How do I choose our first tent?

[PerfectPrefect]

For a family of 5

What "features" do I have to look for/avoid?

I know not where to start. We have a Go Outdoors close enough. Lets start with this one, comments welcome whats this one like - it will be £200 in a couple of weeks so sounds like a bargain. Is it too big? Do all tents fit on all pitches? Where do I start?

Do I go for an ebay bundle from someone who is selling a complete package of camping gear they have steadily accumulated - or do we just buy new and accumulate as we go?

What are the essential accessories for a start. We already have 1 double airbag and 2 single sleeping bags. We also have a kids camping table and a couple of camping chairs.

[PerfectPrefect]

bump.

I suppose all the campers are away for a long weekend?

Wheres Slubbsy?

[nannyL]

that looks good

i think in england you need at least 3000 HH (which that has)
and to pitch outer first (in case its raining you dont want inside all wet)
and a SIG (to keep warm in and bugs out)
and a zip for electric.

looks like it ticks all my boxes!

in terms of being warm at night you will need more than an airbed and sleeping bag!

think more along the lines of picnic blanket and camping foam mat £3 in tesco,then air bed and fleece on airbed (£1 ikea) and then sleeping bag and another ikea fleece (and if you are me a duvet as well!)

head torches are great (for handsfree night loo trips) and a lamp... maybe rechargable one that you can also wind up if charge runs out!

aldi / lidl often have camping bargains

their non stick camping sauce pans are great as are their head lights!

[helsbels4]

That tent looks good and is very similar to the one that we have (but ours has four bedrooms). The only thing I would say, is that some campsites - but not all - seem to have a problem with these large dome tents and tend to favour tunnel tents because they fit on pitches better. We have occasionally been told we have to pay extra for a large pitch.

I agree with nannyL that you need roll mats/blankets underneath the airbed then sheets, (we take our kingsize duvet and blankets if it's early/late in the season.

Lots of lighting because it gets quite dark quite quickly and lots of wine/beer

[PerfectPrefect]

TY

Last time (only time) I went camping was 12+years ago. We took duvets then (without sleeping bags).

I guess this is the other option...which would probably less complex to erect for novices because of shape. It just doesn't look as if it will be as spacious. ~I also don't like the idea of the kids being right at the other end. It also doesn't feel as good value.

[helsbels4]

Yes that's the kind of tent I was thinking about. It depends what you want. As I said, we have a large dome tent and whilst there are drawbacks with site pitches etc, it's got loads of space! We have our table and chairs in there, four foldable chairs, bags etc! I personally couldn't do camping in a tent where you can't stand up or swing a cat.

How old are your dc's? I can understand the worry about them being at the other end of the tent but you won't sleep through a zip being undone in the middle of the night - it sounds like thunder

[PerfectPrefect]

DCs are 8, 8 and 3.

Last time I went camping we were in something like this with a good living area and a little kitchen area on teh side and curtains at the front.

The modern shape tunnel/dome/pointy triagngles just don't appear to have as much space.

I think I am going to try and go and have a look in some erected tents this afternoon if my shopping arrives early enough.

See I am still torn.. We could have that frame tent with a bundle of accessories for £200 or we could have a brand new tent like the first one I linked and know it is brand new IYSWIM.

[helsbels4]

Yes diefinitely go and look at some erected tents if you can. It's much easier to get a feel for what will and won't work for you then. Hope you make a decision then all you need to do is pray for a decent summer

[PerfectPrefect]

This is the other thing - we have already booked this years holiday - so would probably start with a weekend or 2.

So we could wait until the end of the season and probably pick up a bargain package on ebay. I don't think we will get a better brand new deal though that the first one I linked.

I have been browsing ebay though and there aren't many Gelert/Hi Gear models on and they don't seem to make a fantastic resale value. Not sure whether this is because they are so good people just aren't selling them or whether they are low resale value.

I really am struggling with a starting point. It is very difficult to know what you want when you haev never done it before.

lso looking at

this which looks easier for a novice, but smaller and not such good value.

which at £60 could be a good taster. But not as much space or features. Other end of the market really.

I just don't know.

[VanillaPumpkin]

We have the Vango Tigris 800. We have just camped in it this weekend and it was perfect and had loads of room.
Like you I think of a 'traditional' style tent with curtains when I thought of camping but the Tigris is a tunnel tent and I was totally conviced this weekend. I didn't see another tent on the site I would have rather had.
There are only four of us so we had the big pod up the sleeping end for all of us and then one of the pods up the other end for the portaloo and to keep all our bags etc in. Kitchen stuff went next to the pod and so there was a massive living area. King poles put up one of the doors to make a little canopy. It was brilliant. I bought it on line and it was only £235 brand new (rrp is more). It was so easy to put up and take down. I would recommend a footprint too though to keep the SIG clean and dry. The only issue I had was that the pegs were a bit flimsy, but we got them all in and out ok in the end (one bent but salvaged).

[PerfectPrefect]

that sounds/looks similar to this which I was also just eying up. This one is only 2000mm HH though

[VanillaPumpkin]

here it is. This has 3000HH for just a bit more money.
It was so versatile. You can take the end pods down and open up the end if you want. I thought we would def do this, but we prefered the side entrance in the end

I read somewhere 3000HH is a minimum for the UK.
Get the footprint what ever you get. I was very doubtful but it was brilliant even on a loey dry weekend like this one.

[VanillaPumpkin]

Tigris is taller too at 220 high if that makes a difference (did for us as DH 6ft 2)

[happywomble]

we have also bought a vango tigris 800 but haven't used it yet.

