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Camping

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

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Original poster

Outwell Hartford XL?? Talk me out of it.

49 replies

geordieminx · 10/06/2010 20:21

Ok. So we started to think about going camping. We started to look at small tents, then medium ones... you know how it is.

Dh has know got his heart set on this its huge. Massive infact. Especially since there are only 3 of us we are a small family.

Its nice, but will we regret buying such a beast? Will we have problems finding a football pitch to errect it or is it a good un?

Any wise words would be appreciated.

OP posts:

Slubberdegullion · 10/06/2010 21:30

geordie, that is much the more sensible way to do it.

Wilts · 10/06/2010 21:32

geordie- we did not pay that price for our highgear at goutdoors, it was on offer for £100.
£100 must be the magic figure for me when it comes down to tents

I have just seen an advert on tv for some they have on offer at the moment, it may be worth you having a look online.

We are sadly excited by the fact gooutdoors have just opened a branch in our town. Ds2 thinks it is a treat to go ' outside and look at all the tents'

Slubberdegullion · 10/06/2010 21:33

and you can get a carpet with Wilts' tent too

Wilts · 10/06/2010 21:33

hmm missing an 'o' out of gooutdoors there

Original poster

geordieminx · 10/06/2010 21:34

this??

OP posts:

Wilts · 10/06/2010 21:34

Slubber- the carpet was on offer when we bought it, Dh was toying with the idea of getting it

Wilts · 10/06/2010 21:36

geordimix- that looks like it would go up the same way as mine. If it does, it is really simple to do.

Slubberdegullion · 10/06/2010 21:37

but he still resisted the siren bargain carpet calls Wilts?

The Nevada looks lovely too geordie.

Wilts · 10/06/2010 21:39

He did indeed, but I feel that with our almost weekly visits to gooutdoors that one will 'fall' into the trolley soon!

Original poster

geordieminx · 10/06/2010 21:41

Nevada is same price as the monster . but it does come with the kids bedroom insert

OP posts:

Wilts · 10/06/2010 21:43

Ohh is that one of those lovely colourful ones? Ds2 would love one of those- not sure Ds1 would appreciate sharing one with him though

Original poster

geordieminx · 10/06/2010 21:48

Yeah - its like a wee forest.

OP posts:

SparklyPrincess · 11/06/2010 10:24

Hi - just thought I'd chip in as we had a Hartford XL. We bought a tent that size when there were 3 of us (but planning number 4 at that point) because of the copious amount of baby gear that we ended up lugging around. Dh actually wanted the XXL, but I managed to persuade him it was overkill

Anyway, we nearly gave up camping cos the thing was such a chore. We had the older style one where the inner pitches first - which is really unhelpful when it's pissing it down and you then can't get the inside dry for ages .

The dome shape is really impractical. The tent is HUGE, yet there's nowhere to put anything where it isn't right in the way all the time and because of the dimensions, you end up with problems getting pitches on some sites.

We didn't camp at all last year, did some serious research and have gone for a tunnel-tent this time. I much prefer having the kids in the room next to us as I don't have to leave the bedroom area to go and sort out problems/arguments in the night. The square living area works much better for us, with a lot more useful space.

Check out Kampa as an alternative to the Outwells, I'm pleased with ours so far

Good luck with your camping adventures. I must admit I'm glad that I started camping pre-kids, I think I'd be too scared to start if I hadn't! It is great though, I just wish my three year old could wait a little longer between toilet trips, gets a bit wearing!

dreamingofsun · 11/06/2010 10:33

how big is it packed up - ie how much room will it take up in your car boot and will you have enough for all the other stuff? where will you dry it - if weathers bad you might need to do this indoors or in a garage - this size tent will require loads of room.

fireandlife · 11/06/2010 10:40

I looked at and really liked Wilts' tent and there was some amazing offer on at Go outdoors. It seems really practical, has everything you need, won't take up too much room in the car and is cheap enough for you to buy a really good COBB stove, beds, shelf thingy etc. It needs to be easy or you'll get fed up with it.

If you love it and enjoy the challenge of 'the pitch' then you can move on to a bigger, better version.

What is the thing about these dreadful tent carpets? They look disgusting - why oh why are they all made from horrible faux tartan???? Don't get me wrong, the bell tent will one day end up with some form of flooring but it will either look nice or never happen!!!!

MrsDinky · 11/06/2010 20:35

We've got one, DH talked me into it and I hate it, it takes up most of the car boot, takes ages to put up, won't fit standard pitches, you are far away from the DCs in the night, the middle huge room just looks untidy the whole time, it goes on and on. We are investigating smaller tents as I speak. Luckily we have somehwere we can dry it because no way can we do it in our narrow garden..

Mayron · 11/06/2010 21:47

We bought one second hand last year £250 (inc footprint cartpet and extension canopy). It's the older model (2007?) as metioned above.

