Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Camping

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

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6

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:

Original poster

MrsDoolittle · 31/07/2005 21:07

Uhmm anteater, he has that quietly confident 'air' about him, but I think that might be the Kiwi in him
So what about the Hartford?

OP posts:

happymerryberries · 31/07/2005 21:09

I have seen hertfords 'up' and they are great tents

happymerryberries · 31/07/2005 21:10

re the 'size' issue I think our colorado 8 is a good compromise. Loads of room but still fits on a standard pitch

Original poster

MrsDoolittle · 31/07/2005 21:13

I've read that the Colorado is the most popular tent on the market. However, I have to admit that I like the 'cosiness' of the dome tents. Practically speaking I would have no idea, but it looks to me like somewhere a hobbbit would live. The Shire anyone?

OP posts:

happymerryberries · 31/07/2005 21:16

a hole in the gound but a hobbit hole and that means comfort!

my kind of camping!

Janh · 31/07/2005 22:06

Whole thread on UKcampsite.co about pitches for large tents.

anteater, our old 6-berth Cabanon frame tent was c. 23 sq m (at least I think it was, now it's dead I can't check but the current equivalent is that size); our 8-berth Vango Vista is just over 24 sq m; hmb's Colorado 8 is 21 sq m. Admittedly the Montana 12 is 28 sq m but most of them are broadly similar, why is it a big issue now? (Or is it the 3-wing/4-wing ones that take up too much space?)

sievehead · 31/07/2005 22:50

sorry haven't had time to read all the responses. We bought a tent like the one you mention some years ago before we had kids. Now we have 2 kids and we had to upgrade it as there was just not enough space. We now have a Sunncamp Olympic which is fab. Have just got back from a few days in rainy Devon and had a wonderful time even thought he weather was pants. The great thing about a huge tent is even if its raining, there is still loads of room for the kids to play without having to move the beds out of the way. Thats my opinion anyway! It is quite big, but very easy to put up.

anteater · 31/07/2005 23:12

Hi Janh
..in the olde days big tents were rare, now they are the norm..
The ultra domes you mentioned come with 2, 3 or 4 'pods' and often do not fit onto a standard 20 meter pitch (often Gazebos are added as well)

Add this to lower tolerence levels and you have an issue!

Janh · 31/07/2005 23:53

Hi, anteater - thanks for that! The thread from UK Campsite that I linked to mentioned that some campsites are now charging for 2 pitches to accommodate the larger tents - I suppose that's fair if they're going to invade other people's space otherwise.

(Would you be interested in this btw?)(Or are you too busy refereeing pitch wars?)

happymerryberries · 01/08/2005 08:11

I don't think it is the surface area of he newer tents that is the issue, but rather the shape of their footprint.

My Colorado is shaped rather like the older style frame tents, and oblong, and so it fits most pitches. Some of the newer tents have a similar floorspace, but the lay out of the pods means that the tent takes up more space.

One site we were in cgrged extra if your tent was longer/wider than 7m

fifilala · 01/08/2005 08:34

Not read all the thread but we have just start camping and bought the Outwell montana 6 ( 6 per son tent!), and is for two adults/1 child and a dog. Has two bedrooms but we tend to store all the food/clothes etc in there. Dog sleeps in the living area. Plenty of room and and easy to put up. Just been to south wales this weekend, adn the campsite had "burnt out" lines around your pitch and we fitted comfortably, with picnic table/car etc. Excellent family friendly campsite by the way - "Brynich" (outside Brecon)with a soft play barn on site, playground and and adventure playground, also a recreation field for football etc. Good facilities etc.

Tumblemum · 01/08/2005 09:30

Any campers out there can help with this problem? There is only three of us at the moment and about to buy our first tent, cannot decide between Montana 6 or 12. What do you all think, we hope to have another two children, which tent would be best? and will we have to replace anyway because has worn out by the time a 6 gets too small?

happymerryberries · 01/08/2005 09:42

Do you have boys and girls? We got the colorado 8 so the kids can have separate pods to sleep. They are fin in together for the moment but the time will soon come when dd wasn't some privacy.

Bigger is generaly more useful if you have kids, more area to sit in if it is raining etc

Tumblemum · 01/08/2005 09:45

only one boy at the moment, though would like two more children if they come along , so would you go for the 12 in my position hmb

Original poster

MrsDoolittle · 01/08/2005 10:01

So I gather now that the dome tents with the protruding pods is likely to create problems?

I mean the Outwell Hartwell?

OP posts:

CountessDracula · 01/08/2005 10:43

We have been invited camping in a couple of weekends time - we don't really do camping but want to enter into the spirit of it, plus I am secretly hoping that dh will enjoy it and that we can do it a bit more (last time we went about 10 years ago it rained and he refused to get out of the tent until it had stopped and stayed there til 11am, then packed up and we stayed in hotels after that!)

We have a nearly 3yo dd and a huge dog. What I want to know is should we get a tent with 3 sleeping compartments so the dog can have one, or can the dog sleep in the living bit, does the flap thing zip shut securely in something like this

And does this one look like good value on the 3 pod option?

Original poster

MrsDoolittle · 01/08/2005 10:45

That's not unlike the Outwell Hartwell L I have mentioned, but I think the Outwell is a higher spec.

OP posts:

CountessDracula · 01/08/2005 10:49

wow this looks a bargain

Original poster

MrsDoolittle · 01/08/2005 10:50

I mentioned that earlier on CD, but the reply was basically they don't last very long.
I'm getting the impression Outwell and Vango are the ones to go for.

OP posts:

CountessDracula · 01/08/2005 10:54

bear in mind that we are unlikely to use it if the weather is bad would go and stay in a hotel! Also given dh's history of being anti camping I don't want to splash out a fortune really

CountessDracula · 01/08/2005 10:54

Those SunnCamp ones do have a HH thingy of 3000 though which is good right?

Original poster

MrsDoolittle · 01/08/2005 10:55

Actually, that makes sense CD.
I think we are hoping for a life-changing experience!

OP posts:

CountessDracula · 01/08/2005 10:56

well yes me too, I would love to be able to go away on nice weekends and not have to pay a fortune! I think it will take a miracle to persuade dh tho

CountessDracula · 01/08/2005 10:57

so what about the dog q?

Original poster

MrsDoolittle · 01/08/2005 10:59

I don't know about the dog.
Our beagle we are going to put in the living area at night. She's a wussy dog and quiet, so we don't expect any trouble from her. What's yours?

OP posts:

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6