Recommend me a family tent
Discussion
Probably in the wrong section... But anyway...
Does anybody have recommendations for family tents, and where to buy them from? We need enough room for me, the OH and a 2 year old. My camping experience is based on going solo and light so the big tent thing is all a bit new to me and I have no idea what to pay or what features make a good family tent.
Knowing the OH - this will be fair weather camping, but it needs to be waterproof enough to account for unpredictable UK weather.
I am thinking that we need 2 'bedrooms' and a central area that's big enough to stand up in. The tent will be carried in an estate car, so it doesn't have to be light or small, but I will probably be putting it up on my own (with verbal direction of the OH and excited 2 year old) so it needs to be capable of one man set up.
What am I letting myself in for...
Does anybody have recommendations for family tents, and where to buy them from? We need enough room for me, the OH and a 2 year old. My camping experience is based on going solo and light so the big tent thing is all a bit new to me and I have no idea what to pay or what features make a good family tent.
Knowing the OH - this will be fair weather camping, but it needs to be waterproof enough to account for unpredictable UK weather.
I am thinking that we need 2 'bedrooms' and a central area that's big enough to stand up in. The tent will be carried in an estate car, so it doesn't have to be light or small, but I will probably be putting it up on my own (with verbal direction of the OH and excited 2 year old) so it needs to be capable of one man set up.
What am I letting myself in for...
Vaude Bedawi
It's a cracking tent, plenty of room for a growing family. Full adult stand up height in the communal area too (for which a ground sheet is provided - not shown in the pic).
It's a cracking tent, plenty of room for a growing family. Full adult stand up height in the communal area too (for which a ground sheet is provided - not shown in the pic).
www.argos.co.uk no contest at the moment for reasonable tents.
Millets & Blacks (same company) have some good deals on at the moment..
Millets & Blacks (same company) have some good deals on at the moment..
CO2000 said:
How about throwing the wee un in a Buggy while You and your OH put it up.
The wee un will be well occupied with the "show"
The wee un will be well occupied with the "show"
You obviously haven't met my OH or my daughter... Both like to help in 'their own way' The OH offering 'encouragement' by explaining how I am doing it wrong whilst sat watching at a distance with a Pimms in her hand
... My daughter likes to get really involved by claiming ownership of any tool/item I happen to need next (in this case it will be tent poles/pegs/ropes/etc) making it impossible to achieve whatever task I have been set by the OH.Thanks for the advice on Vango - I remember them from my school days, I had a couple of their tents (canvas things with ridge poles) nice to know they are still going strong
Lefty Guns said:
I've got a vango colorado 800 and it's ace. 8 man tent, 3 bedroom pods around a living area and porch. Very easy to put up and properly waterproof too. I got mine for 280 but bought a secondary grounsheet and fitted carpet :-)
Highly recommended
<cue monty python yorkshiremen>Highly recommended
Fitted carpet???? Back when I was a lad we were happy with a hole in the ground... with broken glass in it, etc...
B16JUS said:
we have a quechua 3 second tent its a 3 person but has loads of room and also a kind or porch out front.
easy to put up just throw it in the air then put the pegs in and about a minute to put away so very easy think it was about £80-90
J
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZfxDfuU9b0easy to put up just throw it in the air then put the pegs in and about a minute to put away so very easy think it was about £80-90
J
Now, that's what I call easy to set up..!
Probably a bit small compared to expectations of the OH, but very cool...
We are doing a 3 day hike with my 9-10 yr old daughters in a months time, probably in the Peak District. List of whats needed so far...
TO WEAR WALKING (EACH PERSON)
1 x Pair Walking Boots (broken in)
1 x Pair Walking Socks
1 x Thermal top / tee shirt
1 x Shirt
1 x Sweater (woollen or fleece)
1 x Walking trousers (NOT jeans)
PERSONAL KIT (EACH TO CARRY)
1 x Rucksack (approx 65 litre capacity)
1 x Large plastic bags (to line your rucksack)
1 x Roll up sleeping mat
1 x Sleeping bag (kept inside waterproof bag)
1 x Sleeping bag inner liner (optional)
1 x Survival bag (tba)
1 x Personal First Aid Kit
1 x Watch
1 x Whistle
1 x Torch & working battery (e.g. small Maglite & head torch) (Remember to pack it so that it cannot be turned on during transit!)
