Family Tent Recommendations

[Deleted member 4605]

This year is (hopefully) going to see a lot of family camping, between family weekends/holidays, weekends/holidays with friends and cub/scout camps. We've got a serviceable family tent (single room dome style) off eBay a couple of years ago but my wife isn't 100% keen on it, and I figure if she's happier with the tent she'll be happier with the camping and we'll get out more.

Her ideal tent - based solely on our friends having one - is a Vango Diablo 400 which we'll probably end up getting unless I can find a better alternative.

I've tried to sell her on a tipi, but failed miserably so far - particularly the price! Anyone got any other recommendations?

 

[scanker]

I didn't buy one in the end (bought a camper/awning), but when I was looking I remember being drawn towards a tent by Vango sort of in the style of a yurt. Sorry to be so vague, but I can't remember what it was called. Looked good though.

Found it now. It was the Aspen .

 

[Woody]

Schwuk,

Have a look on here: Find me a tent

Lots of helpful reviews etc from people that have used them. Covers Lavvu's Tipis, conventional family tents ... the lot

also, you may want to check out one of the big outdoor shows at the NEC and the likes where you can actually have a "hands on" look at the tents

Hope you find what you are looking for,

Woody

 

[Woody]

An after thought!!

another alternative are these from John Muirden (Click on the tent in the top left corner) a little bulky but not a problem if you are vehicle camping and probably the most robust, easy to erect tents you can get ... I have a Gemsbok 4 man Bow ... one of the best investments I ever made and it will last you a lifetime, They are HEAVY duty and incredibly well made.

and the service from John is second to none which is always a bonus!!

Regards ... Woody

 

[Squidders]

I saw a big bell tent from John Muirden at the wilderness gathering... looked seriously heavy duty.

Just curious but how did you fail on the tipi/stove combo selling? the bisontelt one I have is gety good and good value... with a few £20 camp cots from Argos it's pure luxury!

If you're camping with kids, I would recommend the way my cousins do it... buy some additional cheaper tents for the kids so they don't bother you too much

 

[Fluxus]

I've an ultralight Vaude tent and love it. saw this offer today - looks like good value
Vaude basecamp dome

 

[Deleted member 4605]

Just curious but how did you fail on the tipi/stove combo selling? the bisontelt one I have is gety good and good value... with a few £20 camp cots from Argos it's pure luxury!

Price (mainly), style and the fact it's a single room tent.

If you're camping with kids, I would recommend the way my cousins do it... buy some additional cheaper tents for the kids so they don't bother you too much

She likes the kids to be in with us as they're still relatively young (5 & 7). Of course this clashes with single room bit above!

 

[Squidders]

well, if it's a sturdy cheape mountain type tent, I'd go for a vaude... I have the space III and it's lovely, fast to erect and take down, well made and laughs at any weather.

Other than that and the tipi or bell tent designs i'm at a loss... the family type ones with rooms are never as well made which is a shame really as i'm sure they're just the thing for a lot of people.

Maybe one of the HUGE domes by TheNorthFace if you've for a few grand going?

 

[EdS]

Aztect Lago 4 plus 2 - can not fault it for the price:

http://www.escape2.co.uk/acatalog/Aztec_Lago_4___2.html

You can have 2 decent sized bedroom or 1 large plus 2 kid size bedrooms, plus a centra lliving area.

Me and the ex used to go away for a weeks surfing - very comfy. 1 room for us and another to keep the boards in so they where out of site. They really do stand up to the wind. Ours was often pitched on top of Cornish cliffes with the wind coming in form the Altantic in Spring and Autumn. Much more stable than friends fancy Vango (mind you they all come from the same Chinese facory now anyway.)

 

[anthonyyy]

Try an one polled tipi. Do a search here and you will find lots of recommendations,
The great thing about them is you can stand up in them and you can light a small fire.

 

[Chopper]

The Big horn 2 from Cabelas.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...arentType=index&parentId=cat550002&id=0005870


This tent is the bee's knee's, easy to put up, we have slept eight people in here, its built like a tank, masses of room and imo a whole lot better than a teepee.

And the best bit, heated for those cold evenings, you want to see the looks you get from other camper when they see smoke coming from your tent, and especially when your wiping sweat from your brow when they are searching for another jumper.

This is a Litchfield 9 man three bedroom mega dome, the living area is so big I could park my Land Rover inside, the main draw back is that it is a real pain to put up on a good day, I dread to think what it would be like on a bad day.

 

[hanzo]

We use a Coleman Kenai Family tent for family camping. It works for us and our two little ones. At 8x10, there is plenty of room for the family and our gear. Easy to set up and take down, stores up in a stuff sack and cheap! I bought ours for under $30 US. Can't go wrong with that.

For solo stuff, I don't need a tent. But for family camping with young children, the tent helps because we end up bringing so much stuff.

 

[BorderReiver]

We like our Coleman Trispace.Lots of ventilation;plenty of light;not too much of a pig to put up and plenty of room for four people.The front or back doors both can be set up as a canopy for cooking;handy for when the wind changes.Ours has coped with some high winds and filthy weather.

