To SIG or not to SIG, that is the question?

[Beachcomber]

Hello camping folk.

We are just about to buy our first family tent and we have decided on the Vango Colorado 800DLX. Tent ticks all our boxes and is a good price, the only thing I'm worried about is will we regret buying a tent that doesn't have a SIG?

We live in France and will be doing all our camping here, mostly in hot weather. I'm hoping that no SIG is good and it will help to keep the tent a bit cooler but am slightly nervous about French storms and the heavy rain that can suddenly come with them.

I have read the SIG/nonSIG thread on UK Campsite and most people seem to favour SIGs, what do you guys think?

Thanks for any opinions.

a non sig devotee here - I like the way that you can almost 'lift' the groundsheet to let the rain run under the tent - you will get less condensation in a non sig. I do like grass with my camping as well - and fresh air.

I agree about being cooler as well.

I'd go for a light coloures tent in France as they do get very hot unless you camp under trees.

at you living in France - whereabouts?

Unlike Luce I really like SIG tents, we've had them without )or rather I have not DH) and I much prefer what I find are the benefits. But not everyone will appreciate those benefits to the same level, iyswim. For a start, heat retention is a huge issue for us as I have reynauds, and we do a lot of early season camping (already had 4 trips this year), plus the bug free matters to our kids. My final huge objection to non - SIG is that we have 2 runaways amongst our kids (ASD) and there is more security in a SIG, tey cant roll under the sides.

However, if these aren't huge issues to you get what you feel most comfy with. And remember the mid way- zip out groundsheets, which are available and allow you choice.

The colour- ah yes. More important than you'd think.

LAst ear we had a delightful tent, a Gelert Tahoma. In dark green. fab- until we happened to camp in the hottest place in the UK on the hottest day. It got so hot that all the plastic glasses imploded . We now have a much lighter coloured tents, a Khyam Ontario, and the colour was a factor.

The best tent has a light living area and dark sleeping areas- more and more have this now (not ours) and it stops the issue of light mornings causing early risers.

The only question in reality i'd ask about your tent is the size; check the palces you want to camp will accept it, as that can be an issue with a large tent 9although mine is 7.5 X 5 with the sun canopy in place).

So there you go Beachcomber - we've totoally confused you now haven't we?

You'll find most people prefer SIGs.

I like my camping a bit retro

Luce I had some bloke raving about the benefits of straw paliases today. Should I sned him up advise you on your retro camping? LOL

lol peachy - there's retro and there's medieval

I did retro when it was current. never so cool second time around LOL

I was a mere babe when retro was here first time round

What is a SIG?

a sewn in groundsheet - there is a lip so you have to trip - sorry step over it to get in the tent

supposed to keep rain and bugs out - but not midges and crane flies

oh i see

No lip in ours actually- its got a clip that you can let down to avoid trips

clip, lip, trip - see it's all the same....

pmsl

never even knew there was such a thing as a sig until I came onto this bit of MN We have a Vango Colorado 1200 (don't make them anymnore) without a sig and it's fine. You can brush all the dirt out of it easily, I don't really find bugs come in that much. We camped last year when there was a massive storm and it was quite funny, the bedrooms felt like walking on water beds (as they have sig's but theere was 2 - 3 " of water gushing throughthe tent We quickly picked up everything off the floor (onto the table) and it all dried out quickly .

Bear in mind what you don't have you don't miss, with those sig's you have to be ultra vcareful about them getting holes in (hence you put down something else I've seen) with a bit of old tarpalin you don't have to worry

Yep Crunchie, we have a footp[rint to keep the SIG intact- not that we had any problems last year LOL, but well once they made the footprint Dh ahd to have it- and the carpet lol! (which is really just a big picnic rug made to size. But nice and warm.

Forgot to ask Lucycat what do you mean when you say 'lift' the groundsheet if it is raining?

Last year i borrowed a tent without a SIG and on the morning we woke up with slug trails over our sleeping bags - every night from then on i rolled up our towels to form slug defenses!

When i came to get my own pre-loved tent this year, a SIG was one of the really important things for me, as well as height. I have a Coleman Cedar Creek and no slugs - i already took her for a 3 night trip in May and slept soundly without fear of one getting in my bag.....

We like a SIG (in a Vango Diablo). It's very cosy in there on a damp morning or evening, non-sig living areas can be a bit draughty IMO.

beachcomber - we love Valence!

dh and I stayed there when we were interrailing, we stayed at a campsite on the banks of the Rhone, you have to cross the autoroute on a footbridge to get there. It was gorgeous and all the Roman ruins too.... You are very lucky again!

I'd say that you'd be better without a sig but make sure you have boxes to put your food in to keep it away from voles etc

squidette - how did the slugs get in your bedroom compartment?

lucycat, the tent without a SIG didnt have separate compartments - but the one i have know does (((((hugs tent)))))

This was the site in valence that we stayed at - I'm surprised it's still going 17 years on!

ooohhh yuk squidette, we do have zip up bedroom compartments to keep the warmth in and the slugs out! There's non sig and there is a guide tent!

We've just had our first trip in a tent with a SIG after managing without and it was wonderful. No more draughts round the ankles, no more wildlife wandering in of a morning, no more escape bids for ds. I mean, I'm all for getting back to nature but there are limits.

The tent did get quite hot (another Vango Diablo here) but it was fine once we'd opened some of the many airvents/windows/doorways and let some air through.

Thanks for your comments folks. Have finally made a decision about the tent and decided not to go for the Colorado after all but for the Royal Avignon 6 (with SIG).

Now can't wait to get it and go camping!