Hi all,
I'm tent less yet again and just can't find what I am looking for. Please can someone help as I can't afford to make any more expensive mistakes. I am a terrified driver so can't get to anywhere really locally to see tents up, which doesn't help.
1st tent, Outwell Montana 6p for myself, partner, two boys and two dogs, perfect tent, until my partner left and then I could neither fit everything in the car or put it up on my own. Tent sold.
2nd tent Gelert Cabana 4 in red, so I could go camping on my own. I could put it up on my own, but discovered lack of windows bothered me more than I realised and everything was red inside. Tent sold.
3rd tent, trip to the NEC to find the ultimate tent, purchased Vango Inspire 600 for me, two boys and two dogs. I had to buy a trailer to continue camping. We could put it up together, loved this tent, three separate bedrooms, airbeam, enough room. The size of the bag (they don't show you what the pack size looks like at the show for very good reason I think), meant it wouldn't fit through the loft hatch, we don't have a garage, so it had to take up a large corner of my sons bedroom. It also weighs far far more than I had realised, it's not a tent I could lift out of the trailer on my own. My boys have decided that they no longer want to come camping with me (15 and 21, so fair enough). Even though I read the technical details, I found it really difficult to gauge just how big or heavy the tent would be for real. tent now sold due to pack size and the weight.
So....I'm looking for the impossible I think. I need:
A decent make of tent that I can stand up in, will be for just me mainly, but the boys might come too sometimes, but will have to squash in if they want to.
Must be airbeam or pyramid type construction for ease of setup
Two bedrooms (one for luggage and a dog crate)
A porch area that I can sit out of the sun in, with sides rather than just a canopy, this is essential and will be a deciding factor.
Curtains/blinds, must have windows
Small pack size and weight
SIG
I like the outwell brand, but they don't have anything with a proper porch
I like the Vango Capri but not sure about the reduced to 70D fabric
I love the ESVO Bedouin 280 but it hasn't got an inner tent
Not sure about Kampa Hayling 4 Air, might be too big.
I've also considered the Camplet, but have decided that I prefer a bedroom space where there is a floor as well, so I can get dressed or have the dog crate by my bed.
Campmaster air was an option for a while, but no proper porch area.
Help.......
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My parents had a similar list of things, and are currently saving for this tent. Have to say, its the perfect choice for them, worth a look?
------------- March 2015 Aberford 1 night
April 2015 Skipton 3 nights
May 2015 Aberford 3 nights
July 2015 Lake District 7 nights
August 2015 Aberford 3 nights
Thank you for your reply, I think that tent has now been discontinued due to leaking problems, it's also a similar pack size to the Inspire and nearly 34kg!! So still much too big and heavy for what I am looking for.
Oh wow, really? I hadnt realised, sorry about that.
Maybe the Hayling 4 Air then. With it being inflatable, the size should be easy to manage by yourself, and will have plenty of room for if your boys did want to go with you?
------------- March 2015 Aberford 1 night
April 2015 Skipton 3 nights
May 2015 Aberford 3 nights
July 2015 Lake District 7 nights
August 2015 Aberford 3 nights
Don't forget to leave a review of all tents you've used, for a chance to win fantastic prizes
I think that unless you go for a smaller tent (such as the Vango Ark 400) size you'll always find a heavy and big packsize for airbeam tents in the size you are looking at. It's really not that much harder to thread three poles through three sleeves, and then you are cutting out the weight. You can even separate the pack into two (beware leaving the poles at home though!)
My teenagers, 17 and 18 are no longer interested in camping either. I've just bought myself a 4m Polycotton Bell tent which has two windows in it. It will do as a solo but would accomodate the kids too if the weather is good. I will be using a separate kitchen tent (a Quechua Base Seconds) although maybe only for longer than weekend breaks.
I too got a Gelert Cabana and the lack of windows bothers me too. The packsize is good and I will hold on to it as a festival tent, it wasn't dear so I don't mind if it gets damaged (so much as my other tents) and it's just about light enough to take the long trek in to a festival.
If I was in the market for any other tent, I'd really like the Vango Kalu V as it's light, the pole system i really simple (one pole essentially) and I love the big windows.
Hello Jayen,
Have you had a look at the Outwell Corvette L. Its a inflatable frame tent which sleeps 5 persons.
It has a built in porch which you can seal off with a door or you can leave it open as it has a second door into the main living area.
The pack size is 40 x 104cm and weighs 24.8 kg.
It seems to match all your other requirements. I only hope the pack size isn't to much for you.
You can view a video of the tent on the Outwell Website.
You need to get out & look at tent displays. Take your time & examine the tent for size, packed size/weight, quality, ease of erection & so on. That way you know its right for you, not somebody else.
I'd recommend you should go for either the Cabanon Barbados (with 2 x side panels) or the Guadeloupe if you want a smaller pack size.
The inner on the Barbados has a dividing curtain, so plenty of space to hide a dog cage and luggage. The Guadeloupe doesn't have a separate inner, only a dividing curtain which stays attached to the outer canvas, but it's probably the one I'd go for as a solo camper who wants nicest tent for smallest weight and pack size, and a reasonably quick and easy pitch.
Thank you all so very much for your help, I've spent the last couple of days properly researching your suggestions. I still love the ESVO but the combination of having no EHU zip unless I pay extra, together with the additional purchase of the wings and no inner tent, means that sadly it's in the 'no' pile. The curtain in the ESVO has a gap at the top, which will mean that bugs will just end up in the apex, then into the bedroom area. Same goes for the Cabanons, lovely but work out too expensive and very heavy. They have a similar curtain rather than inner tent.
One surprise was the Outwell Corvette L which is the current favourite and maybe perfect with it's really large porch which can be covered in as well. It will mean that I can zip away the chairs and kitchen when I go out which is helpful. I really did like my Outwell before, in fact most of my equipment is made by them. Will investigate that further, so thank you.
Don't forget to leave a review of all tents you've used, for a chance to win fantastic prizes
Sounds like you need a bigger loft hatch !, not a massive job or overly expensive to get fitted . Have a look at the eco s line wooden step ladder. Available for around £90 and can be fitted by a competent D.I.Yer quite easily . I did my own and and its been a Godsend .
Hi Jayen
My husband and I have just "down sized" out tent. Our 2 sons sometimes camp with us sometimes not - so we now have a 4 man tent and if they come they camp in their own 2 man tents!
Have you considered a Robens Vista 600 - not cheap but has a lot of features you are looking for:
* Lightweight - 20.5 kgs
* Quick and easy set-up and take-down (typically 20 mins)
* Traditional pole structure using aluminium alloy poles
* Plenty of room for up to 3 people
* Shaded doorway
* Poly-cotton (of course).
We looked at that tent - looks a super tent and easy to put up. Ended up by a very very reduced Gelert polycotton tent - if it all works may upgrade to the Robens next year!
Have you thought of the new Kampa Hayling 4 Air? Ive just posted a new thread with some photos of this on here - I camp a lot with my daughter when hubby is working away and have three border collies :-)
There is a photo at the end of me rolling it up - so you can see - but its much much smaller than the montana 6p which we used to have - which we sold as I couldnt manage it alone
I have bought the vestibule which encloses the front porch and means that we can leave cooker and chairs etc in the front :-) very happy with it
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Topic: Expensive mistakes please help
