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Hi Guy's,

First post and a novice camper to boot, so here goes. Please be gentle with me!!

We are looking to buy a tent for the family (2 adults and 2 teenage kids) and really have no idea what to go for. I've been recommended an Outwell Hartford XL, that seems pretty good, a nice size, and a sewn in ground sheet, just what we are looking for (I think!!). However, I'm not keen on buying on just one recommend as i don't know enough about these things.

I'd be grateful for any comments, recommendations or suitable alternatives from the great and the good of this forum. We would like 3 bed compartments, a sig, about the size of the hartford, and we are willing to spend up to £300.

Thanks for your time,

Tim

Hi Timmy T and welcome to the big UKCS family!!

Choosing your first tent can be quite daunting as you want to be sure that you are making the right choice - I think the Hartford XL is a brilliant tent - I was purchasing this but ended up going for the Montana 6 instead as it was not necessary for me to have 3 rooms as I have 2 sons so they share - so I assume you are wanting 3 beds as you have a boy and girl.  Have you seen the Hartford XL or just been told it is good - these are a few things about the XL.

It is a large spacious 3 bed tent with generous living space and a big clear windowns and a cable entry point incase you wish to use Electric Hook-up (EHU) for all your home comforts.  It has a good sized porch and a rear door through the middle bedroom which offers superb access and comfortable ventilation.  It sleeps 6, weighs 27.8Kg has a head height of 220cm and pack size of 40 x 75 cm.  You can also get a canopy that attaches to the front of the tent which will give you additional shelter.

You cant go wrong with an Outwell and there are so many members here that own them!!

Try and visit some local camping shops in your area of find out where there are camping exhibitions near you so you can go and try out for yourself.  Shame you never added your location - would have done a search for you -good luck!!

Louise x 

Yes, you are spot on when you say it's daunting. Spending £300 could be an expensive mistake!!

We live in N Devon, so if anyone knows of any good camping shops around here I'd also be very grateful.

Hi Timmy - have tried looking for you - I dont know how far you are from St Agnes in Cornwall as I dont know 'South' very well - they have a place called the world of camping - type that in your search engine and you should get their web addy

Good luck

Louise

Timmy - I would just do some research on the net if you want to look at tents before you go and this will give you some good ideas - try gooutdoors, crosscamping, worldofcamping, towsure, there are lots of suppliers - ring some of them and ask if they could send you a catalogue with the tents that they have and then you can mark the ones you have an interest in and when you finally go and see some you will be able to make your mind up better and be able to TELL salesperson which one YOU want and not the other way round!

Good Luck!

I've been looking at a lot of websites and there is so much choice!!

I've noticed that several tents (the Vango Diablo for example) has a "bath tub" ground sheet. Can anyone tell me what one of these is, and how it differs from a sig?

Also, there also seems to be a large price range for 6 berth tents, £150 to £550! I expect, as with most things, that you get what you pay for, but are there any brands that are better value for money than others, or even ones that don't really come up to scratch for the price asked?

Lots of questions, I know, but I'm very keen to get it right first time! Thanks so much for your patience.