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We are a family of 2 adults and 2 children aged 6 & 7 and would like to buy a tent and enjoy camping weekends and holidays.  We are looking for a 2 bed tent of good quality and have been advised to look for hysdrostatic head of at least 3000mm.  But many of the tents we have seen are well below that.  Does anyone know anything about the latest offer from Halfords family tent offer £99 (half price) 1500mm incl. 4 sleeping bags, 2 airmattresses and 2 lights?  I would be interested to hear your comments especially if you have one.  Also, Argos tents are 1200mm maximum - any views on this? 

Thanks. Bird Family X

I don’t have first hand experience of this tent but here is a link to some threads from last year about the same tent offer

 http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/search.asp?search=halfords+tent&searchMode=allwords&searchIn=Topic&forum=32&searchSort=dateDESC&Submit=Start+Search

The other thing you need to look at with the halfords tent is that it says the bedroom width is 150cm and a double air bed measures 140cm so you don’t get a lot of room

If you want a budget gelert then have a look at this one

http://www.charliesdirect.co.uk/product_pages/product_details.asp?ProductName=Cadiz-7-Person-Tent&Category=Camping&SCategory=Tents&MCategory=Family-tents&ProductID=14167

Hi

We just bought this tent as a weekender, but don't bother its rubbish.  As for the hysdrostatic head 1500 is waterproof  the rest is just sales pitch.  If you were thinking of the packages from halfords again rubbish the sleeping bags are like tissue and the airbeds take a week to blow up.  You can get some real bargins out there you don't have to spend a forture.  We bought a Vango Wyoming 8 men for 140 for millets and its fantastic there is 4 of us including a 4 and 6 year old.  Best advice would be to get if possible to a tent show (all around the country at the moment). I think most people on here would say that a 4 man tent is really more like two people.  I wouldnt say my 8 man would fit anymore that 4 adults comfortable max.  Its hard to recommend a tent as everyone really likes that own the most.

Jo

Hi there

My advice, for what it is worth - we are a family of 4 ( kids of 5 and 7) is to get a tent that is useful in good and bad weather.  We had a coleman weathermaster which was great - built in groundsheet - and easy to erect but it had little comfort to cook or sit inside during the day.  we went on two european camping holidays with friends in a caravan and really coveted their awning.  Therefore we looked at tents with a large daytime area and decided on a Royal Avignon 5 - the 6 is a bit big and unstable according to our preferred tent dealer.  It has a bedroom for 3 which we used and one for two which the boys used.  It wasn't difficult to put up - but it takes some time.  You put up the outside before the inner so your bedroom will be dry whatever conditions you arrive to.  We had electric hook up and the rainy days and early mornings were a joy as with ou r heater and table with camping stove inside the tent we were sorted and cosy.  The windows and nets are really versatile so it can adapt for any type of weather.  Google it and see what you think.  We have moved on - and if you are in Kent or near we are looking to part with our Avignon 5 for a reasonable price.  Anyway - hope my thoughts are useful.

Best wishes - you will really enjoy camping - especially the children!

Lindsey

We are extremely happy with our Coleman Columbia, we purchased last year.  This tent has 3 bedrooms, living area/porch.  I'm not too sure this tent is still available - but I would certainly buy another Coleman tent ! very happy indeed.  I got a great price/service from Awnings Direct on the web.

Our tent has a 3000mm HH, and we recently camped out in 5 days of rain - with no problem of water coming through to the inner.

I' m also very fond of the SIG (sewn in groundsheet) - which you'll appreciate when its blowing a gale outside.

As long as you stay warm and dry - then you should have many happy camping trips.

The deal at Halfords does look great - but OH and Kids may not agree if they get cold and damp.  Buy as good as you can reasonably afford.

Well the tent pack that was mentioned at the start of this thread is selling on e bay search for  “New Deluxe 4 Man - Festival Tent Pack” and one seller has loads on offer at £49.99 plus £15.00 P&P

We have just had a weekend in matlock with our new Halfords Deluxe tent (£99) and apart from the fact we didn't apply further waterproofing to the seams  before use we had no real problems with it. It rained for most of the weekend, the rain only came throughin a couple of places and I think this is down to the pieces of cotton soaking up the water outside and it traveling through to the inside. Apart from that it was a cosey tent. You may need to have a couple of practice runs getting it up, as we bought it and erected it without trying it first.

We pitched it a little too tight so the rear door was a little hard to open and there was a gap under the front door where the tent had ridden up the pole loops.

Good first time tent as long as you take time to apply further waterproofing just to get those pesky loose cotton ends coated. My 4 year old son thought it was great. Planning to go to blackpool end of June (23rd) for a long weekend in it.

P.S. Beware of the EBay versions, these are damaged stock, so you could end up with a tent that has holes in it and you will have no comeback as it is sold as seconds. We met a couple on the same site that had bought one and could not return it, the zips on the outer door were damaged and they could not close the door.

I think I read somewhere that the minimum recommended HH for the Uk was 1800.