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Following loosing my much loved 12 berth dome last Tuesday in the storms that hit the south coast (poor thing put up a great fight, but lost the battle), I desperately want to buy my new tent.  One downside to my dome was the lack of space for my cooker (need coffee first thing!).  So after having a scout around in the last few days I'm thinking about a Outwell Montana 12.  Are there any currunt users out there and would they recommend it??  Or what other big tent would you recommend?

Need some help as usual as my fella is trying to talk me into a trailer tent!

Please let me know your thoughts.

Thanks everyone.

We have just brought the Royal Nevada 10 which is almost identical to the Montana 12 and cheaper. The space is great and the tent was water proof and seemed fairly study (it was windy but not as severe as we saw in June).

The Zip In Groundsheet was ok. I wouldnt like to detach it during the stay as it should be pegged down so its more like a SIG. It does help with cleaning it though.

The bedrooms are large and you can easily roll up the dividing wall at each end to create a larger area or leave one end pod out altogether.

Good luck with your search.

Hiya, i bought a Montana 12 last year, the space really was fab in the bedrooms, but the tent in general, i found really difficult to live in, as the bedrooms are on both sides, the living space is really difficult to spend time in, especially with kids/ camping equipment.  We ended up having to move table/chairs, everytime one of the kids wanted to go into thier rooms.. It really became hard work....

Anyhow, ended up burning the tent with sausages - i know!!!  Got money back from insurance and today have been out and bought the Vango vail 700, loads of space, and bedrooms on one side of the tent, so hopfully not so much moving around!!!

Hope this helps... Jo

We bought a Monty 12 last year as well. Loved the space, 6'2" other half had no problems. we found enough space for our own 2 plus visiting others. Agree with Joanna needs a bit of thought re placing cooker and other equipment but as ours was the neaerest room it wasn't an issue. We use the little porch at the back instead of the front for the porta potti ( our very own integral loo!) great for the middle of the night with small people, also makes for good storage space we found it a little restricting as an entrance when the sun was shining all the time but I imagine it comes into it's own in typical british weatherwhen you need the door shut and the hatches battened down.Another advantage is you can stand up in any part unlike the dome or pod varieties We have sown up the one inner tent divider that can be rolled up as we always need the four rooms and privacy is an issue. The sown in ground sheet is just heaven and I love the zip peep holes so you don't have to get out of bed to see whose outside. It's well thought out as far as vents etc and is very waterproof.

We have invested in a double height airbed this year and the size poses no problem for any of the inners.

I also have a Montana 12 and as others said it has loads of space. We use the Outwell side canopy to cook under rather than cooking inside, and as has been said previously we use the porch pitched to the rear of the tent as a toilet.

It is a great tent which stands up to bad weather really well but my wife fell in love with the Vermont XL and so we bought one this year to replace the Monty 12. We prefer the layout with enclosed (but fully openable) porch at one end although the bedrooms are not as good. Our Vermont XL leaked and had to be returned so we are waiting to buy a 2008 model.

Both tents are worth a look at - and if you want a second hand Monty 12, mine is listed in the For Sale ads on this site.

Good luck with your search.