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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.

Original poster

Any there are any family tents that I can pitch by myself?

42 replies

LondonSuperTrooper · 01/08/2012 12:55

Hi,

I am looking for a good quality family tent. I am a single parent so I must be able to carry it and pitch it by myself. There are usually 2 DC camping with me (My DS and one other friend). I have only been camping once and I loved it! We stayed in an Outwell Montana and had a very comfortable stay in 3 days of camping in the rain. I am leaning towards an Outwell due to their fab quality but am really unsure of which tents that can be easily pitched by one person.

I should add that I have a small car (Golf). I am looking to spend a maximum of £400-£500 on the tent.

Any tent advice or recommendation would be great! Thanks.

OP posts:
RedWhiteAndBlu · 01/08/2012 19:58

I've never pitched an Outwell tent, but have put up a Vango Venture 600 by myself many times - it's a dome tent with a tunnel sticking out the front - so I imagine most tunnel or dome styles would be OK. Especially if the children are old enough to 'hold this' for a bit. It's good to involve them.

For complete speed and ease, what about a Quechua Base Seconds 4.2? The bend in the wind but do not give way and have excellent reports of waterproofness.

How big is the pack size of a Montana? Big, I would imagine!

VivaLeBeaver · 01/08/2012 22:22

I've got a 5 man outwell tunnel tent that I can pitch on my own no problem in 20 mins. Think it's a colorado, it's old so not sure they do it anymore. However a tunnel tent is the easiest to pitch, apart from bell tents and those pop up decathlon ones.

I'm very short so if I can pitch a 5man tunnel tent on my own I'd have thought you can.

StellaAndFries · 01/08/2012 22:23

I have a Quechua 4.2 pop up tent which I can put up in about 5 minutes without any help :)

Whenthetoadcamehome · 01/08/2012 22:29

We have an Outwell Montana that I would never be able to put up alone, it's worth looking at their pop up tents . i'd get a 4 man just for a little extra room inside on a rainy evening.
Quechua have some nice looking pop up or fast erecting tents too. I like the look of the 2 seconds xxl 4

twooter · 01/08/2012 22:37

I've got a Gelert scarfell rock eclipse 6 man, and can put it up in 15 minutes with just a 3 year old to help. Only £70, but was fantastic even in horrendous weather, and packs up quite small as well.

Ketuk · 01/08/2012 22:46

We have a quechua 4.2 base seconds ( the japanese helmet one) and it is very quick and easy to pitch... not so to strike I have found, though it is a knack, and I haven't done it enough yet Grin

Pack size is large though- I have a hatchback, similar to golf, and it takes up a lot of room (folds down to a disc shape, not a sausage shape).

DontCallMeBaby · 01/08/2012 23:23

My festival tent is the Gelert one twooter mentions ... easily pitched by one person, but really a sleeping-only tent IMO, no space for sitting after DCs are in bed, and it being less than full head height does my head (!) in, I feel like a troglodyte shuffling in and out after various things. It does pack up beautifully though, as its bag is actually big enough.

Family tent is a Montana 6, I've seen videos of it being put up single-handed ... DH doesn't reckon I could do it, but I think I could, given DD is 8 and capable of holding things in place for a while (though not moving FAST in a wind-induced emergency, apparently).

Oh, and this weekend just gone, my mate had her 4m bell pitched quicker, albeit a bit wonkily, than the Gelert, both tents pitched singled-handed bar 8yos being annoying with mallets.

peeriebear · 01/08/2012 23:26

Quechua base seconds from me too. So simple to put up and great quality- withstood a Norfolk clifftop rainstorm without breaking a sweat :)

mercibucket · 01/08/2012 23:45

Quechua popup is fab - also light and easy to carry

mercibucket · 01/08/2012 23:45

Quechua popup is fab - also light and easy to carry

YellowDinosaur · 02/08/2012 08:12

We have the Outwell popup someone linked upthread that I use when camping on my own with my 2 sons. Its really easy to put up on my own. Taking it down requires a bit of practice but is easy when you know how! I have a Coleman porch that we use with it to provide a bit of shelter in the rain. The tent itself only really has enough space for storage though so if you wanted a large spacious living area like the Montana it wouldn't be for you.

YellowDinosaur · 02/08/2012 08:12

Oh and it also folds down to a disc shape so flat but quite large

nkf · 02/08/2012 08:13

I've got the Quechua pop up too. It's an odd shape though so check how it would fit in a car.