1 x Glow sticks
1 x Emergency food rations (NOT to be eaten until the end!)
1 x Water bottle (strong plastic to hold 1 to 2 litres)
1 x Knife, fork, spoon
1 x Pocket Knife (small)
1 x Plate/bowl or use mess tins
1 x Mug (possibly part of water bottle)
1 x Box of matches (sealed and dry)
1 x Wash kit (small)
1 x Towel (small)
1 x Cagoule/coat (waterproof and windproof)
3 x Pairs Underwear
2 x Pairs Walking socks
2 x Tee shirts
1 x Shirt (woollen, cotton or fleece)
1 x Spare sweater (woollen or fleece)
1 x Spare walking trousers (lightweight)
1 x pair of trainers (optional for comfort when stopped)
1 x Pair Gloves (woollen)
1 x Pair Shorts (possibly for swimming)
1 x Sunhat & sun cream
1 x pair leg Gaiters (optional)
GROUP KIT (to carry between the team)
3 x Tents
2-3 x Gas or Hexamine solid fuel stoves
3 x Mess tins 2-3 layer
3 x cleaning scourers
2 x Maps (1:50 000 / 1:25 000)
2 x Printed route copy
2 x Compass (Silva type)
1 x Map cases
1 x Notebook & pen/pencil
2 x Cameras
3 x Tea towels
1 x Frisbee or similar
5 x Plastic bags (for rubbish etc)
OTHER
First aid kit
Insect repellent
Toilet rolls
Leatherman tool
Bungees
Beer money
GPS
FOOD (need to discuss)
2 litres of water each
4 cans each, beans, soup, meat
Ration bags / soup, fill with boiling water
Chocolate bars
Fruit
Tea bags
Powdered milk
Sugar
Kendal mint cake
Or just…
1 x Rambo Knife!
TO WEAR WALKING (EACH PERSON)
1 x Pair Walking Boots (broken in)
1 x Pair Walking Socks
1 x Thermal top / tee shirt
1 x Shirt
1 x Sweater (woollen or fleece)
1 x Walking trousers (NOT jeans)
PERSONAL KIT (EACH TO CARRY)
1 x Rucksack (approx 65 litre capacity)
1 x Large plastic bags (to line your rucksack)
1 x Roll up sleeping mat
1 x Sleeping bag (kept inside waterproof bag)
1 x Sleeping bag inner liner (optional)
1 x Survival bag (tba)
1 x Personal First Aid Kit
1 x Watch
1 x Whistle
1 x Torch & working battery (e.g. small Maglite & head torch) (Remember to pack it so that it cannot be turned on during transit!)
1 x Glow sticks
1 x Emergency food rations (NOT to be eaten until the end!)
1 x Water bottle (strong plastic to hold 1 to 2 litres)
1 x Knife, fork, spoon
1 x Pocket Knife (small)
1 x Plate/bowl or use mess tins
1 x Mug (possibly part of water bottle)
1 x Box of matches (sealed and dry)
1 x Wash kit (small)
1 x Towel (small)
1 x Cagoule/coat (waterproof and windproof)
3 x Pairs Underwear
2 x Pairs Walking socks
2 x Tee shirts
1 x Shirt (woollen, cotton or fleece)
1 x Spare sweater (woollen or fleece)
1 x Spare walking trousers (lightweight)
1 x pair of trainers (optional for comfort when stopped)
1 x Pair Gloves (woollen)
1 x Pair Shorts (possibly for swimming)
1 x Sunhat & sun cream
1 x pair leg Gaiters (optional)
GROUP KIT (to carry between the team)
3 x Tents
2-3 x Gas or Hexamine solid fuel stoves
3 x Mess tins 2-3 layer
3 x cleaning scourers
2 x Maps (1:50 000 / 1:25 000)
2 x Printed route copy
2 x Compass (Silva type)
1 x Map cases
1 x Notebook & pen/pencil
2 x Cameras
3 x Tea towels
1 x Frisbee or similar
5 x Plastic bags (for rubbish etc)
OTHER
First aid kit
Insect repellent
Toilet rolls
Leatherman tool
Bungees
Beer money
GPS
FOOD (need to discuss)
2 litres of water each
4 cans each, beans, soup, meat
Ration bags / soup, fill with boiling water
Chocolate bars
Fruit
Tea bags
Powdered milk
Sugar
Kendal mint cake
Or just…
1 x Rambo Knife!
