Well this is kinda dog related as its for shows mainly but anyway...:D

I'm after a tent but really I haven't got a clue as I've never bought one before and was hoping that one, or maybe a few, of you wonderful CDers could help me, please! As I said it will be mainly for a one or two night stay when we go to some of the champ shows that are too far to drive there and back in a day, but if I get into the camping thing then I might use it a bit more over the summer.
I've looked in a few catalogues(Halfords, Littlewoods and Argos)and on some websites but I'm bewildered by the huge difference in price and size of most of them :D

I don't want to spend a fortune(as I don't have a fortune to spend!) but also don't want something really small and, well pants!!!

Emily :)

You should not need to spend a fortune, fortunes buy you very light weight generally which if you are not back packing would not be an issue.  You do however need to avoid very cheep nasty tents, the weather in the UK is unpredictable setting off on a fine weekend could leave you coping with a very wet windy night   I like the kyam type tents for putting up quickly but our last one was a devil to seal the seams on, it was a tunnel and the two ends tended to blow in.  We now have a vango, another tunnel but not so high (cannot fully stand up in it but can sit comfortably on a chair) and so seems to avoid the wind and have had no problems with the waterproofing.

Hiya dont know which area you live in but Outdoorworld (they do have a website) have some really good offers they do sell some mega expensive ones too but usually have offers on with the beds and other items included in the price.We got a great 4 berth which you can stand up in and easy to assemble.

Khyam - Khyam - Khyam every time. :)

Easy peasy to put up - but they are expensive. :(

Thanks everyone so far, the Khyam ones are nice but way, way too expensive for my budget..but I love the idea that it just 'pops' up :D Have been looking at Outdoorgear and Waudby too which quite a good site.
My next question is what else do I need to buy, apart from tent, sleeping bags....would you recommend an air bed? We did have one of those full height ones for when my bro came to stay but everytime he woke up after sleeping on it, it was no longer a bed and he was laying in a big pile of bed but no air :D !!!
Also what about windbreaks, are they worth having?

I think I've found a good one for about £90 which has 2 'rooms' and a section in the middle which is ideal with the dogs when they are maybe dirty, or too hot to be out in the sun(wishful thinking there!!) or just for an extra bit of room.

I'm quite excited, haven't camped out since I was a kid, I just love camp sites tho, and caravans and tents and portable everything and having new 'neighbours' :D

A hot water bottle!!

Also, make sure your sleeping bags are good quality camping ones, 3 or 4 season ones, not the cheap junk they sell in argos that lets you freeze to death!

Hi Emily Rose,

Something to cook on - even if it's only to warm up water for hot drinks or flasks of soup until you nip out for the take-aways :D

Teri

Ah I think the problem is to intense for me.
Well someone had to say it I guess. Ha Ha 
Bazza

Hey, don't knock it  - I never usually read the Foo section - think I might have found my vocation at last     Beats trying to sort out doggie probs :P

Teri ;)

I have to say that I am serioulsy looking at the ones they have in Tesco, they are so cheep that there is almost nothing to loose, just may be a little more comfy than sleeping in the car!

Ours was about £100 from argos it is a 5 man I think, big enough to stand up in, a large sleeping area and huge living area which comfortably takes all our crap plus the dogs giant fabric cages :)  Although cheap we have never had a problem with it.  I think when looking at tents you have to go for a double skin one, ours has an outer shell and the sleeping compartment hangs inside it - we dont bother with sleeping bags just an air bed and a double duvet - but I have my OH to keep me warm ;)

i agree!

what are you agreeing with michelled - do you also have my OH to keep you warm ??

lololol! no i was agreeing with a kyham comment! i have a "nellie" to keep me warm!!!
i now have a double airbed so flynn & nellie cant push me off like they did on the single one!!!!

i have a kyham classic XL,which i sleep/camp at overnight dog shows in.i can easily take it down & put it up by myself,& it has a large living that you can stand up in & a big bedroom. it was expensive ,£300,but worth every penny!

Hi

We camp in a coleman weathermaster, which has proved to be very functional.

But there a couple of issues
ie, pitching inner or outer tent 1st in rain
sown in ground sheet etc
wind, will it stand up to wind.
what seasons is the tent suitable for, (will give you a degree of warmth) ie 1 season, 2 season tents etc.
Poles on tents, in our experiance are essential. The thicker the better, as they will withstand wind. Believe me, when the wind gets up. You still wanna be there at 5am. Not huddled in your car.
TBS system tension band system.

My advice is look, look and then look again. If you buy 2nd hand. Check out the tent specs 1st.

If your going to use it alot, Go to a proper camping shop, Dont buy cheap offers from argos, netto etc

Oh and a tilly lamp is essential to help eliminate the bugs.

And as terri said, stove for that much needed cuppa in the morning :)

The windbreaks are a good idea if you are cooking outside, also a nice pot bellied bar be que, so you can have a little fire in there after you have eaten to keep you nice and warm

Alix

oh and you can also check out www.ukcampsite.co.uk. for loads more tips and ideas. Yep Im a camper. Youve guessed it

We recently bought one out of argos for £59 it was a 4man tent with seperate room for entertaining? lol.

It fitted 2 adults a child and 2 G.danes it peed it down and we didnt get wet (thank god) it was a good starter buy and we think ahhh we like camping so we may get an expensive one later on but not tempting fate so seeing how we go for now.

(edit) we borrowed a stove and windbreaker but had our own sleeping bags, its a lot of money to waste if u don;t like it. (luckily we liked it! off to Beddgelert asap lol)

pro action nevada 5 man tent cat no 340 8599 (argos) in sale now 149.00 to 89.00 u can pay up to 300.00 for a tent this size in a specialist shop. look it up on website (soz no link) on offer untill 21.06.05 its huge.   

Hey, that one looks really good, thanks. Wish they had a bigger/better pic of it tho but it looks promising. I'm not wanting to spend loads but £90 for something that size would be great, even if the quality is not that good, I'm probably only gonna use it a max of 5 times over the summer and if I decide I still like the idea of camping then I can look for a better one.
Thanks again Sambo
Emily

I got a brand new 6 birth tent from Ebay and it was £25 inc delivery - I was dead chuffed, it's a dome tent and 'open plan' but its only for me the oH and 2 rotts so we all huddle up together :)

EM...

MINE GETS DELIVERED TOMORROW ILL LET U KNOW WHAT ITS LIKE?

Emily

Index have 30% off all camping equipment as they are closing down.  We got a cracking inflatable bed which is £90 in Argos for £40.  We also got some excellent quality sleeping bags for the price of the budget ones.  You will have to be quick though because there isn't much left.  We didn't look at tents because we didn't need one but you shold be able to get better than you could originally afford with the discount if they have them in stock.

Andrea