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Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

Original poster

Calling all camping experts

140 replies

MrsDoolittle · 30/07/2005 09:47

We shall not be camoing this year but dh has decided that now, when the sales are on, is the time to buy a tent.
By next year we will be a family of four, two adults and two children. We would like to get a 6 man tent.
Dh has spotted this bargain . I think it's less than that now.
Anyway, I thought I should ask Mumnsetters what they thought. I notice that the Colorado is rated most highly.
Is this a good deal? We are also going to have a squiz around Touchwoods this afternoon to see what's on offer.

OP posts:
happymerryberries · 30/07/2005 19:23

But you don't get back ache in a Frame tent tho do you?

I know wat yu mean bout the 'trendiness' thing tho. I find myself not liking Khyam Ridgipods because I don't like the colour even though I know they are excellent tents!

sarjon · 30/07/2005 19:23

Ahh, you remind me of last year when my dh and I at the tender age of 25 and 27 took my mums big 25 year old cabanon (can you tell when she bought it??!?! ) out for one last trip and drove down to the new forest in my dh's very old very banged up volvo - we weren't even good enough to be classified as hill billies!!!!!!!

happymerryberries · 30/07/2005 19:24

If you have had a frame tent and rea unsure about a dome have a shufti at the Tunnel tents. Kind of a hybrid I suppose. And I'm biased as we have one!

Surfermum · 30/07/2005 19:36

That's exactly what we're looking at HMB! We're thinking about a Vario 9 but I want to look at some reviews first. I've seen some about Vario 6's and they weren't that good.

Janh · 30/07/2005 19:38

Our Cabanon ended its life (c 15 years with us) in a skip on a campsite in Llandudno 2 years ago

(The poles had got so bent and twisted it was really hard to put up and DH refused to bring it home. It was huge, 3 bedrooms plus a living space about 15'x10', we do miss it) (more )

we have a Vango Vista 8-berth now. Still quite big but not the same.

happymerryberries · 30/07/2005 19:38

This is what I would get if mone were no object

Montana 12

Janh · 30/07/2005 19:40

Vista 8

sallystrawberry · 30/07/2005 19:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Janh · 30/07/2005 19:42

The Montana is only wider than yours, hmb, it's not any longer - slightly bigger living space but a lot more money!

happymerryberries · 30/07/2005 19:43

Yes but it is sewn in gound sheet right through, which is sort of what I want

Surfermum · 30/07/2005 19:46

Dh would have been in that skip after yours Jan. He got our table and chairs from a bin at a campsite in Woolacombe. The plastic on the chairs had cracked, so we took it home gave it to my dad as a "project" and he replaced the seats with wooden ones. This holiday dh rescued a bodyboard out of the bin that was perfect but had no leash. We went into Newquay and blagged a free one! Perhaps we're more the Borrowers than the Beverley Hillbillies.

sallystrawberry · 30/07/2005 19:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tessasmum · 30/07/2005 19:49

Just to add - we got a Khyam from ebay last year (at a bargain Khyam ebay price as everyone was away over Easter!) Its an XXL and will sleep 6 though we are only up to 3 and a bump! We wanted a tent that we would NEVER had to upgrade. The room inside is phenomenal, even for entertaining a 2 year old in the rain and its a doddle to put up.
It's also got a bit of history allegedly, apparantly it was one of about 4 that Frank Bruno bought when he was a little manic a few summers ago so its known as 'Franks tent'.

I'd say if you've got the money (or know what you are doing on ebay - we met at S. Mimms service station and took the whole thing apart before paying cash!) go for the best.

Look out Devon we'll be there on Thursday!

Janh · 30/07/2005 19:51

I wish he'd been there, then, surfermum! There was a lot more room in the car coming home but it still felt like leaving one of the kids behind!

sarjon · 30/07/2005 20:11

Oh god, your dh sounds just like mine!! We have a massive frame tent in our loft thats got a few poles missing that he picked out of a skip 2 years ago, promising me that it was easy to find spare poles and then it would be as good as new!!! (needless to say its still sat in the loft sans poles!!!)

Thats not to mention the four computers we have in our study (useful for parts apparently) and the various other things that have made there way into our house from skips, friends garages and the dump!!!!!

Surfermum · 30/07/2005 20:17

And he dares to tell ME that I have too many clothes!

sarjon · 30/07/2005 20:21

Yes!!!!! I, apparently, clutter the house with my shoes, bags and clothes but his bits and pieces are necessary.....

sarjon · 30/07/2005 20:27

Does anyone know the name of those tents that just spring together?? Begins with 'r' I think.

Also, does anyone have any opinions on them? I have a friend who was interested in them but the only thing Ive heard about them is that they are fab but only last a few years cos the material perishes quickly!??!

Any ideas?

sarjon · 30/07/2005 20:28
Original poster
MrsDoolittle · 31/07/2005 19:06

Ladies , ladies! I soo pleased that you have replied to my thread.
Thank you.

Well we went to Touchwoods and what an amazing place? I have been reading this thread and honestly, you all speak a different language.
When we went into the superstore,we parked right infront of a fully erected Outwell Colarado 8 and I fell in love. How lovely and big, I marvelled. Then we walked into a Diablo and it was huge! Amazing. However I listened to a family of 'pros' going around the tent and they were saying how nice and big it was but they didn't like the 'lip' as you walked into the tent. Friends of theirs had one and they moaned constantly about tripping over it.
Dh was saying that apparently UK campsites are not geared for these super large tents and they are causing a problem. I don't know, but I think he was just thinking on a smaller scale and found this reason a good excuse. He liked the Colorado adequate but I'm afraid I have now been spoilt by seeing the larger size. He was also looking at the price tag!
We went to Halfords but they were out of stock of the cyclone tents. From what you are saying here that sounds like it was just as well.
I think this deserves an awful lot more research on my behalf, I feel like I am stepping into another world and I would hate to make a mistake.
I am really enjoying this thread.

OP posts:
happymerryberries · 31/07/2005 20:11

Mrs D I have to say that as a lover aof the C* I don't like the 'lipp ' either. I also miss not havinf a 'tunnels' as you enter for the cooker etc which i why I want an outwell awning on the outside!

Milliways · 31/07/2005 20:47

This is ours, but we got it in a sale for about £200. The rooms are large bit we love the large central area - big enough to have a table in & play etc if it is wet. It has 3 doors so if hot can roll / prop them all up for a through breeze.

I do like the tents with the porches though for cooking in away from the living area.

You need to visit a camp site a look around there, then you can chat to the owners of the ones you like - it's like men & cars, all like to show off the finer points

Original poster
MrsDoolittle · 31/07/2005 20:56

That's a nice tent Milliways.
Dh said he would rather a dome tent, so I was looking at this Outwell Hartford L tent

OP posts:
anteater · 31/07/2005 21:01

Mrs Doolittle, what a clever husband you have!!
These very large tents are causing big headaches for campsite owners.. Size used to be limited by £, but not any more.
On balance I think the huge tents work against the spirit of the family camping holiday...

happymerryberries · 31/07/2005 21:02

Milliways, fab tent!