Does anyone know anything about tents?

[SebastienClement]

I've decided I'd like to go camping. I like the idea of a caravan, but I don't like the idea of towing, getting in people's way, and the stress on my car. So, I think a nice tent would do, along with my car for comfy seats / living room.

Trouble is, I'm all befuddled by it. I probably would want a fairly spacious tent, as I'm rather tall. And something that's likely to keep dry would be nice too.

Are tents easy to put up by yourself?

[davepoth]

Some are, some aren't. Modern tents are better than old ones though. Best to try them out, and subtract one person from the notional capacity if you want stuff in the tent too.

In any case, you drive 2002's Tow Car of The Year, it's virtually begging for a caravan.

[DoctorX]

What size (how many people)? For a family tent, I rate Outwell gear - I have one of these:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Outwell-Montana-6P-Tent-20...

Good quality and very spacious but a handful to put up by yourself especially if breezy. Weighs a ton too. Fantastic for a week away but wouldn't take it out for just a night or two. We also have a 5 man dome tent and that's a doddle to pitch in comparison. Once you've picked a tent, check YouTube as there may be a video of someone pitching it so you can check whether it's going to be tricky on your own.

[g3org3y]

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/forum.asp?h=0&a...

HTH

[LuS1fer]

Marvellous until you have to put one away wet and when it rains - of which there is only a 90% chance - and they take up the boot. In my experience, once you've splashed the cash, you will wish you'd booked a hotel.

[Vladimir]

Vango's higher end kit is good - we have an Equinox 450 that's VERY weatherproof and the inner hangs inside the flysheet so stays dry when putting it up.

I actually miss it even though we've upgraded to a VW California; cracking tent!

[Stuartggray]

I had an Aztec Palacio 6, which was big enough to park a car in. Unfortunately, I think they have been discontinued. Best, most robust tent I ever had.
I use a caravan now because I'm getting old and decrepid and cannot get off a cold floor in the morning.

[Garlick]

I love the idea of camping, so much so that we bought a tent and all the kit. Had a nice holiday once, since then the tent has spent three years 'resting' in the garage

It was fun though, we should dust ours off again.

[rsv696]

Quechuas, Outwells & Khyams are very popular with the VW T4/T5 crowd & will usually go for good money secondhand should you punt them on.

[Johnnytheboy]

I'm going solo camping in my one-man tent next weekend, which may well be its last outing, then I'm looking for a replacement. I'm prepared to pay for low weight as I carry it all.

Amazon is quite good for tent browsing as the comments can be pretty harsh.

[tenohfive]

Johnnytheboy said:

I'm going solo camping in my one-man tent next weekend, which may well be its last outing, then I'm looking for a replacement. I'm prepared to pay for low weight as I carry it all.

Amazon is quite good for tent browsing as the comments can be pretty harsh.

Wild Country Zephyros 2 Lite is the one I've got my eye on - £150 mark if you shop around and weighs 1.3kg. Technically it's 2 man (albeit cosy for 2 people) but it makes sense to me to have extra room so you can cook in the porch if the weather comes in and let stuff dry out etc.

[Welshjohn]

If you want a easy to put up tent.get a vango airstream.

[anonymous-user]

Welshjohn said:

If you want a easy to put up tent.get a vango airstream.

Is that the new ones that have inflatable poles

Looks nice and easy should have been done years ago

[iwantanalfa]

SebastienClement said:

I've decided I'd like to go camping. I like the idea of a caravan, but I don't like the idea of towing, getting in people's way, and the stress on my car. So, I think a nice tent would do, along with my car for comfy seats / living room.

Trouble is, I'm all befuddled by it. I probably would want a fairly spacious tent, as I'm rather tall. And something that's likely to keep dry would be nice too.

Are tents easy to put up by yourself?

How many people need to fit in the tent? Lots of big tents can go up very easily nowadays.

Outwell tend to be very good for car-based camping. They have colour coded pegs to make it easier. Peg the 4 corners down, put in one of the middle poles and you're away. Then easy to put the rest of the poles in. The inner should already be attached as well. You might other features such a 'wet area' which is inside the tent but not part of the main inner. Or you'll want a rain-proof entrance where opening the doors won't let the rain in.

[Gwagon111]

I like 3 or 4 person 'pop up' tents. I have had some occasions (notably at the British Grand Prix) where I have found a nice space and driven up to it, only to have some complete fking ahole tailgate me, and try to get his tent up in the same space before me. With a pop up tent, it's no contest . My tent was up and nailed down, and full of my gear, before fkface had cut his engine . I'm in the bar supping on a frosty beer before he got out of his car . Oh yeah I love the pop up tents.

[Welshjohn]

speedyguy said:

Is that the new ones that have inflatable poles

Looks nice and easy should have been done years ago

yes.Saw a demo of one being blown up last weekend took around 10mins from unpacking to pegs in the ground

[durbster]

Welshjohn said:

yes.Saw a demo of one being blown up last weekend took around 10mins from unpacking to pegs in the ground

Pah, so lazy. When me and the missus were travelling we lived in a tent for a year, moving every few days. We could turn a patch of grass into a home with heating, TV, fridge and double bed in just 20 minutes, and that tent had poles that you had to thread through

I would just add a couple of things about choosing a tent. Spending more isn't just about the quality of materials; you also tend to get a smaller and lighter package which can be important.

Also, if you're going to spend any length of time in it I would seriously consider getting one you can stand up in. They're harder to find but they make life significantly more comfortable. Trying to put some trousers on inside a 2 foot high tent when you wake up desparate for a piss is less than amusing.

[tenohfive]

Welshjohn said:

speedyguy said:

Is that the new ones that have inflatable poles

Looks nice and easy should have been done years ago

yes.Saw a demo of one being blown up last weekend took around 10mins from unpacking to pegs in the ground

Takes us less than 15 minutes to put up a conventional 6 man (pole based) tent. And that'll hold up in 'proper' weather. I could see the appeal of the Airbeam tents for fair weather camping but if it takes that long to erect it's not really worth it.