Is this tesco tent ok?

ampersand

I'm thinking of having this for emergency use in France.
http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.100-8628.aspx

I see it has a double skin and the real comments section of the Reevoo site is fairly reassuring.

I'm 62, female, and would be putting it up alone. Would a home trial be best first? There seems to be talk of some flimsy poles breaking.

Has anyone used this or would you suggest a reasonably priced alternative?

Many thanks.

artichoke

hi

A cheap tent is in my opinion usually a cheap tent that will not last long BUT as you say it is for emergencies only i am guessing you hope not to use it much. But it would put it up in the garden and make sure you can put it up alone and also put it up in darkness...with just a torch for help..

We also have a cheap tesco tent - but the one bigger than this one - it is used by the kids in the garden and lives in the boot of the car for any spontaneous camping....it does the job for a night or 2 but i guess it would not stand up to very strong gales or 24 hours of rain....

So if all you want is a cheap tent for occasional use then i would think this would be ok....

We also have an outwell Hartford XL which we use for any serious camping trips lasting more than 2 nights...it has stood up to extremely strong gales and 3 day long rainstorms...which i doubt our tesco one would have coped with without leaking....i do think you get what you pay for with tents

art

travelgran

Always try your tent in the garden first. It just makes life so much easier!

Buggles

For an extra £5 I would recommend this one:

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3401668/c_1/1|category_root|Sports+and+leisure|14419152/c_2/2|14419152|Camping|14419397/c_3/3|cat_14419397|Tents|14419414/Trail/searchtext%3EREGATTA.htm

We have the 3 man version and it's wonderful

pitkin2020

ampersand wrote: »

I'm thinking of having this for emergency use in France.
http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.100-8628.aspx

I see it has a double skin and the real comments section of the Reevoo site is fairly reassuring.

I'm 62, female, and would be putting it up alone. Would a home trial be best first? There seems to be talk of some flimsy poles breaking.

Has anyone used this or would you suggest a reasonably priced alternative?

Many thanks.

Firstly any tent you buy you should always do a trial run, not only so you know how to put the tent up but to also check it. There is nothing worse getting somewhere with a brand new tent to find a pole missing, hole or anything else missing. Obviously it should be 100% complete but mistakes do happen.

Secondly you say it would be for emergency, what sort of emergency?? Is this just a backup tent or you planning on using for hiking and using it an emergency??

Thirdly it is only 1500HH, personally 2000HH is the minimum I would go but most small tents seems to be around 1500HH.

Gooutdoors have some great sales on all the time so I would check out there personally and if you have a store locally go and take a look at them. Here is their 3+ brith range http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/camping/tents/3-4-person-tents/sort/2

ampersand

Thankyou all. I am going through the sites you have listed.
This one takes my eye:
http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/hi-gear-proton-3-tent-p143489

No reviews yet, so any comments please?
Yes, I had thought a 3-berth would be sensible, even just for one. I will need to leave it secure a fair bit.
I think my use of the term 'emergency' needs amending. I am thinking to use it over 6/7 weeks till mid-September, with occasional intervening hostel stays or sleeping in car[which never bothers me] - whatever suits at the time. I'm likely to be on private land for some weeks.
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I'm also liking this, and like the higher HH rating[wouldn't have known what this is without your help]. I'm ignoring all below 2000.
http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/gamma-300-p183854

I have to say this is a superb website, so easy, helpful, well-written and intelligent in its functioning.
...and this:
http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/hi-gear-atom-3-3-berth-tent-p108006
From these 3, any preference?
I'd like to see the video for this one, but can't activate any link...does anyone have better luck? it's bound to be me doing sth wrong. I like the tone of the reviews with this one.

This input from all of you is so much appreciated.

pitkin2020

Personally i'd go for the Vango as it has the highest HH the others are still adequate though. DO you have a go outdoors store local to you, if so get down there and see them in the flesh, you will see which you prefer and which you don't. We are looking for a new family tent and spent ages deciding which one by looking online, when we went to see it we didn't like it one bit so the search started again lol. We don't have a go outdoors locally only a small outlet with a handful of tents.

You can also try here for more info https://www.thecampingforum.co.uk they have a go outdoors person on there who is extremely helpful and offers some great advice. The Hi-gear range is cheap but if you look at reviews for other hi gear tents they get some really good reviews especially at that price point!!.

Here is another independent review site aswell http://www.in-a-tent.co.uk/.

I would say go for a 3/4 berth tent now you have explained how it will be used, initially when you said emergency use I was imagining a hiker lugging it up a mountain side for emergency use lol.

ampersand

Thankyou again pitkin.
I will be meandering about France as usual, doing brocantes/salons d'antiquaires/vide-greniers, buying and selling. My time away self-funds thus: it must. Have only OAP now[Life - as for most, some tough things happened at the wrong time. I chose to be a survivor and am having to do so again.] I usually end up with modest savings in an a/c dating back to the 70's. It is my real life in a country which is my heart and soul's 'terroir'. I sometimes put in at FUAJ sites for safety: follow instinct if alone.
French is my happy 2nd language. I empathise with your store visit change of mind...self ditto, could never grocery shop online. It's that French market thing going on....handle, sniff, try....and communicate. Gear and caravans seem to be cheaper across the Channel. Have noticed this over years.
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Yes, checked out the Branches -surprised there's not one in Cambridge. Will have to go some distance - by Bus Pass of course:-).
I see the X5 bus[free for me]goes through Bedford AND to Norse Road, GO's addy. My day has just taken shape:-)
I'll report back.

Hitting Thanks button seems inadequate, but it's done with feeling:-)

23rdspiral

hi, of those three i would normally say the Vango as they have always served me well... but i like the double door of the high gear Atom better. I do not like the look of the high gear Proton as it has no real portch and seems to have a more complicated pole / pitching structure. i like the vango's mini tunnel structure best as they are easy to pitch and fine in wind.

my comments are due to camping for years, often on my own...i've a Vango Milano 3 man (4 years ago it cost me 90 and i'm not considering replaving it yet.) I like that it has double doors for through venting, the porch is easy to get in and out of even when raining (a benefit of the mini tunnel design) http://www.blacks.co.uk/camping/product/096508/VG-MILANO-350-BLACK-0.html?attribute=4788837 . i'm female and 30 and it takes me 10 - 20 min to pitch on my own and i use it for a solid week whilst volunteering at festivals. my mate has the Milano 250 (2man), but it is lower so he cant use a short legged camp chair in the portch whilst i can in mine - the extra hight is great for no backache whilst changing too.

so with that comparason of the three you linked to on Go Outdoors, i'd plump for the high gear atom. (but actually would go for a vango milano

ampersand

Well, I'm almost out the door spiral and luckily spotted your post as I came to close putah down. I am not tall, but burgered left knee falling in pitch dark in France in January and it's not right still. I'll be working out ways of manoeuvring without doing more damage.
Your 1st person rapportage is really helpful - merci millefois.

pitkin2020

I really would head over to the campingforum.co.uk as there are several older single campers over there who maybe able to offer you some specific advice. You may even be able to find a very good used canvas tent, which will offer you a little more room (probably standing too). The canvas will help keep you cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. If your happy with used you could get a very good bargain!!

Good luck with the search and keep us posted.