Choice of 2 tents - both half price. Valued opinions please

[hockeypuck]

I've had a look at the Go Outdoors sale online. I can't get to a store to see one set up because they are all too far away.

They have 2 large tents there both half price. Can someone who has them or has seen them give me any advice?

We're only a family of 4 but like our space and don't travel light so I realise we need at least an 8 berth tent with plenty of head space, and I don't like bugs or rain! It'll be mostly short breaks in the UK that we use it for.

It's between the Aztec Canterra 9 £199

Aztec

and the

Vango Venturra 800

Vango
and

I like the shape of the Vango better (but's that's personal preference - though some campsites charge double pitch fees for large geodesics like the Aztec).

Not sure what "a sewn-in features for total protection from the elements come rain or shine" for the Aztec means, but if you don't like bugs I would avoid the Vango (our first tent - also a Vango - had bathtub groundsheets and every iggy for miles around got in - I'm a Sewn-in-Groundsheet Girl, definitely).

Aztec has better Hydrostatic Head as well...but I would want to know what "sewn in features" actually are - doesn't sound fully sewn-in to me.

I'm not helping, am I?

try www.ukcampsites.co.uk and go to 'tent reviews' you can then get impartial customer reivews on each one, and hopefully make the best decision based on that.

outdoormegastore has a sale on too - what about this one? No personal experience ( we have an Outwell Montana 6) but Kyham have a good reputation.

course you're helping!

I thought bathtub groundsheets were sewn in so protected even more from wriggly things. So thanks for that point of view - definitely need to look more into that.

I've just seen some good reviews on the Diablo600 from Vango and although it costs more and is smaller it does have good reviews.

Bumping for more feedback

Thanks for the links both of you - will get myself researching now

Difference between bathtub and SIG It was an expensive mistake for us - I hated the fact that the sides of the tent in our Vango were semi-open (a bathtub groundsheet is raised round the edge - like a bathtub, funnily enough - and the tent sort of pegs out over the top and clips in - rain can't get in but bugs can - we were overrun with daddy long legs). Though some people like the 'back to nature' thing with a non sewn-in groundsheet (weirdos) and the big advantage is that if it gets muddy you can just hose it down separately (we get round that by pitching our Monty on a tarp).

Thanks for that SorenLorenson - I've looked at the reviews on ukcampsite (thanks forevercleaning) and both the Aztec and the Vango Diablo are fully sewn in - so glad to know that. I think the Diablo zips are raised off the floor by a few inches so you step into them which is what I wanted, and what I had mistaken for a bathtub lining.

Blimey there is a lot to learn!

I was at gooutdoors recently choosing our new tent.

Looked at the vango as it was such a brilliant price, but didn't like it at all, it looked kind of cheap and shoddy, which I didn't expect for a vango.

The aztec I liked alot, but I thought it was very dark inside, but very huge and roomy.

HTH.

Thank you WTWTW!

I think I have ruled out the Vango too, so I'm trying to decide between the Aztec and the Vango Diablo now - Vango obviously not being as cheap but has very good reviews!

Forgot to say diabalo is much nicer.

Not temped by an outwell?

We got a montana 6 and it is lurverly.

I'll have a look at the Montana 5 prices now.

Does it have that special step thing to limit the crawlies?

Neither get this it's fab. You can get another 10% off going through Quidco as well.

Sorry just realised you need more beds than that.

The Aztec looks good. I don't know about the 'putting it up is an enjoyable and exciting experience' though. The 'putting up the tent' fight between dh and I is as traditional as the 'putting up the Christmas tree' one.

Yep fully sig to stop insects. And a thermometer, a doormat, a storm porch, fab head height, and good storage lol.

Pootleflump that coleman is an amazing price.

But I still love my monty more

WTWTW, Outwell is def going to be my next tent- I'm in love with the polycotton Bear Lake, the Montana's fab too. This Coleman is our first tent and it's been a great buy.

Oooooh the polycttons are proper tent porn, dp fell in love and had to be forcibly dragged away.

Too many pennies sadly.

We've got the Vango Diablo 600 for four of us and we've got loads of room. It has a sewn-in groundsheet in all of it except for the porch (which has a bathtub) which TBH suits us as it is handy to be able to peel it back and secure our cooker stand to the ground with pegs if the weather is really bad. If it's nice we cook outdoors but it's good to have the option! We also take quite a lot of stuff as we have to take things like ds's SN buggy and there is room in the porch to store all of it without cluttering up the rest of the tent. Last year we went with family and everyone ended up eating in our Vango. That was six adults, two children and two labradors all seated comfortably, plus a table. HTH

This is our new tent and we think it is deffo brill It comes with a Zip off canopy which is HUGE It also has HUGE windows and so is very light and airy inside!!!!

Sorry I didn't answer your Question

I like them both ~~~ deffo get a SIG

That's almost identical to my Monty, RTKM - good choice

I like that big canopy

Thanks

We love it ~ the canopy and windows are sooooooooooo huge

Also the shape of the walls {straight up not sloping inwards} and the door meant that DH didn't have to bow his head all the time ~ which he did when we saw the Monty

.

enjoy your camping trip

Where are you going?

sorry for hijack will ask on another thread