Comments on: Help needed with purchase of a camping tent?

By: richard b

richard b — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 12:46:59 +0000

As a holiday with children, camping is unbeatable. I’m 70 now and have been camping with a trailer tent, then a caravan and now a tent, since 1962. This year we’re going to Devon so I hope the weather cheers up!!
Advice about buying a tent. You know, the only way to suss out the best tent for your family is to go to a camping store where they display tents erected so you can visualise how your particular family can use it. We bought ours last year from our nearest branch of GoOutdoors. They have 14 megestores throughout the country and are excellent in their range of tents and in their prices. Buy new and buy the best you can afford. Ours (for 2) is a five berth, Danish-made, Outwell, a very good brand as are Vango, Gelert, Hi-Gear, Coleman and several others. Also buy the biggest you can afford. You need to consider coping with 6 persons in a restricted area, all milling around, getting in each other’s way! Get some idea of available tents by looking at GoOutdoors’ website (www.GOoutdoors.co.uk) or at the websites of the above mentioned manufacturers. But don’t buy a tent that you have not seen erected.
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By: BeachBum818

BeachBum818 — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 12:39:59 +0000

Have you ever thought of doing 2 tents? One for you and your hubby and the other for the kids? You can get a 2 man tent for you and your hubby and another 2 man tent for the kids…the kids are small enough that 4 can easily fit in a 2 or 3 man tent.

It`ll give you and your hubby privacy, you`ll have a cleaner area to sleep in bc you know the kids will track dirt and things into the tent, the kids will have their very own tent so they`ll feel like they are camping by themselves but with you and your hubby right next to them and in the end 2 2man tents will be cheaper than 1 6man tent
References :
Eagle Scout
NY Backpacking Guide

By: mumo4

mumo4 — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:56:59 +0000

From experience I would avoid cheap brands. We have a Litchfield 6 man tent and it is on it's 3rd year now and still doing well. We had a cheaper one before that and it didn't even make it through one week away before the seams leaked in the rain and we got soaked at night. Buy the best that you can afford and it will probably last much longer as long as you remember to waterproof it each new year you use it. Our Litchfield tent is spacey, tall and relatively easy to pitch but it is a two adult job and not easy if it's windy. Very sturdy when it's up though.
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By: boyscouttroop697

boyscouttroop697 — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:22:59 +0000

i agree with the other person its all about your need where you go how often will it be used if its mild and wont be used often Discount stores have kit like the other said that are just fine for a few trips a year. we have summer and winter tents since we camp year round the summer are cheap that winter ones are not but they have to handle the winds. check backpacker magazines site they used to have a guide take care Scoutmaster Reid
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By: Rohan

Rohan — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:14:59 +0000

Depends on what you are using it for, a tent that has to deal with harsh conditions such as heavy winds would cost a lot more than a tent that is for use in low wind area’s.
Does the tent ‘have’ to be 6 man or could you live with two smaller tents as this would make transport easier and costs cheaper.

Halfords are doing a great 4 person tentset with sleeping bags etc all supplied in a rolling bag (big tents are heavy so this is great) for less than a £100 which is a bargin though if you are using it in less than good conditions then you might have problems.
Looking through ebay there does seem to be some really good deals for tents though again i’d be wary of using some of them for less than good weather.

I maybe going on about weather but it really does make a difference especially when such a big tent is involved, where a cheap tent will struggle to not be broken.

I’m guessing where you are going the weather won’t be windy so i wouldn’t worry too much.
As for waterproofness the problem isn’t usually with water coming in but infact water getting out. Breathing with little ventilation creates condensation on the inside of the tent, so some tents have a netted inner tent to keep you away from this.

Summary if the weather is good then don’t worry so much about cost. Getting multiple tents is usually easier, if one tent breaks, has bits missing then there are always the other ones for backup, also instead of one person dragging around a 15kg bag with the tent 3 people could carry 5 kg bags.

Edit: Since it is 2 adults and four kids a tent that would fit everyone in together is best as you thought. Look for a Semi Geodesic Tent or a tunnel tent which have everyone together in the one bit.
Also since they are children you could probably all fit in a 5 person tent.
Also think about the size of the porch area which allows things like muddy shoes and clothes to be stored covered up.
Go outdoors is a great store for their large range of tents and low cost (compared to other places).
Ebay has some great low cost offerings (be very careful to check the content before you go though).
And remember to put it up before you go, as large tentsespecially can be a pain.
There are some bargins giving a buy it now price of around £50 and around that mark is probably what you’d be looking to spend from ebay I wouldn’t pay much more from there.

Look at:
http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/tents/hi-gear-atakama-5-family-tent/CORETFDAZHG057
http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/tents/vango-venture-500-tent/CORETFDAVENTURE
References :
http://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/tentbuyingguide/
http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/userguide-tents