Tents....I want one one for weekend getaways...which one???

G'day Ross. I have an array of tents in my shed, ranging from a green old army canvas tent about 24 ft X 12 ft , to a small el cheapo dome tent for 1 that takes about 30 secs to erect.

What I want, is a tent big enough for me and my stretcher, high enough to stand up in, 185cm, and a vestibule outside the sleeping area for cooking etc hence the black wolf Tanami etc.

I want to spend as little as possible.

If I go into a car yard, and say "I have $30,000 to spend", do rerally think they are going to show me a model costing any less ???????

I will spend what I think is a fair price for what I think is a fair item.

I'd be looking at Southern Cross et al touring tents. Tents get lived in for lots of nights (hopefully). I can count the nights I've spent in crap tents and the money I'd have given to have a night's sleep at the time. Holding a dome tent up (physically) from the inside out all night so it doesn't blow in whilst trying to impress the new squeeze with one's 'camping' prowess springs to mind. Buy quality, buy once.

Everyone wants to spend as little as possible Fred ,but a price range narrows it down a bit.
Im not a car salesman,nor a tent salesman so I have not interest in recommending tents that are beyond your budget.

Lachy, I will look into that.

Thanks, Fred.

Btw, I'm 6ft 4 and can stand up with room to spare...just.

We have a canvas single pole touring style tent. Ours is the Outdoor Connection Cooper. If you like the single pole touring tents and want space without having to get the models with that extra back part I'd recommend the model we brought, it's got a bit more space compared to say the OzTrail ones. A few interesting features that other brands don't have (like lower windows that can be pegged out for ventilation if it's raining and you still don't get wet or water inside!

For us we can sleep the two kids on one side of the pole and us two on the other (it's like the size of a double mattress each side of the pole). We're actually thinking of getting a slightly smaller version (like an Oztrail or something) for the kids because it's going to be so much easier and quicker to put up than even the little 3 man hiking tents we have (good enough design but need way too many pegs).
Having one tent that fits all of us is really great for the quick one night set ups or when there just isn't space for two tents (well last trip the times when were in a caravan park and were towing a trailer as well that isn't a camper trailer as such).

We also have one side wall for that little awning that it has but haven't used it to date, were lucky enough not to get rained on during the trip because we certainly didn't have any other cover, and if the tents awning wasn't big enough gee it would have been fun trying to watch Hubby rig up a tarp! You see until now we've mostly had a proper camper trailer with a big awning! I tell you the single pole touring tent is quicker to set up than a camper trailer, including having to set up the sleeping gear in it every time!

The only thing of notice is that at one place I had to peg it out and I didn't peg one corner properly (ground was rocky so peg got bent). We went out for the day when we came back Hubby goes "where's the tent"? It had collapsed because the one peg had come out! No damage done and lesson learned..you definitely need all four pegs firmly in the ground! Certainly glad it didn't happen during the really windy night!

I do agree that you get what you pay for, but it also depends on the individual and usage etc.
We considered Freedom and Southern Cross, the quality was certainly there but I think we found a bit of a middle ground with the Outdoor Connection model. It wasn't the cheapest we could find, had features we liked, quality seemed good and it wasn't such a big risky purchase for someone who wasn't sure if that style of tent would be totally suitable!
Our decision may have differed if we were going to live out of the thing for the next 6 months or something perhaps!
But you know going away on a decent trip once maybe twice a year with only short weekenders in between it's not quite as crucial to go for the best you can get no matter the cost. As nice as it might have been it doesn't always make economical or practical sense.
Mind you if your purchase history of vehicles is anything to go by well that would be a prime example where one should stick with what one knows works for them!

We've got a Black Wolf Turbo (canvas) and nothing could be easier to put up. If you only want the basics it's a case of position, peg corners and pop the roof up. Done. Another minute of so to put on the fly and fasten it (velcro). A bit more pegging down all round depending on the conditions.
Good luck with your search.

I agree with the_fitzroys.

We have a Black Wolf Turbo Tent, 210 square. Easy as to set up and take down. Has survived 80 kph sandstorm in Birdsville - it was the only tent left standing in the campground when we came back from a day trip.

We got hit with another windstorm in the NSW Southern Highlands earlier this year, and same story - rock solid.

It has an awning if you put the fly up, but not a semi-enclosed vestibule.

Definitely worth a look, IMO.

Cheers

Frank

Phil, you realise what ya done now don't ya.

How can I resist one of those.

I wonder if I could get my personal number plate instead of the generic one so as not to confuse rigs if there are more than one in the camp?

Thanks mate.

Fred