Blackout bedrooms vs air tent

[Clicheinaqashqai]

We are looking at getting a large tent so we can go away as a family during the holidays when DS starts school in September.

We are torn between:

Option A - Blackout rooms and a large living space

Option B - Smaller living space, not black out but an air tent so much easier to put up with a toddler and 4 year old

Sadly budget can't stretch to both features.

Are the blackout rooms actually worth it or are the kids still going to be up at the crack of dawn anyway?

Any advice appreciated!

I wouldn’t be fussed about an air tent. They’re big when packed up. I’d prioritise larger living space

My only thought of the air tent is that it will be so much easier to put up with the kids around. But I guess they won't be so small for long!

A every time

A

I love our air tent but if I had to choose I’d go A every time. We had non blackout rooms for a while and it’s much better with them. Also a large living area is much better with Uk camping as it might well rain and you’ll appreciate the space.
Tents vary in how easy they are to put up - what’s the one you’re looking at? Kids will be old enough to help soon, and at least old enough to not get into too much trouble while you’re doing it!

blackout & more space. airtents are heavy & can leak / break.

We have a Quechua air tent with blackout bedrooms. It's a fantastic tent and was excellent value for money when we bought it 4 years ago. It's had lots of use and is showing no sign of wear. I have spare tubes just in case. They are very easy to replace. Decathlon is worth a look before you decide.

A: https://www.blacks.co.uk/15980941/hi-gear-zenobia-8-nightfall-tent-15980941

B: https://www.millets.co.uk/15982380/eurohike-genus-800-air-tent-15982380/?istCompanyId=b238823a-59fd-4816-9c36-7dd47877f2a8&istFeedId=10c66450-32f1-4186-aab2-57cecab8b383&istItemId=ilpmratxw&istBid=t&gclid=CjwKCAjwkLCkBhA9EiwAka9QRqX7oaIZsF7X197NoIIOcLh7NgOk4eVDjzcWte7bokcErxhIBfMWRxoC9N0QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

There is approx 2sqm more living space in option A

A, as long as it is reasonably straightforward to put up. Generally one person can do it with occasional help from someone else to hold a pole. Toddler put in travel cot or playpen with toys /biscuit, or strapped in car with Peppa Pig on… 4 year old ‘helping’.

They look great @Bundlebee but the size we would need is out of our budget unfortunately. We haven't been camping as a family before, so we might all end up hating it so don't want to spend too much especially when the kids are small (but also not cheap out so much that a bad tent makes it a bad trip!)

Are you going camping with other people? If it's just the 4 of you I don't understand why you would need a tent with 4 bedrooms in addition to the living space?!

Plus one vote for option C, decathlon tent with both.
We've got this which is plenty of space for 2 adults, 2 preteens and a dog.
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/5-man-inflatable-blackout-tent-air-seconds-5-2-f-b/_/R-p-324972?mc=8584565

No @NameChange30 would mostly be just us. However, we wanted on where the bedrooms weren't all next to each other in a row so we don't disturb the kids so much when we go to bed and DD is still in a cot at the moment so need space for that.

How about this one?
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/4-man-inflatable-blackout-tent-air-seconds-4-2-f-b/_/R-p-157654?mc=8572950&c=BEIGE

I love our air tent and it's huge, but so very heavy.
I would go for space as in case of rainy days and it's easier to have room to do things in the tent anyway.

We have a very similar decathlon tent for two adults and 3 kids and it works. We have a 2,5,10 year olds. Black out does help with chidlren and early Ealing's. Last time the 2 and 5 year olds slept till 7 which they don't even do at home.

Living space inside is important as if they do wake early they have some where to play or you have space to eat inside if it rains.

We switched to an air tent as my partner can largely put it up on its own. Our tent also has the inner compartments attached so again less to do when getting it up

Oh that does look good @NameChange30 ! Slightly over budget (can get 20% off at Blacks or Millets) but may be worthwhile long term.

There's so many options I feel like I'm going round in circles slightly.

How about this one?
https://www.blacks.co.uk/15982276/hi-gear-horizon-400-eclipse-air-tent-15982276

It's already discounted, but if you can add your 20% discount on top, it would only be £367.20.

I certainly wouldn’t get the eurohike one, the hydrostatic head isn’t very good and generally the brand isn’t the best quality.

I wouldn’t worry too much about disturbing the kids if you are next door to them. We’ve camped loads from when they were babies and I don’t think we ever woke them, and they weren’t very good sleepers. At one point we had two travel cots in one of the rooms! Also if they wake in the night it’s good to be next door so you can reassure them. Just my experience- and I think it makes a good layout with the tunnel shape tent with a porch front end, then living space, then bedrooms. Just an alternative view!

The problem with a design with bedrooms either end is it makes so much of the living space unusable imho. At least three edges are against a door, the bedroom doors both ends and a door on one side. With a tunnel tent you have two usable edges where you can keep stuff stacked.

https://www.winfieldsoutdoors.co.uk/vango-keswick-600-tent/?gclid=CjwKCAjwkLCkBhA9EiwAka9QRnXDNUXK6J4Dn7XLqYfdiabXtvBpeZi7G1-MYDmtJ1VDvLS_bqe9-RoC_QkQAvD_BwE

This one looks great, for instance. Two 3-person rooms, so they’re both more roomy than a 2 person space (you can fit two beds with a gap down the middle). Great living area and porch for kids toys etc. and you can do cooking under shelter in the porch area with the front door open. Excellent price as well. And blackout.

How about this. https://www.leisureshopdirect.com/outdoor/tents/family-tents/outwell-tent-greenwood-6/?ref=gs&gclid=CjwKCAjwkLCkBhA9EiwAka9QRo1mCltU_RHltddpir8BhsQnt93JBdARcNNXms-_kzfpD827kBd_zRoChDoQAvD_BwE

Very good point @QuintanaRoo about the layout of the double sided rooms meaning the living space isn't so usable. Maybe the tunnel style is better after all. This is why I wanted opinions as I am clueless!

Camping for me and DH was always a small 2 man tent and cooking on the fire, or at a festival so minimal kit and our all day everyday basically.

Black out rooms all the way!