Recommend me a “event” tent – enough for me and kit with a porch to cook in.

I’ve got my eye on a Vango 250 at £120.

Anything better for similar money?

Have a look at go outdoors, they had loads of tents in the sale that were going for near 50% off.

They also usually have tent displays outside which helps decide between a few that are of interest.

I ordered one of these for cycle-touring duties less than five minutes ago! (If you need a pole (not supplied with one) they’re £25 extra).

https://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/product578.asp?PageID=36

I have just bought a Coleman Avior X2 Tent for bike packing. It’s 2 man so a bit off extra room, has 2 doors, porch to store bag and cook in (possibly). Not actually put it up yet, hoping to over the weekend.

http://www.outdooraction.co.uk/tents-backpacking-tents/coleman/coleman-avior-x2-tent-pd-2400.php

headfirst that looks positively excellent for camping in midge land ….. not

trail rat, I have no intention of visiting Scotland any time soon, and certainly not during midge season!! I’ll be using it on the Continent in the summer so not over-heating is a priority.

yeah will be ace for that.

all my tenting has been done in NZ (sandfly hell) or scotchland (midge hell)

infact my mate was round last night and noticed next to my oils/greases/antisieze on the shelf i have just about every kind of midge/mossie repellant known to man and a malaria test kit – he found this funny 🙁

Stan, i have an old but perfectly functional Vango 3 man and a big porch jobbie you can have on long term loan if you want. Give me a call.

When you say ‘event’ tent I take it you mean something compact and as light as possible?

I have an old Mountain Hardware PCT 1 but not sure if you can get them any more. Your budget wont get you in to stuff from the top brand lightweight stuff but this looks pretty reasonable and they do a slightly bigger version if weight is not such a big deal:

http://www.robens.de/en/Products/Tents/Trail/Star1.aspx

These are pretty popular, saw a few in the peaks during may bank hols.

http://www.khyam.co.uk/detail.asp?p=335&product=Biker

Friend of mine has a Khyam it goes up pretty quick.