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Hi

Be glad to help but more info required.

1.  How is your party of seven made up? eg how many adults and how many children?

2.  How many of your party will be assisting in the erecting of the tent?

3. What is your maximum money wise?

4.  How do you intend to transport it? Are you restricted in any way by size or weight?

5.  Do you have any special requirements? eg do you need to have a specific number of people sharing a bedroom?

Thanks

Pauline

We have just bought a Vango Vista 800.  It is great!  Loads of head height and as a tunnel tent only takes two adults to pitch it.  Flysheet first too.  Cross Camping had them at a very reasonable price.  Hang on I 'll find the link.

http://www.crosscampingandleisure.co.uk/

This site gives you more pictures

http://www.outdoorfocus.co.uk/tall_fibreglass_steel_tents/Vango/Vista/Vango_Vista800_photos.htm

Have fun what ever you decide on!

Hope this helps!  The people at this place are exceptionally helpful too!

Just make sure you get one that's big enough.  Most tent manufacturers make tents for very small people and some double bedrooms won't fit a double airbed in, let alone 2 single ones.  Also look for head height as it's really annoying to have to lie down and put your trousers on in the morning.

Kate

Have you looked at the Wynnster Antares Range of tents?  I wanted a tent that had 3 bedrooms, one for me and oh, one for 2 kids to share and one for stuff, loo etc.  My Antares 13 has one 5 berth inner that can be zipped to make a 3 and 2 berth which the kids are going to have, so that Thomas who's 10 can have a bit of privacy but Lucy who's 7 can have it slightly unzipped so she knows he's only just the other side of a curtain.  It has 2 4 berth inners, one for me and charlie and the other can be zipped up to make 2 2 berth rooms.  It also comes in a 9 berth which I felt was too small as the 2 berth bedrooms are not very big, and a 17 berth which was definitely too big for us.  Wynnster have a good reputation so may be worth a look. 

This is another tent I was considering which is from a good manufacturer.  but I decided to stick with Wynnster as I have had 2 of their tents previously.

http://www.outdoor2go.co.uk/xcamping/product_info.php?ref=24&affiliate_banner_id=7&cPath=1_38&products_id=321

Kate

Quote: Originally posted by bulezuik on 28/10/2006

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party made up of 2 adults and 5 children 9,7,5,2 and 6 months. Two adults and maybe 9 yr old will help errect tent. I am thinking of a khyam maybe... will be getting a trailer to move tent and gear in as no room in the car. Max price ummm well £500 but for that I would wnat something really good. I would like a tent I can use a lot of the year.

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You need to look at some tents in the flesh - they are never the same as in the pictures or on the web. Specifically, if you have any preference for the canvas frame tents or the nylon tunnel/domes. There are pros and cons of both, so it is not such a straight call (even with a budget £500).

As for the budget, you do not have to spend that amount, you could easily spend half of that on a good tent; it just depends on the tent you like.

Some to have a look at, as well as the good suggestions above, to see some of the variations available:

• Large Tunnels: Wynnster Antares, Outwell Nebraska, Outwell Montana 12 (and the new 2007 ranges, inc. Vermont etc.), Sunncamp Vario 900 
• Big Domes: Outwell Hartford, Kyham Nebraska/Dakota, Sunncamp Tourist & Mondial

One key thing is, in calculating your sleeping space, work on the fact that a std single air bed is 80cm wide and a double 140cm. Ignore the brochure berth rating - thye use very narrow matts!

If you find somehting you like the look of, post a thread asking for views on it - there is usually always someone who has, or had, one.

ps: now is only a good time to buy, if you want an end-of-season bargain. There are lots of new models coming out for 2007; so hold on if you are unsure (and not that bothered about a bargain).

Bule,

Remember to consider cooking/eating too. We all think about our sleeping and living space, but sometimes forget about all the cooking stuff. WIth children that young, I should consider something that has a large porch which you can use solely as the kitchen area and keep the kids out of whilst you are cooking...something like the Khyam Breckenridge or Vango Diablo 900 (see below),,,

Only differences between the 2 tents above, apart from the colour, is the bedroom pods. The sides are more sloped on the Diablo, so your kids wouldn't have as much room as they would in the Breckenridge.

Or then there is the Outwell Nebraska XXL....

The Outwell Montana 12 and Sunncamp Vario 900 are both great large tents, but where would you cook?

Good luck, let us know what you decide!

We have an Outwell Nebraska XXL.  I know outwell have bad press recently but we wouldnt chang ours.  It has every thing we need, 2 adults and the boys 16,11,10.  The poarch is great for leaving all the shoes and wellies and stuff lots of windows so very light. Large loung area no problems standing as OH 6.4ft, loads of space to sit comfortably and for kids to play.  Large bedroom fits 2 doubles or 4 single air beds no problem, with space at the top for holdalls.  2 other room fit a double  or 2 singles.  Sig so lovely and warn no drafts.  Easy to put up with 2 adults, i have put it up with the 2 younger boys no problem.  Takes about 1/2 hour and its sorted.

Hope you find what you want, have a good look first and dont rush into buying.

Good luck and happy camping