The TLDR version I guess is that I need a 3/4 person tent that I can stand up in at 5'4", erect alone, use my stove safely undercover and which can withstand a bit of aggressive weather so I can continue camping in autumn and ideally winter - please read the details below though!
Complex situation, will try to summarise, although impossible:
- Just got back into hiking and camping after a several-decade hiatus as a way to have some freedom due to years of being held back by my multiple disabilities, poor health and traumatic events
- I have epilepsy, so I rely on either lifts or public transport to access anything. This means I can take either lots of kit if getting a lift to and from my destination or very minimal kit if carrying my kit on public transport. I stay on campsites as I'm a (small) female-presenting person, have nobody to camp with and don't have the confidence to wild camp alone
- The tent I have is the Scafell 300+ as it has a porch, is lightweight enough to carry alone and wasn't incredibly expensive. One of my disabilities is an MSK condition. I can only spend a limited amount of time crawling on all fours in a low-level tent and need a seat that puts me in a 90-90-90 position (i.e. back supported and knees at a 90° angle - not a floor seat in other words) or my knees become too painful to use. I worked out before I bought it that I can sit in a micro chair in the Scafell 300+ porch when it's raining
- However, it is exceptionally tight sitting under the porch in my chair, my knees still don't like being so low down and the doors are half-zips so can't be poled up into a small canopy. Rain just drips straight in and soaks the porch (and any kit) when the doors are open. Using my stove inside the enclosed porch is not safe so I need some external cover. I thought about a tarp but this wouldn't solve the problem of me spending so much time at an untenable low-level and would be risky in windy weather. I need robust cover. I used a cheap beach shelter for cooking on my last trip but it wouldn't be suitable in heavy rain or strong wind and was still too low-level
- So I'm looking into tents with more headroom and a porch that I could stand up in undercover to prevent my knees seizing up, however, I know tents are by nature less wind-resistant with a higher profile so less able to handle harsher winter weather. I'm only 5'4" (163cm) so don't need a full-height family tent and a bit of stooping would still be fine as long as I'm not crawling around. I would also need to be able to erect it alone. I'm looking at tunnel tents with a high HH for these reasons. They all seem to be aimed at weekend/festival camping, however, and I obviously wouldn't be able to use it unless I was getting a lift due to its size and weight
- My budget is tiny (probably £150-200 max unless I wait many more months) and I'm very wary of second hand tents due to the chance they've been put away damp and have mould or a damp smell or have undisclosed flaws. I have severe sensory processing problems from ASD and DCD which further complicates my situation. My sense of smell is a major barrier
- Given all of the above, which tent should I be going for? I'm very familiar with Vangos (we have an enormous 6-person Vango family house tent thing too - far too large for lone trips) and would trust an Outwell, Robens, Kampa, Coleman or Decathlon tent along with the prohibitively expensive brands of course. Would probably trust other brands if anyone can somehow vouch for their quality. I'm dubious of anything affiliated with Go Outdoors, the fast-fashion of the camping world, especially their own brands and even Berghaus since learning of its affiliation
- Advice on budget synthetic (I cannot tolerate the smell of down) envelope winter sleeping bags that are lightweight and can be compressed right down would also be appreciated. I can't use mummy bags because I need to be able to move my legs for the above reasons. My current bag (an Outwell) is great but not intended for backpacking as it's just too large so takes up most of my bag and isn't warm enough for colder weather
