Buying a tent - total camping newbie!

[Dinglingding]

Hello

As above. I've decided to start going camping having not been since I was a child! Looking to buy a tent but have literally no idea where to start.

We are a family of four, two kids aged 5 and 2 1/2. Looking to start off with long weekends but would like something big enough to work for longer periods.

Sorry I know this is probably way too vague! Budget probably around £800 - could stretch a bit.

Any help - even just recommended manufacturers would be greatly appreciated!

That's a massive budget. You won't need to pay anything like that.

Do you have a go outdoors near you? They have loads of tents, all put up so you can explore.

If I were you i wouldn't buy one too big because it'll be a faff to put up. But get one with 2 bedrooms and a living area you can stand in in case it rains.

Most helpful advice we got was to size up if you can afford it. When it says 4 man tent, that's you all lying next to each other with no gaps so I'd go for a 6 man which will allow you to use blow up mattresses/beds if you want. We have an air tent which is so much easier and offers more rigidity in wind. There are several 6 man air tents on the market. Get out with the kids is a handy website and has tent reviews.

We are newish to camping, only the last couple of years. We bought a vango iris 600. It's has a large bedroom area which divides if needs be. We keep it as one and each child shares with a parent on an air bed. There is plenty of space around the air beds too. It has a 'living room' area which is very big and fits all our luggage plus table, wash bin, huge cool box etc with room to sit if it rains too. I can't remember how much it was but nothing like £800. I find it very easy to put up and did it 80% on my own last weekend with just a small amount of help when two pairs of hands are needed.

Have you looked on eBay? Some people seem to go camping, buy all the gear, then decide they don't like it and sell everything. You can usually get a usable kit for about £300 which is ideal if you are just starting out

Thanks so much everyone! It was a friend at work who suggested I needed at least that much for the tent - his was even more expensive! Very relieved to find this isn't the case I thought I must just be totally out of touch with prices

Hadn't thought of eBay so will take a look there too.

Many thanks for all the suggestions!

Air tents are quick to put up but are heavier, more expensive and take up much more room in your car.

A simple tunnel tent (like the Vango Icarus / Iris / Isis ) is quick and simple to put up, and spacious. Going to a place where they have tents set up is a good idea. SK Camping on the A22, or Cross Camping near Cambridge, a Go Outdoors etc.

Putting your tent up the first time always takes ages, as does getting it back in the bag.

I would not buy an £800 tent as a new camper: you need to discover by experience your needs and 'style'.

In 3 years time Will you end up with a canvas bell tent, tarp and cooking over your campfire on a tripod, or will you crave the comforts of home with a tent big enough for a blow up 3 piece suite in tne living area, full electric hook up, oven, slow cooker, fridge etc?

Major proviso: buy something not too expensive but don't go cheap and nasty. No one wants to camp in a leaking tent.

Look for taped seams, a HH of a minimum of 3000.

HiGear at Go Outdoors are good, but not expensive tents. With children that age you need indoor space for bad weather and for storing stuff, so I'd go for something with the sleeping areas all at one end, and a large living area. But not so massive that it's a huge pain to lug into place and put up. One example here

A porch or awning is also good for cooking (remember you cannot have any kind of flame, barbecue etc inside a tent as it can cause carbon monoxide poisoning).

We have just bought a decathlon air tent for our family weekend tent. It's inflatable so up in about 5 minutes. Decathlon do some of their tents in a "fresh and black" option which is AMAZING! The bedroom is black out to keep out the sun and has windows to let the air in so it doesn't get too hot. If there is a decathlon near you I'd go have a look at their range.

This is ours www.decathlon.co.uk/air-seconds-family-4-xl-fb-id_8384154.html - the sleeping bit is just big enough for four and you can keep stuff in the porch. I'd buy this for your weekends and then once you've spent some time ogling other people's tents you'll know what you want to do with your other £600 for your big tent.

For our main tent, we followed the advice to get a massive tent (outwell nevada). It's brilliant for long holidays as there is room to sit inside if it's raining but it's far too big for weekends as the thought of getting it up and down is .

Thanks so much everyone - I feel I have a bit of an idea now as to where to start!

Just wanted to pop in and agree with others that you should look to spend a lot less on your gear until you're confident you'll enjoy going regularly, and know what sort of campers you'll be.

Given the ages of children, getting a 4 man would be snug but fine. As long as you also have a 'living' area you'll get a better quality 4 man for the same price as a poorer quality 6 man. It'll also pack down smaller and be easier to put up too.

We have 3 tents for our family of 4 (DCs 3 and 10 mos) a v small 4 man with porch for backpacking, a 4 man with small living area for short weekends, and a massive Outwell 6 man polycotton for long holidays. The middle of this range is what we started with and we still use it plenty even though we now have a fancier one.

There's quite a good guide here that explain the different types of tents and what makes them good choices for family camping: www.trespass.com/advice/tents-for-family-camping/

Trespass actually have a really good camping tent too for less than £100 (I also think your budget is quite high you'll be glad to hear!)
www.trespass.com/caterthun-4-person-tent
I have the Ghabhar style as I was going for the cheaper option. Looks like they have a sale on at the moment now too. Happy camping!

Hi there!
I love family camping, bet you're excited to take your family through the new experience!
We're a fan of this tent, lots of space (also a family of four!) but a great price!
www.bchcamping.co.uk/Camping/Tents/Family-Tents/Kampa-Croyde-6-Tent

Get a six man tent. I would get something which you can attach an awning to so that you have extra space

I have this tent and love it
www.millets.co.uk/tents-camping/133707-eurohike-rydal-500-5-man-tent.html
It has plenty of space for me and my two children (7 and 10) but I think it would be fine for two adults and two younger children. I've used it on shorter trips only - weekends and a four night trip. It's been in several heavy downpours and held up brilliantly - no leaks. Easy to put up and take down and plenty of space in the front section.

I'd have a look any of the Vango 600 ones.

Essential (to me)
6 berth
Fully sewn in groundsheet (not linked in)
HH of at least 400
Second mesh door on at least one of the doors, preferably both

Check the pack size, they vary massively

Outlook poled tents are excellent, you can often get them second hand in very good condition.

Most standard tunnel tents will have the option of some kind of awning. You could use just the tent for weekends away, but the the extension for longer trips.

Look for a tent with one large bedroom that can be divided by a curtain. Your children are small so you'll likely want to be in with them and separate pods are a pain

This is a bargain.. Possibly a bit big for weekends though? You wouldn't need a separate awning though
www.winfieldsoutdoors.co.uk/vango-keswick-600-tent/?gclid=CjwKCAjwqcHLBRAqEiwA-j4AyBXLvvsiVSNFeBlr0vSH6Ji5EGJmIGyyrgSjfrFVyBKoKDjhIm_dvBoC4SMQAvD_BwE

Another good one
m.gooutdoors.co.uk/outwell-glenwood-600-tent-p366426&gclid=CjwKCAjwqcHLBRAqEiwA-j4AyL3aeUl3bcuHXA3DAlf0rg_S-iudD5Hq4HZYo2ft7lU9VLvmkMfjhhoC4toQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds