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Just thinking about the upcoming Ard Rock and remembered that our old tent has given up the ghost. It was second hand when we paid the princely sum of £20 for it, at least 12 years ago, so I think we've had our money's worth. Looking for a decent new tent for a) the Ard Rock weekend and b) general camping duties in Scotland/Lake District. Needs to fit 2 adults, 2 small kids and a medium size dog. There are plenty of offerings online but review sites seem to be all AI-generated articles ranking the top 5 brands you've never heard of, and that sets off the cynic in me.
I've seen the Coleman Mosedale 5, Outwell Odessa/Ashwood 5 type things and they look OK to me with reasonable water resistance but I know nothing about these things. Not fussed about air tents but I don't mind spending a bit if it's going to be a worthwile purchase, maybe up to £6-700? Is there a STW-approved go-to tent?
Was in Decathlon in Hermiston Gait at the weekend. Saw this. Im not a camper but was very impressed.
We've had a Coleman Mosedale 5 for a few years now and it been great. Got it with the extension for big holidays. The blackout bedrooms are great.
We were in it during a massive storm in the Alpes and it didn't let a bit of water in. Wife and daughter got out of tent once the storm had died down and water was ankle deep but didn't get into the tent.
All my family tents have ended up being Vangos, mainly due to the size options, price and quality.
We've currently got an older version of this tent - it gives a good inside space and shelter for cooking during the unpredictable british summers.
https://www.vango.co.uk/gb/camping-equipment/3037-harris-500.html
Our previous vango survived around 5 years of summer camping in france and weekends away in the north, before it started leaking a bit on the seams.
For bargins also have a look at the vango outlet. https://www.campingrecycled.co.uk/111-4-5-man-tents
We went through this recently. Decathlon tents feel much better quality than your average Vango, Berghaus etc.
Also, if dark bedrooms are important, the decathlon outer fabric is coated around the bedrooms as well as a dark inner. Really effective compared to the half hearted gesture of others.
We ended up with this one
We've got this Decathlon 4 person air beam blackout tent.
It's blummin brilliant.
Very easy to pitch. Very spacious with a room each side and a decent central area.
The blackout is a game changer 😊
Sneaky ad. Will have one of these up for sale soon if interested.
https://www.outdoorgear.co.uk/Coleman-FastPitch-Air-Valdes-4-Tent-sku51110902.asp
Great condition, but quite bulky so courier is not easily possible. I'm in Leeds.
Only selling because kids have lost interest in camping now so moving back down to smaller tents
Let me know if interested
I have an Outwell Montana 6 that I keep meaning to sell, if you fancy a lightly used secondhand tent for half your budget.
I'm disappointed, 5 replies and I'd assumed the STW profile would have recommended a Bell Tent by now?
Anyway. We have a Bell Tent, which has followed years of more common nylon tents. Its a lovely thing, a nice place to be (and we splashed out on a Woodburner too!). It's pretty straightforward to put up, but bulkier and heavier to pack, transport, move around etc. Also, more expensive.
Very effective a couple of summers ago when we camped on a clifftop campsite near Lands End, stood firm through 2 storms with 55mph winds blowing that took out a number of more common nylon arch/dome tents.
We've not had the chance to try it out yet, but we've recently bought a Vango Stargrove II 600XL from Outdoor world direct.
It was £399 and came with footprint & carpet.
We wanted a decent size tunnel tent with the option of a porch/awning front which we find useful for cooking in & for rain protection when going into/coming out of the tent.
This is to replace a Vango Orchy 600 which we have used for the last 15 years or so, with a separate canopy. That was a real pain to put up, whereas the tunnel style tent will be much easier.
I spent quite a lot of time looking around & this seems like a good combo of price, size & features.
We did consider inflatable tents, but they are much bulkier & heavier when packed for a given size.
We have had 2 Outwell big 3 hoop style family tents. Yeah they are very comfy, but the last one (Baltic Sea) got destroyed in the big storm at a 24:12 in Devon (the one where trees were falling, gazebos flying, general carnage). And this is the thing. If you were camping for fun you wouldn't go in bad weather. But if you are attending a race, you go unless the organiser cancels it.
So we replaced the Outwell with a Bergans Wiglo LT4. Lower, more wind resistant etc. Also far smaller pack size. So yeah, I would look at larger 4 season type expedition tents, not family tents.
