I personally would not want anything bigger than mine .. but I am putting it up pretty much myself (yeah, 10 year sometimes helps). What I love about my tent is all the windows. I had a previous starter 4 Man from Halfords with one tiny window - so when it rained you felt very isolated inside the tent. Now we can hang in the living room in the rain but still see out. It has a carpet and it's cosy and we have inflatable chairs. Plenty room for friends to hang with you. It has a canopy that covers the front door - which is fab. Means shoes/chairs/random stuff doesn't get soaked and it means you can come in and out without rain pouring into the tent. And sit outside under the canopy with a cuppa/wine in Scottish drizzle. I have actually bought a porch extension which goes onto this canopy area which is great if you aren't taking a separate camp kitchen shelter (which I usually do). There are quite a few tents that are very similar to Vango Langley. I personally didn't buy second hand but shopped around and shopped around until I found a good deal (the previous season's colour - who cares?) including a carpet and footprint.

Good luck with getting back into camping.
Katy

wetnwindy

30/6/2020 at 9:32am
Location: None Entered
Outfit: None Entered

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 19/6/2007

Standard Member

Forum Posts: 20

Site Reviews Total:	0

Site Reviews 2025:	0
Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	0
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	0
Site Reviews 2019:	0

Site Nights 2025:	0
Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	0
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	0
Site Nights 2019:	0

We think we have a solution, but not sure who it benefits!

Our son & his wife had a largish 3 man tent but are looking to upgrade now they have a baby. So we are going to go halves on a new family tent (Vango Keswick 600). We’ll just deconflict using it, and if we go together we’ll utilise his current 3 man to sleep in and have the Keswick for living in.

So, we get use of a new large family tent (I hate to be cramped) fo the 2 of us for the price of a used one. Sounds perfect in theory, let’s see if it does in practice!

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!

WeeAlD

via mobile 30/6/2020 at 1:18pm
Location: Glasgow
Outfit: Airgo horizon 4 tent

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 22/7/2018

Silver Member

Forum Posts: 181

Site Reviews Total:	1

Site Reviews 2025:	0
Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	0
Site Reviews 2022:	0
Site Reviews 2021:	0
Site Reviews 2020:	1
Site Reviews 2019:	0

Site Nights 2025:	0
Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	0
Site Nights 2022:	0
Site Nights 2021:	0
Site Nights 2020:	6
Site Nights 2019:	0

When we changed from caravan to tent we bought secondhand.
We went to view a Cabano Rotunde which we bought at a good price, sold it 4 years later for more or less as I paid for it.
We asked to see the tent in its bag and then to see if being erected. This gave us an opportunity to check for any damp odour and also to see how easy it is to erect.

DeborahTurner

via mobile 30/6/2020 at 8:12pm
Location: London
Outfit: Vango Kalu Hypercamp Eldorado

View Profile

Quote

Joined: 11/8/2011

Platinum Member

Forum Posts: 1318
Tent Reviews: 3

Site Reviews Total:	24

Site Reviews 2025:	0
Site Reviews 2024:	0
Site Reviews 2023:	3
Site Reviews 2022:	4
Site Reviews 2021:	1
Site Reviews 2020:	3
Site Reviews 2019:	1

Site Nights 2025:	0
Site Nights 2024:	0
Site Nights 2023:	8
Site Nights 2022:	12
Site Nights 2021:	3
Site Nights 2020:	8
Site Nights 2019:	2

WetNWindy: that sounds an excellent solution!

It looks A good roomy tent but not a monster tent.

In order to post a reply you will need to register, or if already registered please log in here

Prev Next
Quick Links - All Forums - Tent talk. Advice, info and recommendations - Top of Page

Printable version

Latest News, Discounts and Competitions see all...

6030 Visitors online !

Free UKCampsite.co.uk Window Sticker - Recommend to Friend - Add a Missing Campsite

[Message Forums] [Caravan Sites & Camping] [Company Listings] [Features / Advice] [Virtual Brochure] [Special Offers]
[Reception] [Competitions] [Caravans & Motorhomes For Sale] [Event Diary] [Contact Us] [Tent Reviews]

Please note we are not responsible for the content of external sites & any reviews represent the author's personal view only. Please report any error here. You may view our privacy and cookie policy and terms and conditions here. All copyrights & other intellectual property rights in the design and content of this web site are reserved to the UKCampsite.co.uk © 1999 - 2025