There's only 4 of us. DH and DS(5) have one pod. DD (2) and I have another and we use the third one for clothes and storage.

The living area is a good size (agree that it does seem to get messy and you can't really put anything along the sides of the living area - but thought that was just the OCD in me and having untidy DH and children!)

We've had no problems pitching it since we got it last summer and DH and I can get it up (just the two of us!) without falling out - it has never taken more than hour. I like to be left alone to do the inside (DH dissapears with the kids!).

DH has a tank of a car so huge boot and therefore not had a problem getting the tent and rest of kit in. There's no way we could do it with a smaller car!

It's the first tent we've had as a family and I can't really fault it. Although I'm no professional camper and can't compare it to other types of tent.

But we give it thumbs up and everyone we've ccamped with has been quite envious!

MrsDinky · 12/06/2010 09:51

Yes, I thought we would probably do the same as you Mayron and have me and DD in one pod and DH and DS in another, but no way are our two going to be split up on holiday. Think it also depends on what your idea of quick to put up is, it does take an hour and I think that is far too long when you're only staying for one night. Agree it's OK for longer holidays though. I think part of the problem is that pre-DCs we had a lovely 2 man tent that could be pitched in about 10 mins so an hour has come as a shock.

For us, it definitely has proved to be as someone said, a tent so big that you can't be arsed to go camping.

2babyblues · 12/06/2010 16:06

We have this tent and have been on a couple of weekend trips with it. Is is great as if it rains you have room inside to put up table and chairs etc in the evening.

We bought such a big tent as we are planning on using it for our main summer holiday so we will be setting it up to use for 2 weeks straight so we liked the thought of lots of room. It takes about 1 hour to set up, probably less once we have done it a few more times!! We have the boys in one pod and us in the other, with the middle bit for table, chairs and cases. Porch is really good too as can leave shoes in there.

Ideally I would rather use a smaller tent for weekend trips as felt a bit conspicious in the UK! But I reckon will be excellent for the summer.

Really comfy tent, definitely waterproof too!!!

rosieposey · 17/06/2010 11:44

Am really glad i found this thread as we are looking to go on a first time camping holiday for a few days next month.

There are 6 of us, one 17, one 15, one 13 and one toddler of 16 months. I was looking at the Hartford XXL because i can put two in one pod baby in another and DH and i in another and maybe use the last for clothes storage ect, i am a bit worried though that as a novice we are going to struggle with pitching and taking it down.

Wilts i am near you i think (just had a go outdoors open near us so i think we are in the same town) and have spent the last two mornings at go outdoors going through the pros and cons of the outwell one on display or the kalahari 10 (hi gear) which is humungous as well.

All in all im not sure realistically if we should go for a massive tent or not, i would like to simply for comfort as we are a fairly large family but im still not sure what to do.

lostthewill · 17/06/2010 20:14

We have the XL for just 3 of us and absolutely love it. As mentioned great if it rains as there is loads of room without sitting on top of each other. We have the kids sleeping pod which ds loves.

I'm not great in small tents I need space to spread out. DP plus 1 (usually not me) can get it set up within 35 mins.

Really depends what you are looking for but from our experience I'd definitely recommend.

Hope you find what you're after.

snowlady · 17/06/2010 20:32

We wondered about getting the tent you mention last year but in the end changed to a Vango Tigris 800. The tigris has one large bedroom on one side (which can be divided into 2 if you have a young child who wants to be near you) a large living area in the middle and 2 bedrooms the other side.
We were happy with it - only problem is it is quite bulky to store.

Wilts · 17/06/2010 20:42

rosieposey- if your Go outdoors was 'buyology' in its previous life then we are in the same town

With the Hartford Xl one of the the things I disliked was that you needed someone to stand in and hold the middle up- if that makes sense?

Now I have no idea if we were doing it wrong or not, but it was sheer hell one hot bank holiday,as it was me under the tent slowly boiling.

Our new tent however, goes up completely differently and it makes so much difference to my poor feeble arms

rosieposey · 18/06/2010 07:39

Yep, same town wilts! Well i decided that I didn't want to be put off camping by having a tent that was too big to put up so in a fit of peak (and in order not to waste too much money on a brand new one that we didn't like) we bought a Vango tbs vista 800 second hand from eBay for £90 which isn't too much to loose if it's rubbish. The only faults on it are a snapped pole (I'll buy another in go outdoors) which they fixed with gaffer tape and a small rip in the mosquito net (which I hope I can sew).

Considering tents of this size (8 berth) are usually pretty pricey I am kind of glad we didn't spend the 200 plus that the Hartford would have cost us even second hand as the 4 days we are planning in woolacombe in a couple of weeks are our first time ( bar one night a couple of years ago). Am v excited but also a bit worried about doing all this with a 16 month old.

Incedently ladies, what on earth do you do about cooking for six when camping? Will be getting some sort of cooking implement but any suggestions or ideas would be gratefully recieved

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