Can anyone suggest an easy and quick errect weekend tent. We have a Khyham Rigipod for our main tent but would like a more compact tent just for weekend trips. There will be four of us using the tent (me, missus and 2 kids).
Vango Ventures 500/600s are the most popular, based on price, ease of pitching and reliability.
If you wanted seporated bedrooms for the adults and the kids, then I would look at a Vango Aurora 600. Goes up quickly (but needs two people for a few minutes), nice space, a full SIG, not too expensive and pitches outer-first.
------------- Big Bunny
Robens Valley Lodge & Cabanon Pyramide 6 "... kids you distract the bear, while I run to the car...."
I bought a Vango TBS Oregon 600 as a weekend tent for us. (Two adults, two kids.) Goes up in twenty minutes single handed, tons of inside space, two pods, one of which you could fit two double airbeds into.
Bit bigger than the Venture, which is the classic weekend tent, but I like a bit of space.
We used our new Coleman Lakeside 4 for the 1st time at the weekend and it's great. We have 2 children and they shared one pod. They slept on campbeds and there was still room between them and we had a double blow up mattress in the other pod. The tent has a big living space in front of the pods with front and two side doors. It's quick and easy to put up and stood up to torential rain and high winds.
Valk-scot....whilst we were away we bought the Vango TBS Oregon 800 at a camping exhibition...just had to have it!! Going to use it for 1st time in September and can't wait
------------- SHIRLZ
I'm not a complete idiot...some bits are missing.
I would say that tunnel tents like the Oregon and Lakeside recommended by folks above are more vesatile as they give better living space - the one thing that has always put me off the Vango Venture is that the porch area is not very big. Another one to add to the list is the Coleman Columbus 4 - a few more features than the Lakeside, including full SIG.
Hi foggers, have you seen a Columbus 4 up? It looks like a very good weekend tent on t'internet. If it only had a side door too it would be very very very good!
And its available in a polycotton version as well. Anybody ever tried a polycotton tent? Are they more or less like nylon or canvas tents? Do they have to be weathered in, and/or pegged out to dry off? MT
------------- Tackling life the Western District way
Wotcha MT, not seen you around for a while. I have seen the Columbus 4 a couple of times and I agree that the addition of a second door would make it perfick. It seems stable, well made and it has a large vent right across the back which is held out with a pole, so I reckon ventilation should be very good. It is that rather strong blue colour that Coleman have favoured this year, but all in all if I was after a weekend tent I would be very likely to go for one.
And I dunno about polycotton tents....will wait to see if anyone answers you!
Quote: Originally posted by Merry Terrier on 29/8/2006
Quote: Originally posted by foggers on 29/8/2006
Wotcha MT, not seen you around for a while.
Guess what, I've been camping! And RL has been a bit mad when I've been at home betweentimes too.
But here I am again, still hoping to get another weekend (or two) away before the nights close in too much. MT
Well I kind of guessed you would be out there under canvas. We only have one more weekend camping (this fri is Dick's birthday so we are goingto the Off The Tracks festival at Castle Donnington) . After that it depends on the weather really, cos I do tend to be a bit of a wuss about the cold & the wet...
Like you I'm looking for something more managable than a Ridgi-pod for 1 or 2 night stays. Problem is, I don't like all that crouching and stooping that goes with smaller tents!
Top of my list at the moment is the Outwell Oregon 5 - full standing room throughout, 2 bedrooms (3+2), plenty of living space and looks very easy to put up (short external sleeves so minimum of threading, only 3 poles, and double guys so just 8 main pegs to stick in).
I had the same problem, had a khyam but wanted something i could put up in a couple of mins. So i bought a howling moon dome tent, FANTASTIC ican put it up in 5 mins and when we are away for longer there is an extention for it. Ok its expensive and quite heavy but for me its great other makes are john muirdens bow tents ( gaurrenteed 5 years contiual use) or the very trendy oz tent all of which are great tents that take mins to put up
we have a diablo 900 but it`s to big for weekends so we got a coleman canyon 8 from e-awnings for £89.00 inc post lot`s of room the only thing i miss is sig but in the large pod we put 2 double air beds for 2 adults 2 children and it easy to put up about 20/30 mins
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 is the best weekend tent?
