www.nwcampers.co.uk

This was the first family tent that I bought. I chose it because it was inexpensive, adults could stand up straight in both the living area and the bedrooms and because of the reputable brand.

When you get to see this tent pitched for the first time you are struck by its size. The official photographs are taken from slightly above the tent and so it looks a little on the small side. But when you are standing next to it is a different story. Inside seems vast before you attach the inner tents and is still large after everything is fitted.

The good internal height is due to it being a tunnel tent, with steel upright poles and fibreglass roof poles. It is simple to pitch and, at a pinch, one adult could pitch it so long as the weather is calm.

There are a total of three doors that gain you access to the living area of the tent; useful should the wind-direction change. The two bedrooms are completely separate, so there is no option of joining them together to form a 4-berth room. Two adults can fit in each bedroom on a double inflatable mattress so long as any rucksacks were left in the living area over night.

I have been fortunate enough only to use it in fair weather but I get the impression that it is sturdy enough to withstand strong winds. However, because the living area does not have a SIG, sitting in there on a cold, wet and windy evening would not be an attractive prospect. I've also heard reports that the bottom parts of the flysheet walls can flap loudly in the wind. The fitted groundsheet that is supplied for the living area is not the most intuitive to set up but you just have to remember to fit the living area groundsheet BEFORE the bedroom pods.

I do have one area of concern regarding the steel poles. The thickness and strength of the steel appears not to be as good as, say, Outwell poles. As a result one did recently split on me as were pitching it though strapping it with Duck Tape got us through the camp. Therefore take great care when positioning the poles onto the pins, etc.

To conclude: for the money this is a very good, sturdy, well-made tent which, if having a SIG in the living area is not a priority for you, you should include on your list for consideration.