Winter tent window shopping...

[haptalaon]

point me in the direction of some interesting tents!

• I'm looking for a good quality thing for taking friends camping in - and maybe friends who aren't outdoorsy and have different boundaries around things like 'rain' and 'bugs' to the rest of us
• Fun to be in - big windows or a window on the top, or just overall an attractive design so it feels like a special occasion (I did google 'two man bell tent' but that doesn't seem to be a thing). I've been looking on the usual websites, but ordinary tents just aren't fun when you're used to bivvying and being around people with delightful camping setups. I do want to show off a bit and make someone's magical camping adventure feel special, and I don't want to feel gloomy in comparison to the fun gear I could be using.
• I think I want a 3-man tent to accommodate 2 people, so there's room to hang out.
• Light-ish to carry: I wild camp but I don't really hike, I like a ten minute dash from the car, thirty minutes absolute max, so I can tolerate more weight than a proper backpacker.
• I do camp in all seasons, including the welsh summer but I don't do any serious camping internationally etc.
• The £200+ tents are making me wince, but I do want to invest in something I won't need to upgrade for a while. My previous attempt at this was a Moonlight Spire, which is fun but seriously under-designed and not suitable for winter (in particular, it's a tipi with no porch, so if the window is open the rain comes in). I'd like to own a tent the same way some of my other gear is 'job done, for life' cus it just works.

What tents have your eye atm?

 

[C_Claycomb]

I am far from expert on tents but it seems you have listed competing requirements that cannot be met all together.
Windows are made of vinyl, which is never light weight compared to general tent walls.
A three man tent is generally a close fit for two (a 2p for two is like sardines in a tin), it’s the 4p tents that have hanging out room for two.
“Fun” but fully enclosed, but retaining the magic of bivvy camping.
On a tight budget.

Fully enclosed, windows, 4p with porch, under £200, you are looking at 9kg kind of weight and very conventional.

https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/16231965/eurohike-sendero-4-family-tent-16231965

Less hang out room, fewer windows, knock the weight down and the price up.

https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/19615429/vango-omega-350-3-person-tent-19615429

I think you are going to have to compromise on something, and until you decide which factors you can compromise on, you will find all suggestions fall short.

If the person you are taking camping is a partner and sleeping close is fine, then a floorless hot tent with a partial net nest liner might work. It’s special, comfortable, height for sitting in, can be well lit without windows, light to carry, but probably not cheap.
A 6p tipi has room for chairs maybe cots, although not inside the separate net nest. Hot tenting is a game changer in autumn through spring. Weight is low compared to conventional tents. I don’t know about weather resistance of these, since my experience is with Kifaru and SeekOutside at a far higher price point.

Rock Fortress Hot Tent

Rock Fortress Hot Tent Why Choose OneTigris Rock Fortress Hot Tent? This decagonal (10-sided) single-top tent featured in classic Tipi/Teepee shape, easy to set up, only one tent pole , and through its shape provides a ro

camping.onetigris.com

 

[haptalaon]

I think you are going to have to compromise on something, and until you decide which factors you can compromise on, you will find all suggestions fall short.

That's alright, it's really helpful to have this pointed out & see your thought process on how you'd solve the problem within what you know to exist - and even just learning some extra brand names and websites to browse.

I'm wondering if one of the net inners - like the DD mesh tents - combined with a tarp or two would work. That's plenty of light and a perception of closeness to nature, while being bug free, and more unusual than a tent...but could be very miserable in the winter. If you invest in one heck of a sleeping bag, the real purpose of the tent becomes the creation of a perception of a room.

Hot-tenting definitely has that specialness factor - I've never done any research into it, as I tend to be very conservative about fire-making. I'm also wondering if I could plan ahead to make two trips to my campsite, so that would sort out the weight problem a bit.

I do like the look of the alpkit Frejus, which is a 2-man cotton tent, & I am telling myself that 10.2kg of tent weight is no biggy and I won't even notice it in a scramble up the mountain...the real issue here is that I am being vain.

The DD A-frame tent looks like one i could love - does anyone have good experiences with that? It's a fun shape, calm colour, and has just enough options.

 

[oldtimer]

You might get some end of seasons bargains by shopping now.

Now is the winter of our discount tents. (William Shakespeare RICHARD III)

 

[Pattree]

I’m a Winter camper who doesn’t hot tent.

I always carry a survival tent and a meter and a half of folding tent pole (I suppose I could use my walking pole.)

I’ve never used it but if it ever got cold enough that my sleep system wasn’t enough I’d suspended the survival tent from the central (hanging) rope in the tipi and slide the bedding into that.

 

[Ozmundo]

I was thinking about the Luxe Hexpeak f6a (rather than the f6e winter model) or an octapeak.

I’ve always been taken with them when I’ve seen them. Unfortunately the UK dealer doesn’t stock them now and the US distributor is “problematic”.

There are modified versions converted to hot tent. Might turn up on eBay.

 

[Keith_Beef]

point me in the direction of some interesting tents!

• I'm looking for a good quality thing for taking friends camping in - and maybe friends who aren't outdoorsy and have different boundaries around things like 'rain' and 'bugs' to the rest of us
• Fun to be in - big windows or a window on the top, or just overall an attractive design so it feels like a special occasion (I did google 'two man bell tent' but that doesn't seem to be a thing). I've been looking on the usual websites, but ordinary tents just aren't fun when you're used to bivvying and being around people with delightful camping setups. I do want to show off a bit and make someone's magical camping adventure feel special, and I don't want to feel gloomy in comparison to the fun gear I could be using.
• I think I want a 3-man tent to accommodate 2 people, so there's room to hang out.
• Light-ish to carry: I wild camp but I don't really hike, I like a ten minute dash from the car, thirty minutes absolute max, so I can tolerate more weight than a proper backpacker.
• I do camp in all seasons, including the welsh summer but I don't do any serious camping internationally etc.
• The £200+ tents are making me wince, but I do want to invest in something I won't need to upgrade for a while. My previous attempt at this was a Moonlight Spire, which is fun but seriously under-designed and not suitable for winter (in particular, it's a tipi with no porch, so if the window is open the rain comes in). I'd like to own a tent the same way some of my other gear is 'job done, for life' cus it just works.

What tents have your eye atm?

You want to take non-outdoorsy friends and make it a feel like a special occasion...

How many friends at a time?

Can you split the weight between you and friend(s)?

How much comfort would these friends need?

How much of a special occasion do you want it to be?

Take a look at the Steam Tent Corner thread.

https://bushcraftuk.com/community/threads/the-steam-tent-corner-at-the-bushmoot-2025.168157