help me find our tent! single parent, 1dc, (almost) novice campers

[morechocolates]

Advice please! We've tried ready-erected so know Im ready for our own. Im looking to buy cheapish tent for uk camping for me and dd (3) ideally that i can sit on a chair / stand in. Main criteria is that it must be easy for me to carry and put up on my own (have a chronic illness that makes me tired). I cant afford an inflatable one, but wondered about coleman instant 4 tourer. Reviews are varied, but part of me thinks if it breaks, i can just return it?
www.campingandcaravandirect.co.uk/4-person-tents/1458-coleman-instant-tourer-4-man-tent-3138522059811.html?gclid=Cj0KEQjwvOC5BRCb_8yNmZ_ls9IBEiQACTz8vv689_KCOfiNAnsAFLsuJACdKm2k12tfTC6Qvt9NpF8aApdH8P8HAQ

[fatnan76]

our first tent was the Icarus 500 - I liked it because it is easy to manage for one person and lots of space inside:

[[http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/vango-icarus-500-deluxe-tent-2012-p201938]]

[fatnan76]

don't know what I did to the link there:

www.gooutdoors.co.uk/vango-icarus-500-deluxe-tent-2012-p201938

it does look a lot bigger than the coleman though.

[AndNowItsSeven]

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00BW3XB0K/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1463335638&sr=1-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21
Very easy and cheap but you couldn't sit in it.

[morechocolates]

Definitely need to be able to sit in a chair / stand. Vango icarus looks amazing, but seems bigger than we need and probably too expensive ... good to know it can be put up by just one adult though. Any other udeas, campers?

[HarrietSchulenberg]

Pop ups are great for fast put ups and take downs (need practice to take down though). Look for double skins as the're breathable and waterproof. Quechua are good but we borrowed a Regatta that leaked horribly.

I have an 8 man Vango that I can put up on my own, but I need a lie down afterwards and I'm fairly fit and healthy.

If it's just for the two of you but with chair/living space, how about a 4 man tunnel tent? Straightforward to put up and will give you living space and height to stand. Something like a Gelert Atlantis (can buy fairly cheaply on Ebay).

I'm assuming that you'll only have to carry it from the car to the pitch, as it would be quite heavy to haul on public transport with all the other crap essential kit that gets packed for camping trips.

[morechocolates]

Thanks I'll look at this too, yes just need to carry from car to pitch. I suppose main 2 criteria are easy to put up single handedly, and high-ceilinged enough to 'live' in.
Probably a foolish question but on campsites do you pay per person or tent-size?

[Pengweng]

What about this one? www.gooutdoors.co.uk/freedom-trail-sendero-4-tent-p286258

Most campsites you pay per person and kids are normally half the adult price.

Or this one looks ok. www.gooutdoors.co.uk/hi-gear-aura-3-family-tent-p286292

My 3 year olds are very good at holding poles on one side while I/DH put them in on the other side, so she might be able to help a bit.

This one is pretty cheap and has ok reviews. Not sure of your budget?

www.gooutdoors.co.uk/hi-gear-venture-3-dlx-tent-p321893

[morechocolates]

Thanks, i really appreciate all the advice My plan was under £150 but it might be false economy to get a super cheap one so thinking about pushing up to c.200 I can see icarus 500 classic rather delux linked up thread is a lot cheaper, so that might be a goer. Ive seen the outwell earth 5 too which might work. Wish id done this in last years'sales!

[ModernContinental]

I have this one :

www.amazon.co.uk/Coleman-2000012694-Instant-Dome-Coleman

Can recommend it, room to stand (up to ~5'6")/sit on chairs, easy to put up.
Our first excursion (son & I) to the Lakes last July included a night of torrential rain, thunder & lightening, 50 mph winds - stayed dry & up. Not that I got much sleep...

[ModernContinental]

Messed the link up :

www.amazon.co.uk/Coleman-2000012694-Instant-Dome-Tent/dp/B00HQLNGDO?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[Blu]

As the Coleman dome is single skin, do you not get terrible condensation?

[morechocolates]

Thanks - i do like the idea of instantness

[UterusUterusGhali]

Could you stretch to a Belltent?

I find mine a cinch to put up on my own. (I have a massive canvass one too.)

[Schmoozer]

Quecha pop 4.2
Can't beat it !!

[elQuintoConyo]

Ooh someone recommending the Quechua 4.2 ! We have been eyeing that up for us 3! Great!

Sorry for the highjack

[annandale]

Would you look at one of the inflatable ones? We'd just spent a fortune on a big tent when the inflatable ones came out, much to our chagrin.

Oh, I've just looked at the prices. Maybe not Joint purchase with another family??

[BombadierFritz]

Another vote for the quechua pop up 4.2.fab tent.

[FrozenAteMyDaughter]

The Quechua pop up 4.2s are brilliant but, as far as I am aware, Decathlon no longer sell them. You can sometimes get them on Ebay though (and also the 4.1 version which has only one room but would probably work well for two of you) and they are worth their weight in gold. We have a 4.2XL for three of us and it is easy to put up, although if it is windy it might be a good idea to ask for a bit of help. People on campsites are usually happy to help out if someone needs it.

I would also second a bell tent - I can do mine on my own in about 10 minutes (after practice admittedly), although in your case I would go for a 4m rather than a 5m. We upgraded and I definitely notice the extra weight.

[FrozenAteMyDaughter]

Here's one - auction ends today!

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Quechua-Base-Seconds-4-2-/172210400730?hash=item28188a2dda:g:FIYAAOSwB9xXO25a

[elQuintoConyo]

I am in Spain, 4.2s are here

[ICJump]

Friends have an instant up tent but it doesn't take much longer to put up then ours because you still have to peg it down.

[ICJump]

If you can get the aldi 4 person tent the porch is big enough for a couple of chairs.
It big enough for our family if 4 over night so would be fine for two for longer.

[stopitatonce]

thanks for all the ideas - much appreciated. Inflatables too £££ for me, but maybe if they get cheaper in the future!

[FrozenAteMyDaughter]

What about this inflatable? Admittetedly, it is sit down only:

www.decathlon.co.uk/air-seconds-family-4-inflatable-tent-4-man-id_8330634.html