I’ve recently bought a Kampa kielder 5 - I wanted an air beam tent as it’s going to be me putting it up on my own for the most part. The few reviews I found were very positive - they do a 4 / 5 / 6 man version. I particularly liked the size of the bedrooms - some claim to be whatever person size but when you have a look at the widths they only allow 60mm of width per person or something like that.
The Berghaus air tents looked ok too - I had a poke round a few at Go Outdoors - but the 4 was just a bit smaller than I wanted I think but the next size up one was huge. They were also a touch more expensive.
If you go with traditional poles you could either save money or get a step up in material used. For example you might find some poly cotton tents in budget rather than polyester of the cheaper ones.
TBH I was just going to sleep in the car/van for Ard Rock but then the Mrs decided it could be a nice long family weekend so camping it is. The rest of the time, as you say @Yak, we won't be going if it's a bobbins weather forecast.</span>
Could be tempted by the Montana 6 @chakaping. I can see three or four different versions online, which one is it?
Can't really go wrong with Decathlon. Lots of friends have the blue Berghaus air tents - the current 6.1 has been on offer around £450 recently and is a good size, many prefer a bedroom at each end rather than tunnel style where they're all at the back. We have an older Vango Stargrove air which has been pretty good. Also have a lighter material 4m bell tent which is quite nice for a quick/basic weekend.
All these air tents can be quite bulky though, check the size as they can take up a good chunk of many car boots.
ould be tempted by the Montana 6 @chakaping. I can see three or four different versions online, which one is it?
Pretty sure it's this one...
We've had an Outwell Montana 6 for a good few years now. Can't fault it. We got it second hand with an extension and carpet and if you're away for more than a couple of days they make a big difference. It's fine staying in the tent when the weather's bad whereas with our old 4 man tent it just felt so claustrophobic. We have one of the Decathlon blackout tents for when it's just the two of us and it's good but doesn't seem very breathable, always lots of condensation but I think there might be more vents I haven't used yet as we have only used it twice.
Another sneaky ad. I have a Nevada MP I don't want. I think there's a footprint and a carpet as well, cost me like £600 all in and I've used it twice. It's a bit of a chore to put up but it's brilliant once erect (missus).
we got a 6 person decathlon air beam tent. wanted a bit of extra room for when the kids get bigger. its really well made and goes up pretty quickly (20-30 mns max). https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/inflatable-camping-tent-air-seconds-6-3-f-b-6-people-3-bedrooms/_/R-p-324957?mc=8584571
We have the Decathlon Air seconds 4.1 and the materials and design are way ahead of Vango and Outwell, both of whom seem to have the same tent design and just upscale it accordingly.
We’re tempted to sell it and get the 4.2 as our daughter is wanting her own space and an entirely separate compartment is preferable to the dividing curtains (not present in the 4.1) in most large tents, but the 4.2 does pack larger.
The blackout feature is very good, however finding stuff during the day can be tricky as it’s so effective.
We also have a bell tent which is a great place to be, doesn't smell of nylon, goes up very quickly, stays up in big winds when others are chasing their tents around the campsite!
But heavy and harder to dry, would buy again
Not keen on our Outwell Nevada 5P we got last year. Flappy mess with wind hitting it along it's long axis, first one was warrantied for wonky stitching all over. Nice design features and fabrics but overall disappointed. Our old cheap ass vango and higear family tents were absolutely fine wouldn't spend the substantial extra amount again.
whichever decathlon airbeam tent fits your family. We've got 3 now, plus a much bigger outwell steel poled tent, and the outwell doesn't really get used any more as the normal tent is so much easier.
I have an Outwell Montana and was pretty underwhelmed by the build quality, not bad, but nothing special.
Slightly different from most tents you'll see on campsites we've recently been using a Robens Klondike and it's been fantastic. Looks great, loads of space inside, not a huge footprint, great ventilation options top and bottom,quick and easy to erect and pack away in one bag and has a chimney so you can use a wood burner inside if camping in winter is your thing.
https://www.robens.de/en-gb/shop/outdoor-tents/klondike
After several recommendations on here I got a MSR Habitude 6. We don't have a dog but it would easily fit one.
It doesn't have black out rooms, just one big very light and airy room. But the light in the morning is gorgeous. I've not tried it in a rain storm but it's supposed to be very waterproof.
The key thing is that it packs down very small.
Everything we needed for several nights in the boot of a civic.
