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Skandika tents don't have a very good reputation on here I'm afraid.

If you give us a few more details we may be able to offer you a few alternative (and better) ideas.

How many people will be using the tent?
Will it be used for weekends, long holidays in UK, going abroad?
Budget?

Oooooh! Thanks guys, that puts different twist on things! I was tempted obviously by price but also because I wanted my 2 kids (aged 2.5 and 4.5) to have separate sleeping space otherwise they fight and needle each other.  We will only use it for festivals and short breaks in the UK but perhaps if the overall feeling amongst you tenting experts is negative, I would be happy to heed the warnings.

Helen, Can I take you up on your kind offer of some alternatives then please?  I guess the revised budget is going to have to be nearer the £400 mark to be realistic. A spacious area for eating inside the tent is pretty essential, as well as sown in groundsheets. There are 2 adults and 2 children in total, so a 3 cabin set up is ideally what we're after.

Any further thoughts welcomed! Thank you

I can highly recommend the Khyam Ontario 8

* 3 spacious bedrooms - 2 x 2 berth and 1 x 4 berth which can be divided
* Can accommodate 8 x 75cm wide airbeds so a genuine 8 berth tent
* Very easy to erect - only has 5 poles
* Large central living area - measures 3.7m x 3.3m
* Standing height - 225cm
* Fits on a standard pitch - tent measures 7.5m x 3.7m
* SIG (sewn in groundsheet)
* Cable entry points
* 2 doors which can be canpoied out (1 set of poles included)
* Groundsheet goes flat at both doors so no trip hazzard
* Lantern hook and cable tidy
* Pockets in bedrooms for books, glassed etc...
* 5000HH rating
* Large windows with covers let in plenty of light
* Good ventilation
* A lot of tent for the money - you're looking at around £220 (search the Net for best deals)

You can buy footprint groundsheet, carpet and sun porch to turn it into a real home from home (even with these extras you would still be within your £400 budget)

FANTASTIC tent!!!!

Hi Helen

You're a bit good aren't you?!

Thanks very much for your recommendation, I really appreciate it. I've got a feeling my debit card's gonna get a bit of stick tonight..........!

Have had a look at this tent online and it does looks pretty tidy, I also like the idea of being able to add a porch to create more space.  All good stuff

Thanks again, will let you know how we get on......If it's a disaster I'll stick it on eBay!

PS Surely if you're a mum you've gotta be a bit mad....?! I remember almost having half a finger on the pulse all those years ago B.C. (Before Children)  I'm lucky if I remember my own name these days...........

Thanx again

Lynette

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You're very welcome.

Choosing a tent is quite a personal thing and what works for one family won't necessarily work for another.

We love our Ontario 8 - this is our 3rd season with it and it still looks like new. A lot of tent for the money and the nice thing is if you don't want/need all the bedroom pods you don't put them up which gives even more living space.

We usually have the 2 younger boys in the 4 berth pod with the curtain down and eldest in the other side and we have one of the 2 berth pods. Other 2 berth pod is used for storage or the toilet.
If eldest son (he's 16) doesn't come with us or is using his own tent then we get the 4 berth pod to ourselves and the 2 youngest go in the 2 berth pod.

That is one of the main things I like about the Ontario 8 - the layout is really flexible and can change with your needs.

Hi there Helen

I did it!!!! It's huge isn't it?! Put it up in back garden, was a bit of a squeeze but we did it..... My 2 herberts love it already - what is it with tents that makes kids go a bit un-hinged?

Looks brill tho, thanks for the tip.  I have a feeling I will wonder how I ever slummed it in a '3-man' dome tent for all those years. As long as we can park the car within 3 miles of the pitching area in a couple of weeks time it'll be fine!

Got lots of happy and very spacious camping to look forward to, so thanks again.

Lynette

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Ah lovely Lynette, enjoy your new 'home'

Great news Lynette.

Hope you all have many happy camping trips in your new tent.

Where abouts in the country do you live?

Hi again

Thanks guys. 

Helen, we live in just north of Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire.  It's not a bad place to travel from, quite close to M1.

I see you're from North Yorks, you lucky thing! I remember doing a walking holiday many moons ago in the Yorkshire Dales - absolutely beautiful part of the world.

Lynette

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Update: Just returned from 1st successful festival weekend in new super tent.

Despite having to walk too far to the family camping area from the car the tent was superb.  Even with 2 small grisly and hungry kids, putting the tent up (in the rain) wasn't too stressful.  Hooray for your advice and hooray for Kyham Ontario 8 tents!

All I need now is a decent airbed or contact details of a good osteopath.......

Thank you again.

Lynette

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