Good quality 4-5 person tent that can be put up be 1 person.

[bellamysbride]

We need to get a family tent. There are currently myself DP and 2 toddlers. We were looking at the outwell montana but I'm a little concerned that I won't be able to put this up single handedly when I take the kids away by myself. Am I being a wuss or is this a valid concern? Any other tent suggestions? This is our first real foray into family camping.

[montmartre]

get a quechua pop-up tent, the one that looks like a samurai helmet, with 2 bedrooms vis-a-vis.
It's a great size, v v easy to put up, need a little practse to put it away.

[MummyPigsFatTummy]

Decathlon's Quechua pop up tents are a great idea, but if you need a bit more space than the samurai one, Decathlon have a seconds family 4.2 XL on their website at the moemnt, reduced to £159 odd I think which is a fair bit bigger - still vis a vis though and still pop up.

[bellamysbride]

Great. I will go and take a look. I would like something fairly large. montmartre you frighten me with the "need a little practice to put away". I am a sweaty mess trying to put the sun tent away . Whilst you're here, what do you sleep on? We have thermarests but is there anything that offers a bit more comfort?

[AriaB]

Definitely look at the Quechua 4.2 XL. It's freaking huge. My friend just bought one- we tested it out in my garden- took us about 10 mins to put up with the ipad and youtube vids close by. Definitely do-able by yourself :)

[bellamysbride]

Should I take from this that we should ditch the Montana idea? Quecha looks good and the ease really appeals.

[CaptainNancy]

Tbh, the quechua base seconds is like a suntent- they sort of fold and curve around, then squeeze into a circular bag. We have thermarests. Whatever do you mean by 'more comfort'?

If you've room in the car though, you could go for something a little more luxurious.

[MummyPigsFatTummy]

Outwell are great but they take AGES to put up (from what I have seen of others doing it). Perfect for a long trip but that's not what you want for a weekend, say, or a trip on your own with kids.

So, if you are only going to have one tent for all trips, make it a pop up. Can you get to a Decathlon? The tents are usually up so you can see how much space you will be getting. Also, I think you can ask the staff to show you how to put up and pack away (although you might want to go at a quiet time for that).

Lots of videos on the internet to help too. Do have a few dry runs in the garden though. It is no fun at all trying to do it for the first time on a campsite with everyone watching and trying to help.

[Blu]

I have often put up our Vango dome/tunnel style tent on my own, but it has been the folding it up and getting it in the bag on my own that has reduced me to gnashing misery and frustration.

I now use a Decathlon pop-up and am much calmer.

[bellamysbride]

Thanks all. I am binning the montana idea as I really fancy making the most of the summer holidays and popping away with the kids when the weather looks promising. I will take a trip to decathlon to take a real look. If it turns out that DP comes along with us lots then we can invest in a montana at a later date. I think the pitching and folding up are going to be a bit if a farce anyway.

So there is a more luxurious option to the thermarest? I just find that if I move an inch then I am off the thermarest and since having children sleep is waaaaay more important. I'd ditch the children if it made room in the car for a more comfortable sleeping option . Maybe I'm not cut out for this camping malarkey after all .

[Blu]

Get a double SIM? like this?

If I am camping on my own with Ds, so have plenty of room in the car I use a double SIM with a single SIM on top.