Morningside said:
randlemarcus said:
Just bought this ... 
Bit OTT for the three of you, but there are smaller ones. Seems OK to put up (bloody heavy though
)
And how much car space does it take up?Bit OTT for the three of you, but there are smaller ones. Seems OK to put up (bloody heavy though
).jpg)
Having just spent weeks and weeks traipsing round camping/caravaning shops and trawling ebay looking at tents I can offer the following;
1) Most women want a tent with a fitted groundsheet...stops both bugs crawling in and drafts whistling under the outersheet. After buying a cheapo tent 2 yrs ago without one, our new one most defo has one!
2) Being able to stand up and have space for when in inevitably pisses it down is an essential with little ones...nothing worse than having to drive around looking for somewhere to shelter because your tent is too small.
3) You will always need more space. Buy one size bigger than you think you will need!
4) Reputable makes are Outwell (v.expensive), Vango, Sunncamp.
5) Waterproofing is measured in 'Hydrostatic Head or HH' - try get one 2000+
6) Modern tents are largely divided into 'Tunnel Tents' (replacement from what I can see of the old Frame Tents of old) and 'Dome'. We just went with a Tunnel - rooms at the back and big space out front - (also with extra groundsheet and carpet!!) Sunncamp Invader
In summary - decide what you need from it, in terms of space, how much kit you need to keep dry (tables, chairs, clothes, food, etc etc
Good luck - bloody great fun!
1) Most women want a tent with a fitted groundsheet...stops both bugs crawling in and drafts whistling under the outersheet. After buying a cheapo tent 2 yrs ago without one, our new one most defo has one!
2) Being able to stand up and have space for when in inevitably pisses it down is an essential with little ones...nothing worse than having to drive around looking for somewhere to shelter because your tent is too small.
3) You will always need more space. Buy one size bigger than you think you will need!
4) Reputable makes are Outwell (v.expensive), Vango, Sunncamp.
5) Waterproofing is measured in 'Hydrostatic Head or HH' - try get one 2000+
6) Modern tents are largely divided into 'Tunnel Tents' (replacement from what I can see of the old Frame Tents of old) and 'Dome'. We just went with a Tunnel - rooms at the back and big space out front - (also with extra groundsheet and carpet!!) Sunncamp Invader
In summary - decide what you need from it, in terms of space, how much kit you need to keep dry (tables, chairs, clothes, food, etc etc
Good luck - bloody great fun!
randlemarcus said:
Just bought this ...
Bit OTT for the three of you, but there are smaller ones. Seems OK to put up (bloody heavy though )
We've got the 2 bed version of that and it's ideal for 2 adults and a child. The living area is very roomy and we easily fit table and chairs into it with room to spare. Thin we paid £200 for the tent, 5m wind break and a bit that extends the doorway to give more covered outdoor space.Bit OTT for the three of you, but there are smaller ones. Seems OK to put up (bloody heavy though
)We have an Outwell as well. Went camping in August in 2007 in Hampshire and there was a storm. The only tents still standing in the morning were the Outwells! Most others were dumped in the bin! So they are worth the money, mind you not easy to erect on your on.
Go to a few camping shops where they have the tents up and on display. Then you can see what features you like etc.
Go to a few camping shops where they have the tents up and on display. Then you can see what features you like etc.
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