It is sold as as a 7 or 8 person tent but that would only be for sleeping in an emergency.Four adults,or two adults and two dogs or children,just right.

If you can find one in last years colours they can be fairly cheap.

EDIT. Not at all bushcrafty though.

 

[Beer Monster]

I can vouch for the Sunncamp Evolution range.

We have a Evolution 400 as I've been encouraging the SWMBO to get out and about. It's a semi-geodesic so very very stable (much more so than the dome varieties). It's not meant for wild camping but we've used ours all over Scotland (all wild) without any problems and in some very unsavory conditions ..... very high winds and lashing rain with hordes of midges trying to get in ......... and it beat the lot (in fact turned it into quite a pleasant experience!). The tent fabric is good with taped seams, 3000mm hydrostatic head, sewn in ground sheet (to keep said midgies out!) and good venting (although you will always get condensation on the inside of a tent), it also has huge windows which are a big bonus as they let lot's of light in. The living area easily sits 2 people with large chairs and a couple of small tables for cooking on if the weather is horrible. It's also plenty tall enough for standing up in (I'm 6ft).

(photos are from the web and are of the Evolution 600)

The 400 has a single living area and a single sleeping compartment. It easily fits 3 large adults on inflatable beds and is quite palatial for 2. The 600 must be huge and it has one main living area but 2 sleeping areas (for 2 people and 4 people). Ours has only leaked once and this was along the zip seam at the bottom of the main doors which for some reason was un-taped ........ however a tube of seam sealant later this was remedied. You can also unclip the inner tent sleeping areas and push them back to give you more room when not in use or just remove them completely for one huge compartment, which is a bonus.

The only thing I would change is that there isn't a porch, however, it's not that big a deal as the main areas are big enough as long as you take your muddy boots off as you step in the door! They do sell a separate porch as an add on but we haven't bothered.

Hope that helps.

 

[hanzo]

I can vouch for the Sunncamp Evolution range.

We have a Evolution 400 as I've been encouraging the SWMBO to get out and about. It's a semi-geodesic so very very stable (much more so than the dome varieties). It's not meant for wild camping but we've used ours all over Scotland (all wild) without any problems and in some very unsavory conditions ..... very high winds and lashing rain with hordes of midges trying to get in ......... and it beat the lot (in fact turned it into quite a pleasant experience!). The tent fabric is good with taped seams, 3000mm hydrostatic head, sewn in ground sheet (to keep said midgies out!) and good venting (although you will always get condensation on the inside of a tent), it also has huge windows which are a big bonus as they let lot's of light in. The living area easily sits 2 people with large chairs and a couple of small tables for cooking on if the weather is horrible. It's also plenty tall enough for standing up in (I'm 6ft).

(photos are from the web and are of the Evolution 600)

The 400 has a single living area and a single sleeping compartment. It easily fits 3 large adults on inflatable beds and is quite palatial for 2. The 600 must be huge and it has one main living area but 2 sleeping areas (for 2 people and 4 people). Ours has only leaked once and this was along the zip seam at the bottom of the main doors which for some reason was un-taped ........ however a tube of seam sealant later this was remedied. You can also unclip the inner tent sleeping areas and push them back to give you more room when not in use or just remove them completely for one huge compartment, which is a bonus.

The only thing I would change is that there isn't a porch, however, it's not that big a deal as the main areas are big enough as long as you take your muddy boots off as you step in the door! They do sell a separate porch as an add on but we haven't bothered.

Hope that helps.

Aloha Beer Monster,

Wow, nice tent! Does it come with a rain fly? And what does somethimg like that cast?

 

[Beer Monster]

Aloha Beer Monster,

Wow, nice tent! Does it come with a rain fly? And what does somethimg like that cast?

Greetings.

Yes it has an outer rain fly connected directly to the ground sheet with the inner 2 sleeping compartments being separate (even with their own ground sheets even though the main tent already has one?!) and clipping to the outer rain fly/poles.

The 600 goes for £200 and the 400 about £130. This place sells them but they are out of stock at the moment ....... search around and I'm sure you'll find one.

Definitely worth the cash.

 

[hanzo]

Mahalo Beer Monster

 

[tomtom]

How tall is the floo of that stove, and is it free standing?

 

[Chopper]

The chimney is 8' on its own, the stove stands about 18".

It is free standing and is very stable, however I have made a couple of guy ropes attached to a large jubilee clip to place on the chimney outside the tent if the weather were to turn really windy.

Cabelas link to the chimney page:
www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/template...50002&parentType=index&indexId=cat550002&rid=

 

[Zodiak]

Her ideal tent - based solely on our friends having one - is a Vango Diablo 400 which we'll probably end up getting unless I can find a better alternative.

Anyone got any other recommendations?

Yes praise your wife for she is wise and worthy of your adulation.

Serioulsy when buying tents from new I only ever buy Vango, I have never been let down by one through wear and they have always been fantastic about repairing or changing things that the kids have damaged.

Don't know what the quality is like now they have moved manufacturing to China, but I have never been able to fault them.