OK, i have ended up with alot of tents, here are a few of the relivant ones and my thoughts.....(some of these are stock pics, not mine)
This is me trying some things with a 3x3 DDhammocks tarp, i was really pleased how you could set it up as a tent and it has more than enough room for 2 plus your gear.
I picked up one of these at a booty, one person, £5 so had to try it, it have a bug net door also, but its only single skin so i could imagine you may have some condensation problems, although it packs down very small, i like that the door is along the side which makes it easy to get into, but if it was raining as soon as you open the door you and everything would be getting wet!
The Polish Lavvu, very cheap, bomb proof, canvas is so nice to sleep under and you can use it near an open fire, ive had some really nice nights in this, for one person and gear i would say everyone should have one, but its not the lightest.
This is an older 4 man ridge, there is also a fly/rain sheet that goes on it, still great for a small family, again it only cost me a couple of quid so had to have a look.
This is a 3 man, from Lidl a few years back, ive only used it in the garden with the kids, but its a nice size, easy to put up, with the front and side doors.
This is getting into the backpacking type tents, they dont make this anymore, says its 2 man, but you would need to be pretty close mates, even with the vestibules either side is really a big one man and your gear.
Dutch Army tent, just brilliant, again canvas is so nice, nice and dark to sleep in and you can use it near a fire no problem, i like this alot and have used it loads.
I bought this in the summer and have yet to try it, but its 2 man, i like the way the door is along the long side, will be interesting to try, the inner tent will also work in the pod on my caravan awning, so thats a plus.
The next few are because of my thinking that if you are looking for a bugout or SHTF type shelter, it needs to stand up on its own, so you can put it up in a carpark or even a flat roof....
Gelert Monsoon 4, managed to pick this up for £25, very lucky, the way the poles are it doesn't not need to be pegged out, its only 4 beth, but if you only put one bedroom up its a massive 2-3 man, with a huge living area, but i have no problem knowing if i needed to i would get all 5 of us in here no problem. Although i have since seen the Gelert family dome 4, which is a little lower so would hold up to winds a bit better.
This is my favorite find sofar, its an Esquina solo. i paid £30 for this, i did find another, but it went on ebay for over £100, they dont make these anymore which is a real shame as it fits most of my thinking, it stands up on its own, one up you can pick it up and move it, the inner stays attached. its just brilliant, here are a few other pics.
So with this same thinking, i have been searching for others with the same design, this is what i have come up with......
Coleman Phad
i cant remember which one it is they have stopped making, but they also do these in 2 man versions, they both sell for around £150 in the 3 man versions.
Coleman Tatra
This is new, Vango Sierra 300 around £120, i'd like to get my hands on one.
The only problem with all of these last ones is if i'm going camping in the woods and we have a fire, i will need to be sure to have my tent away from it, i am working out a canvas cover for the Esquina as i really want to use this alot more, but then it will be heavier and i may as well take the Lavvu?