Now outgrown our weekend tent before we've even used it. Bought last year just before discovered wife to be pregnant with our third child, a Wynnster Mallard 5. I'm looking for minimum 6 man which I can easily pitch by myself as help is seldom offered, is fairly lightweight, compact and good weather resistance (min 3000HH). Prefer bedrooms to be ajoining. Currently wife and three girls ages 5 and under so must have growing room as no one is getting any smaller, especially me. Budget £300 tops.
Suggestions welcome
We upgraded our tent when I was pregnant with our third. I decided to go for something larger still - thinking ahead to those 'wet holiday' and space for the kids to play / us to eat/cook inside the tent rather than just the sleeping. We went for the Vango Vista DLX which is an 8 berth and is pretty huge but I'm so glad we went for it.
Last year in Cornwall (the first hol for the 5 of us) myself and the 2 older kids had a severe case of 24 hr vomitting and diarrhoea and were totally incapacitated for the first 12 hours of arriving at camp - the reason I'm telling you this is that hubby had to pitch the tent on his own (well, with the help of the 9 month old crawling baby) and just about managed it unaided - Oh and it was raining!
Now, the kids have their own room at the opposite end of the tent from us and plenty of room in the middle section for general eating or dinner parties, (even parked the rally car in there once too) and general party games! Maybe a little more than you wanted to spend but we got an ex-demonstrator for just over £300
The Montana 6 is more than budget and appears rather heavy and bulky. Its only for short breaks as will take our Cabanon Aruba (6 birth + bedroom annex) for longer holidays. How quick and easy is it to put the montana up?
A Montana would be agood tent, given your criteria above - it is not that bulky, it just the poles give it a high weight rating.
Also have a look at something like a Sunncamp Family Vario.
A Vango Aspen or Sunncamp oasis would have ajoining bedrooms - but these are again bulky and heavy tents.
In something like a Wynnster Orion, you could sleep in the main SIG area and the kids in the pods - would be less bulky than a Montana, mind you not as quick to pitch.
------------- Big Bunny
Robens Valley Lodge & Cabanon Pyramide 6 "... kids you distract the bear, while I run to the car...."
Mm, the vario. We have three kids (5 6 3- trying to get DH agree to No4!). We chose the gelert tahoma and ifthe bedrooms together isn't a huge issue, then I would recommend like a shot- loads of space, easy to pitch (45 minutes fully pegged down). However, if rooms togther are important then we almost chose the vario, and it would seem to suit. the Gelert version (saw both, both fine) has a HH of 3000, and weight of 28kg. Waht swung gelert for us was the flight bag cases they come in, we can fir us, three kids tent and stuff for a week in our old Proton persona!
There's also the Gelert Alaska 8, where the pods are in two sets of two, whicjh is a mid way. Plus the Utah (a fave of mine, two rooms one of which doubles as a bedrrom, but i love the way it opens out in the daytime), and I have heard wonderful things about the Quebec 8.
Don't know if you've seen the thread, but Blacks online (www.Blacks.co.uk) are doing the Montana 6 for £195 this weekend (normal price with them is £245 and this weekend are giving £50 discount if you spend over £200).
Another option is the Coleman Columbia 10. Full sig, and bought by many UKCS'ers from e-awnings (www.e-awnings.co.uk) for £130. Go into Product Overview then special offer tents. For more info, search this thread and you'll find plenty more info - even those who had problems initially pitching it , now say they find it quite straightforward.
E-awnings also have a large range of Sunncamp tents on special offer too.
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: Quick Pitch 6 man tent
