Recomend me a tent please

[Stealthynamechange]

Hi All

Im thinking of trying camping with DS (4years) and DDog 😊 not camped before and we may not get further than the backgarden! Can anyone recomend a tent that I can easily put up alone? Ive googled it to death and can't decide what to buy!

Thanks everyone!

A tipi style is really easy to put up alone, but quite basic inside. No separate rooms etc. I loved mine for camping without DH.

If you want bedrooms try an inflatable one. Ideally with a blackout bedroom for your little one.

I just bought a 3 man vango tay 300 for me and DS 4.
Don’t have a car so needed something we could backpack with, and I could put up quickly with DS.
Haven’t taken it into the wilds yet, but have tried it out at home and seems v easy

Also don’t put your DS in a separate room in a tent. He’s too little. You want to be in the same space.

For a starter tent try this:
www.millets.co.uk/15986992/eurohike-teepee-tent-15986992

Or this:

www.millets.co.uk/15980738/eurohike-sendero-4-family-tent-15980738

If you go for the Tipi you may also want a tarp to sit under if it rains

www.decathlon.co.uk/p/multifunction-tarp-camping-shelter/_/R-p-307422

A tunnel tent like the Sandero is easy to put up by yourself with a little practice. Google ‘the Cross Camping method’ for tunnel tents , a video made by Gary Cross. (Lots of Gary Cross videos are very helpful).

By 5 your 4 year old will be a great help in putting up a tent, holding a pole is just what you need sometimes.

Have fun!

Another vote for Decathlon stuff, especially if you're just setting out and don't want to spend too much.

Decathlon are very good.

If you go for a tent with bedroom/s will your dog sleep in your sleeping pod with you, or in the living area?

Many of the Decathlon tents do not have seen in groundsheets in the living area which makes it a bit drafty, but also means your dog can escape.

Decathlon tents are very good, we have an inflatable one which is very easy to put up. We also have a Vango which is very good too. The kids and dogs all pile into the one space when we camp. Their air beds with the fitted sheet and duvet are good too.

Thanks everyone :-) some good suggestions to look at, ddog will sleep with us i think! He normally sleeps with me & will be nice for more warmth.

Single parent here - who loves camping. We got the berghause 6 air tent. Really quick and easy to put up alone.

Oh thank you @tweettweettweettweet that's good to know, ive been considering inflatables

For those who use decathlon tents are there any you recomend?

Loving the look of the tipee style tent @upthejunktion linked but not sure how easy would be to put up alone?

It would be the easiest to put up alone, except for an inflatable tent.

Doesn't give you much space though, especially if it rains, and you have no separation between living area and sleeping area. With a dog and child bringing grass and mud in, it is best to have sleeping pods that can be zipped shut during the day (which also keeps the bugs out - keep the bedroom pods zipped closed from late afternoon onwards to keep out damp air and midges), and a separate living area.

If you go for inflatable check pack size and weight - they generally take up a lot more room in the car and are much heavier to lift in and out.

@Stealthynamechange we have this Decathlon one which we use in the garden a lot and I use when I take the kids (4 Dc) away for short trips of one or two nights.

www.decathlon.co.uk/p/inflatable-camping-tent-air-seconds-4-1-4-person-1-bedroom//R-p-157653
We have this one too but not been away other than the garden yet for our longer family trips with DH and our two dogs.

www.decathlon.co.uk/p/inflatable-camping-tent-air-seconds-6-3-f-b-6-people-3-bedrooms//R-p-324957
We have an extension canopy for over the door that gives a bit more cover too and a windbreak.

We have used our Vango for years and its ok to put up but the inflatable ones are very simple.

I did notice Lidl had some inflatable tents in last week and they looked identical and cheaper. Maybe worth a look.

Decathlon air tent, easy to put up (I can do ours on my own in 10-15 mins if not windy), cheap, you'd probably sell it on if you find you don't like camping much. Their delivery/customer service is good too. Definitely get one you can stand up in...I detested camping until we got one that I could actually get dressed in without contorting myself, could sit in it in the rain/cold and so on. Non-standy up tents are a step too far for me 😬

Air tent. No idea why anyone would buy poled nowadays.

It's a Vango but my friend also has a similar Berghaus. Rate them both equally,

People seem obsessed with weight - as in they're heavy to transport/lift.

I can easily carry, pitch and pack away mine by myself. It weighs 20 kilos. It rages 20 mins to pitch it and the same to pack away.

I have a spare bean incase one has puncture. Similar to a pole repair kit.

Mine was second hand, it's still like new 5 years on. It's probably 8 years old.

@MirandaMarple

Personally speaking- Because if you don’t have a car, a 20kg tent is a nightmare.

My poled tent is 2.5kg. I can carry that, a double 4 season sleeping bag, an inflatable roll mat & everything DS and I need for 3 nights camping, take the train and walk a couple of miles no problems.

An inflatable tent would make it impossible.

Air tent. No idea why anyone would buy poled nowadays

Budget
Pack size
Weight if the tent is a big one
Because some of us can put up a 3 pole tunnel tent in the same time it takes to put up an air beam with a manual pump
And pack it away quicker. (No air to squeeze out).

I am not knocking air beams but there are reasons why people choose otherwise.

Wouldn’t swap my (steel poled) cotton canvas Dutch storm tent for anything.

@Stealthynamechange

You can filter your search on the Vango website based on weight of the tent. This 5 person (so would fit you, child and dog in easily) is 12.5kg.

www.vango.co.uk/gb/camping-equipment/686-skye-ii-air-500.html

It's also on sale at John Lewis for £60 less.