We are a family of 4 and camp quite regularly in the summer, but usually abroad in southern Europe.
Last year we invested in a new tent as our family had expanded and we wanted one that offered a little more space inside than our 3 man one from Millets that we had had for a decade.
We bought a Vango Icarus 400 and boy did we regret it. IT was just SO HOT inside. Bear in mind that we were in Sicily and it was 40 degrees by day, but inside our tent at night it was 36 degrees! In the middle of the night!!
There was just no ventilation in it at all. The mosquito netting on the sleeping area was so small, and at the top of the doors, so that it allowed no air to circulate.
It was so bad and so uncomfortable to sleep in it that my OH ended up cutting a hole in the doors and sticking netting on to increase the ventilation. But it still wasnt great.
We saw that a lot of the Italians had tents that had ventilation zips both back and front, as well as neetting on internal doors that went right down to the bottom (as out old Millets tent had). But we just cant find a tent like that here.
Please can anyone recommend a tent, suitable for a small family of 4, that offers a good degree of ventilation.
We are desperate - and going to the south of France in 3 weeks!!
many thanks
kate
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wouldn't be able to advise specifics, but we have just moved onto Kampa and we were amazed how cool it was on this humbled british weathered weekend!!!! but with the sky light it was so airy, the blackout pods were wonderful and kept the pods VERY cool, the doors and windows all had the 'no see through' mesh and it also has vents around the corners of the tent.
we were suprised how cool it was compared to my sisters next to us, my hubby has a condition that he can't sit in the sun, but has always found them too stuffy to sit in, but this was lovely!
------------- April-Norfolk 7nts, Oxford 2nts, Defford 2nts
May-Symm Yat 3nts
June-Defford 2 nts,Pembridge 2nts
July-Tabacconist 2nts, France 19nts
Aug -Bosworth 2nts, Winchcombe 3nts
Oct -costwolds 6nts
The fabric will make a difference, canvas or polycotton is cooler.
As for full length mossy nets they are fairly common, my Outwell certainly has them.
We have the Sprayway valley 8 and that has plenty of vents at the back and sides, there is a valley 6 and valley four and I would guess they are the same design.All the windows and doors also have fully zipped in mosquito nets so can be left open all night.I love this tent though it is quite bulky when packed.
------------- Camping is like playing with dolls houses for big girls!
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like i said, it may not have been the best weekend to make a judgement call, as it wasn't the hottest of weekends, but in the weather we did have it made the pods very comfortable to take a nap in, when we usually wouldn't have! the blackout is not just on the pods, but the tent material over the pod area too.
------------- April-Norfolk 7nts, Oxford 2nts, Defford 2nts
May-Symm Yat 3nts
June-Defford 2 nts,Pembridge 2nts
July-Tabacconist 2nts, France 19nts
Aug -Bosworth 2nts, Winchcombe 3nts
Oct -costwolds 6nts
You definately need some canvas (or polycotton) we go to france every year, no way I would entertain taking anything nylon, last year the people next to us had nightmare with the heat, they had to get up every morning at stupid a clock, and be outside as it was too hot in the tent. One day the kids jelly sweets turned to liquid, whilst in one of the tent pockets - made a right mess!
------------- ~*MZZY*~
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Quote: Originally posted by piupiutoo on 11/7/2011
Please can anyone recommend a tent, suitable for a small family of 4, that offers a good degree of ventilation. We are desperate - and going to the south of France in 3 weeks!! many thanks kate
Have a look at some of the bigger Decathlon tents. They've got a few designs suitable for warmer weather. Go for something without a sewn in groundsheet so that if you need more low ventlation you can peg up the sides a bit.
my suggestion is take your money with you and buy a tent locally to where you're going. There's so very few tents here with ventilation front and back because tents here are designed to keep you out of drafts and inclement weather - whereas you need that through draft!
We have a Kampa Filey Classic polycotton tent and have noticed a big difference in the temperature inside the tent. It was much cooler in the hot weather than our polyester tents are.
The bedroom pods can either have the doors closed so you can't see in or you can unzip the curtain and have a complete mesh door.
The two side windows have mesh panels at the top for ventilation and you can also unzip these two large windows and have them completely open.
There are also two small mesh panels on the front of the tent which will hopefully help keep the air circulating.
There is a panel on the back of the tent where the bedrooms are that you can zip open to let air into the bedrooms (the guy ropes hold it open). It actually has two zips and if you undo the second zip you can roll the material up just leaving a mesh panel.
And not forgetting the side door which also has a full mesh panel.
------------- 2011
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Easter - Moreton C&CC
May - Devizes C&CC
June - East Fleet Touring Park
July - The Old Oaks, Glastonbury
August - East Fleet Touring Park
At those temperatures you are going to struggle anyway. Have you thought of rigging up some form of tarp sunshade over the tent to keep the day temperature down. Stops the tent from being 'preheated'.
In my humble experience a through flow of air is pretty essential but even the netting slows that down significantly.
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"The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt." - Bertrand Russell
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Topic: well-ventilated tent - advice needed
