Please recommend tent for me....

[esor]

What sort of tent can I buy? I am short'ish, have never camped, going for a taster 2 days in August with tent pre-erected and equipped. I am assuming it will be a hit with DD and me and I will want to rush off and buy a tent but I am incredibly intimidated at trying to pitch a tent.

Having trawled the internet for a few weeks I like the look of Vango's and having the sleeping area at the back of the tent together as opposed to either side with living area in the middle. DH may decide to come with us if work permits, so I would need space at least for 3, plus one for extra room? So how will I do it? Obviously I love the all singing all dancing ones I have seen in Decathlon but I am in awe of ever pitching one myself. DD is 6 so her help will be minimal. TIA

OK

SO I would be looking at a Quechua as a starting point, foor ease of pitching.

If you wanted something more mianstream go for a hi gear gobi perhaps, cheapish and only a few poles for what it is.

quechua

Khyam Rapidex would also help you immensely and would be a long term investment as well

Thanks for reply. I do like the look of the Rapidex, have been looking at Quechuas and the Vango Icarus 500. Am I being unrealistic with something like either of those in terms of pitching and folding it away (sorry not sure what the technical terminology is yet). I like this vango
This one is not ideal in terms of the bedrooms are seperate but would pitching be any easier? this

I cant speak about the others but i have that vabgo icarus and can pitch it alone but i am a tent geek. Not thetallest tent geek though!

We have a vango icarus5 fab tent easy to put up and has been really sturdy there is 4 of us and with bags the sleeping area is a bit of a squeeze find the main area fine and the mesh on the side door is great (do not like flies) we tend to just use the side door. We can have the tent up and pegged in 15 mins (with the help/hindrance from the children) Would highly recommend it for the price I don't think you can get much better. We also have the extension so on longer trips we have the option for more space. The choice of tents is vast what are your criteria ours was mesh on doors, not too heavy and a sewn in ground sheet (again down to bugs)(also helps keep the dent a little more draft proof) Hope you find the right one for you.

Bell tents are incredibly easy to pitch, and very beautiful to boot! I can pitch ours on my own with DD1 (7) in about 20 minutes.

Thankyou for all the ideas and the positive response for a short non (but may well evolve into) geek.
I have been leaning towards the Vango icarus to be honest, I too would like meshing for bugs and the sewn in ground sheet, also the big plus being the two 'bedrooms' are together. However my trial couple of days is actually in a bell tent in Kent so I maybe persuaded. Will keep you posted!

I've had a small vango and now a huge one (diablo) and have loved both of them very much! Def recommend.

I am sure you could do that alone. We have a vango orchy 600, which has a taller front space area and I am glad of DH help just to lift the 2 pole arches for this bit. Otherwise I could do it alone without difficulty. I am definitely short and although no tent novice was a complete novice to modern tents (I was used to putting up monsters with steel or even 2 inch thick wooden poles...). i could definitely do the icarus.
We bought our vango last year in the end-of-season sales (around the end of August). Used it twice in September and been several weekends this year + a week planned for the summer holidays when ds1 finishes school. So far it has been great (but we have delibrately chosen only weekends with a good weather forecast).

I'm with MrsW (hello!) re the bell tent, however that could be cos I'm obsessed by them at the moment!!!!

A friend has one and put it up by himself in 17mins (and down in 23) but he wasn;t exactly rushing, he didn;t have the inner tent but I would get one!

Will def be getting one next year (this year if I can!)

Think DH and I are the only people to not really like Bell tents LOL- too many Guiding camps in one as a child perhaps

May I suggest a vis a vis? We ahd a great 8 berth ontario and DH could still pitch alone, without any issues.

Oh wrt to Vango

That's what we have now albeit monte verede 900

After a few hitches we sent it back to them for repairs and it wwas so bad they condemned it.

Now give them their due they did replace it and were brilliant but - the SIG elaked as it ahdn't been taped at all, the berth pod straps weren't actually sewn in so they fell down, and the ahndle was coming off the roller bag.

I woudln't write one off but do bear that in mind; if it ahs an isue give them time to sort it (they say 2 weeks) before a big camp