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we would like to go camping this summer but are amazed by the choice of tents around.we have 3 children and not much space in the car.we like the look of the vis a vis tents but would appreciate some advice.could we get away with a 6 berth tent like the campus indiana.if possible dont want to spend over 250 as we will use it for weekends only.

Hi there

You dont say how old your children are, but for £250 you could look at the Aztec cantera 9 tent. You can get it for around that money and has 3 good size bedrooms as well as ample living space. Once you start camping you will not want to stop so get the best tent you can with the most room. You and your kids will love it.

£250 gives you a lot of options.

How will you be transporting it? in the car, top-box, trailer? some of these tents can be real space eaters.

What will you be sleeping on? note: if you have all three kids in one sleeping compartment, on air beds you need at least 3x80cm wide -  240cm.

A few tents you could look at (as well as the well resp[ected Indianna), vis-a-vis style: Gelert Vancover or Quebec and Coleman Canyon (good value).

If they still have some, and you want to save money, have a look at the 2005 model Sunncamp Magnum on sale at Awnings Direct - it is a great tent for £135. As it has a full inner SIG, you could sleep in the main area and put the kids in the two pods - i.e. the living area is able to also be a third bedroom.

sounds like ive still got searching to do. are any tents particularly easy to put up and dont take much room in the car.we have air beds ,and the children are 11,8 and 5 . if poss i think 3 spaces would be beta. i looked at the sunncamp on e awnings .is it easy to put up?

as its a weekend tent we need something uncomplicated.

thanks for all your replys

Have a look at the Vango Oregon (comes with 6 or 8 berths - I'd recommend the 8)as well, and the Lichfield Commanche 8.  They are both tunnels, which are quick and easy to put up.  Don't forget that you need space for belongings as well as airbeds.  Watch the dimensions as well as the stated number of berths.  The Outwell Montana 4 is the same width as the Outwell Oregon 5; someone explain that one to me!

hello. thanks for replying .this tent sounds a good possibility.is it easy to put up and what do you know about the campus indiana beta or worse in your opinion

thanks

The nylon Coleman Tri-Space is a bargain. Well made. Packed size is excellent. About 70x50x25 (cm). I cant imagine the bigger Quad-Space has a much bigger packed size.

We love our Montana 6 but it I wouldnt describe its packed size as small.

The gelert  for £169 at halfords is a steal at that price. Good quality tent, easy to put up, i've even put it up by myself. Very good living space and bedroom sizes.

its flysheet first, so may be quicker than the magnum, but this one has a loose groundsheet, not a sig like the magnum.

re the campus indiana, my dad has the indiana 8 and  raves about it, very easy to pitch, and huge living space.

We were in the same predicament about 6 weeks ago. Never been camping, would like to try it, but which one ?

In the end we settled for the Vango Diablo 600, decent price (£240 ish) but we paid another £30 for the extra groundsheet which helps get the layout right before putting the tent up.

Thought it was small but suitable when looking at the floorplan on paper but I remember saying "what have I bought" when I got it out of the bag and reality dawned. Getting better at putting it up with practice.

Have been out in it a couple of times now and there is plenty of room, we have three children (ages 5, 7, 11) and all sleep comfortably. Enough living space and the porch is a great bonus as a kitchen / dining area. I took some photographs of our first expedition and I realized how big the tent was when I looked at the car parked next to it, the porch was the same width as the car and probably not far off the same length ie. I could park the car in the porch ! Not a small car though Seat Alhambra (Ford Galaxy / VW Sharan size).

We filled the boot (30l fridge took a huge amount of space) but it was not above the parcel shelf, but we did use a 250l roofbox for the chairs, table, stove etc.

Well impressed with the tent and it looks like others are too. I spent a great deal of time looking through the message boards for advice and it was well worth it, because we can honestly say that we have been entirely satisfied with everthing we've bought.

Hope you find something and enjoy the camping experience.

Quote: Originally posted by siamese_cat on 29/6/2006

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sounds like ive still got searching to do. are any tents particularly easy to put up and dont take much room in the car.we have air beds ,and the children are 11,8 and 5 . if poss i think 3 spaces would be beta. i looked at the sunncamp on e awnings .is it easy to put up?

as its a weekend tent we need something uncomplicated.

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Don't worry two much about putting these tents up, there are smaller simple ones, but even the giant big domes arn't that bad when there is 2, 3 of you.

You really have to look at some tents in the flesh, errected and packed, to get an idea of what they are like an the set up you prefer. Especially packed as you need to know what your limit is on space in the car for the tent.

Have a look at some and then ask what others are like this one?