Pop-Up Tents

[Mike]

Has anyone used one of those pop-up tents before. The ones you are supposed to just throw. If so, are they..

a) Waterproof enough in heavy rain?
b) Big enough to fit the 'Fat Boy' camping beds inside?

[Ian]

I'm sure Tony's got a few in stock

[mickw]

Get one
Get one
Get one

It's really funny watching people try to put them away

[Mike]

I'm just thinking I'm going to be turning up after dark, it might be raining, windy, etc. so I'd rather just throw something up quick than mess around with that bloody nightmare of a tent that takes ages to put up, plus is badly designed as the INNER tent goes up first. I mean WTF!! 

[RobertM]

Not had any practical experience but I did go to look at the Quechua popups http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/hiking-gear-68240668/ in the autumn and was very impressed.  They get very good reviews and come in many sizes.  I even managed to put one away myself. 

Not sure how big a 'Fat Boy' camping bed is but I'm sure there's a tent that would suit to fit.  They are supposed to be very waterproof but check the specs.

Tony - what make was your tent ?

Robert

[mickw]

The Quechua seem to be quite popular, there were quite a few set up at Blacklands

[MarkS]

According to this
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/2-seconds-xl-ii-35307020/#
the waterproofing has been tested only up to 450litres/m2/hour

That works out to 18inches of rain per hour.  Are we likely to get more than that on Friday night?

[Mike]

Ohh that's pushing it a bit I think.

[Fay]

I think Tony is your man. Didn't someone video him putting one up??? That should be both entertaining & educational   

[Fay]

Friday is looking rain free

[Tony G]

Mike,

It depends on what size tent you get, I have a supposedly 4 berth (more like 3) and the fishing beds fits in nicely with room. it is a Quechua tent from Decathlon, and is also has an inside lining.

This is from last year. (I hope this is the right video, as the company's server won't allow me to view it)

We have all seen the video of a beutiful young woman putting away a folding tent in 15 seconds, now the UDSC version

http://www.flickr.com/photos/13007140@N05/3971414038/

Fay I don't know about educational.

Tony G

[RobertM]

Looks like you got the better of it ... eventually 

[MarkS]

Friday is looking rain free

Rain-free, maybe.  What about snow, though?

[Fay]

Mark, do you know something I don't?

[Mike]

Got a pop-up tent. Thanks for the advice.

Hilarity will now ensue.

[Carole]

Just to say Mike.  I've got one of those pop up tents, I would say they are waterproof OK, and quick to put up (putting away the first time is another matter), however I would advise bringing your normal tent as well for putting up the next day as those pop up tents are far too small for DSC.  I bought mine last February and will only be using it for touring in future, they are just handy for one night sleepovers.

Carole

[MarkS]

Carole,

You could buy a bigger size ...
I'm very tempted to get one myself - so easy to put up in the dark.

Mark

[Carole]

You could buy a bigger size ...

suppose so, but I think I've spent enough recently on one thing and another,  I really only bought it for travelling around on camping holidays when we only want to stop overnight somewhere.

Easy to put up, but I could not fold it up afterwards and had to take it home twice the size it should have been and struggle with it for half an hour in the garden when I got home!!!!!

[Mike]

I got one that is supposed to be 4 man and it has a living area too. Height is 5' 11" so I can just about stand up in it. It's not one of the small ones.

I can see this weekend being a bit damp so don't want to spend ages setting up the other tent. Plus, if it starts to snow or chuck it down with rain and it looks like it's setting in then I can also pack up and go quickly too

[Tony G]

Here is a couple from 'Tony's World of Tents', but be careful as to what size you do pick, as you could get cold feet like I did.

1.

This is the one you don't want. This is now Frodo's

2.

This one is a lot more comfortable and your feet stay warm. This is the 4 berth from Decathlon I think for about £55.

Tony G

[Carole]

Mine is approximately the size of your "4 berth" one, but I still found it too small, and I don't like not being able to stand up in it.  Mike seems to have bought a fairly large pop up tent.

Carole

[Mike]

Weirdly, I cannot find the one I bought on the Decathlon website. Nor was it listed in the store, I just found it on the shelf as after comparing dimensions found the sleeping area was twice the size of the other tent that was £40 more.

It is basically like this one...



But with a bedroom on just one side not both, but, the bedroom is twice the length of this one. So it is a weird kind of snail shape.

[RobertM]

Looks like the type I've been after.  Did they have any more on the shelf ?

[Mike]

Yes they had quite a few. It isn't on their website but it is called Base Seconds 4.1

[RobertM]

Hmmm, can't find a picture of it anywhere in the google world.  I thought the 4.2 bedrooms were a bit poky and was looking at Seconds base plus the 4 man 2 seconds but, unfortunately, they don't linked together.  Does it work like the Base Seconds 4.2 ie. seperate groundsheet with velcro also have you got any dimensions?

Thanks
Robert

[Mike]

Weirdly it is not on their website and even in the store it wasn't listed in the catalogue or on the price list. It was just on the shelf. I had to take it to the counter to find out the price of it.

But by comparing dimensions I could see it was the best of the lot. The bedroom space is about twice the size of the one on the Base Seconds 4.2 and overall it is 15 feet by 8 feet.

[RobertM]

Perfect, looks like just what I've been after.

[MarkS]

I really like the design of that - I wonder if it is old stock or part of a new range?

Quechua's website still shows the 2009 collection but the image you've posted has "EUR 2010" printed in blue - makes me think it might a brand new design for this year.

Mark

[Mike]

I think it is a new design.