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Camping

Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

Now is the time to buy a tent.

51 replies

MrsDoolittle · 29/09/2005 13:27

So which one and where from?
I have juts seen the Vango Aspen at a hugely reduced price but still expensive. Anyone see any fabulous deal out there for a soon-to-be family of five?

Thank you so much

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cupcakes · 29/09/2005 13:31

we need a new tent/awning for the camper. Is now the time because they're cheaper or because all the good ones sell out by the spring?

Fimbo · 29/09/2005 13:32

Have you seen the Cath Kidston inspired one in Millets - LOL

cupcakes · 29/09/2005 13:33

( we've got that one too)

MrsDoolittle · 29/09/2005 13:35

They are selling off unsold stock form this summer.

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Lucycat · 29/09/2005 13:37

What are you looking for in your new tent MrsD? I love tent hunting.......

Fimbo · 29/09/2005 13:38

Oh Cupcakes Have you got the matching waterproofs! LOL

cupcakes · 29/09/2005 13:40

no, but we do have the 2 chairs.

MrsDoolittle · 29/09/2005 13:57

Uhmm The Vango Aspen really is a lovely looking tent. From a personal point of view I like dome tents because they remind me of hobbit homes. I fancy myself living in The Shire.
I like the Hartford XL and also theres a cute Wynnster which is a dome in the middle but has pods on the sides (I can't remember the name). There are a few actually.
There are will be five us next year, one a newborn. I'd like a porch if possible, not sure about the sewn in groudsheet though.

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Lucycat · 29/09/2005 14:03

Dh and myself are quite tall and our backs couldn't cope with dome tents so on happymerryberries recommendation we got this tent it's easy to put up - took us about 30mins to get the basics done the first time. It's not got a sig, but we couldn't afford the one with!

This is a really good price too!
any more questions - we're here!!

otto · 29/09/2005 14:07

How much do you want to spend? We've got the Vango Diablo 900 which is massive. You can fit a table and four chairs into the living space and there's still space to walk around. It has three bedroom spaces that will fit double matresses. It has a tunnel-type porch for cooking and storage, plus a canopy. It has a sewn-in groundsheet, so no draughts and it was the envy of the campsite on our recent camping trip. It cost £299 from outdoormegastore.co.uk.

MrsDoolittle · 29/09/2005 14:09

Of course, the one with is a Montana. I wonder if the Montana might be more reasonable now? When did you buy yours?

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MrsDoolittle · 29/09/2005 14:11

I like the Diablo too. Apart from the 'lip' in the doorway which we kept tripping over when we viewed it.
What do you think of a Hartford?

I have sent dh your link Lucycat.

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Lucycat · 29/09/2005 14:12

This reply has been deleted

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MrsDoolittle · 29/09/2005 14:14

That's useful to know Lucycat.
What else then?

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happymerryberries · 29/09/2005 14:16

Broken poles has been a problem with the Montana (as listed in UKcampsite ) the ones sold now should have the new, improved , poles

Lucycat · 29/09/2005 14:19

Erm, go for a flysheet first - the Colorado has the inner tents hanging from toggles inside so it al goes up in one go which is useful - buy extra tent pegs as we didn't have enough - dh is a fanatical guy rope pegger outerer

Oh and the big bedroom in the tent has a hanging divider so you can roll it up out of the way. It's big enough to fit a double and 2 single airbeds in - that was one very long night!!

Lucycat · 29/09/2005 14:19

Hello hmb!!! spotted the camping thread did we?

Still yearning for the montana!!???

PrettyCandles · 29/09/2005 14:24

We got a Wynnster Anglesey earlier this summer - it was a special deal, but still expensive. We liked the Vango Aspen, but didn't like the 'bedroom' arrangement. There is a larger model, but that would be truly huge. You want a roomy tent for a family, but don't get one for, say, 10 people, if you'll only be 5 as the people in the tent provide the night-time central heating and it could get chilly.

What I think is important:

A sewn-in bathtub groundsheet. Loose ones ruck up, dirt and mud can get in around the sides, and even relatively light rain can flood in.

As large a porch as you can manage, with side flaps. Whenever it rained we cooked in the porch, sometimes we ate in it as well. We stored all our boots and shoes there, as well as the washing up gear, and went barefoot inside the tent (which helps keep it relatively clean).

As large a living room as you can manage. When you're enclosed in a tent, even one child feels like a horde. With a big enough main space you can sprawl, play different games, even play physical games, which is crucial if the weather is cr*p.

Anything else is on the 'that would be nice' list.

Dh is 6'3" and could comfortably stand upright in the living room.

PrettyCandles · 29/09/2005 14:26

We like the Diabolo as well, but went for the Wynnster because we didn't like the sideways sleeping positions - fi the one sleeping further from the door wants to go to the loo, they would have to clamber over their neighbour to get out of the bedroom.

Don't worry about the lip, all sewn-in groundsheets have one - you get used to it.

Lucycat · 29/09/2005 14:26

Is it this one prettycandles or is yours bigger?

PrettyCandles · 29/09/2005 14:33

That's the one. The bedroom area is two rooms, one for 2 and one for 3. Right now ds and dd sleep in the double, and we have the triple (plenty of space for a double airbed plus all our bags and stuff down the side, I think another single airbed might fit in that space), but in future years when there are more and larger children we might swop sides.

It's not terribly clearly described: there are two additional doors, one on each side, as well as the porch door. There are 2 windows as well. The design of the doors and windows isn't brilliant (probably why it's cheaper than the Diabolo, which has windows that can be guyed out), but, like I said, anything else is on he 'that would be nice' list.

MrsDoolittle · 29/09/2005 14:36

I've just seen this one

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Lucycat · 29/09/2005 14:37

Nice looking tent - what I didn't like about some of the dome tents was the lack of windows in the main living area - I like to know what the weather is doing as soon as I wake up!!

So we're competing on price here too!! Wonder which way MrsD will go?

Lucycat · 29/09/2005 14:39

oooh that looks nice - whose make is it? it might be worth going here to ask for advice or to see if anyone else rates them!!

Gotta go and get dd2 up now and then it's the school run - but I will be back!!

MrsDoolittle · 29/09/2005 14:40

That's a nice tent Prettycandles!! Not unlike the one I have just posted.

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