We've never been camping before but really want to give it a go. We're 2 adults and 2 children (aged 2 and 4).
We were set on getting the Diablo 600 or 900 but have since got worried about how long it will take to put up. We mainly see ourselves going away for long weekends at the moment and have noticed that some of you have a different tent for these occasions and use your Diablos for longer trips. Also, I saw one set up at a BCH Camping exhibition today and it was very hot inside which has put me off.
I also saw a Coleman Sahara (think it was for 5 people) which had only one bedroom but its ventilation looked very good. We don't think our children will sleep apart from us but felt we could easily fit into the one bedroom. However, with all our other stuff would we feel cramped? It would help if it had one more bedroom just to store a few things in.
Some friends of ours swear by their Roben Triple Dreamer and say it only takes 5-10 minutes to put up. I've never seen one 'in the flesh' though and it seems pretty expensive.
Argghhh! We'd love someone to just tell us what to get! We've spent weeks dithering and feel that the summer holidays are rushing by and we haven't even started yet.
I think our requirements are:
(1) A reasonably sized tent so we don't feel too cramped and so that we can all sleep next to each other.
(2) An integral flysheet as I'm not too keen on all the bugs.
(3) A bit of headroom as my only previous memory of camping is getting very claustrophic in the middle of the night and being in a blind panic trying to find the zip so I could get out.
(4) Something that can be put up and down without too much hassle.
(5) Good ventilation
So go on, recommend a tent for us!
Elizabeth
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We bought the Diablo 600 but have now bought a montana 6 mainly because my OH used to get really mad when putting up the diablo, it took us over an hour to do it. With the Montana 6 it took us 20 mins, it's only got 4 poles instead of the 9 poles that the diablo has. The only downside for you would be that it has 2 seperate bedrooms which are next to each other. Finding the right tent is really hard, took us 4 attempts to get the right one, if you can get to see these tents erected that might help you decide abit.
Hope you find the right one soon
------------- -x- Diane -x-
May 13 - Cala Gogo, St Cyprien (didn't go, hubby too ill to travel)
May 14 Ranc Davaine
August 14 Les Sablons
August 13 - Camping Playa Brava, Pals
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If you are confused all ready, you will be even worse after you have read everyones opinion on what tent is the best. Even though i have only ever had one tent and that for only a short time but would swear by it now and tell you it is excellent for 2 adults and 2 kids although they would be in there own rooms. I know this has not been much help but what ever you buy you will enjoy camping, Good luck in your search.
I can only speak for the Diablo as this is the only tent we have owned. It was a case of love at first sight and no regrets. It does take us an hour to put up but I think with an extra mallet we could perhaps get this time down. Did the Diablo you viewed have the rear door to the living are open? I believe in the 900 the door is in the rear bedroom pod. If both doors were open it may have been cooler.
Whatever tent you choose, I'm sure you'll receive lots of good advice on this site to help you make your choice.
I can only speak for the Diablo as this is the only tent we have owned. It was a case of love at first sight and no regrets. It does take us an hour to put up but I think with an extra mallet we could perhaps get this time down. Did the Diablo you viewed have the rear door to the living are open? I believe in the 900 the door is in the rear bedroom pod. If both doors were open it may have been cooler.
Whatever tent you choose, I'm sure you'll receive lots of good advice on this site to help you make your choice.
Happy hunting
It was the 600 that we viewed and the back door wasn't open - not the best way to showcase a tent. It was so hot in there I couldn't bear it for more than a minute.
Thanks for your help. There's just too much choice!
Elizabeth
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You could always opt for a tent like the Vango Colorado 600 (i've just bought one) It has a dome in the centre for living space, and two sleeping areas, one at each side.
Whilst your children might want to sleep next to you now, one side has enough room for four (with a wafty partition in the middle, so they're not totally with/without you). When they get older, they can then venture to the other side of the tent, where there is enough room for two.
You can also get a Deluxe version, which has a bigger porch/living area.
I wouldn't go on the temperature inside a tent when viewing them in store, it can get very stuffy wandering around all the tents, and slightly clostraphaubic (sp?) it's totally different again in the great outdoors!
