storm destroyed tent - any bargains around!

[holdingontight]

Just found out will take too long to repair my tent ...and we are off to France next week! Hoping some of you camping experts are around!

Has anyone seen a bargain tent? I have 2 tween boys so reasonable sleep and living space required. SIG essential and dome works better for us than a tunnel with central entrance.

DH thinks tents are not really built to last these days and £100 on Amazon will find us something - it will but I am not trusting what I see. I'm also a bit worried as delivery has been crap for the last few things I've ordered. And I think stretching the budget to £200 might be worth it... Or do I just say sod it and buy a mid priced Coleman or Outwell as the repair costs are not going to make it worthwhile anyway...

thanks in advance :-)

[profpoopsnagle]

What kind of living space are you wanting?

Vango iris or which is more tunnely but has a front entrance?

Are you near to a Decathlon?

www.decathlon.co.uk/arpenaz-52-family-tent-5-man-id_8330635.html or www.decathlon.co.uk/da-vinci-400-family-tent-4-man-id_8315729.html

(I have not price checked any with other retailers)

[holdingontight]

We need reasonable living space. I think the Vango Iris is a bit small but I was looking at the Quecha and Eurohike tunnel this morning.

What do you think? I'm finding this really hard as it will be hot and humid for 2 weeks in France but Cornish weekend camping is so often wet and windy!

I was looking at some Quechas at the site this weekend they seem to go up easy. I am not near a Decathlon so will see if they are stocked anywhere else.

Thanks for the reply

[holdingontight]

I think this looks ok but might be tricky to put up...

www.quechua.co.uk/6-3-family-tent-id_117190

[MissWimpyDimple]

I keep linking to this, but I bought it a couple of weeks ago and it's been excellent. Stood up to the severe stormy torrential rain and is easy to pitch. [http://www.gelert.com/gelert-horizon-6-tent-783132?colcode=78313290 tent]

[MissWimpyDimple]

Sorry link didn't work. Try again. It's a tunnel but with a really decent living area and plenty of ventilation tent

[profpoopsnagle]

What tent have you currently got?

[holdingontight]

Currently a Coleman deGama 6, Prof, really liked the look of it and it is a great living space - quality poorer than expected but not sure if this is as it is or if we just bought a dud.

Does the Gelert come with canopy poles MissWimpy or are they extra?
We will be exposed and in sun but that looks great - what a bargain!
Am impressed it stayed put in the storms with fibreglass poles.

[FrozenAteMyDaughter]

If you decide on a Quechua and you are not near a decathlon, you could look at the French site and wait until you get here. There are decathlons all over France so you can see the tent up and choose from there. Also euro at the moment might save you some money.

[TiggyD]

I had an interesting time in Scotland earlier on in the year. I was surprised to see the Vango Diablo pitched near me survived a night with 50 mile an hour gusts. Barely wobbled. I think it comes in a variety of sizes and you can get add-ons for it.

[MissWimpyDimple]

It has a little canopy over the door but no extra poles. I have a porch and canopy for mine which was another £60 odd. Any side porch would fit...

It held up really well. The poles are pretty sturdy. It really bucketed down and it was pretty gusty here on the coast and it didn't give at all.

I had the older model for a few years before and that stood up to a fair battering too.

[MissWimpyDimple]

I have a canopy like this

[holdingontight]

Thanks everyone for lots of advice. I got all carried away looking at tent packages in the sale, then home from work to find DH had ordered this Gelert...

www.gelert.com/gelert-atlantis-5-tent-783124?colcode=78312490

He says it is a bargain I am not convinced but I do now have 2 euro hike tarps so we will at least have outside cover.

[profpoopsnagle]

That looks quite nice! After all it will be sunny and gorgeous so you only really need a tent to place belongings and sleep in. I think with some tarps you'll have a great living space (I prefer to sit under shade than enclosed in a tent unless it's very cold).

[holdingontight]

It looks ok Prof, and I've checked forecast and mostly sunny, so hoping for lots of lazing around under shade

I think I've seen you on other threads about les valades.. Can you recommend a good river beach for us to check out?

[profpoopsnagle]

I have also been checking the forecast hourly daily - even checked the shipping forecast tonight since I found out our overnight cabin is on the flipping stern!

I can't help with a river beach at LV - we went last year but I ended up being quite ill and we didn't get out very much. Hoping to do much, much more this year! What dates were you there last year- you may have met my DH whilst I malingered in the tent.

[holdingontight]

We were there 15-31 August last year. Arrived just after the big storm and hightailed it out a day early to escape the even bigger knew the way for an extra night in an Ibis!

I too am checking manically. Hillbilly is there enjoying 40 degrees, I am looking at the storms next week. But it's only a blip. We had a great wet day playing pool with the boys and I am taking a board game or 2. Some v sensible families holed up in the reception doing that last year.

I think we did meet your DH, there was a couple near us at the top and poor lady had really really bad morning sickness and a young toddler. Her DH was heroic!

In fact we met so many lovely people, a family departing gave us the largest pile of freeze pops from their fridge, after 8 hrs in the heat my DSs were delighted.

And I have totally outed myself posting tent pics...

[profpoopsnagle]

I deffo wasn't suffering from MS! Although a lot of people did end up meeting my DH as he latched himself onto quite a few people! I just had to check and I think our dates were 5-14 last year. I remember the storm though- DH and I were rescuing our tarp and moving a full fridge amongst everything else at 3am.

You have nothing to worry about, I will be cracking the wine open and shouting at the picnic whilst using Fruit shoots to tame my already feral children.

[holdingontight]

I was about to say prof that you would be v brave camping and doing a long drive with a tiny one!

And yes the joys of camping wine / if never crack open a bottle so early at home!! It's possible my DSs were having orangina at breakfast last year... When we ran out of fruit shoots They made lovely holiday friends and DH and I were surprised how little we saw of them so we are taking lots more books this year!

When do you arrive? We are v late to Roscoff sat and doing the 8hr drive in one hit Sunday... I will be frazzled and in need of wine on arrival!!

It's currently pissing down and freezing at home, can't quite believe it will be hot when we get there and am packing extra fleeces

[profpoopsnagle]

We sail Thurs night but stopping over 2 nights at Puy du fou. So travelling from there Sunday, will be @6 hours.

I'm also trying to work out what clothes to pack, and if to take a light duvet as well as a sleeping bag. We will be camping in England for 4 nights after, so have to cover all bases.

I like this weather website

[HairyMaclary]

I like that weather site, shows better weather than the one I was looking at!

Can't wait - leaving early am!