Now being the proud owner of 3 tents, I am in a dilemma...which one do we use this weekend?
Our faithful Hartford XXL, which can only be put up in dry weather as it is the old design whereby you put up the inner tent before the flysheet, it also has nowhere to cook in it....not good with the rainy forecast. On the plus side, we can put it up with our eyes shut and it is SOOOO airy and spacious
or our little compact Attwoolls Fairford Deluxe which we bought specifically for weekend use, but again was bought with fair weather in mind and has nowhere to cook and not alot of room for sitting inside if the weather is wet.
lastly our brand spanking new, not even out of the box yet Outwell Vermont XL. Which is light, spacious, has room for cooking, room for lots of people and BEAUTIFUL, but I have never put it up before and I will only have my mum for assistance. Also not sure it is a good idea to take it away without trying it out first, but if I have to put it up to try it in the next few weeks, should I just take it and use it?
Oh the decisions, it was much easier with just one tent!
The Hartford is being sold to help pay for the Vermont, just thought it might be used for one last trip
Was hoping for some advice on whether others would take a brand new tent, on a trip without having put it up first.......or would I be better off taking less practical but trusted tent.
Take both the Vermont (it needs an airing) and the Fairford for back-up.
Take lots of Ground-Hogs, to use them on the Vermont.
Therefore keeping the Vermont pegs in perfect condition, should there be a problem requiring return.
I did that with my Virginia 5, and still use the Ground-Hogs rather than the plastic Outwell pegs.
Don't make out the Vermont is a 'Magic' tent, peg ALL the guylines, ensuring the rear of the tent takes the brunt of any breeze.
Well you did invite advice after all. LOL
Then you can look at the other tenters, and say "they're there with their old ones, and I'm here with my new one."
Go on! You know you want to.
Regards James
------------- In the beginning there was darkness.
Then I bought a tent.
I'm not destitute, I'm just poor.
I did ask for advice and thoughts and appreciate any that I get, for instant.......what are Ground Hogs?
We always always peg out all the guidelines on out tents.....why wouldn't we? They wouldnt be put there if they werent meant to be used.....or are you telling me that the Vermont is rubbish and is likely to blow away in the slightest breeze?
Quote: Originally posted by Tidburyboy on 08/9/2010
(And do people REALLY care/covet what tents other people have? How very sad if that is really true)
I covet other people's tents, but in a good way. It's not envy so much as tent lust. I love my 4-berth poly tent, which is just the right size and weight for us, but that doesn't mean I don't lust after a huge canvas bit o' lovely I see on a campsite, or a nifty little mountain pop-up which somebody pitches in 30 seconds!
We all have our favourites, but it's great to mentally play the field...
Quote:but I have never put it up before and I will only have my mum for assistance
Personally, I'd feel uneasy going on a trip with a tent that I had not pitched before. Quite apart from the potential pitfalls of pitching an entirely unfamiliar tent, a campsite miles from home is not the best place to find that a pole is broken or that something is missing!
So I'd be inclined to take one of the tents you know is 'tried and trusted'. Perhaps you could take the Hartford or your Fairford to camp in but also take the Vermont along to do a trial run secure in the knowledge that if it didn't work out you still had one of your proven tents there ready to use?
I'm the opposite I'm afriad....as I'd have to take the Vermont as the excitement of a new tent to me is like Christmas morning!!! I was like that with my Virginia 5! I have the Hartford XXL and it's ok when we go with the 5 kids but it's a mission even though we've put the thing up loads - especially even more of a chore now we've got the smaller tent as DH loves the fact the beer gets out earlier and with far less angry banter between us! I just couldn't cope with the temptation of a new tent sat in a box if I had the chance to go use it!!
------------- It always rains on tents. Rainstorms will travel thousands of miles, against prevailing winds for the opportunity to rain on a tent.
I was in this position last year and took both the old and the new tent. It took a long time to pitch the new tent which is what we used in the end, and I didn't do a very good job and it was cold and a bit lopsided, the last time I pitched (my third proper attempt) was a far better pitch!!
It is nice to try out a new "baby" but yes I'd take something else as backup. My other concern would be the weather at this time of year. Yes you are worried you won't have anywhere to sit if it's raining but watch the wind, I'd be inclined to go with slightly sturdier tents ie smaller if there's any chance of bad wind.
------------- Single mum of 4 crazy children!!
2011 So far...
April - 2 nights in Easter Hols in Haven, Burnham (down the road).
Taking my sister and family for a trial camp locally 20th May
GLASTONBURY!! And *no* kids this year!! (Working: secure camping too!)
Chy Carne July/Aug 2011...
Take a shufty here. It may give you the confidence to take the Vermont but don't expect to be able to do it in under 10 minutes or solo. The guy is pretty amazing and following his method shaved 30 minutes off for us putting up our montana.
I am so impressed that people have space to take two mega-large tents?
I would take the older ones - you know they don't leak, if its windy and they get trashed you won't cry and you know how to put them up so that will be less stressful.
As the children are now travelling with somebody else, and we have the back seat we can put things on, we are going to take the Vermont and the Fairford as a back up....just in case
Quote: Originally posted by FriendOfOwls on 09/9/2010
Quote: Originally posted by Tidburyboy on 08/9/2010
(And do people REALLY care/covet what tents other people have? How very sad if that is really true)
I covet other people's tents, but in a good way. It's not envy so much as tent lust. I love my 4-berth poly tent, which is just the right size and weight for us, but that doesn't mean I don't lust after a huge canvas bit o' lovely I see on a campsite, or a nifty little mountain pop-up which somebody pitches in 30 seconds!
We all have our favourites, but it's great to mentally play the field...
FoO
Of course you are quite right FoO, I did mean "covet" in a negative way. For example, I love the Bell Tents but would not for a moment be (really) jealous of the owner.
I personally think a campers most precious possession, is the simple desire to get out there and just go camping! Now as far as I can tell, we are all pretty equal in that regard.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Which Tent do we take this W/end?
and has nowhere to cook and not alot of room for sitting inside if the weather is wet.
I wasn't bragging, just in a general dilemma. 
, just thought it might be used for one last trip
. I love my 4-berth poly tent
, which is just the right size and weight for us, but that doesn't mean I don't lust after a huge canvas bit o' lovely I see on a campsite, or a nifty little mountain pop-up which somebody pitches in 30 seconds! 