Another idea is the Diablo 400, same as the 600 but a bit smaller, if your concerned about pitching, but from what i've read from other peoples experiences it's a doddle once you've got the hang of it.
Remember, one of the best bits of camping is choosing the tent....after tent...after tent.... (I cant remember how many i've had!!)
You want height - it has this all around the tent, including the bedrooms.
You want to be next to the kids - Three bedrooms in the Aspen, separated but a divider which can be drawn back and stowed away to make one huge bedroom. When the kids want a bedroom of their own just un roll the divider.
Easy to put up - Aspen is not too bad to put up. Our first time took about an hour, but this was taking time to read each step of the instructions. Next time I think it will be about 45 mins.
Good ventilation - This tent has three doors and load of windows so the through put of air is superb keeping the inside cool.
Fly sheet - All doors and windows have flysheets on them.
We found this tent superb, so solid and roomy.
Best to go and have a look in the flesh. When we were looking, as soon as we walked in the Aspen we fell in love with it.
I agree with die-hard-camper the choosing of the tent is great fun.
We have a Diablo 900 and we are pleased with it however we also have a Montana 4 for weekend usage.
From what you've said I'd look at something like the Vango Vista 600 / 800 or Outwell Colorado or equivalent style. They are tunnel tents with a large bedroom at one end and other bedrooms at the other. You can leave one set of bedrooms out and increase the amount of 'living' space.
We chose the Diablo for the balance of living space v bedroom space & the porch. The disadvantage of the tents I've suggested are that they don't have a sewn in groundsheet (SIG) which was an issue for me.
I believe Roben are made by the same company as Outwell, Oase.
We have just had our Diablo 600 delivered this morning. After weeks of visiting virtually every outdoor shop in the southeast, we weighed up the pros & cons (& even asked this great forum!) & settled for the vango. As the previous posters have said you will know when you`ve found the right tent for you, it will shout at you & say 'PICK ME!'.
------------- The world is full of Kings & Queens who'll blind your eyes & steal your dreams, thats heaven & hell
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Our last tent was a canvas frame tent when our older boys (10 and 9 now) were toddlers. We looked for ages and decided on the Khyam Rigi pod. It's very quick to put up (its major selling point) and you can buy up to 3 bedroom pods to zip on to the main area in various arrangements. We like the flexiblilty of this, knowing our needs will change as our toddler gets older and if the older boys want to bring friends.
Packed up, it's big compared with other tents but not compared with our old one. There are some excellent deals around at the moment and they do come up on ebay too.
Actually, after re-reading your 'must haves', I'm sure the Khyam is worth a look. The bedroom pods are big enough to sleep 4 of you and everything openable has a bug net. The bedroom pod height is great and the living area is enormous so you could get away with just one bedroom pod. One thing - though it has a groundsheet, it's not sewn in.
Hi and wlecome, Can't comment on the Coleman, but your idea of having the children in with you is good. I like mine in with me (or us when OH joins us), as this saves the crawl across the tent when you are needed in the night., nothing worse than crawling across the tent at 2am cos one of them needs you. OK it doesn't stop the "I need a wee wee" at that hour, but at least when you've taken them, you can put them back in bed, and crawl back in your own, No settling them in their pod, crawling the length of the tent, getting back into bed, only to have them want you again. Guess who's got the Tshirt? Also look for a tent with a decent living area. Nothing worse than being confined to quarters with young children, and no room, to move. Don't foprget what looks spacious in the camping shop with be less so by the time you've got bags of clothing etc around. Spare bedroom pod is an ideal way of making more space in the living area. (Another reason why we bought a larger tent.) How much you spend depends on how confident you are that you are going to like camping. Our first tent was bought as a test, as we were unsure if we would like it, especially the kids. As we all loved it, and although the tent we had was an A1 tent in itself, we decided we could do with bigger - one very wet weekend when we were stuck in a tiny living area for good deal of the time. We knew that we were going to go camping quite a bit, and invested in a large frame tent.
Slightly off track - think about investing in a porta loo, nothing worse than a trek accross site at 2am, with one child, only to get back to find the other one, who didnt want to go is now desperate. Same in the day, when the loos are the other side of the site.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: So confused re. which tent!
