cheap or expensive tent?

urbanlegend11

After being forced to go camping for the first time because of a stag weekend ive come to the conclusion that this could be a cheap,fun and rewarding activity for the family to do.It would be me,the wife,2 six year old girls and a two year old boy.Now the question is do i go for a cheap and cheerfull tent or is it worth spending more for a good quality tent?At the momment aldi are doing a six person tent for £59.99.It looks good but hey like i say im a tenting virgin really.What do you reckon people? im sure there is some experienced campers in this neck of the woods

JanetG

Hi

We started off with a cheap tent, then upgraded to a more expensive tent after a few trips. If your wife & kids haven't been camping before, it may be worth trying the cheap tent first imo.

The tents and other camping equipment in Aldi look okay for the price. I was in there yesterday and ended up getting a new camping stove & kitchen!

Happy camping!

Janet

blue_haddock

Also remember that what the manufacturers state as a 6 man may well be quite a squeeze - i've got a 3 man tent and there is no way i'd use it for more than me plus one.

However as your kids are fairly small you may get away with buying the cheapie Aldi 6 man and using that whilst you decide if it's really for you and then you can upgrade to a bigger better tent with a couple of sleeping compartments.

northern_star

If you've never been camping before I guess the cheap option is probably best as you don't know whether everyone will take to it!

Camping equipment has become so much cheaper in recent years (relatively) that you can probably set yourselves up without too much expense and then replace with more durable stuff if everyone is happy to continue.

People tend to either love it or hate it - give it a go and see what happens.

gentlepurr

hi, i went for a cheapo tent four years ago for the same reason, didnt know if we would like camping or not. our cheapie was £50 ish from argos, 4 berth, but we have slept three adults and three 11 year olds in it, albeit very cosily! you cant go wrong with el cheapo, and if you do upgrade later, the kids will love camping in the back garden in it in a few years time.

one thing to watch out for, try and find a tent with as much headroom as poss, its a nightmare trying to get dressed in a bent double position! other than that, - go for it!

and happy camping!

xx

cheekymole

I agree, I would always buy one with the standing room in the living area and bedrooms - it's great fun though

urbanlegend11

Well thanks for all the help so far.Looks like its off to aldi for me then.Bet theres none left now:mad:

Aeronut

"rewarding activity for the family "

So are you going to make them drink shorts from a bucket through their own underpants before chaining them to a bench on a ferry's deck?

You were talking about Stag nights weren't you?

gingerdad

Just to add, I would start off either with a cheap tent or borrow one, and then upgrade as you go a long, We have camped regularly with both our kids from 6 months old.

The only tip i would always say is buy decent sleeping bags, don't need to be expensive but warm, the amount of cub and scout camps i have run and the kids turn up with a very thin sleeping bag. It's not a good start if you don't get a could nights sleep.

The 6 man will refer to the sleeping area, i.e. you should fit 6 people in but with out kit. we have a 5 man tent from wild country, that has loads of space and a very good living/standing area, we can sit and eat inside if we wish.

GD

suffolkb

I passed Blacks the other day.They have a new range of tents with built-in lights.I think they started at around £70,but looked good quality.
Whatever you get,practice putting it up before you go and do it before you get drunk.My brother and I didn`t.It took us ages in the dark to figure out that the pointy bits of the poles DIDN`T go in the ground.

John_3:16

Just got a 5 man tunnel 2 mt head room for £99 off ebay 5.5mt X 3.5mt

great tent . just make sure its water proof