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We are a family of 5 looking to replace our faithful 30 year old frame tent because it is starting to wear out, we are short of storage, it is huge when packed up and takes ages to set up.

Ideally we would like 4 bedrooms so the kids can each have a space to sleep and store their junk (or no junk and a friend). We sometimes use a travel cot but I guess by next year we won't need that anymore.  

We were looking at Kyham Rigi pods - they were selling them cheap at the outdoor show - but the children hated it because it had so few windows and was very gloomy.

We all loved the inside of the Hartford XL and assume the XXL would be similar. We could cook in the new front canopy (pity it doesn't have a door, but never mind.) However then we were worried by various posts on another site about the poles snapping and it not standing up to much wind. Is this really a problem?

We then considered the Montana 12 but we haven;'t seen one of these and wondered where people cook with one of these and is it as nice inside?

Is there anything else we should be looking at? And where would people go to see them on show (We live near Jn 25 of M1)?

I spent ages researching at the end of last year and now all the specs have changed - it's very confusing! Help!

Hi and welcome to the site!!

Have you seen the new outwell nebraska ? reckon that would suit you ,if you can find a pitch big enough!!

If only cooking is an issue just get a seperate utility tent to cook and store all the food/cooking stuff in ?

What sort of size do you want the bedrooms.  If you can get away with 2 berth pods each then look at the Nebraska XL ( rather than the XXL ).  This has 2 x 4 berth pods that can either be used as a full 4 berth or split into 2 x 2 berths each.   There is also a massive porch to cook in.  Although still fairly big, it is a little smaller than the XXL but the living area is identical.

As far as the Montana 12 goes, if its nice then cook outside.  We personaly have a utility tent to cook in.  The Montana 12 would be ok for you, except that splitting the bedrooms into 4 would mean that people would have different size pods as they split 4/2 ( not sure if your kids would argue over getting the biggest bedrooms ).

The Hartford XXL is a very nice tent and would suit your needs perfectly.  I must admit, I preferred the 2005 version to the 2006 version ( I used to have the 2004 version ).

Hello Jenny & Andy - welcome to UKCS. Given that you are by J25 in the Nottm area, I suggest you get yourselves to the Yeoman's outdoor exhibition at the Japanese Water Gardens at Stapleford from 16/3/06. Details are here

They do have both the Nebraska and Montana 12 tents listed on their website, though that does not guarrantee that both will be on display. However, it's their first show of the season so the chances are good that they will have them both, plus maybe other larger models.

They always have an onsite marquee with lots of other camping stuff there too -well worth a browse!

I have always been a fan of Yeomans (not just because I share the same hometown) I have found their staff and customer service excellent. (Of course ,you can always decide on the model you want and then see if you can get it cheaper elsewhere!)

Thanks for all the advice. Still not sure which to go for but will definitely visit the Yeoman's show.

I guess our gut reaction is that we loved the inside of the Hartford XXL but wonder if the Montana would be more practical - more waterproof, pitch size, isn't a pitch inner first.. But we also like a very open front (equivalent of patio doors!) as it makes watching small children easier as they wander in and out. The montana entrance porch doesn't appeal at all. Because of that the Nebraska porch looks good. (I fully agree with a comment elsewhere - why can't they produce a Montana with a porch like the Nebraska?)

Another related issue. In our ancient frame tent we hang wet coats from hooks off the frame and hide our sharp knives in the top of a tent tidy. Can you hang anything up in these tents? What do the rest of you do with your wet coats and sharp knives? (Perhaps I should start a new thread.)