What's your opinion on these tents?

[Debs3013]

Just that really. Totally new to this whole camping lark but have kinda decided that polycotton would be the way to go. We looked at the Outwell 'Lakes' but to be honest they'd be a huge outlay when we don't even know if we're going to like camping. Found these on Obelink and they are about half the price. Had a look on UK Campsites and most of the Hypercamps seem to get good reviews. So opinions from the pros would be great. Oh and it's me, DH and 11 month DS.

www.obelink.co.uk/tents/tunnel-tents/explorer-6-alu.html?category_params=subcats%3DY%26features_hash%3DV35%26full_render%3Dtrue%26s_company%3D4%26category_id%3D4188

www.obelink.co.uk/tents/tunnel-tents/hypercamp-firino-6.html?category_params=subcats%3DY%26features_hash%3DV35%26full_render%3Dtrue%26s_company%3D4%26category_id%3D4188

www.obelink.co.uk/tents/tunnel-tents/obelink-familia-6.html?category_params=subcats%3DY%26features_hash%3DV35%26full_render%3Dtrue%26s_company%3D4%26category_id%3D4188

Flip me sideways those are expensive tents! They'd better be good for that kind of money.

If you've never been camping before then try borrowing a tent for your first trip. Or get something cheap and cheerful that will just do the job (NOT a supermarket tent though!). The first time DH and I went camping with baby DS we had a £30 two-man dome tent, which was fine. Vango, Eurohike, Coleman and Gelert are all good brands.

I hope you are strong as all of those tents weigh over 40kg!

And agree with previous poster, I wouldn't spend that much money on a first tent. What if you hate it?

Go Outdoors is good for reasonable priced tents.

maybe something like this?

or this one?

Try Decathalon for great tents

Make sure it has a built in groundsheet though.

I love cotton tents and ended up with a Bear Lake 4 but had tried a few other ones before -

I think those are all a bit big... unless you are rapidly planning on having 2 more children a 4 berth will be fine for a good few years.. we originally got a montana 6 for 2ad +1 chd and it was just too big for us

If you are going camping in warmer climate then polycotton is so much nicer and even in Dorest last week we were sleeping til 9 as just don't get so hot - however they are heavy and take an age to put up so we have a polyester weekend tent as well ...(though always on the lookout for a cotton w/end tent too )

This is big but at least a uk dealer if any issues and price about the same...If you are sure you are going to camp for a while and overseas then it's worth investing

www.campingworld.co.uk/Models.aspx?ModelID=6668

I've just been camping with my friend and she had this one. It was perfect, i can really recommend it and I know she got it a lot cheaper than on that link too.

found a similar one cheaper

I'd get something smaller, and invest your money in good beds/SIMs/sleeping bags because that actually makes a lot more difference to your camping experience. Something like a 4 or 5 berth tunnel Outwell or Vango. Still tall enough to stand up in and with some nice windows. If you do (like we did) upgrade to Behemoth-of-a-tent then you'll have something for weekend trips. If you don't like camping much, you still have a tent for using occasionally.

We have an Outwell Wolf Lake 5 (old style) and it's been brilliant in all weathers including scorching France, hurricanes and midgy Scotland, but then we are diehard campers and that's our main 2 week holiday every year. We also have a smaller,easier tent for weekends/festivals.

You need to think what you can fit in your car as well!

Wow lots of great advice there, thanks. So we're obviously looking a bit too large, so thinking maybe an Outwell Nevada with an extension and if we become die hards then upgrade to a big old polycotton then??

Exactly. I was going to say maybe not the extension but it might be useful running around space for your toddler. But do buy the footprint and carpet if they are on a deal.

I like windows in a tent because the weather in Britain is so frequently awful, at least if you are stuck in the tent it's not so claustrophobic if you can see out.

Have a look at a brand called Eureka tents, they offer a lot of styles in polycotton which are a bit smaller than Outwell similar ones, and the weight is better too.

this one looks good!

Eureka tents are lovely but also pricey but I would have got one rather than a bear lake if they'd had the range they have now
(all one bedroom when we looked and I like 2) mainly because of the weight..
Nevada M / Vango etc good but I wouldn't bother with an extension to start with, save your money for polycotton
Can you get to a tent shop with some on display....will give a much better feel..
www.gooutdoors.co.uk/outwell-nevada-m-5-person-family-tent-p261506

we've gone back to a good old fashioned ridge tent - cotton canvas, sewn in groundsheet and waterproofed.
I couldn't cope with those tunnel ones - bought one once and it almost blew away before we'd even got it pitched. I was parking a child on each corner to keep it down, just to get those horrible fiddly poles through the top bit and it still billowed inside out and the kids got soaking wet. In the end we just stuffed it all back in the car (it was never going to see the inside of its bag again) and rented a sensible normal looking tent from the campsite. So never again for a tunnel - a waste of money and too synthetic to enjoy spending time in. Having said that, those poly-cotton Outwells look rather good, though still pricey.

What about this one?
www.obelink.co.uk/tents/group-tents/jamboree.html?category_params=s_company%3D4%26category_id%3D4153

Or this? (more tunnel-ly)

www.tents-direct.co.uk/show-tents.php?productid=1739&forsale=tents&price=cheap&onlineproduct=Family+Frame+Tents

Well everyone, I've only gone and done it!!!! Went for a completely different tent after all that and have just bought an Outwell Cleveland 5P. I liked the panorama room at the front, I might be wrong but felt it meant no need for an extension. Got it with the footprint and carpet. I am stupidly excited about it - hoping to get away in Sept but we're moving house so that two weeks off could end up being moving date!
So now need to work out what beds and everything else we're getting

Hope you have a great time - for September camping, you need hot water bottles, blankets, air mattresses/sims (xl 10), warm boots, lots of lights etc.

I have had the nevada m for 3 years now and its fab. I can put it up by myself and carry it too (in two separate bags though)! Its been on many UK trips and been all round France and we love it. Last year we had a decathlon tarp as a canopy, but as of today I'm finally the proud owner of an extension . We're off to France again in a couple of weeks and yes it can be a bit hot, but really how much time are you going to spend inside you tent in great weather?
On offer we paid less than £200 for the tent and I just paid £70 for the extension. At this price you can see whether you like it and not worry too much about the outlay.

I love our Nevada too, we have the extension but don't always use it. I was looking at the Cleveland today though and it does look nice!

I must admit I was drooling over the Niagara Falls today!