We’ve got this Decathlon 4 person air beam blackout tent.
Bought a second hand one of these last year for half RRP, it's great.
Thanks for chipping in everyone. After chatting with the Mrs last night turns out she'd found a brand new Outwell Montana 6PE for less than half price, so that's what we have now. Looks like it's a bit of a monster to put up but there's certainly space for family and dog.
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<div class="bbp-reply-content">I have an Outwell Montana and was pretty underwhelmed by the build quality</div>
<div>Yeah.... I'll not show her this 😬</div>
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Probably a good place to ask this, what's the key to minimal fuss camping with young kids? Buying a tent and sleeping bags seems the easy bit.....
E.g. only venture locally and overnight at first? Start in the garden?
Young kids, or any kids really, young and old....all need fire!
I have an ancient/battered fold-up fire pit. Ideal for general fires, bike races, marsh mallows.
Also a kelly kettle, aka the hot chocolate machine. So smaller fire, but makes the drink more satisfying.
And then a small fold up bbq with a pizza stone. So awesome homemade pizzas when camping.
Yeah, fire is the answer.
Really young kids? Dunno. I think we just committed and went for it back then, probably a bike race. Kids are fine and find it an exciting adventure. It's parents who fret about it. So just go for it.
For me it's:
- Choosing a good campsite. Something family friendly with feral kids running about is ideal. Essentially you have free entertainment on tap and kids will run themselves ragged. Fussy camping and caravaning club sites with loads of passive agressive signs are to be avoided. You'll be ruthlessly judged for any parenting transgressions by retired daily express readers sitting in their awnings tutting away.
- Avoid in bad weather. It's just crap, stay at home. There aren't enough changes of clothes in the world that'll make it fun once the novelty wears off. Speaking of which campsites with washing machines and driers are a good idea and take double the spare clothes you think you'll need
- Local is good. Trying out in the garden is a good idea to test stuff out
- Also worth remembering some kids just don't like camping very much or it takes a while for them to get used to it. Don't expect too much sleep wise yourself and don't get drunk as you need to be able to deal with stuff and drive if needed. Not like the wallopers that camped next to us in the lakes last year with a 2 yr old and 4 yr old. The mum basically got pished every night and the kids wouldn't sleep and then dad got overwhelmed. My wife had to intervene one night to sooth the 2 yr old to sleep as his mum was KO'd pished and the dad had broken down. Fun times.
Camp out in the living room - so the sleeping stuff is sorted - whatever mat or bed is used and sleeping bags...then a night or 2 in the back garden (that way if they need the toilet it is easy to get to, but also if they do get spooked, the house is right there), then off for a proper campsite overnight adventure.
Doing it in stages just helps reassure them that this is all good fun and nothing to get worried about (nature sounds always will wake them up the first couple of times).
Camping is great fun with kids and should be actively encouraged.
Thanks for chipping in everyone. After chatting with the Mrs last night turns out she’d found a brand new Outwell Montana 6PE
We bought one of these 2 years ago during Black Friday event, its been solid for us, used it three times, no complaints about the build quality other than the bathroom extension bit poles aren’t the best if you have that.
The main living space is freaking huge, had 8 kids bouncing around in that part with no issues.
My only complaint is the size of it, the main bag plus pole bag takes up 50% of the boot in our estate. Luckily I snagged a 680L roof box which makes up for the lack of boot space.
A campsite that allows fires is key, roasting marshmallows at every opportunity keeps the kids happy. Also, try and go with other families, then the kids can run wild together
also, you want a cadac safari chef, as well as a burner for tea and coffee. And if your hot water burner is a sit-on-top-of-the-cannister job and you've got kids around, have a look at the MSR Lowdown adapter.
We need a new tent with room for a couple and a 2 year old. The Decathlon one at £350 looks like the sweet spot. I don't really want to spend any more for something we'll use once or twice a year. Inflatable beams and a blackout section.
If anyone knows anything better for the same money I'm all ears.
Was going to say Decathlon Air Seconds 4.1, or bigger, so very easy to put up, although a good idea to check wind direction if it’s windy. A bit more of a hassle to pack up, though, especially if on your own.
Young kids are fine they love it. As some else said it's parents that worry about their kids that are the hassle. Expect no sleep so start with one or two nights. I recommend a local food quality campsite over a massive cheap one full of noisy people getting wasted!