Tent deals.

[weesteve]

Looking to buy a new tent for festival season. Debating on one for just myself or one to share with 2 pals. Any good deals at the mo? If its just myself id need a 2/3 man tent. If its for 3 of us a 5/6 probs be best.

Thanks.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

Up to 50% off on some tent deals on Amazon

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=amb_link_162782567_3?ie=UTF8&bbn=319545011&rh=n%3A318949011%2Cn%3A!319530011%2Cn%3A319545011%2Cn%3A324269011%2Cp_6%3AA3P5ROKL5A1OLE%2Cp_8%3A20-&page=1&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=auto-sparkle&pf_rd_r=0D6AB642A0A646219F2E&pf_rd_t=301&pf_rd_p=290634527&pf_rd_i=tents

[AnnaGrant]

I saw a really nice 5 man tent on Amazon, which was an old fashioned ridge design, but with a massive head height of about 180cm, and a huge porch, 30000 hh and only 8kg. Didn't bookmark it though and can't remember the make.

All round, a rather unhelpful comment from me. But it was a nice tent.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

I saw a really nice 5 man tent on Amazon, which was an old fashioned ridge design, but with a massive head height of about 180cm, and a huge porch, 30000 hh and only 8kg. Didn't bookmark it though and can't remember the make.

All round, a rather unhelpful comment from me. But it was a nice tent.

[grumpyhack]

General thoughts, though no specific sources. Go for as big and good a tent as you can afford/manage and then look after it well.

We bought a '12 man' tent a many years ago - it was notionally four 'triple' bedrooms with a big central dome (8ft 6ins high) in which you could stand. There were only three of four of us so we had a room each big enough for a double airbed to give a decent night's sleep and plenty of room to store our cooking equipment, food, booze etc.

It made for civilised festival going and provided a good central communal area to sit round and chat and put the world to rights.

With some fests lasting the best part of a week you need decent sleep and a few home comforts. Also the communal area is really important if it's hissing with rain and you just want to sit around for a few hours and possibly invite friends from other tents round for a coffee/breakfast/late night drink.

Mind you when you get into big tents you also get into issues of trolleys (though that's another thread). But out tent was big enough to store our trolley.

After that we moved on to a trailer tent and this season I'm getting a caravan. But for the IoW, where caravans aren't allowed, we're going to have to dust off our old tent again.

Edited May 3, 2012 by grumpyhack

[JoeyT]

We usually all chip in on a 9 man tent for each glastonbury although only 6 of us sleep in it.

One of those which your able to stand up in whilst in the communal area with 3 sleeping pods branching off which can easily sleep 2 + bag/clothes/drinks etc.

I agree with grumpyhack that a decent sized communal area is great to have especially if there is rain!

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

Finding space to pitch a large tent can be a challenge if you aren't arriving early though. We have always camped at Topp Webb's Ash and coming in there late you can barely find room for a 2 or a 3 man tent.

[AnnaGrant]

Getting in at 2pm on the Wednesday we had to walk a fair way to find a nice spot for our 5 man tent. Our neighbours arrived as we were pitching and I squeaked 'there's the porch to go up yet' as they started laying their tents over part of the ground we'd bagged. They were really nice though, and we made an encampment with them.

I'm going for smaller tents now, largely because I need to be able to carry it single handed if necessary. But I still need the space and head room. My creaky back can't cope with crawling around in the tent.

We camped in Bailey's, near the campervan entrance, which I think gave us a bit of tent security from the stewards at the gate. Long walk to the centre, but would camp there again. Used to do Pennards, in the olden days.

[abdoujaparov]

We usually all chip in on a 9 man tent for each glastonbury

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

"We usually all chip in on a 9 man tent for each glastonbury"

[Nattoo]

I bought a 3m bell tent for last years Glasto - I love it to bits! It definitely fits 2, possibly 3, you can stand up in it & its nice & warm. Several of my mates have since bought the 6m version which is massive & sleeps at least 6, & you can buy 'rooms', chandeliers & stoves for inside it. You can buy versions with zip-in ground sheets, which means you can roll up the sides when it's hot.

They are quite expensive & the 6m version is bloody heavy but it is the best tent I've ever owned (I swear I don't work for the company!) & I just want to go camping all the time so I can use it.

I got mine from here http://soulpad.co.uk/products , they did free postage & packaging when I bought mine & it turned up within a few days. There are a couple of other companies on the tinternet who also make & sell them but I can't remember who they are.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

I bought a 3m bell tent for last years Glasto - I love it to bits! It definitely fits 2, possibly 3, you can stand up in it & its nice & warm. Several of my mates have since bought the 6m version which is massive & sleeps at least 6, & you can buy 'rooms', chandeliers & stoves for inside it. You can buy versions with zip-in ground sheets, which means you can roll up the sides when it's hot.

They are quite expensive & the 6m version is bloody heavy but it is the best tent I've ever owned (I swear I don't work for the company!) & I just want to go camping all the time so I can use it.

I got mine from here http://soulpad.co.uk/products , they did free postage & packaging when I bought mine & it turned up within a few days. There are a couple of other companies on the tinternet who also make & sell them but I can't remember who they are.

[JoeyT]

"We usually all chip in on a 9 man tent for each glastonbury"

Must admit, I was wondering the same.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

Yeah we get a new one each glastonbury and as a few of the lads are involved with scouts we donate the tent to them afterwards. This way we always know we're going to be able to put the tent up properly because they have been know to have a few poles broke etc