Evening all. My OH and myself currently own a bearlake 4 (with front extension on order) however we are keen to do a lot more 1 night camping this year plus I have the need for some solo camping events I will be personally attending.
As a consequence of this were in the Market for a second tent.
I'm frankly a massively overweight person and take up the space of 2 in camping sizes so a 3 man is more than likely required. Budget will be approx £120. I had briefly seen the vango omega 350 and liked the design but am completely open to ideas. I want as good a tent as I can get, that I can pitch on my own and we can as a couple use together for single night camping.
Anyone got any recommendations?
Cheers,
Rob & Gem
------------- Outwell Bear Lake 4
04-06 June 2011 - Oulton Park
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Hi there,you are in a great location in Newcastle for camping stores,am sure you have go outdoors and there is a camping store (with displays) on sandy lane(wideopen),loads of people will give you ideas but I dont think you can beat going and having a look...we once bought a tent online after never actually seeing it pitched and it was a disaster,on saying all that...easycamp(sister company of outwell) have some nice tents that can be pitched solo.
Happy camping
------------- March- Padstow
April- Forest Glade
June-Grizedale
July-Jedburgh
and lots more besides
Having been in a similar position, i bought a Vango Juno 500 some examples here or very similar, but in poly cotton, is the Vango Peace, here. Listed as a 5 person tent, the pack size of the Juno is quite small, and goes up in just a couple of mins once out of the bag. more than enough room for two and gear, and positively capacious for one, with standing height too!
Certainly ticked all my boxes, and sounds like it might tick all yours too. one thing to point out though, they are no longer being made this year hence the bargain prices, so you probably wont be able to see one on display at a shop.
Very happy with mine so far.
------------- Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional
Vango Kairos 400 - you get 5 min pitch, steel pole and stand up height! If you shop around you can get package deals for about £130 with footprint and carpet.
------------- Love our set-up and need no more tents or gear, so trying to stop looking!
Don't forget to leave a review of all tents you've used, for a chance to win fantastic prizes
Vango Green Tee 500 (very similar to the Peace and Juno but has a front porch) or the Licata 400 would fit the bill - I have both of these tents and can pitch them solo (I'm a short, unfit, overweight mum of 3!)
Green Tee cost me £52 off eBay and the Licata can be bought for less than £90 from Outdoor Action
I have mentioned a few things to my OH however she has shown a desire to keep it in the Outwell family if at all possible. (we have had nothing but good expereinces with Outwells over the years).
Having looked at their smaller range I have spied the Fusion 400 'pop up' tent. Initial sizes look good and the pitch speed is favourable, however Im used to not worrying at all at the weather being in a Bear Lake, how do these 'pop up' designs cope with the wind?
That being said, the Vango Omega 350 I saw at Go Outdoors last night had ally poles and looked a decent design, however the non sewn ground sheet in the porch was a bit of a shame.
Anyone got any other sugestions I can use with the Mrs, or views on any small Outwells?
------------- Outwell Bear Lake 4
04-06 June 2011 - Oulton Park
The Vango Omega 350 is a brilliant tent, I have one and use it loads. It pitches 'as one' once you have pre attached the inner, which cuts time down. It has performed brilliantly in all weathers being very stable in winds. We spent 3 days in really heavy rain with no leaks,I like the ripstop fabric too.
The only fault I can find is the design of the doors...when it is raining, the rain rolls off the roof and drips into the porch/living area if the door is open. (I tend to unclip the groundsheet in the drip area so the rain drips onto the grass without soaking my 'floor'.Which is why the removable groundsheet works for me!) It is possible to rig up a tarp over the doorway to create a sheltered area for cooking/no drips.
I also have the Juno 500, which is quicker to pitch but also has the problem of rain dripping in if the doors are open. It's really easy to rig up a tarp from the loop on the top of the tent to a steel pole to make a porch. It is a single skin, so not the warmest on a cold night.
Have you thought about canvas? A small pyramid tent like the Hypercamp Djakarta (or the slightly bigger Eldorado) would seem to tick all your boxes.
I can pitch mine singlehanded in about 20 mins, it's a doddle! It has a large 3 person inner bedroom area and also a living area big enough to sit in with chairs/table. It has a better head height than the others so you you don't need to crouch down once inside. The quality is brilliant, you wouldn't need to worry about the weather, it's bomb proof!. it will last for ever if looked after. I think I paid about £150 for mine from Obelink in Holland, they ship to Uk quickly and cheaply. You can also cook in the porch if you have too, although I tend to rig up a tarp for that.
There are loads of piccies in the reviews section
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Topic: 2nd tent purchase
hence the bargain prices, so you probably wont be able to see one on display at a shop.
