I have found an exciting tent but know almost nothing about it.

[MargaretAtwood3660]

Okay so bear with me please I am hoping someone here might recognise it!
I don't have it yet but saw it last week in a discount weirdy shop, and have just rung and they still have it.

I can't find it on the web.

The brand is Columbia I think. It is in a green bag/box thingy and the picture was a green and light yellow tent.

It is meant to sleep six - like this :

_
lllll

(so one person lies horizontally iyswim)
but the size was weird, I think it was about 14ft by something like 8 or 10.

Now googling has got me almost nowhere, but I did see that the company is another part of Coleman - I think?

Can anyone figure out what tent this is and whether I ought to get it?

Not this one but similar?

this one?

or this one....

www0.epinions.com/review/Columbia_Sportswear_Stargazer_2_Room_Tent/content_186737397380

Thankyou, but I don't think it is either of those.

From what I remember it was some kind of shared space type tent - you know, almost like when you need a communal living tent or something.

I cannot remember the model name and it is driving me bonkers!

Thankyou for trying.
Am also wondering how on earth it will fit in our garden, for a test run.!

In fact I think it might be an older model or even an American one?

I think they are mostly American anyways. And as most of the ones I searched on had reviews saying 'I got this for $59 from the discount store...' I'm guessing they could be a random sort!

I'd personally steer a little clear. Might have been a bargain but no real details to be found. Plus what if a pole or such broke - would likely be a nightmare to replace.

That's true - I hadn't considered the spares aspect

Yes the ones I have seen look pretty cheap too. Well I will go and have a look again, it was £75 so for a tent that size it might be a bargain.

this is our old set up, pictured here at Centerparcs in 2009.

so we need a new one.

dh didn't like centerparcs much, as you can see.

I'm eyeing up the easy camp boston 600, I think it should suit us as a family for some time. Had/have a variet of tents - a Vango something-or-other 5 berth which the ex-H took custody of (was a steal at around £70 from gooutdoors), have a jamet frame tent kicking around which I have never pitched , a (an?) eurohike 6 berth teepee, a coleman bispace 500, and a/an eurohike 2 person diddy overnight tent.

Lusting over a bell tent but need to exhibit a shade of realism with two munchkins

Oh gosh a real tent geek on my thread!
I am honoured!

We did have a bell tent briefly, but never camped in it, it just sat in the garden for a summer then I sold it for a small profit! (that was when Obelink delivered, alas - wish I had kept it now)

We do actually have another tent which is a starcamper something or other, it had good reviews on UK campsite and got it half price (about £39?) still unused, also...the trouble is I lack a DH (despite photo) and am too much of a scaredy wuss to camp alone.

there would be noises, and things.

I lack the DH too, which is why I'm shamelessly touting the easy camp on every camping thread hoping someone will shed some light on it (for example, if it can be put up single-handedly )

And I'm definitely a tent-newbie, you need slubber or lucycat for their vast knowledge base

The vango we had (a quick search told me it's a vango venture 500) and the coleman bispace 500 were both a complete doddle to put up by one incompetent female incidentally. I don't think either are available new still but if you can lay your hands on one they're pretty fab They are dome tents though... I've definitely fallen for the tunnel

Oh I think you are very brave to actually GO! I am still working up to it. I adore putting tents up and have not been beaten by one yet, (well almost, with an old lichfield challeger!! but it had bits missing!!)

but sleeping in them? Alone with the dc's? nah

Aha!

I think this might be it. I don't actually like it much, but it's hard to gauge as it must be enormous and that shape makes me think it's tiny.

so basically the first one you linked to! But different, ie older and probably worse model...

MA, I think you should go for camping without a DH. Can you talk a mate into going with you. I go away for a short break with a friend and our 4 children we pitch next to each other but don't share a tent. If you can go mid week in the school hols sites are often quieter. Go for it its great fun and you can please yourselves without the men to worry about!! LOL.

lol it's not very yellow?!

I struggle for camping buddies these days as I don't drive - I go once a year with friends + kids but they're all married couples (pah!)

yy mine are mainly married too, but working on it, there is another nice single mum at school. Maybe we could go.

I've been studying the reviews of this thing and if it is the right one, I need to go the geekery route and look at the model number on the packet.

Apparently the 2005 was way better than the 2006 and if it is a 5500 it's good, the 5550 is not.

Will go to shop armed with magnifying glass and report back.

Thankyou for the chat and your help.