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Hi

We are a family of 4, 2 adults and 2 kids aged 10 & 7, we are looking for our first family tent and would be grateful for any comments on the above 2 tents which we both like. Would anyone recommend anything else under the £200 budget we have. Any comments gratefully received!  We are looking to go camping for both weekends and for a week in France in a tent . Many thanks.

both seem to be domes, have not used either but have used domes and tunnel tents. we prefer the tunnel but it is personal taste. You may be best having a look at a few different tents up to get a good idea of what is best for you. We had a dome, then a ?Khyam before the indi and found that for us the following were important.

light

ease of pitch

footprint size

somewhere to cook without paying extra

straight walls to store things against

bedroom apart from kids

stable

mind you it took us a couple of tents to decide all this.

Hi NessP and may I be the first to welcome you to UKCS a most addictive website. We have the Aztec Cantera 9 here and the quality of the workmanship is terrific. Like most large dome tents this tent is pitched inner first that if its raining can lead to your living area becoming wet. The tent is quite large and requires at least two to put up. After a lot of practice we can get the tent ready in around an hour or so. Bedroom pods have a very steep angle so the person who sleeps on the outside cannot get up very easily. Main living room is vast but every side has a door on, so cannot put anything against side. We never cook in the tent but use a tarp outside. Porch area great for loo though. We use the tunnel tent most of the time as its easier to pitch and has more useable living room. Don't get me wrong the Cantera 9 is a great tent and one we would never sell but does take a lot of work.

Go and see them up before you spend your cash. Make a list of what you need from a tent and see what tent fulfills your needs. Anyway have fun looking at the tents and have some great fun with your camping trips.

I haven't had a great deal of experience with tents, but have just got myself what I consider to be a bit of a bargain - a Vango Kirkwood 900. The Kirkwood is a pre-launch name for the new Vango Killington, which itself is very  similar to the Vango Diablo range. The advantage the Kirkwood/Killington has over the Diablo is that it pitches flysheet first, but still has a sewn-in groundsheet. If you have a look at the Vango Kirkwood/Killington thread you will find more info, but the Kirkwood is exclusive to outdooraction.co.uk, link here:

http://www.outdooraction.co.uk/acatalog/VANGO_KIRKWOOD_TENT_RANGE__2007_.html

It might just be worth having a look before you decide on the Diablo!

Happy camping!

Hi NessP,

We have the Diablo 600 and have to say it has been been a pleasure to stay in. Spent 10 days in Cornwall, in very windy conditions at times and it stood up to it with ease. The 2 bedrooms are just right for the 4 of us, me, OH and two brats. Can't fault it really. The porch is the most useful for storage, cooking and leaving all those rain sodden shoes and clothes. The new 2007 Diablo's do have an extra pole across the bedrooms to stop that slight sagging, but the older model hasn't given us a real problem with just 2 people in it.  

 Good luck.

Hi

Thank you for all your comments, I really appreciate it. I am off at the weekend to as many camping shops as possible to have a more detailed look. Thanks again everyone, I will keep you posted as to what I decide on. Ness.

Hi

well we have seen a few tents, not as many as we would like though. I have seen a Khyam Breckenridge for £200 and also the Aztec cantera 9 but I understand these pitch inner first. Can anyone recommend a tent with sig that does not pitch inner first, minimum of 6 berth for around the £200 mark?  Thanks!

Ness

Ness P

I have a brand new Diablo 900 never used for sale.

Quote: Originally posted by NessP on 04/2/2007

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I have seen a Khyam Breckenridge for £200 and also the Aztec cantera 9 but I understand these pitch inner first. Can anyone recommend a tent with sig that does not pitch inner first, minimum of 6 berth for around the £200 mark?  Thanks!

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New 2006 Coleman Magellan 9s are on sale at the moment, from Wolrd of Camping, for £189. This is a rare dome style tent, with SIG, that pitches outer-first.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Coleman-Magellan-9-Brand-New-9-Berth-Tent-Savings_W0QQitemZ170073820736QQihZ007QQcategoryZ82292QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

(They also have one up for bidding as well - you might get it for less than the other "buy-it-now" £190 ones).