Tent Advice

[across97]

Apologies if a similar thread has been made but essentially I could do with advice/recommendations for a tent.

Some of you have been going for years and have figured out the best tent to use. Essentially a cheapish 2 man pop up tent is all I need, but it needs to be obviously waterproof. As we all know the weather can be quite bad so any tents that served you well that fits the criteria please let me know.

Cheers! 

[balti-pie]

Personally, I wouldn't get a pop up - and if i did, it certainly wouldn't be a single skin one. Even if it ain't raining, you'll wake up drenched in your own dew, cos it's a hive for condensation. Two skinners bring that moisture down a huge amount. 

Secondly, get a tent that has a porch: meaning you can keep all wet and muddy things out of your sleeping bit! Not so important in sunny years (like this year, of course) but bloody crucial when it craps down with rain. 

Thirdly: always go 1/2 up on your capacity. Two people do not fit in a two person tent. Get a 3 person, or a 4 person. You'll have bags, beers, etc etc with you. You'll need room. 

If you get a decent tent then you'll be more likely to take it down properly and take it with you for future festivals, instead of saying 'bollocks - I'll leave it'. A roll of duck tape is brilliant for on the spot repairs. Mine has lasted since 2008 and it's bloody ace. I hope it never dies! 

[tillyandthewall]

My current tent is a salvaged one, a Vango Soul 300. The muppets left it as they broke a guy rope, still 100% functional though.

Compact to carry in one hand, it only has two poles, but a fair bit of pegging.  Done in 15 mins or so.  Totally waterproof.  Google sez about £50 new.

 

[across97]

Cheers for the advice. Ive done a couple of Reading fests before and learnt that having your own tent is the way forward, just a bit conscious of the weather more than anything. Pop up tents are convenient but if pop up means sacrificing a dry tent for the weekend it aint worth it. If (fingers crossed it wont) the weather takes a turn for the worst, I want a tent as waterproof as can be

[balti-pie]

http://m.millets.co.uk/tents-camping/165217-eurohike-pop-400-ds-tent.html

this bugger is only £50 on the Millets website at the mo: it's a pop up, has a funny little porch bit at either end, and has an outer cover as well as an inner with a hydrostatic head of 3000 (you want at least 1500, so I bet each layer is 1500) so it actually looks thoroughly decent, especially for the price 

[sean01]

Cheers for that one, 50 quid well spent (I hope!)

[across97]

Thanks for sharing that, that looks pretty spot on for what I want and for the value. Only be me in their so not sure if 4 person will be too big but I'll work it out. Good value, well waterproofed, double skinned and pop up seems to tick all the boxes

[bexj]

If you can stretch to £200, then a vango omega 350 is a perfect festival tent. The porch is nearly as big as the sleeping bit, it takes about 10 mins to put up, lightweight , airy, you can stand up if you bend over but theres enough space inside to lounge, cook, wee, or whatever!   Mines been to about 15 festivals now plus numerous other camping trips and its still going strong.  Great value for money  

[tjamest]

Quechua pop up tents from Decathlon are great. I bought mine for Reading 08 and it is still going strong 14 festivals later

Edited February 22, 2016 by tjamest

[Sachet88]

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/arpenaz-2-tent-2-man-blue-id_8347889.html 

I used one similar to this last year, the design has changed slightly this year. Great tent, easy to assemble single handedly and storage space. They do a pop up version too. 

[giantkatestacks]

Remember that if you are on your own then the weight is going to be a massively important factor for me on the hideous hike from the car park or coach park.