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Hi

I want to buy a family tent with the following criteria. All advice would be greatfully received. I have been looking atEbay - Rage and Stromproof USA - are these risky buys?

I'm looking for at least 6 berth. Easy to erect (me and my kids to make a hash of). Spiderproof (one with a phobia). Good head height in living area. Weather proof.

We are new to camping but having done a wet weekend last week, we are hooked!!!

Quote: Originally posted by stellafiona on 31/8/2006

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 Spiderproof (one with a phobia).

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Tee hee. Best way to cure the phobia is with direct confrontation. Shouldn't be a problem in any tent!

Have fun.

Hello and welcome.  Without a doubt what you need to do is find your nearest camping shop which has a display of tents up and go and have a look.   After deciding on what you think is best then search on the internet for the make and model.   You will be able to pick up some bargains if you buy in the winter time as this is when manufactures change their models for next year.  

If you want spider proof get one with a SIG (Sewn in groundsheet)

For weatherproof make sure the flysheet has a hydrostatic head of a minimum of 2000.  The higher number the better especially if camping in the UK !!

Always get a tent with a berth of at least 3 - 4 more than you actually need as I am sure they calculate on dwarfs.

I have seen some bad reports about stormproof tents so would stay away from them. 

Hi

perhaps look at the outwell range.although we are fairly new to camping, we did a lot of looking and research. we ended up with the outwell nebraska xxl,and also the outwell oaklahoma day tent for cooking and dining.it's not cheap but someone said to me once,'with tents,you get what you pay for' sound advice so far. its best to go to look at them in the flesh before you buy,get the best you can afford.as the above say's, get one with SIG, it makes camping alittle warmer.

good luck

craig   

Hi

We have a proaction canberra 12 from argos, cheap and cheerful and so far, have had no problems.  There's us 2, and up to 4 children at any given time, and I would agree that you should buy bigger berth than you need - ours is a 12 and it was great for all of us, plenty of room for storage and the like.  Not seen a spider yet, but rest assured when I do there'll be a Nixx shaped hole in the side of the tent.

Hi,

we are a family of six and have a stormproof usa 9 berth for weekends and a khyam espace deluxe 12 berth for longer breaks.  The stormproof is big enough for a weekend, it withstood a really bad storm, is easy to put up (did it myself with a 10 year old) in the wind.  It is however, not very good quality.  The fabric is flimsy, the zips likley to break and there is limited living space, especially for 9.  Having said that we only paid £50 off of ebay so we are happy to use it for w/ends until it gets trashed.

The Khyam in contrast fits us all plus extras!  Is very good quality, strong and sturdy and hopefully will last us for years !!!  You could consider it expensive at £800 but since we are a big family and use it a couple of times a year it more than pays for itself.  We have discovered in hindsight (as you do) that it is not necc. to spend that much on a 12 berth, but we must have been feeling flush at the time!

Also you need to bear in mind that if you pack your tent away wet you need to put it up when you get home to dry it.  You need to have the space to do that with a 12 berth tent.  We have used a friends garden, the local rugby club, and our garden for the stormproof.  I'm sure others have their own ideas/suggestions!

Both tents have sleeping pods with sig, the living space has a seperate un sig!

I also agree with all of Tony's advice above!

Good luck

Post last edited on 31/08/2006 14:13:31

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[кαяєи™]

HI WE HAVE THE OUTWELL MONTANNA 6 THIS IS THE 1ST TENT I HAVE BOUGHT.JUST COME BACK FROM HOLIDAY IN SCOTLAND AND THE TENT PERFORMED SUPERBLY NO LEAKS THROUGH HEAVEY RAIN.

THE ROOM SPACE INSIDE THIS TENT IS GREAT CAN STAND FULLY UP IN IT PLUS  BEDROOM SPACE IS VERY GOOD. WOULD RECOMMEND YOU TAKE SOME KIND OF FAN HEATER (WE TOOK A SMALL 2KW FAN THIS WAS VERY USEFUL) WOULD ALSO RECOMMEND YOU PURCHASE FRONT CANOPY AS THIS IS GREAT FOR COOKING UNDER IF THE WEATHER IS BAD.

CAN NOT WAIT FOR THE WEATHER TO PICK UP AND GET THE TENT BACK OUT OF THE BAG.

HAPPY CAMPING TO EVERYONE