Original poster
LondonSuperTrooper · 02/08/2012 08:52

Wow! Thanks for all of your responses!

I have noted your suggestions and will research them at lunchtime.

Thanks again.

OP posts:
FourArms · 02/08/2012 11:41

I'd say Quechua too. I used mine last week with a Royal day room. Day room was harder to put up, but managed with 6 & 8 yr old to help. Quechua base tent would be better, maybe next year...

Original poster
LondonSuperTrooper · 02/08/2012 11:48

Thanks, I have looked at the Quechua base tent.... they are no windows :-(
I would like some light into the tent, especially if we are stuck inside whilst it's raining.

Plus, how about polycotton tents? Thinking of braving it and camping in Europe next summer.

Thanks for all the help so far Thanks

OP posts:
MummyPigsFatTummy · 02/08/2012 11:54

Quechua Seconds 4.2 has a central living area which seems to have zippable windows. They look like they are covered by a mozzie net - would this do?

professorpoopsnagle · 02/08/2012 12:10

What about the newish Coleman tents?

www.coleman.eu/uk/p-25938-instant-tent-4.aspx

No idea what they are like to put up but think they would be like a gazebo and I can manage that on my own.

whatthewhatthebleep · 02/08/2012 12:10

I'm a single parent and we have always enjoyed camping...

The important things to remember when choosing a tent that I would recommend are....
1 height- it makes all the difference that you have a decent sized inside area with head room to stand up and walk around in.
2 fiberglass poles...tbh any number is easy enough and I'd say go for a TUNNEL style with just 3/4 poles..(up in minutes and ready to go)
3 sewn-in groundsheet so it's all one piece...bugs, waterproof and warmer.
4 Go for a tent with sleep pods and large 'living area' with a zip out canopy and windows
If it's raining you want to know you can put up a couple of chairs and sit comfortably inside...and put the kettle on without getting wet (canopy)...also a wind breaker set up so the stove lights and stays lit!!!

AND always pack the car with the tent going in LAST!!! hahahahaha

Original poster
LondonSuperTrooper · 02/08/2012 12:26

Thanks Professor, will look at the coleman tents.

Whatthewhat - which tent do you have you? You are describing exactly what I am looking for!

OP posts:
whatthewhatthebleep · 02/08/2012 12:43

you know...I can't remember!!! hahahaha...not got into the attic yet to retrieve it ....

Oh and you want at least 2000 hydrostatic head...this is the amount of water it can cope with...

I have bought most of my tents on ebay tbh....there are some good powerseller's and private sellers....I've bought from both and sold a couple this way too

I wouldn't be spending more than £200 on a new tent though...it really isn't necessary to pay any more than this as a top line amount...don't be influenced by brands and keep your needs as top priority...a top line/brand tent isn't necessarily the best type at all....

Ketuk · 02/08/2012 14:10

The quechua we have has a windo at the rear of the living area, zips open, with mozzie net.
Tbh its quite light in there - our previous tent was dark green vango, so much darker, seems very light I n the pale green quechua!

IloveJudgeJudy · 02/08/2012 16:32

DB has a Voyager 6 from Go Outdoors. It has 2 bedrooms at the back with a lovely sized living area. I think it's on offer atm for £170.

Migsy1 · 02/08/2012 19:07

I am a single parent and I have a 4m Soulpad Lite. It is easy to put up but it does take up a lot of room in the car and I have a roofbox.

FourArms · 02/08/2012 21:35

Quechua 4.2 popup

1 height- it makes all the difference that you have a decent sized inside area with head room to stand up and walk around in. - you can stand up in central area & just about in bedroom (I'm 5 ft 4)
2 fiberglass poles...tbh any number is easy enough and I'd say go for a TUNNEL style with just 3/4 poles..(up in minutes and ready to go)- from opening bag, pegging ground sheet to putting tent pegs in is about 5 mins. I think pegging out takes the same as any tent though.
3 sewn-in groundsheet so it's all one piece...bugs, waterproof and warmer. - no SIG, but clever footprint meant it felt v.snug
4 Go for a tent with sleep pods and large 'living area' with a zip out canopy and windows - ours has a zip down half circle with mozzie netting
If it's raining you want to know you can put up a couple of chairs and sit comfortably inside...and put the kettle on without getting wet (canopy)...also a wind breaker set up so the stove lights and stays lit!!! You could get a table & chairs in no problem. I prob wouldn't use a stove in it, hence teaming with a day tent for cooking.