Does this look like a good tent?

[chipmonkey]

here or is it the case that
1/ no-one who knows anything about camping would touch that brand or
2/ you should never buy a tent on ebay

Any tips for a camping virgin would be good!

I have never heard of them & I used to be quite a hardcore camper. However, I have been out of the UK for 6 years and it is possible that this is a good new make (but I have my doubts)

Good brands to consider:

Khyam
Vango
Outwell
Coleman (but wouldn't be top of my list)

Search the archives on here for tent recommendations.

I would never buy a tent without seeing it first.

The trouble is, I don't know of any good camping stores here in Ireland where you can go and look at the tents to make a decision. I think those Skandic tents are German but can't find a huge amount of information on them, other than on their own website which is hardly going to say anything bad!

Loads of information on ukcamping about Skandika if you rummage round.

i think they are ok.

here you go fill yer boots!

Me, dh and 4 boys! Ds4 will be one soon, so still in a travel-cot. I was hoping not to spend a huge amount on the first tent we get, just in case it turns out that we hate camping! I have fab memories of it as a child but my Mum hated it, despite having a nice big trailer-tent with loads of space. I know ds1 and ds2 have loved camping with my dsis as well, so they'll be fine.

Hello Cm , saw the link eventually LOL

where shall I satrt?

OK, firstly it's solight that you won't get much kip after sunrise as the sun will cme pouring in. Also, that shape whilst stable is one that takes longer to pitch (out first 'decent' tent was this shape) and these days can need you to book two pitches to accomodate the dimensions.

Now, i've bought tents from Ebat but only with themethod of identify the tent you want, then find a reputable seler marketing exactly that tent on there IYSWIM. A few of the main stores use ebay to sell.

Ours is this one and I love it but i'll happily admit it's an investment tent

if you can find this one (and get a porch bolt on) its a wonderful tent; with tunnels the narrow shape usually means tent pitches areeasy to come by (the khyam wasour last tent)

and you know, everyone from gelert to vango seems to do a version of the ontario 8 now so there must be something near you; sig with crawling tinines important imo, hh not less than 3000, important factors

hth

Ah our fiorst tent was that shape. It's not bad but with a 1 year old I'd prefer a bedroom layut where the livinga rea isn't between me and them; I think that's why we ended up with what we did in the end, the unusual layout. DH didn't want an all together design either so midways needed (awkward sod)

Riven, CM is in Ireland so not near us. Sadly, as her LO is the same age as ds4 by days as well as the whole 4 bioys thang goin' on LOL. Could hve been fun

Dh loves anything where you can sit in the sun and drink beer all day

You should sell it on, we've made 75% cashback ono every tent we ever bought so far (though am ashamed to say this is the first one ever made more than a single season and if dh had asecure job we'd be looking at a weekend tent even now - Outwell teePee, had a look at the weekend just gone).

Riven- will be with you just after lunch if thats OK? gotta pick up DS3's new uniform first. Apologies if Dh seems out of it, he doesn't go to bed on a Friday after workinga ll through on a Thursday- only way he can get back into a sleep routine for the weekend.
If he starts snoring on your sofa I'll thump him for you.

Are yours back already?

Thanks, folks!

I managed to find out that there are some camping shops near-ish to us that have displays of tents but I had to ask on an Irish parenting site to find that out as the camping shops themselves seem a bit internet-shy! I think it probably is better to see the model put up as looking at photos really doesn't give you a proper idea. Just realised we'll have to get a roofbox for the car as well as we will have very little space with all the ds's and camping gear!

What car do you have CM?We only gave up and got a roofbox after ds4, but there's no boot at all (well we can fit in the tiniest buggy we could find, a Graco Mojo and no more) so have a sort of rear mounted bike carrier trailer thing (cant have a trailer due to the house- no front garden or rear access).

Deffo better to see them up; plus you get a 'feeklin' in the right tent like in the right house.

We have a Toyota Corolla Verso which is fine most of the time as usually it's just me and the kids. When dh is with us then we pop up one extra seat in the boot and we still have a half a boot which is fine for trips to my Mum etc. Before we had ds4 we hired one in France, my Mum was with us so it was the same number of bodies as we have now and ds2 was in the boot seat with all the luggage beside him. It was fine except for one occasion when we were driving down a motorway and all the suitcases fell sideways on top of him and we couldn't pull over! With all the seats up we have absolutely no boot.

DH is after a Fiat Multipla when we can (safer apparently as more boot space = more cushion in an accident), but I do love our spacewagon- the mechanic describes it as 'A sofa with a rocket launcher attached'

The carav and camping clb has an article on roof boxes this month you know (just got the mag through)- I can take a look for you if you want their reviews?

Oh yes please Peachy, that would be great, even just to know which one not to get!

I have a Skandika tent! It's fab! Really well made and it looks good pitched next to an Outwell too! On that alone, I would recommend the Skandika. Really well made, easy to put up, very fast delivery from Germany and damn good for the price imho!

I think you'll find someone called MaureenML on that UKcamping chatroom too!

Any relation of yours, Maureen?

Nein, nicht at all! I've been harping on about them for about 3 years now! No-one has bitten until now! I do recommend them though. It really does look and perform very well!

Disclaimer: I've only ever been camping in gorgeous weather. (The sun always shines on me!) so I can't comment on high winds or heavy rain!)

Well, as to good weather, one has to remember I will be camping in Ireland, so there'll be none of that, thank you very much!

PMSL

will dig out rofbox details later (supposed to be grocery shopping atm LOL)