Family tent recommendations?

[Hertschick]

Recently got back from glamping with husband and nearly 2 yr old and we enjoyed it. I think I have persuaded my husband that we should invest in our own tent which will be more for long weekends away rather than week long stays.

We stayed in a bell tent which we loved but they seem v expensive and not sure how easy they are to put up. We definately need something fairly easy to put up and down.

I have been looking on ebay and there seems to be some good bargins such as vango and sungert but I'm not sure if these are great makes? Also not sure whether we would be better just buying new?

Was thinking of max £400 for tent new/secondhand but the cheaper the better.

Any recs for first time tent & if we should get secondhand? I think we would use 4/5 times a year. Will need to suit 2 adults and 2 children

I always recommend this one, as my DB has it. (We used to tent, but now we've got a folding camper.)

Anyway, the tent I would recommend is the Hi-Gear Voyager 6. It's a lovely size so that you have room inside if the weather isn't good, it's got a built-in groundsheet, my DB is not tall and can put up the main bit on his own in 20 mins. He's been camping in some pretty extreme weather (not by choice!) in it and it's coped with everything.

I've just recommended this on another thread, but I have a Vango Oregon 800 and it's enormous but dead easy to put up. I can do it on my own.
Vango are a good make as are Coleman.
I'd love a bell tent but can't justify buying another tent, but I've heard they're very easy to put up. As are yurts and they attract many envious looks on the campsite (mainly from me).

Watch the soulpad video on YouTube. It does look quite easy, however in the end we went for the Quechua 4.2 family XL as it was much cheaper (on sale), has 2 separate bedrooms and is lighter and smaller packed. It is v quick to pitch too.

this?
or lok on the Decathlon website at all the Family Tents and Pop Up tents.

Vango are a good make and there are loads of models available at discounted prices suitable for a family of 4 such as this or this or this bigger version of the Icarus.

A 6 person tent is usually good for 4 people.

I too would love a bell tent, but cannot fit it in the car - they are a bigger pack - but also I would find it very hard to manage the maintenance of a canvas bell tent. They take longer to dry and you must pack them away dry or they will get mildew. So if you come home with a wet tent it has to be spread out indoors and the muck cleaned off.

I am of people who have them, though.

Another vote for bell tents being really easy and quick to put up and take down.

Blu is right about care drying them but if you have a big garden you can put them up to dry or you could spread it out to dry.

They are so lovely they are worth the extra hassle I think.

Not cheap sadly but if you combine buying one with a camping trip to Holland, you can save a lot.

Otherwise Quechua family pop Ups are brilliant.

Meant to say, if you have a garage you could spread it out to dry

I would recommend the Outwell Oakland XL although ours is an older model without the porch covered bit which is why we have a side extension. The whole thing is compact but big enough for 4 with good headroom too.

I've had a fair few tents in my time and the bell tent I have now is by far the easiest and quickest to put up... i can do it on my own its so straightforward. They're also spacious, look nice, and they stay cool on hot mornings - you never wake up with that horrible suffocating heat you get in other tents. (when the sun actually shines)They are a pain to dry - admittedly - but agree that it's worth the extra hassle. I love mine. (can you tell?)