Experienced campers - are these bargain tents ok?

[Anicehotel]

Unlikey to get used much so don't want to spend a lot - but don't want to end up soaked either!

Such a huge range of pricing that i wonder why these are so cheap.

first is Zenobia 6 Nightfall Tent £220
second Eurohike Hampton 6 Man Family Tent £240

I've not heard of first brand, but Eurohike is well known.
Reasons they are relatively cheap...

• they have poles (a lot of premium tents are inflatable now)
• could be discontinued models
• could be ex display.

We’ve got that Zenobia one, it’s brilliant. Easy to put up and the blackout pods really make a difference when you’ve got young kids

Great thanks, I wondered if it might be because people have moved to the inflatable poles.

I'm leaning towards the Zenobia one as like the rooms being slightly apart (request from eldest DC!).

Tried to order the Hampton and blacks let me order but then cancelled it immediately 🙄

How annoying Imkindlyreally.

You've just spurred me on to order the Zenobia one in case they sell out.

We had a Zenobia, it's an own brand from Go Outdoors, their mid price range. It managed about eight trips over three seasons, I had to replace a pole at the end of its second season. Its downfall was a festival, it didn't survive DP falling over in it after a late night trip to the loo to process a lot of cider! Trashed three fabric panels, two zips and two poles. It was however a reasonable tent for the money. I had also bought the porch to go with it, which I have kept for use with the Vango Airbeam that I replaced it with.

Oh dear FudgeFlake!
I might look at the porch. Its tricky working out whether to keep the trip cheap or spending more means we'd go more.

Would you consider a second hand better quality tent for a similar price? I'm on several camping Facebook pages and there are always lots of used tents for sale.

I had a bit of a look but they seem to sell for quite a lot second hand. To be honest, I get a bit nervous spending £00s on second hand items. Did it on pram years ago that I had to replace quickly.

It's probably fine of you won't be in wind. We got a much pricier Colman tent and weren't happy with it. Was £500 with no porch, and I forgot why that matters in the lakes. We were reduced to eating pork pie as we couldn't get the gas cooker started in the rain and obviously too dangerous to cook inside. So get the porch...

Check the hydrostatic rating (how waterproof it is, higher the better but minimum 5000 for Britain. And whether it has a separate fly plus number of guys (windy conditions so often here). £200 is not cheap so should be half decent

What's the hydrostatic head? Always a good idea to check the waterproofing level first

It's a tricky balance between not wanting to spend a lot in case you don't like it and buying cheap stuff which means you don't enjoy the trip because the tent leaks or your bed is cold and uncomfy.
Having said that, I've seen lots of the zenobia tents on sites and they look ok, a lot of it is making sure the tent is properly pitched and pegged out with decent pegs.

Also, how many users? Do you want separate bedrooms?

It depends what sort of camping you plan on doing.

I wouldn't consider anything that didn't have at least a 5000HH rating (hydrostatic head rating; telling you how waterproof it is). Anything without a rating or with a lower rating will be crap if there's more than light showers.

If you would pack up and go home anyway of a day or 2 of rain was forecast that doesn't matter. If on the other hand you'd like to have the option of staying and not run the risk of getting soaked in a heavy downpour at 3am...

Hmm. It says "Fully waterproof – 4000mm hydrostatic head" so not 5000.

We haven't camped much but tend to stay fairly local. There are a couple of great campsites nearby with "glamping" options which overtook actually camping. However money is tighter and i'd like to try make it work. I imagine we wouldn't go if weather was bad.

Eldest DC would like his own sleeping area.

We used ours in Cornwall last summer and it pissed it down every single night and at least 2 days. Dry as a bone! Definitely get the porch though, the way the door opens unless you’re careful you can end up with a bit of a puddle inside

We have the Eurohike one - or at least one very similar. It's a really good sturdy tent and spacious inside. The porch is a plus

No porch available. Maybe should have gone for the other instead of ordering quickly!

The porch doesn't have to be an official Zenobia porch, anything designed to fit a roughly similar sized tunnel tent with side entrance will do. Won't match for colour of course, but does that really matter in the great scheme of things ? As @BadgertheBodger says, the door design means that without the porch you are at high risk of getting water all over the floor inside after rain or heavy dew.

I personally wouldn't touch a tent that was nylon and not canvas with a bargepole. Probably because I am a very old fashioned camper. It just doesn't sit right with me and am sure when it's cold you are freezing and when it's hot you are boiling.

Inflatable poles? I'm trying to get my head around how that would even work. Looks like I'm spending the evening on Google 😂

I spent a while looking at lovely canvas bell tents/tipiis @NoKnit but twice the price sadly.

Right will Google porches tomorrow. Thanks for tip.

That is true. But they do last more than twice as long 😉

Lots of campsites are only taking bookings if you have your own toilet and washing facilities at the moment. I’m hoping this will change because I don’t think a bucket and damp flannel will be acceptable

My hi gear tent is 4000 hydrostatic head... has survived torrential downpours on several occasions and not a drip... pretty pleased with that!
( i do agree the higher the better obviously)