Camping virgin

[Kewcumber]

I have taken the plunge and booked a weekend ticekt to Latitiude Festival in July, just me and DS aged3 (will be nearly four).

never put a tent up in my life but obviously need one now.

IS there a problem with this - it seems so cheap.

Alternatively are there cheap tents that you can train to put up themselves?

[Kewcumber]

bump

[Kewcumber]

bump

[mum2samandalex]

watchiong with interest hoping someone will be of help soon

[zisforzebra]

That's a massive tent for just the two of you. Blacks have got a pop-up tent but I'd be a bit wary of them (my niece and nephew practically floated out of the door of theirs one day last summer). We have a little dome tent from Millets, it was about £40 and sleeps 3 (although we get two adults and two children in it quite comfortably) and is great for a weekend (not alot of storage so you wouldn't want to do a week in it) Best of all, it goes up in about 5 minutes.

If you have a decent tent shop locally, there's alot to be said for just going down and trying some tents out. I'd definately look for one with an integral ground-sheet though!

Good luck and have a great time!

[Kewcumber]

potential another adult may be coming so I thought 4 mantent would be best - it didn't look very big to me!

[Peachy]

My parents have this tent and love it for 2 of them; something like that owuld be bang on I would reckon

Second the integral groundsheet (usually called SIG, sewn in groundsheet).

That halfords one isn't a name I know, I would skip tbh.

If full height isn't an issue this is a good name for a great price

[Peachy]

When tent shopping you normally add 2 to the usual occupant number so yes, 4 man.

[Kewcumber]

not actually sure if height is an issue as I haven;t camped before. But at 5'9" am guessing I might feel a bit claustraphobic with low height.

[troutpout]

this looks nice

[troutpout]

better hygrostatic head too
i would go for higher hh than the halfords tents tbh

[Peachy]

Well ou won't go wrong with the Outwell troutpout linked to or the Stowe from Millets. But i wuld get in there early as when the sun shines bargains vanish LOL.

FWIW I wuldnt choose a low height tent

[troutpout]

'hydrostatic' even

[troutpout]

79.99 is a bargain

[Peachy]

Oh yes HH

never go for one under 3000; but similarly 3000 is perfectly fine and I would be happy with that.

An Outwell si guaranteed IMO but very nickable at a festival (DH ahs spent many hours chasing tent thiefs at Glastonbury when on security there). No idea what HH thre Stowe is but saw my Mum's survive last Whitsn which is some doing LOL.

Now, if it were me and I wasnt looking for a festicaltent i'd say outwell straight off. For a festy tent I'd be a bit more wary unless its a 'nice' festical you're going- they do vary.

[FlappyTheBat]

Would go for a tent that has a hydrostatic head of at least 3000, essential for camping in the UK, nothing worse than a leaking tent and damp clothes.

Integral groundsheets are great too as they keep creepy crawlies out!

We have an Outwell (montana) tent and love it, they are good tents and have never had any problems with it.

Have also used a smaller tent in days before dc, used to have to crawl into it and could really only sit up in it but was lightweight and easy to carry when we were out walking.

Do you have to carry the camping stuff far from the carpark?
Some tents/equipment can be quite heavy and wouldn't fancy having to carry them too far.

hope you have a good time.

[StripeyKnickersSpottySocks]

People steal tents at festivals.

OMG - will my Vango tunnel tent be safe at a festival.

[StripeyKnickersSpottySocks]

Meant to say as well - for a festival tent I wouldn't be worried about head room as I doubt you'll be spending a lot of time in the tent.

[Peachy]

Stripey I wouldnt take it but having been n The Other Sie I'm biased LOL (Dh did Glastonbury for over a decade, me just the year but it was the year of the wall and all women had to be pulled because they were being threatened....... it is better now though I hear)

I'd get a crappola for a fstical tent

[Kewcumber]

think this is one of the posher festivals (Latitude) also we will be in the family camping field which you can only get into with childrne - hopefully all the paretns have more on their mind than nicking tents . I think they supply wheelbarros from Car park to camping fields.

Am becoming a bit of a tent geek and spend hours last night reading tent reviews

[StripeyKnickersSpottySocks]

I've got a crapola tent that we use in the garden for a playhouse for DD - I wouldn't have thought it was greatly waterproof though if it chucks it down. Not off to Glastobury though, just Blissfields which is much, much smaller. Do you think it will be safer there?

[Peachy]

I think small festivals will be OK, and familya reas are usually so well catered for its unreal LOL. The wheelbarrows btw are usually run by local charities so a tip is appreciated .

Kew for true geekdom you need the UK ampsite website. that's a marvel known only to us addicts

[Kewcumber]

Peachy - I have a gorrible feeling that the one I've been glued to...

So is consensus that Oregon Outwell at £79.99 is a good one for a novice?

[Peachy]

I think you'll ifnd Outwella re good for everyone; it's a tent worshippers dream (I have one, i'm a tent geek, so it must be).

Short of a Cabanon etc ( and needs 3 strong men to carry it) Outwell is damned good.

[troutpout]

if you don't buy it kew...i blardy well will!

[Kewcumber]

bought