Family tent for 5 people

[bilbi]

Hello!
I'm a complete novice in camping and looking for an advice regarding a family size tent that would be comfortable for 5 people (2 adults and 3 kids) with budget around £300.
Have looked at these three, but open for tried and tested alternatives. What are your must haves in a tent?

Outwell Franklin 5
www.wowcamping.co.uk/productDetail/outwell-franklin-5-man-tent-2020-model/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwuJz3BRDTARIsAMg-HxXabeCqSvYKp50-RCtNPMW3L-Q-gpz8PsU3LoM3RQfp6-5Tq_nyGA8aAhsCEALw_wcB

Vango Lomond II 500
www.winfieldsoutdoors.co.uk/vango-lomond

Coleman Octagon 8 Blackout www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0812DMPQD/ref=cm_sw_r_fm_apa_i_8015EbBPPP26Z?tag=mumsnetforu03-21
But although I quite like the design and blackout option, not sure I want everything, including muddy boots and sleeping bags to be in the same room.

Many thanks in advance!

I'd certainly buy a tent for more people than plan to use it. If you choose airbeds, you'll only get four in a sixth berth tent. Also, there are times when the weather isn't great so you need enough room to sit around a table, reading, playing games. Also, we usually end up with a pile of outdoor toys and you'll need somewhere for a clothes bag.

We have a Vango Lomond 600, about three years old now. The canopy is very handy for giving a bit of shade (there are times when you'll need it), we also leave our coolbag outside, a couple of other bits of equipment under it, (or boots in your case). Very happy with it.

We started camping with the basics, and slowly built up when we knew what we needed. Getting those extra things in time does make it more enjoyable though, eg outdoor toys for the kids, good size table for eating out, preparing food, blankets are handy for chilly evenings.

Either way, hope you enjoy it. We have a camping trip booked in July, I don't care what else I miss out on this year (even our holiday abroad at Easter), but I think we'll both be disappointed if we can go camping!

my family is my guy and i with our two girls.We have a 6 person tent a 4 person tent would be way to small.You want room for all the stuff that comes with kids lol

outwell,vango great brands but higear also good look for a sewn in ground sheet and a minimum hydrostatic head of 3000 to keep you dry

what about this one

www.gooutdoors.co.uk/15981046/hi-gear-hampton-6-nightfall-family-tent-15981046

The Hi-Gear Hampton 6 is a good shout, loads of living space.

Or the Eurohike Genus 800 - less living space but inflatables are really quick and easy to put up.
www.gooutdoors.co.uk/15982380/eurohike-genus-800-air-tent-15982380
We have sooooo many fewer arguments putting up our inflatable one compared to our old poled one that was the same size!

Also something you can fully stand up in makes life a lot easier.

We have the hi gear kalahari 8man.
It’s great with loads of space. Not a good tent for 1 night only camping though. For the price it’s good, we couldn’t afford to spend over £500 on a tent! Some were crazy prices
Our kids are 9, 11 and 13. Enough space for everyone to sleep with out being on top of each other, large inside lounge area which is brill when raining. We also upgraded and got the porch which serves as kitchen area.

I would be looking for something with a central bit that is standing height, and then berths round the outside. We have an 8 man tent with 1 berth that sleeps 4 in theory, 3 in practice without the central separator, or 2 with. And then another 2 2 man berths that sleep 1 in each. 1 person's worth of space allows no room for rucksacks etc, and while that's fine for backpacking it's not much fun on a family holiday. A central space allows storage of camping chairs etc in the middle without them living in bedrooms and makes things more comfortable again.

You'll be squashed with 5 in a 5 person tent! How about this: www.gooutdoors.co.uk/15981046/hi-gear-hampton-6-nightfall-family-tent-15981046 or this: www.gooutdoors.co.uk/15980554/15980554-vango-icarus-600-dlx-tent-green

Personally I like a tent I can stand up in and separate bedrooms. A prorch is also good for storage and keeping the rain out every time you open the door if it is raining!!

Outwell Montana 6!! Brilliant tent. You can buy a front awning or extension extra if you need more space. Got ours off ebay second hand and it goes and goes.

I have the coleman octagon. It's easy to put up. It's a bugger to fit back in the bag normally I bring it home and do it in the barn. Better tent people may disagree. You can buy an awning www.outdoorgear.co.uk/Coleman-Octagon-Front-Extension-sku51908901.asp

I like it the door, and the height; at 5 11" I have no desire to crawl around a tent tbh

Thank you all for your replies! You've convinced me to scrap my list and explore 6 person tents you suggested as I've totally not considered all the stuff we'd need to store + room to move around.

We have a 6 person vango for the five of us.

Apart from size it can be worth looking at those little extras. Internal pockets for storage, where are the hook up zips, fly nets on doors etc. Also how long will you camp for? Weeks or weekends that makes a big difference. Our tent is far too big for a weekend but perfect for a week as it has a large living space and we use the front as a kitchen/storage and can get a further side extension if we wanted too. Also where you want to camp the bigger you go can stop you on some sites ours is 7.25 long and I’ve come across a few sites that are 7m or less.

Thank you for bringing this up! Very useful 👍

Do consider a canvas tent as very cool in the mornings- we have an old frame tent handed down from the 70s still going strong - lots of standing room, two bedrooms, feels lovely! X

Something about like this - lots of cheaper options available or Preloved canvas online!!

www.winfieldsoutdoors.co.uk/zempire-millbrook-canvas-tent/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgMDmx5ua6gIVyO3tCh0sFA9LEAQYAiABEgKj2vD_BwE

The blackout in the Colemans would be a game changer for me, especially with kids! I can't sleep in my tent without a black out mask but the toddlers went down in the Coleman no problem.
I would go for something like this style but sleeps more people
www.gooutdoors.co.uk/15903813/coleman-mosedale-5-family-5-person-tent-15903813
You need a big porch in case you have to cook and eat in it if the weather is bad, and space for shoes and to store food.
Also consider if you want 1 bedroom compartment, separate ones for the kids, or some tents have the option to unzip the divider. Check the dimensions of the bedrooms too, particularly if the adults are tall!