Its the right time to buy a new tent!
 

With the 2011 models hitting the shelves soon, you can bag a bargain now.

I have been looking at a new tent (to sleep 1, or "two man" in tent speak,) to accommodate my panniers and topbox, as well as a cooking area, but still being reasonably light but strong.

The Caravan and Camping Club have a good guide to tents.
http://www.campingandcaravanningclub...osingyourtent/

I am fortunate to live near Camping World, with about a dozen assembled 2 man tents on display.


For now here are a few bargains to be had, saving �100 or more...

I spent a good 40 minutes on this topic, with my in-depth reviews, and the had a power-cut and lost my post. So, this is just a brief summary, as I can't be bothered to do it all again..sorry!

http://www.outbacktrading.co.uk/inde...atId=saleItems
for the Vango Equinox 250,(WITH Tension Band System) �145 also the Vango Cyclone 200+ �144

http://www.norwichcamping.co.uk/tent...-200-2009.html
Vango Tornado 200 �139

http://www.theoutdoorshop.com/prodpa...=sub&sub=VANGO
Vango Spirit 200 Plus �190+�20 footprint (�180 at Kenmar)


Spirit 300+ (2 man tent) on Ebay with footprint �230- have a search.

http://www.outbacktrading.co.uk/inde...wCat&Submit=Go
Vango Cyclone 300+ �166


http://www.outdooraction.co.uk/cgi-b...ml%23a136#a136
Vango Equinox with free footprint �159.95

SUMMARY
http://www.vango.co.uk/

THESE ARE THE BEST DEALS I HAVE FOUND AT THE MOMENT.......

The Vango Equinox 250 �145 (RRP �240) 4.3kg, pack size 48x21, is suprisingly stable for a high tunnel tent, and they are a very good buy at this sort of money. Good headroom, large porch, very roomy for 1 person.Really too big for a one man tent, a two person tent,but check that you mattress's will fit. great value. You may get your bike in the porch, I HAVEN'T CHECKED. If you want a roomy 2 man, check out the Equinox 350

The Cyclone 200+ �144 (RRP �240) 3.6kg, pack 44x18, is alot shorter in height, but still has a good porch area. 1 man tent .. Lighter than Equinox.

The Vango Spirit 200 + �190 (RRP �270) 2.9kg, pack 43x15, is really a 1 man tent. Huge porch. Lighter than the other two. Very stable.

The Vango Cyclone 300+ �166 (RRP �280) 4.5kg, is only 100cm wide on inner tent at the narrow end, so if you want a two man tent, I would get at least 120cm minimum, to allow for your mattress's.�166

Outback trading is a good site to start on prices. also Gaynors and Camperlands, and the shops above
A Vango footprint adds about 400g and �30

Here's a tasty little number...

http://nomadtent.com/tents.html

That's just perfect :notworthy:

I'm pretty pleased with my Quechua tents though. But not sure you can get them outside of mainland Europe.
We have a 2 Seconds +III and a Base Seconds Full which are perfect for long camping trips where you move around a lot. But they're not that convenient to carry on the bike. So we only use those for the "bikes-in-van-ride-around-europe" sort of trips.
They are dirt cheap, good quality and very fast to pitch or pack.

For the trips on the bike we have the T4.1. Very spacious (you can actually park 2 bikes in there), more compact to pack up and still a reasonable wait to carry on the bike. Only 99.90� at Decathlon.

Ironic isn't it...... A Tenere Tent with a GS inside it!

(and it's big)

Tents are a funny thing, different people want different things, and some people want different things at different times! A winter tent isn't going to be perect for Morocco in the middle of summer, and a summer tent is going to be no use in Scotland in October

we've 4 tents in this house, a 2 man Vango Tornado (discontinued I understand now), a 3 man cheap thing, a six man single room and the family bungalow, complete with annex, kitchen and two bedrooms.


I would say look at the pack size, after all you need to be able to transport it (whether on a bike, van, car etc). If you need stand up space you can always use a tarp and your bikes mirrors to gain some height. Think about what is important to you when you camp;

Pack size ?
Weight?
Do you want fast errection and take down?
Do you want space?
Do you want a stable tent ?
Are you looking for cover or protection from heavy rain, or cold weather ?

Once you know what you want, put it in order then start looking.

Trouble is, often with tents if you pay cheap you get cheap - but not always. If you shop around, especially at this time of year you can get last years stuff at good prices (the whole purpose of Richards thread).

Camping ins't for everyone, but the riht equipment can make the difference between an OK camping experince and an awful one (for those who don't like it). Those who are natural campers will manage with a plastic sheet!

That is exactly the point. It is a compromise. If you are buying just one tent, it has to have a little bit of everything you would like, just like owning one motorcycle.

My tip is to go out to see some tents erected, that way you will come away with a good idea of what "would do".

And, if you do, don't forget that when shopping on the Web, always ask the showroom you visited if they will do a price match, it's only fair to them,...they will sometimes (and beat it in some circumstances!)

Vango Cyclone 200+ = Yamaha XT660R. Simples!
http://www.vango.co.uk/tents/cyclone-200+.html (�130 from �240, footprint �30)

I only paid �45 for mine 2 years ago. Loads of room to store your stuff etc

http://www.nevisport.com/storedetail...duct_id-834905

You stole that!!!

If you can find them, then Aztec Performance tents CLICKYYY are well worth hunting out. You will often find them reduced in price. They pack down very small, and are very well constructed. Far better than the comparable Vango offerings, in my opinion and experience.

Everyone has different priorities, so more than one tent is useful if you are that way inclined. Weight and pack size are important to me, as is being a good size inside.
I am at tent nirvana now; with a GoLite Shangri-la3 tipi for just myself, or 2 of us for a weekend, and an Aztec Camara for longer trips.

They look good Tom.....but it does get more confusing, the more brands you look at, doesn't it?!!!! There are MILLIONS out there.....I just stuck to Vango, as they were the ones I could actually see and try, before buying. I hope the Vango will be ok...

A dome tent is quicker and easier to pitch/break down on yer own, as you only need to slide two poles in and it's done.

More then happy with my old coleman tent, only drawback is the porch is tiny so there's no place to stash yer wet gear, can get me boots in there and a few bits and bobs but that about it. I did what you've done and looked at all the tents reviews etc and was going to get a coleman phad/pact tent, then one of those big outdoor stores opened up so I went along to see them pitched up. If I'd bought one unseen I'd have been disappointed, �150, good brand, good reviews etc, but just looked cheap and not much better than what I had, so I'd say go look at them pitched up before you buy.

Trouble with tents, everyone swears by the one they have.