I'd need more info on situation and famiy to give a specific recommendation. What will work in one situation, might not work in another and "families" have different and evolving needs.
Probably the lightest and biggest is the largest tarp( plus poles, ropes and pegs) you can carry. Family implies kids who will quickly become restless and need room to move around. I'd recommend something like a "superdux"(poly cotton mix) tarp if you can buy one as with care they'll last a life time. Also using a ridge rope, they are easy to support between trees and do not require a forest of support poles like the large poly tarps.
Tarps also give air flow and keep conditions as is. On the other hand they are really bad/useless in very cold, windy raining weather as it just blows in. For that sort of condition you'd start with the old style canvas, minimum 12x12. Trade off is the size and weight of gear you need to carry.
if you are going to buy some cheap "family tent", I'd suggest not. Works fine in events where a tarp will suffice, but is bad and very risk in windy conditions.
I'd instead through in the suggestion that you do not get one tent, but a number of smaller ones so a failure in one doesn't put you all in the "****". Also has the advantage that a couple of "kids" tents could be arrected quickly and put in the lee(shelter) of the vehicle then you set up a more robust adults tent.
I'd need more info on situation and famiy to give a specific recommendation. What will work in one situation, might not work in another and "families" have different and evolving needs.
Probably the lightest and biggest is the largest tarp( plus poles, ropes and pegs) you can carry. Family implies kids who will quickly become restless and need room to move around. I'd recommend something like a "superdux"(poly cotton mix) tarp if you can buy one as with care they'll last a life time. Also using a ridge rope, they are easy to support between trees and do not require a forest of support poles like the large poly tarps.
Tarps also give air flow and keep conditions as is. On the other hand they are really bad/useless in very cold, windy raining weather as it just blows in. For that sort of condition you'd start with the old style canvas, minimum 12x12. Trade off is the size and weight of gear you need to carry.
if you are going to buy some cheap "family tent", I'd suggest not. Works fine in events where a tarp will suffice, but is bad and very risk in windy conditions.
I'd instead through in the suggestion that you do not get one tent, but a number of smaller ones so a failure in one doesn't put you all in the "****". Also has the advantage that a couple of "kids" tents could be arrected quickly and put in the lee(shelter) of the vehicle then you set up a more robust adults tent.
I'd need more info on situation and famiy to give a specific recommendation. What will work in one situation, might not work in another and "families" have different and evolving needs.
Probably the lightest and biggest is the largest tarp( plus poles, ropes and pegs) you can carry. Family implies kids who will quickly become restless and need room to move around. I'd recommend something like a "superdux"(poly cotton mix) tarp if you can buy one as with care they'll last a life time. Also using a ridge rope, they are easy to support between trees and do not require a forest of support poles like the large poly tarps.
Tarps also give air flow and keep conditions as is. On the other hand they are really bad/useless in very cold, windy raining weather as it just blows in. For that sort of condition you'd start with the old style canvas, minimum 12x12. Trade off is the size and weight of gear you need to carry.
if you are going to buy some cheap "family tent", I'd suggest not. Works fine in events where a tarp will suffice, but is bad and very risk in windy conditions.
I'd instead through in the suggestion that you do not get one tent, but a number of smaller ones so a failure in one doesn't put you all in the "****". Also has the advantage that a couple of "kids" tents could be arrected quickly and put in the lee(shelter) of the vehicle then you set up a more robust adults tent.
Last 2c; have you considered a camper trailer? Look in the 2nd hand market. Stay away from the OS stuff. A lot of people buy them and only use them a few times, then try to sell what they paid for them. Forget that. Negotiate hard.
You can also 'build your own CT', aka join CT top to trailer bottom, but it might be cheaper just to buy a basic second hand and learn from that.
Last 2c; have you considered a camper trailer? Look in the 2nd hand market. Stay away from the OS stuff. A lot of people buy them and only use them a few times, then try to sell what they paid for them. Forget that. Negotiate hard.
You can also 'build your own CT', aka join CT top to trailer bottom, but it might be cheaper just to buy a basic second hand and learn from that.
Last 2c; have you considered a camper trailer? Look in the 2nd hand market. Stay away from the OS stuff. A lot of people buy them and only use them a few times, then try to sell what they paid for them. FI'd need more info on situation and famiy to give a specific recommendation. What will work in one situation, might not work in another and "families" have different and evolving needs.
Probably the lightest and biggest is the largest tarp( plus poles, ropes and pegs) you can carry. Family implies kids who will quickly become restless and need room to move around. I'd recommend something like a "superdux"(poly cotton mix) tarp if you can buy one as with care they'll last a life time. Also using a ridge rope, they are easy to support between trees and do not require a forest of support poles like the large poly tarps.
Tarps also give air flow and keep conditions as is. On the other hand they are really bad/useless in very cold, windy raining weather as it just blows in. For that sort of condition you'd start with the old style canvas, minimum 12x12. Trade off is the size and weight of gear you need to carry.
if you are going to buy some cheap "family tent", I'd suggest not. Works fine in events where a tarp will suffice, but is bad and very risk in windy conditions.
I'd instead through in the suggestion that you do not get one tent, but a number of smaller ones so a failure in one doesn't put you all in the "****". Also has the advantage that a couple of "kids" tents could be arrected quickly and put in the lee(shelter) of the vehicle then you set up a more robust adults tent.
Last 2c; have you considered a camper trailer? Look in the 2nd hand market. Stay away from the OS stuff. A lot of people buy them and only use them a few times, then try to sell what they paid for them. Forget that. Negotiate hard.
You can also 'build your own CT', aka join CT top to trailer bottom, but it might be cheaper just to buy a basic second hand and learn from that.
orget that. Negotiate hard.
You can also 'build your own CT', aka join CT top to trailer bottom, but it might be cheaper just to buy a basic second hand and learn from that.
