Tents

Danger Phoenix

Danger Phoenix

Danger Phoenix

Soldato
Joined
21 Jul 2004
Posts
6,360
Location
Harrow, UK
I am planning a camping weekend to Devon in July and do not have a clue about tents.

I was initially planning on hiring this tent, which would cost £46:
http://www.tent2hire.co.uk/tents 2-4 man.htm

But then someone mentioned it could be worth while buying a tent. I already have sleeping bags, air beds, roll mats etc, so I was thinking:
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...uctId_766219_langId_-1_categoryId_236903#dtab
or
http://www.millets.co.uk/camping/tents/3-4-person-tents/product/095915.html

There will only be two of us, but I have a double air bed which is quite big, so I want that to fit :)
 
Although pop up tents are cool I don't rate them that highly and they can be a pain to put away. Pop along to a local camping shop and take a look at some if possible but if there are 2 of you I would recommend a 3 man tent as it will provide you with that little bit of extra space.
 
The Vango tent in your first link is much better than the other two. Pop-ups are irritating and don't have much room. Easy to put up but the folding away has lead to many campsite arguments.
I would get a decent 3 man tent, possibly with a porch.
 
makeshiftwings said:
The Vango tent in your first link is much better than the other two. Pop-ups are irritating and don't have much room. Easy to put up but the folding away has lead to many campsite arguments.
I would get a decent 3 man tent, possibly with a porch.
Click to expand...

I don't want to spend too much, so should I just hire the one I linked to?
 
Don't buy a pop-up as they are no good. Hard to pack up and a single skin, for lazy people.

You want a double skin with a large porch, good place to chill of its raining and to keep equipment out of the sleeping area. Double guys are good but not necessary if you know how to put a tent up.

I advise you to buy a tent, for the price of renting you could buy a 4 man with a little bit more, and then you have a tent for life... but remember always buy 1 extra man than you require, you need the extra space.

Get to know your tent and look after it, it will last you ages and you will be erecting it and packing it in no time at all.

If you do buy a new tent, waterproof its outer skin for extra protection.
 
Citizen420 said:
Don't buy a pop-up as they are no good. Hard to pack up and a single skin, for lazy people.

You want a double skin with a large porch, good place to chill of its raining and to keep equipment out of the sleeping area. Double guys are good but not necessary if you know how to put a tent up.

I advise you to buy a tent, for the price of renting you could buy a 4 man with a little bit more, and then you have a tent for life... but remember always buy 1 extra man than you require, you need the extra space.

Get to know your tent and look after it, it will last you ages and you will be erecting it and packing it in no time at all.

If you do buy a new tent, waterproof its outer skin for extra protection.
Click to expand...

I really know nothing about tents, so is there a tent you could recommend mate?



Nix said:
DP, if you woke up with a sore bottom and a funny walk, would you tell anyone?
Click to expand...

Get out of my thread :p
 
Everyone saying the pop-ups are no good or hard to use have no idea!

I have two of them and they have survived high winds and rain without a single leak, when other "proper" tents have been torn apart. I regularly take one to Snowdonia, even if just for gear.

They have both, and several others, have survived many a rock/metal festival. And when you can put one down in all of 2 minutes after only a few hours sleep and a raging hang over, then it is hardly hard to put down.

The two I have are by Quechua [the first and best!].

The only real downsides to them are their awkward shape, but no big deal if you aren't going anywhere crowded [walking through Hamburg and getting on and off the subway was interesting with 4 of us having one tied to our rucksacks! :D]. Then again, since they lie flat they take up next to no room in the boot of a car if you have one. They don't have a kitchen area either, so sucks if it is raining - though we have several tarps for solving that! ;)

They aren't ideal for every situation, and maybe not for the OP if he is sharing and all the gear needs to be in the tent with you, but saying they are rubbish suggests you are softies who can't appreciate such a fantastic tent.

If you wish to place an order for the latest pop-up tents then please drop me a line..... :p

I really do like them :D
 
Danger Phoenix said:
I really know nothing about tents, so is there a tent you could recommend mate?
Click to expand...

Well, if you don't fancy a popup [and I freely admit they not always ideal], Vaude make some very good tents. My next tent will probably be a Vaude actually [already have a Vaude bivi tent]. My 4-man Storm Shield is starting to show its age a bit. I don't think a single one of the aly poles is straight and I am fairly certain the fly sheet is shrinking! :p

Coleman do some decent tents too. Then there is the good ole Eurohike.

If you have a Go Outdoors store near you, they are worth a look. The one near me has loads of them set up and their prices are good. I wouldn't bother renting since for the price of a decent tent you might as well keep it for the next trip.
 
I think my brothers pop up tent is still blowing around the hedge rows of Surfstock after it failed to erect (someone had taken the poles apart on a previous attempt at repacking I guess?? )
After I finished erecting my 3 man.. with a porch :D I tried in vain to help him out with it.
He = Uni student.. Me = Seasoned camping extraordinaire LOL

Buggered if I could fix it either!! It got used as a ground sheet after that.

3 man and porch for the WINNAR!
 
Well one would not advise dismantling it! :p

I prefer people to screw up and dump "proper" tents anyway. Gives me something to salvage. Can never have enough spare guy ropes and bungees :D

God I'm a *****! :(
 
Snowdonia, Wales. December 2009

popup_wales_dec_09.jpg


Then after it snowed

popup_ss_wales_dec_09.jpg


There were no leaks, even with snow sat on the tent all day and night. Brother didn't even get cold.

See, they're awesome :D
 
Is this camping weekend going to be a one off or do you plan to do this more than once?

If you think you'll enjoy it and do it every year then it'll definitely be worth buying one instead of renting.

I haven't bought a tent for years so I don't know which ones are currently the best to go for, but if you're not going until July it might be worth waiting for a good deal to pop up.
Looking on HotUKDeals.com it looks like Millets were selling the Vango Beta 350 tent for just £54.99 inc. delivery, unfortunetly the deal ended just a couple of days ago.
Blacks also had a deal recently on the Vango Beta 250 for just £33.99.

P.S) I've used Vango equipment for over 10 years and it's all been very good quality and lasted a long time.
 
Aww sucks for the OP. Always happens to me though, just missing out on a deal for something I didn't want the day before! :( :D

As I already suggested, GO Outdoors have usually got good prices, and they're always having deals. Check their website and also any local store you may have.
 
I've got a Gelert Quickpitch SS. £20 from Argos. Got it last year for Vfest and didnt expect much, great tent and so easy to put up and put away too. It really does just pop up, packing it wasnt too hard, even when massively hungover
 
This trip is a one off, but I'm only 24 and I'm sure I will go again sometime. As long as I go more than once buying a tent is worth it. Since hiring one is almost £50 and I don't know what condition it will be in etc, I rather spend an extra £30 odd and get a new one that is mine to keep :)
 
Anything could have happened in that tent. Even my own has been vomited in once or twice! >.<

Plus if you damage it you have probably pretty much bought it anyway! :p

And at 24 you should be going camping at least once a year! Sod going abroad. Our temps are just as good [most] Summers! :p
 
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