Tent advice

[bettybeetroot]

we are looking for our first family tent and the more i look the harder it is becoming! there are 4 of us (dc's will be sharing though) so thought we should get a 6 or 8 berth. i can't even decide between a dome or tunnel - any advice greatly appreciated and sorry if this has been asked before! i have seen a few that looked suitable - does anyone have any of these? and can you comment? Thank!

Khyam Ontario 6

Wild Country Halo 53

Vango Yukon 600

Coleman Mackenzie x6 (i really like the look of this one!)

Also, how much difference is there between 6 and 8 berth? any other suggestions welcome!

What is your budget? and do you prefer a sewn in groundsheet or not?
Personally I'd go for a tunnel design as they tend to have more head height.

For 4 of you, go for an 8 berth tunnel. All of the above are good, but I'd try to see them pitched if possible - a camping display?

Where in the SW are you? there is a good one in Ashburton, S Devon.

thanks lucycat, bugdet is up to £300 but the cheaper the better as we need to get some other kit aswell. we live near okehampton so i would definately be interested in going over to ashburton as i would feel better about buying something i have seen! i had no idea where they displayed them - i will have a google later. i think the tunnel would be better for us. i prefer the idea of the dc's being in a room next to us rather than across the living space. right now i am going towards the khyam and the coleman. The khyam is cheaper but i like the look of the big windows on the coleman as i would like to be able to see out more.

Here is the Ashburton one it's Outdooe Experience and they had a fairly good stock when we visited at Whit. There was a display at Exeter racecourse at Whit, not sure whether it is still there?

I like the Coleman too.

Our Coleman tent is Fab - earlier model but similar to that one. I love the Khyam quick put up ones but reckon that you need more than 300 squid to get one that is good enough to beat the Coleman. Coleman are better value for money whereas Khyam are better but at a big hike in price. Just my opinion though!

It was interseting that on our last trip we arrived at the site as a couple putting up a KHam QE and it took them longer to pull it all into shape than it took us to put Lakey up

Not that I was mentally racing y'understand

I viewed the Vango Yukon a fortnight ago as we're looking for a smaller weekend tent for us (family of just 3). It is small in the sleeping quarters (and can't remeber if that was the one that just had dividing sheet rather than seperate pod)

thanks for those replies! i had a look at that link and they have a coleman mackenzie x8 (which i have seen for the same price as a x6 on the web) i will ring them tomorrow and see if they have one on display. i was worried that an 8 berth would be SO big but i guess it's probably better for the lo's to play and for cousins to come along also. thanks again!

So glad to help!

We stayed at Dornafield just south of Newton Abbott, a great place to try out a new tent!

lucycat, we finally went to look at the mackenzie today in Ashburton as DH has been away until yesterday, anyway, i loved the mackenzie (8 berth) but dh decided he wanted a polycotton as they had an Outwell Trout Lake on display and he thought it was the best quality and the coolest (in temperature! - it was pretty sunny this afternoon). I had a look on the internet when we got home and decided on the outwell arrow lake even though more than our initial budget. we THEN saw a norfolk lake on ebay for less than the arrow lake so have just purchased it I just wanted to let you know as i did a search on mumsnet and saw you have one. i'm so excited now but nervous about having such a big tent - i read it takes an hour to put up - is this about right? i hope it's not too difficult