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Hi All,

Me and the Mrs fancy buying a tent and getting away for the odd weekends and mid week breaks.

Having gone to 'Go Outdoors' in coventry and seen some of the tents on offer we are stuck between 2, the Diablo 400 and the Hartford L. There will only be 2 of us but we want something a bit spacious and with 2 rooms just incase the kids come with us.

Apart from the obvious, which one would people advise us to get and why?

We liked the Vanga because it has a good porch, but we like the Hartford because it is bright. What i did look at while i was there at the shop was the corner for the returned tents, and there was a lot of the Diablo 600's there because of leaks, i asked the assistant why so many were there and he said it was because they sell so many of them.

They are doing the Harford L for £150 and the Diablo 400 for £199, but it is not really the cost that bothers me, it is quality and how easy they are to put up.We did look at the Diablo 600 but it will be too big for us that's why we have gone for the smaller option. If we bought the Hartford L with the porch that would be £200, but the porch on the Hartford does not zip up at the front and the mrs thinks someone will pinch our new cooker lol.

Also at Go Outdoors they have cooler boxes for £49.00 that plug into the car lighter and also to the electric, are these boxes any good-do they act as a fridge?

If we took our milk and bacon etc in this and plugged it in to an EHU unit would it stay cool and fresh or do we still need to use cooler blocks.

Sorry to ask daft questions but we have not got a clue on camping so i have been trawling through this website for the past month trying to pick up tips.

We have drove to local campsites (Kingsbury Water Park) to see tents already up and now all we want to do is buy everything and get going for a weekend.

We have listed what we need but is there anything big that we have missed;

Tent, Sleeping Bags-Havent got a clue what ones to get-Advice please

Airbed-2 comfy chair and table

cooker table gas-EHU(just in case) light, again not a clue. water carrier

then the usaual cooking cleaning and eating bits, we have about £1000 to spend as once weve spent that amount the equipment will last for many holidays.

Thanks for taking the time to read my dilemas-please take the time to reply as not only will you be helping me to start up camping but you may help to introduce more to camping.

Best Wishes

Sillybait

Welcome to Camping Sillybait

We have got a Vango Diablo 400 and have had no problems with leaks of any kind,

It is a bit dark inside but does not bother us, plus we are not in it much in the day,

nice and cosey with the sewn in ground sheet, we did end up replacing 90% of the tent pegs because the ones we got with it weren't very good.Can't comment on the Harford L because i don't no the tent sorry.

Buy a rechargeable pump for your air beds so you can keep all your energy for drinking when the tents up.

we take a torch and a rechargeble light and recharge it during the day, if we have electric hook up.

Hope this helps Good luck

Dave

Thanks for the reply Dave,

Looks like with all the advice i have rec'd you are the only one who goes camping LOL, thanks again for your advice.

Sillybait

Bet everyone is away camping cos look at the weather.

Hope its's dry for Monday cos we are.