What tent would you recommend?

[VictorTango]

dd1 (5yo) and I are to camp bestival for the first time this year.

It will also be our first time camping.

I will be pitching and taking down by myself.

If we like camping, I am planning on taking regular holidays with my two daughters (5yo and 2yo).

What tent would you recommend?

Well... depends what you will use it for, how much you want to pay. Do you want to carry it for long distences ie is the weight important? My experience is that with kids you want to have a large living area so that they have space to sit at a little table and colour/play games when it's raining. So far we've had two Vango tents and always happy with them. This one looks great, although it's not the one we have, but it is heavy 12.82kg (Vango Kirby: www.fieldandtrek.com/vango-kirby-400-tent-2013-783110 ) or a lighter smaller one which is new this year: much lighter, and looks easy to pitch but not quite high enough to stand in - depends how tall you are: www.fieldandtrek.com/vango-beta-350-xl-tent-2013-783106?colcode=78310618 We have the Vango Icarus and it's huge and heavy - but very spacious inside.

I can't see us camping for whole weeks away just yet but we will be at Camp Bestival for four days.

Then a smaller more portable one like the second option would be fine. Especially if you have to carry it for a while. It has a good sleeping area and seperate living area to keep your things in. There's a better description on this website: www.attwoolls.co.uk/Tents-By-Type/Lightweight-Tent/Beta-350-1.html and there's even a video on you tube www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8kFh9t8vLg

I can highly recommend the Qechua pop up from Decathlon.

We have one for me, DH and 3yo DS. There would be plenty of room in the bedroom for you all and enough living space for you all to sit on chairs round a table. They do a smaller, slightly cheaper version that would be ok too.

It's very light to carry and goes up in 8 minutes, including pegging out. Putting away is a little more challenging, it's best to practise on your own before trying it in public.

Or if you want a bit of extra space you can look at the Vango Beta 450 which is only a little bit more expensive but bigger and last year's model is discounted. I am tempted myself.... www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/index.cfm/product/vango-beta-450-2012-tent/fuseaction/products.detail/code/74110112/id_colour/1021/group/441/level/2

I would also recommend the Quechua pop up, mines seen me through many festivals and it was brilliant.

Practice putting it down in the garden a few times though, most of my last days at festivals have been spent putting everyones pop ups down who couldn't do it.

Once you get the hang of it though, it literally takes seconds to put down.

Quenelle I was convinced about the Qechua but it's the putting it down that scares me!

Even if I practiced I worry I would have to leave it at the festival!

I like the look of the beta but can't find a decent video showing how to pitch!

X posts SchroSawMargeryDaw

You wont have to leave it at the festival, even if you can't down there will always be someone to ask who can help!

They really are very easy if you practice.

although mines have always been ones that have been abandoned at the festival on the last day

oh Schro I'm now wondering if I should just buy one to leave

We have just bought the quecha pop up after being v jealous of friends who had it last time we went camping. They had their tent up in minutes and were cracking into the wine while we were faffing around with poles! Looks a good size for a family of four and I can't wait for our next trip!

Victor Tbh, I know you'll get looks from some posters at the idea but honestly doing that has saved a fortune. I always stay really late and make sure they have actually been abandoned.

You would be amazed at the tents people leave at festivals, even those massive 20 man things that look like small buildings bugger trying to get that down though. There's always tons of Quechuas in every colour you can think of and Vangos etc. People just can't be arsed to take them down at the end (or can't). And they don't seem to re-use them any more so the tents just mostly get thrown away. :(

If you were after a pop up though you would need to be able to put it down, that's catch. Any tent you find you will need to get it down and away without instructions and sometimes clear some pretty gruesome stuff out of it to get it.

I went by one once, we were looking at it and realised it must have been used as a toilet tent, there was pretty much a full size massive plastic toilet. WTF?! And how on earth did they get that to the furthest campsite!?

The pink Quechua I took had a used sanitary bad and a couple of other grotty bits...

Take some rubber gloves and it is worth it though!

You know those nylon frisbees that you twist and fold in half to get back in the little carrying pouch? You use the same principle to put a pop up tent down. It is easy but you do need to have a little practice first. There are videos on youtube as well.

It pretty much just is:

Bring sides up to meet the middle
Fold over downwards
fold one side down
fold other side over the other.

Easy peasy. :o

Another pop up fan here and decathalon will give you a demo and practice run and if all else fails and you can squeeze it in the car unfolded they'll put it back in for you!!

I might brave a pop up then!