What's a good mid-range family (4) tent?

[dinny]

Is best just to go to Blacks or somewhere?

So what are we going to recommend dinny buys? erm how about a Monty

Ds (2 yrs) and me, have spent the last 2 nights in our new Vango equinox 600, and its such fun, (even in the garden). We live in the hebrides so needed a tent to withstand all weathers. Last night it rained all night and not a drop inside , ours also has a tension band system to stop it blowing away in the wind. I too looked at tents pitched on a campsite as part of my research.The man in our local outdoor shop was also very helpful, but none on display.

Wow bensmum -respec....camping in the Hebrides, part of me wants to go at such a gorgeous place to live, the other wants to go CAMPING IN THE HEBRIDES ARE YOU MAD!!

Have spent most of last few days (obsessive me even choosing to avoid sleep!) researching a bigger model for us. One that seems to get rave reviews on the UK Campsite webpage (check any choices on there) is the Gelert CAdiz. \link{http://www.outdoorworld.org.uk/acatalog/copy_of_Gelert_Cadiz_4_2.html\here}

Not one for me (I prefer domes) but I am told it's good.

Also, the Jamet range \link{http://www.outdoormegastore.co.uk/acatalog/Outdoor_Megastore_Family_Dome_Range_28.html\ here} is said to be good, haven't found a complaint anywhere yet- but most of the sites about it are in French!!

The Vango \link{http://uk.nextag.com/VANGO-Aspen-500--zz85637243zukzB3z2--COMPARE-PRICES-html\ here} looks good but I have heard complaints about pitching it, similarly the Colorado tents.

The chap at the sales place we went to recommended the \link{http://www.springfieldcamping.co.uk/brands/Vango/Diablo+600\here} Diablo- they do a 4 person. I'd trust him as they didn't actually stock it! He has used one for a while apparently.

Vango Aurora's are about fairly cheap atm, not enough living space for us but then there are 5 of us. \link{http://www.discovercamping.co.uk/Vango%20Aurora.htm\ here}

If you wouldn't mind a bit mroe space, the current hot favourite from the reviewws I have read is the Gelert Quebec. Not my cuppa tea (the shape) but here: \link{http://www.outdoorworld.org.uk/acatalog/copy_of_copy_of_copy_of_Gelert_Quebec_8_4.html\here}

And \link{http://www.discovercamping.co.uk/Gelert/Gelert-Tahoma-6.htm\ this} is what we decided on for us

Welcome to the camping fanatics club Peachy!

great linking btw, I do like your tent, I'm sure you'll have many happy holidays in it!

Used to do the technical, hiking sort of stuff when I was ounger but Dh refused to join in- he is more suite in Vegas. Went last year though and he is hooked so I can come out of retirement.

With a vengeance, it would seem. Which reminds me what I need next, ah ha!

ehu?

ehu????????

cooking stuff- stove here we come.....

Gelert? Caming gaz??? oh oops there implodes my brain.

Oh I see. electric hook up.

Uh-uh, dh will be soing his electronics on site otherwise

oooh, is the Middle Darm near E Grinstead? Think may have driven past it....

How much are we looking at for a reasonable tent, do you think? We can't splurge out, for sure.

You can get one on ebay under a hundred (we're putting our pro action 6 berth up for £30 next week though, so the cheaper ones are out there too). Whatever you get, double check: I nearly made a mistake on ebay too, but a search on ukcampsites warned me.

What i would say is don't get too wound up: I ended up giving myself a right headache and Dh ended up taking over and just hitting the button for me, knowing I could never make the final choice.

If cost is a real issue (it was for us too) and consider the pro-actions, maybe plus a pup tent. Our pro-action was actually a lot better than we expecxted for the money. They are in Argos.

thanks, Peachy ( what is a pup?) a two-man or something?

\link{http://www.middlefarm.com/index.htm\Middle farm for you}

if you click on the "whats on" bit, then under annual events you'll see the camping thing.

A pup tent is a little tent- eg a two or three man- alongside the main one, used either for extra bedroom space or storage

have just informed DH we are off to middle farm to look at tents once the show starts, he looked hugely under impressed. He says I am the most unlikely camper he has ever come across and I think he is terrified of what may be unleashed once I become a tent obsessive...

(Hi Dinny. Yup, we are all fine. DD2 just turned 1 so that was exciting. We never did get to meet up that time we tried to arrange it. Hopefully some day, though at this rate may just bump into you on a campsite somewhere first...)