We liked the way the bedrooms are arranged and it has a few storage pockets too.

It seems a good price too. We went for all the extras - footprint, carpet and canopy.

Glad to hear your first trip went well vanilla.

[PerfectPrefect]

It's strange though cos the Vango website says that it is 3000HH, but Millets/Blacks say 2000HH. Maybe they are trying to shift a bundle of 2008 models with the lower HH.

£200 would be the absolute max budget so Tigris just outside. Ideally I woudl want to spend less - I was just looking at the one in teh OP because with a rrp of £500 I thought it was a bargain. I am going off it a little because I think that a straight tunnel may be easier to erect for complete novices.

We need to have a look round the Go Outdoors courtyard. I was going to go this afternoon but couldn't face it with 3DDs on my own (can you imagine the carnage of 3 DDs, 20+ tents and hundreds of guylines ?)

[VanillaPumpkin]

Oh shame you can't stretch that little bit .

HappyWomble - DH has just reminded me that it wasn't perfect as one of the tightening straps came off in my hand when we were setting it up . That hasn't dinted my enthusiasm though. I believe it will be covered by the guarantee and made no noticible difference to the tent. Have you had a trial put up yet? We didn't get a chance so were a bit nervous when we got on site but it was very straight forward. We had watched the DVD a couple of times but the instructions on the bag were good. It certainly took us longer than 20 minutes but we were being very careful and reading / checking the instructions every 30 seconds . It came down quicker!
We also got the guy ropes wrapped round the poles on the end sections so watch out for that. We didn't notice until pegging out and so DH had to untie the knots and do his boy scout bit to retie them.

[VanillaPumpkin]

Storage was great, though the bedroom storage bit doesn't fit if you swap the pods round as we did (ie the big pod rather than two singles at the non door end.) The carpet looked rubbish when we put it down but we were very pleased to have it as the girls and DH could just lie out on it. It is not square though in case you wonder like we did. If it doesn't seem to fit twist it round . I will be interested in a report on the canopy. Did you get the side canopy with the door? That is what I would like next. That and a windbreak as we felt left out as every one else had one.

[PerfectPrefect]

So what equipment other than a tent do I need to invest in?

Am thinking (in rank order)

Already have
1 double airbed
2 single sleeping bags
2 camping chairs
folding picnic table suitable for DDs

could raid kitchen
Dustpan and brush
Cutlery + food prep things
torches

need to buy
3 single airbeds (£30)
3 more sleeping bags (£50)
mallet (£5)
folding table for grown ups (£15)
plastic plates etc. (£10)
Electric hook-up cable (£15)
lantern/light of some description (?)
camping cooker, kitchenette frame, saucepans (£50?)
Barbecue (or disposables) (£5-15)
More chairs for DDs?
footprint?

[VanillaPumpkin]

The stuff we had that was bought or we had that was meant specifically for camping was: a single gas burner
camping kettle with whistle
plastic tumblers and mugs
portaloo (though potty perfect for children nightime emergencies)
cool box
sleeping mats (fat airics - they were worth the money for DH and I)
torch
lantern
folding chairs for dh, dd's and me

We didn't bother with electrical stuff and the hook up costs £2-3 more per night at the site. Didn't miss it apart from my straighteners but that is where my camping hat came in handy

We took a small wooden table that we had in the garage and the dd's could sit up at that and I could put the burner on it.

I have a thread somewhere.......

[VanillaPumpkin]

here

You need something to sleep on/in, something to sit on and something to get hot water from, something to keep milk/wine cold and something for light. Nothing else really .

We do have a big list of wants now though....

[VanillaPumpkin]

And a footprint of course . Our mallet came with a hook for getting the pegs out from the ground too. This was very useful today.

[PerfectPrefect]

I think I would be happier with electric lantern than gas.

You little burner - was it one of those that takes aerosol can sized gas canisters? How "long" did the cansiter last? Is it just for boiling kettle/water or could you actually cook new potatoes on it for a BBQ?

[PerfectPrefect]

We would take potty for kids night time wees. Not interested in portapotty. We did stay in a touring carvan once and used the loo block in preference to it. Don't liek the idea of it TBH.

[VanillaPumpkin]

Yes the burner is an aerosol type. It is supposed to last 1 and a half hours. We ran out this morning but only took one with us and had a lot of cups of tea. Cooked bacon and pasta meals too. It was great as it was so small to carry aswell. I did want a bigger cooker but having seen how loaded the car was this trip I don't want a bigger gas bottle and so this and a bbq is perfect for us. The canisters were £2 each.
Our lantern is gas but you can get battery ones and rechargable ones. To be honest we went to bed when it got dark and so didn't even use the lantern this trip just used the torch to get into bed .

[VanillaPumpkin]

I agree about the portaloo thing but we were given one and it was good to have with dd's 3 and 6 for that morning wee especially . I confess dh and I used it last thing at night too as it was cold by then .

[TimeForMe]

Hi I just wondered if this link is any good to you www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/categorydisplay_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_categoryId_ 165457langId-1?jspStoreDir=HalfordsConsumerDirect&mpeid=63874&cmcr=No+Campaign--Web+Activity-- 05-0903-camping-m--PRODCATESPOTMAIN165556--05-0903-camping-m&catalogId=10151&evtype=CpgnClick&in tv_id=114915&langId=-1&storeId=10001&ddkey=ClickInfo

There seems to be some good deals on tent packs