Discussion
My eldest just returned from a camping trip with cubs and now wants us to take him camping, there's me, Mrs RA, the 2 kids 9 and 5 and a cocker spaniel.
Don't want to spend a fortune incase we do it once and don't like it, but equally want something half decent so we give it a proper try.
Hoping someone on here can share their knowledge and recommend a decent tent please
Not too worried about size in terms of transportation as the car came with roof rails, though I will need to figure out how to fit them
Would be for summer use on a camp site only
Don't want to spend a fortune incase we do it once and don't like it, but equally want something half decent so we give it a proper try.
Hoping someone on here can share their knowledge and recommend a decent tent please
Not too worried about size in terms of transportation as the car came with roof rails, though I will need to figure out how to fit them
Would be for summer use on a camp site only
The key things for me would be a) darkened bedrooms b) built-in front shelter c) not so heavy it puts me off camping. And the one thing I would avoid (also mentioned by someone else on a different thread in here) is a sloping front door - utter rubbish when it's raining. I wouldn't rule out a 4 man if the bedrooms are nice and wide - as the tent will be lighter and cheaper.
I like the look of this at the budget-ish end:
https://www.grasshopperleisure.co.uk/coleman-meado...
I like the look of this at the budget-ish end:
https://www.grasshopperleisure.co.uk/coleman-meado...
Simes205 said:
Buy a tent for 6, much more space and a nicer experience.
Tents are heavy and go in the boot!
Our 6 man tent was £1300.
Vango and Outwell are good makes.
I recommend you pop down to Decathlon and check out the cheaper end of camping.
We’ve got Kampa which has been great. Tents are heavy and go in the boot!
Our 6 man tent was £1300.
Vango and Outwell are good makes.
I recommend you pop down to Decathlon and check out the cheaper end of camping.
OP go big if you can and make sure you go for cotton not poly. Poly your be sweating like a scouser in Dixons
Vango are generally good value. For family camping, we've got both an Arlington 500XL, and a Beta 450XL.
We use the Arlington for week long camps, and the Beta for weekends. 2 adults, 2 12 year olds.
Pros and cons -
The Arlington takes up a lot of room in the car.
It's quite heavy to load in the car.
It really needs 2 adults to put it up
It's quite flappy in a high wind
Needs a lot of garden space to dry out
Lots of space (so my wife tries to fill it up with more kit!)
Standing headroom
Can fit friends in for sociable wet afternoons.
The Beta is much smaller in the car (so can put bikes on the roof!)
Kids can carry it easily
I can put it up easily with ones kid
Lowish profile so ok in a wind
Sleeping area just OK (I'm 6'2"), no privacy divider.
No standing headroom
I always tend towards the Beta, my wife tends towards the Arlington. The kids are happy either way (which is the most important bit
)
Edited to add - just spotted this, not sure if it's a genuine site, but if it is, that's a cracking price
https://esonline.co.uk/product/1012811?gclid=CjwKC...
We use the Arlington for week long camps, and the Beta for weekends. 2 adults, 2 12 year olds.
Pros and cons -
The Arlington takes up a lot of room in the car.
It's quite heavy to load in the car.
It really needs 2 adults to put it up
It's quite flappy in a high wind
Needs a lot of garden space to dry out
Lots of space (so my wife tries to fill it up with more kit!)
Standing headroom
Can fit friends in for sociable wet afternoons.
The Beta is much smaller in the car (so can put bikes on the roof!)
Kids can carry it easily
I can put it up easily with ones kid
Lowish profile so ok in a wind
Sleeping area just OK (I'm 6'2"), no privacy divider.
No standing headroom
I always tend towards the Beta, my wife tends towards the Arlington. The kids are happy either way (which is the most important bit
)Edited to add - just spotted this, not sure if it's a genuine site, but if it is, that's a cracking price
https://esonline.co.uk/product/1012811?gclid=CjwKC...
Edited by Mave on Tuesday 12th July 09:06
rustyuk said:
Before spending lots on camping gear, why not try a site that have pre-erected tents that you hire?
This... Every time. My Oh hates camping... Found that out after buying the kit. OP... If you do all like it, have look at Decathlon's tents. They're black out lined which is essential for multi-day camping and are also anti-bac lined to stop mold growing.
take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey said:
rustyuk said:
Before spending lots on camping gear, why not try a site that have pre-erected tents that you hire?
This... Every time. My Oh hates camping... Found that out after buying the kit. Thanks all, the decathlon inflatable one looks about right.
However I've taken the advice above and booked 2 nights at the end of the month on a campsite where the tent and accessories are provided we just need sleeping bags and food.
Will see how we get on and make next decisions from there
Thank you for your input, very much appreciated
However I've taken the advice above and booked 2 nights at the end of the month on a campsite where the tent and accessories are provided we just need sleeping bags and food.
