Getting a smaller tent?

[georgedawes]

We are complete novice campers so any advice welcome!

We went camping recently to try it out and see what we thought. I surprised myself my enjoying it more than I thought and would like to go again. The tent we used was a hi gear rock 5 that we got off ebay, however I think it was bigger than we needed (we'll only ever go at the weekend) and we struggled to fit it all in. Would it be silly to sell it and buy something smaller and cheaper like this - brilliant bead and craft bundle ?

Main requirements are:

very easy to put up and quick
got to be good in wind
not too expensive
lightweight (we'd like to wildcamp in the future)
Needs to sleep 2 adults, 1 child and a dog

Does the one linked look doable for that?

gah strange link fail!

I meant this one - www.decathlon.co.uk/arpenaz-4-family-tent-4-man-id_8322425.html

We had real trouble cooking in the wind so potentially something that offers protection for that too would be good. Not sure if this would be suitable or not.

Looks fine to me. Not sure where the need and craft bundle fit in though

no me neither!! Thanks :)

We have the larger version of that one. It's good - wind and rainproof and pretty easy to get up. I wouldn't cook in though and would prefer a larger porch.

Thanks Doo. What is the best idea to cook in the wind? Windbreak? We have a gas stove with a cover round it but it couldn't cope in the wind.

We've got a 4x4 no stick the cooker in the back of that.

Sorry, meant so stick not no stick.

Not a very experienced camper at all but we stayed next to some camping pros last summer and they had a cooking area set up with a windbreak around it and it looked it worked pretty well.

thanks :) I may try and borrow one and see if helps. Was a bit depressing not to have a coffee!

Glad you enjoyed your first camp

The problem with the Decathlon one you linked is that you can't stand up in it, and that can get very wearing, especially when you are coming in wet. I really wouldn't fancy cooking in a small tent you can't stand up in.

A Coleman Coastline 4 ?

Decathlon always describe their pop up tents as hiking tents and I always wonder if people really do go hiking with a big disc on straps. How do they carry everything else that would normally go in your rucksack?

For wild camping you need small tents that roll up and can be lashed under or on top of your pack.

Some campers end up with a variety of tents: one for each conceivable type of camping trips.

I have 4

I've never cooked in a tent - isn't it dangerous because of carbon monoxide fumes?

As for the tent, how about something you could stand up in like this:

m.millets.co.uk/product/blue-eurohike-cairns-5-deluxe-tent/004590/

Dome tents are really quick and easy to put up I've found.

Oh and a link to put you off cooking in tents - sorry!

www.gooutdoors.co.uk/blog/dangers-carbon-monoxide-camping/

I don't cook inside the tent because of the fire risk, too.

Tarp and windbreak. You can get little cooker-sized wind shields.

I have an outwell Oakland xl which sleeps 5 (we are a family of 4) and have recently downsized to an outwell birdland 3 because my children now want to sleep in their own 2 man tent. However we have all slept in the smaller one when it was pissing down one night. Both tents have additional open extensions thought which is the most important feature for me. That's where we cook and keep our cool box and have a kitchen unit. I love outwell tents and woul highly recommend. There is one called Cape Coral which is 4 berth but I think the extension is discontinued.