Tent suggestions for a festival?

Emjay86 · 20 Jan 2013 at 11:40

Hey guys,

Every year I like to take the other half to a festival but I typically end up leaving the thing there because up until now they have always been a bit crap.

So now it comes to the period where I need to get another before the next festival this summer. Im hoping this time I can get a half-decent tent that wont break the bank that I can bring home with me.

So from what ive experienced so far the 2 man tents for 2 people is not an option. Its too small and just unfeasable. 3 man tents don't seem to be too great either so ill probably be looking for a 4 man.

That being said some tents do offer some sort of storage area which would reduce the man count requirement of the tent. Being a festival of around 3-5 days it requires us to lug around a lot of stuff. Typically 2 large rucksacks and possibly another backpack or two.

My problem is I have no idea where to look for such a tent or even what I should be looking for. Id be forever grateful if someone here could pass on their sage advise and possibly even point me in the right direction.

Thanks in advance.

cheechm · 20 Jan 2013 at 11:42

Out of interest what festival is it?

haaammit · 20 Jan 2013 at 11:46

Emjay86 said:
Hey guys,

Every year I like to take the other half to a festival but I typically end up leaving the thing there because up until now they have always been a bit crap.

King Damager · 20 Jan 2013 at 11:51

Quink said:

OP, to be honest, I've never had a massive issue with anything from Argos or such like. You could go to an outdoor camping shop, (Blacks, GoOutdoors, Millets, Field and Trek), but something like a decent tent (Vango would be my choice), would be too expensive to take to a festival without risk of wrecking it.

kd

dbmzk1 · 20 Jan 2013 at 12:04

Stick with taking a cheap crappy one and leaving it there.

If you get a decent one and it gets trashed, which it probably will, you will only be annoyed

Mucky_Pup · 20 Jan 2013 at 12:07

My tent has never been trashed. Dunno about the rest of you's but when I'm spending £400 for a festival I'd rather not sleep in a crap tent.

PapaLazaru · 20 Jan 2013 at 12:10

If you want something better, get a Gelert, or Hi-Gear.

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/ is a good place to look.

They do no sell Gelert tents, but Hi-Gear are made in the same place.

rogan · 20 Jan 2013 at 12:10

dont leave tents at festivals, it costs them so much money to sort it out..

cheechm · 20 Jan 2013 at 12:18

rogan said:
dont leave tents at festivals, it costs them so much money to sort it out..

At Reading we were told to, and then they'd be donated to charity...

Fubsy · 20 Jan 2013 at 12:23

^^ only if they are packed away first. Well, at Leeds this what we were told, otherwise they get put in landfill.

joemc · 20 Jan 2013 at 12:23

I would recommend any of these tents http://www.decathlon.co.uk/C-529838-4-man-tents. I've had the same popup tent for the last 3 years and been to 9 festivals. It's still going strong! Worth going in to one of their stores if you can as they're fine with getting the tent out and letting you have a look at it!

Skillmister · 20 Jan 2013 at 12:24

No way I would take a decent tent to a festival. You never know what's going to happen while you're away from it.

bJN · 20 Jan 2013 at 12:30

Well my Vango tent survived three summers of festivals, and is currently packed up back at home! Tent itself was fine with plenty of room for two of us; however I can't remember the exact name of it for the life of me...

ikillbears · 20 Jan 2013 at 13:25

^ bJN, you totally need to add a space before the Steam link in your sig. It's not right dude!

Emjay86 · 20 Jan 2013 at 21:25

cheechm said:
Out of interest what festival is it?

Download festival this and last year.

Were staying in the 'family camping' area this year as last years 'brownload' was awful. Our tent turned into the communal toilet and by the end of it was absolutely rife with the lovely smell of urine. Then there was the kneehigh mud around it which kept me freezing cold as it slushed underneath me at night. Generally it was pretty crap.

We actually said we wouldn't go again unless slipknot, rammstein or iron maiden were playing...

They went and added all three... *******s!

So yea I gotta go...

Thanks for the replies so far ill have a good route through tomorrow after work!

Yaayuh! · 20 Jan 2013 at 22:07

I get a £25 cheapo from millets and leave it there. Really can't be bothered to pack it away first thing on a Monday whilst I have the festival security telling me to get the **** out already.

Don't get a pop-up tent. They suck so hard.

IRLeetly · 20 Jan 2013 at 22:10

Emjay86 said:
We actually said we wouldn't go again unless slipknot, rammstein or iron maiden were playing...

They went and added all three... *******s!

My gf and I said the same thing after last years wash out, we are so skint at the start of this year, trying to cut down in so many things to make the pennies count.

on the talk of tents our tent was destroyed in the wind with our mates in disabled camping, came back on the Friday and the rods had splintered and pierced through the tents layers.

Luckily we could park near the tent and slept in the car for the remainder of the weekend.

Guest2 · 20 Jan 2013 at 22:11

popup tent from argos, used mine a few times and its still fine. think its a galert or something like that

Samueltastic · 20 Jan 2013 at 22:32

I had a £20 tent from Mountain Warehouse did the job perfectly and I wasn't to peed off when I broke it. The just left it. not worth getting a good one IMO.

anything I don't mind · 20 Jan 2013 at 22:37

I recommend getting a large tent 2nd hand for festivals. I have bought some nice tents second hand, often you get lucky with 2nd hand tents because people buy them and never use them, some times.