I've not camped since I was a child and have decided to take the plunge with my 3 kids and get a tent.
It's mainly for long weekends, as opposed to long holidays, although I'm sure that shouldn't make a difference!
We've narrowed it down to a choice of the above 2 tents. The main differences, as far as I can tell, is that the Outwell has steel poles, and the Vango fibreglass, and the pack weight.
In our family is myself, hubby and 3 children aged 10, 8 and 4. Sometimes it might be just me and the kids, so I need to be able to put the tent up myself, with the help of my children.
Do any of you have any wise words on our choices please, to make our decision a little easier?
Thank you!
Sara
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We have a Monty and love it! But there is no way I could put it up by myself. OH can manage with 10yr old daughter as pole holder. We have just bought an Icarus 500 for quick getaways and I'm sure I could manage that no problem. We have used the Monty for weekends, and probably would again if the forecast was poor, but the Icarus was bought so that we could use it for one night or just one of us could take the kids away. Anything longer than a couple of nights though and we'd still pick the Monty. That's probably not much help, sorry!
While the two tents are for the same number of people, that's where the similarities end. The Montana 6 affectionately referred to as a Monty is a beautiful piece of kit but to put it up really is a two man job, and it will take between 1 and 1 1/2 hrs to put up. The tent is vast, really big and heavy to move around or pitch.The Outwell quality is world reknowned and deserved.
The Vango Icarus is easy to pitch (1 person approx 15mins) and while the quality is apparent it's not quite up to that of Outwell.
You will find an large number of members will have a "Monty" for trips of a week or more but for shorter or weekend trips will have and use an Icarus 600.
I personally love both and would love to oneday own both for use as above, I would suggest that you start with the Icarus and follow this up with the "Monty". I would stongly suggest that you also buy the canopy, or even better the "Premium extension" together with a footprint and if you so desire a fitted carpet.
------------- Steve
Look into my eyes, not around my eyes but into my eyes
We have the Monty and an Icarus 500 both with extensions. Although our 500 isn't the 600DLX the difference in pack size is huge between it and the Monty. We fill the boot and back seats of a ford focus when taking the Monty and equipment, meaning we have to take two cars to fit the grandchildren in or invest in a trailer.
I like the 600DLX for the living space but feel the 600 with extension would give a more flexible camping experience. Eating and cooking can be done in the extension. Not sure if you can add an extension to the 600DLX but it would make it's footprint huge so might be a problem with pitch sizes.
I would think another difference between the two tents you mention would be price. The Monty is usually about twice the price of the 600 but maybe with shopping around for deals this difference may not be so great.
Our Icarus is well built but not quite to the same feeling of quality of our Monty. Our Monty has fly screen on all doors and a storm entrance where our Icarus only has one of its 2 doors with fly screen.
I would think that if you got the Monty you would not regret it for when you go as a full family unit but when you and the children go it alone you would be wishing for a lighter smaller solution. Consider the 500 and extension for an introduction to your family camping experience but be prepared for it to feel a tight fit when you all test together. If you ALL love the camping malarky then invest in the Monty or similar?
DD is testing our 500 this weekend with an almost identical family make up to your own. Kids aged 10,8 and 2 along with OH. Will report back if they find the size too limiting.
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Hello saracc01 and welcome to the forum. First post!!
Rather than the Monty, which is very good, consider the Kampa croyde 6. Kampa is fairly new to the tent-manufacturing world but their quality is very good and they are cheaper than Outwell. The Croyde 6 can be bought for £300, is virtually identical to the Monty except that it doesn't have the enclosed side entrance but DOES have a built in extension over the main door.
Like the Monty it may be too heavy and too laborious for just a weekend but it is well worth considering and would be my tent of choice in that sector of the market.
i was undicided between a montana 6 and a gelert beyon corvus 6+2, in the end i opted for the corvus simply because of the size of it, its much bigger inside and we took it for a trial run last night to the top of a windy cliff at reighton. it was blowing a gail and we still managed to get it up in about 30-45 mins. once it was up it just stood there and said come on then wind gimme your best. its a good size due to it been a 6 +2. we also got the carpet which made it really cozzy inside
Quote: Originally posted by Magicman2 on 18/7/2010
While the two tents are for the same number of people, that's where the similarities end. The Montana 6 affectionately referred to as a Monty is a beautiful piece of kit but to put it up really is a two man job, and it will take between 1 and 1 1/2 hrs to put up. The tent is vast, really big and heavy to move around or pitch.The Outwell quality is world reknowned and deserved.
The Vango Icarus is easy to pitch (1 person approx 15mins) and while the quality is apparent it's not quite up to that of Outwell.
You will find an large number of members will have a "Monty" for trips of a week or more but for shorter or weekend trips will have and use an Icarus 600.
