Vango Kairos (400) - anyone got one?

[Tangle]

We're planning a trip to Burgundy in September, but have started thinking through logistics and think its just too far to go in one day with a 3 yr old if we then have to pitch a tent when we get there. Ditto coming home and striking camp. So we're thinking overnight stops. But then do we want to stick the big tent up for one night? We did a test weekend last week, which went really well, but we still didn't have everything packed up till gone 11...

So we're pondering the merits of getting an easier to pitch tent that is simple to fit the 3 of us in. It needs a sleeping width of at least 220cm to accommodate beds. There are a few pop-ups that would work, but I'm not sure where'd they go in the car (the way we've organised things a 75cm diameter disk that's 7cm deep wouldn't go in very easily) so we're just trying to find some alternatives.

Has anyone got a Kairos? Vango describe it as "extremely fast to pitch" and give a pitch time of 5 minutes. Is that reasonable for your average camper? Or just if you train for 6 months first (Cynics-R-Us lifetime member...)? How about strike time? Or any suggestions of an alternative we should look at?

thanks

Hi Tangle

Not sure how big your big tent is... but I have just got a Kairos 400. It did take me longer than the five minutes to put up but I was on my own and the first time I'd pitched it. The tent only has one main pole with the second a subsidiary. So I am hoping that the next time round it really will be quicker. It's doing the pegging out and guy ropes that seem to take me a bit longer. I am sure with two of you and with a little bit of practice (and I am extremely non technical)you would have the tent up very quickly. The actual tent is very straightforward and the shop I bought it from did say it will go up quickly. I think the '5 minutes' would be with two people knowing what they are doing with everything to hand! The 400 has side doors which I really like. If you prefer a door at the front then go for the 500! The 300 would probably be too small from what you say. I found the 400 really roomy and the porch is great. Even on an overnight stay it would give you lots of room to put things. You mentioned space in the car - and that is the only downside. The pack size for the 400 is quite large. But then the rest of the tent is so good I found I squeezed it in the car without too much of a problem. The Kairos is a really good balance of a spacious tent that is also easy to put up.

Hope that helps... and have a good trip to Burgundy!

have you seen this quechua?

can't get much easier pitching than that!

a few mumsnetters already have and are very happy with it.