Will see how we get on and make next decisions from there
Thank you for your input, very much appreciated
Roboticarm said:
Don't want to spend a fortune incase we do it once and don't like it, but equally want something half decent so we give it a proper try.
Hoping someone on here can share their knowledge and recommend a decent tent please
Buy a used one off eBay and don't worry too much about whether it's the latest and greatest.Hoping someone on here can share their knowledge and recommend a decent tent please
Then, when you realise that you like camping, and you've a better idea of what you do actually want, you'll be better able to choose a "forever" tent, which will be something like a 6-man polycotton air tent with blackout bedrooms (also available used!). We've a Vango Ventanas TC 650 which I got refurbished from Vango. We love it, having previously had a Solace TC 400, which was a bit small for us, and which will soon be on eBay with its awning...
Then you'll be wanting some decent kit to sleep in and on, some cooking stuff, storage, carpets, a trailer...
Just to update on this one: we are back from our trip, we loved it. Basically went to a rural site in North Wales, stayed in a 6 person bell tent, site was great and had everything except showers (fine for 2 nights). We liked it so much we've booked to go again next month.
Plan, assuming we enjoy it as much 2nd time around, is to get a tent for next year. It's £100 a night in a fully furnished tent or £25 bring your own so will take a good few trips before the new tent "pays for itself"
Thanks for the feedback and so glad we decided to try before we buy. Although I did buy some stuff: camping stove, camping chairs, torches, cool box etc so I've already started
The Subaru did a grand job of transporting us and all the stuff and looked at home parked in a field
Plan, assuming we enjoy it as much 2nd time around, is to get a tent for next year. It's £100 a night in a fully furnished tent or £25 bring your own so will take a good few trips before the new tent "pays for itself"
Thanks for the feedback and so glad we decided to try before we buy. Although I did buy some stuff: camping stove, camping chairs, torches, cool box etc so I've already started
The Subaru did a grand job of transporting us and all the stuff and looked at home parked in a field
I would avoid a bell tent for a family.
2 seperate bedrooms at a minimum would be better as you will no doubt go to sleep after the kids.
Go and look at many tents before deciding. Stand in and poke and prod make sure it has the right storage etc for you.
A tent pays its self off remarkably quickly when you compare it to how much you would have been paying for hotel rooms for the same time.
2 seperate bedrooms at a minimum would be better as you will no doubt go to sleep after the kids.
Go and look at many tents before deciding. Stand in and poke and prod make sure it has the right storage etc for you.
A tent pays its self off remarkably quickly when you compare it to how much you would have been paying for hotel rooms for the same time.
Twig62 said:
This 100% !
100% agree. I sold my Berghaus 6XL Air as it was just too big for the three of us, it was terrific on our week to the Lakes last year but seeing as restrictions have opened up, we wont be doing week long camping for a while. So we bought this instead for overnights & suchlike. Its terrific https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/4-person-blackout-ai...
My two pennys worth - get at least a 6 man tent - the bigger the better - it is the living area size that also helps to make life more enjoyable, especially if it rains. The chairs can take up space and then a table etc.
We have a 5 man for 2 of us and at times could really do with more space………Mrs BVD takes far too much stuff.
Would recommend a Vango Air Beam as so much easier to put up than trying to thread poles through. And make sure you get a footprint to go between the ground and tent - helps with insulation.
Enjoy next year and you will no doubt find that after every trip, you end up buying another bit of kit………
We have a 5 man for 2 of us and at times could really do with more space………Mrs BVD takes far too much stuff.
Would recommend a Vango Air Beam as so much easier to put up than trying to thread poles through. And make sure you get a footprint to go between the ground and tent - helps with insulation.
Enjoy next year and you will no doubt find that after every trip, you end up buying another bit of kit………
Happy with my cheap Regatta tent bought 5 years ago for under £200. I chose it because it had a large porch that we could store chairs cooker etc. and that we could all sit in if it rains, tried a garden gazebo and it blew away on our first trip. Tempted to try one of these camping dome gazebos to see if it is any better.
A few pointers from my experience:
- If you want a tent for 4, buy a tent for 6. A 4 man tent will literally be laying alongside each other, a 6 man will give you all a little more space.
- Have a large porch area - this can be used for storing gearing, or for sitting under when it (inevitably) chucks it down!
- Don't worry too much about size or weight if you are only ever going to camp on a campsite
- If you want a tent for 4, buy a tent for 6. A 4 man tent will literally be laying alongside each other, a 6 man will give you all a little more space.
- Have a large porch area - this can be used for storing gearing, or for sitting under when it (inevitably) chucks it down!
- Don't worry too much about size or weight if you are only ever going to camp on a campsite
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