I personally love both and would love to oneday own both for use as above, I would suggest that you start with the Icarus and follow this up with the "Monty". I would stongly suggest that you also buy the canopy, or even better the "Premium extension" together with a footprint and if you so desire a fitted carpet.
Thanks so much Steve, very helpful. We are more or less swinging towards the Icarus now, and will definitely be getting the canopy and footprint. Off to see what the premium extension is!
Quote: Originally posted by Splinter66 on 18/7/2010
We have the Monty and an Icarus 500 both with extensions. Although our 500 isn't the 600DLX the difference in pack size is huge between it and the Monty. We fill the boot and back seats of a ford focus when taking the Monty and equipment, meaning we have to take two cars to fit the grandchildren in or invest in a trailer.
I like the 600DLX for the living space but feel the 600 with extension would give a more flexible camping experience. Eating and cooking can be done in the extension. Not sure if you can add an extension to the 600DLX but it would make it's footprint huge so might be a problem with pitch sizes.
I would think another difference between the two tents you mention would be price. The Monty is usually about twice the price of the 600 but maybe with shopping around for deals this difference may not be so great.
Our Icarus is well built but not quite to the same feeling of quality of our Monty. Our Monty has fly screen on all doors and a storm entrance where our Icarus only has one of its 2 doors with fly screen.
I would think that if you got the Monty you would not regret it for when you go as a full family unit but when you and the children go it alone you would be wishing for a lighter smaller solution. Consider the 500 and extension for an introduction to your family camping experience but be prepared for it to feel a tight fit when you all test together. If you ALL love the camping malarky then invest in the Monty or similar?
DD is testing our 500 this weekend with an almost identical family make up to your own. Kids aged 10,8 and 2 along with OH. Will report back if they find the size too limiting.
Thanks Splinter, I will be interested in how your dd fared this weekend!
We are definitely going for the sun canopy and footprint. The decision now is the 600 or 600 DLX.
Quote: Originally posted by dave1 on 18/7/2010
i was undicided between a montana 6 and a gelert beyon corvus 6+2, in the end i opted for the corvus simply because of the size of it, its much bigger inside and we took it for a trial run last night to the top of a windy cliff at reighton. it was blowing a gail and we still managed to get it up in about 30-45 mins. once it was up it just stood there and said come on then wind gimme your best. its a good size due to it been a 6 +2. we also got the carpet which made it really cozzy inside
Thanks Dave, good way to test a tent I guess! Glad it stood the test for you!
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Ok, feedback from DD's weekend is along the lines of :- wouldn't be without the extension. They used it for cooking in and spent most of their time (apart from sleeping) whilst at the tent sat in there. They had two double airbeds which as far as I am aware left little space for the self inflating mats but they managed to all fit and get some form of sleep. They were going to buy an Icarus 500 but I told them to test ours and maybe think about the 600. They agree that the extra width would make it that much more useful if and when they take the 1 year old who stayed home this trip. Their pitch was between 2 hedges and there wasn't a lot of room left once tent and extension were up. The DLX with an extension wouldn't have fitted.
They had to take the tent down wet after a showers all morning, not to worry it fits on my garden so I thought I would have a go at solo pitching to dry it out. I managed it in about 40 minutes fully pegged out and extension included. Infact the tent was fully erect in 20 mins and took me just as long to get the extension up due to limited space left for working. I did struggle with the weight / vaccuum created while pulling the tent upright. I had been told they had left the doors slightly open to allow the air to escape but discovered that they meant the bedroom doors.
They had to do a running repair to the toggle that holds the pockets on the front of the bedroom . Probably caused by the 2 year old tripping over the door bottoms getting in and out. We have also had to sew about a 4 inch piece where the stitching holding the zip on to the bedroom door had parted company. May have been the children but like has been said the finish quality doesn't feel the same as the monty. I wouldn't expect to go camping in the Vango without a sewing kit being an essential part of our kit. That said I got it for a purpose and it fits the bill perfectly for a short stay, travelling light, camping trip. I would still recommend it as your second tent but you will need bigger if you all go.
What about the Vango Columbia 600 - similar spec to the Monty, 5000HH, steel poles etc... but has some extra features - full or part opening front, 2/3 bedroom open, Vango's TBSII internal strapping system which will add even more stability if you clip it in place in windy weather, low level ventilation, simpler window and door design including drop down thresholds to minimise tripping. Discontinued this year but still a few around. A sage one will enable you to add the 2010 Sungari 600 canopy, along with footprint and carpet. £280 (RRP £450 last year).
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Topic: Outwell Montana 6 or Vango Icarus 600 DLX
. OH can manage with 10yr old daughter as pole holder. We have just bought an Icarus 500 for quick getaways and I'm sure I could manage that no problem. We have used the Monty for weekends, and probably would again if the forecast was poor, but the Icarus was bought so that we could use it for one night or just one of us could take the kids away. Anything longer than a couple of nights though and we'd still pick the Monty. That's probably not much help, sorry!
