I'm no 'expert' having only taken to camping this year! But I am a real convert, we have had 4 excellent camping trips this year, dirt cheap and we all have a great time.
Right, things to look for in a tent.
First off, will you be carrying it, or is it going in the boot of a car? THis tent is bulky and very heavy, ideal for a family holiday where you drive , pitch, and then go home. Not good if you ar yomping over hills etc!
What size family do you have? THis sleeps 8, but only if you get on very well!. Six is easier, 4/5 best of all, especialy if you have small kids and need indoor living room if the weather is shabby. As a general rule most people will tell you that for 4 people you need at least a 6 berth. This tent sleeps 4 in real comfort.
OK positives about the tent.
We can pitch it in about 20-30 minutes. dh has pitched it on his own and it only took 35 minutes. Pitching is dead easy. There are 5 identical flexi poles for the top and 5 solid poles for each side that clip on to the outside of the tent. It goes up 'as one', so the inner tent and the outer go up at the same time, this cuts down on pitching time, and keeps the inside if the tent dry if it is raining. Dome tents tend to have to have the inner tent pitched first, and then the fly sheet pitched over it.
Size, you can stand in the tent at just about all points. This is vital for dh whi is over 6 foot and doesn't like to crouch getting into bed! There are 3 bedrooms, one a double, these have integral groundsheets and fly mesh doors so you can get ventilation without creapy crawlies. The living area is pleanty big enough for table and chairs if it rains.
The fabric has a good hydrostatic head of 3000mm (waterproofness) You can now get tents of 5000 but 3000 is consdered fine. It has never l;eaked on us!
There are lots of doors to allw ventilation and windowns to let in the light.....vital if you are stuck inside when it is raining.
Slight down sides. there is no porch....you can buy one separatly....these can be good for sheltered cooking in poor weather. The living area has a spearate groundsheet, so you tent to get a bit more grass inside, I'd like a fully integral ground sheet inthe next tent HH of 5000 would also be a nice bonus.
This is a great tent for a 3-14 day family holiday. You wouldn't want to pitch it every night, it is a bit big for that. But at this price it is a steal....we paid 240last year and I thought that was a good price.
Have a chat with the folks at UKcapsite.co.uk....they are the real experts!
HTH