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Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

Camping

pop up tents

21 replies

mckenzie · 18/06/2013 08:58

are they any good? We'll only be in it for one night (we being the 2 DCs and me)
We don't camp regularly (DH doesn't do canvas ) so I thought this might be a good idea. I won't be cooking or entertaining in it. It's just for sleeping in.
TIA

OP posts:

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hz · 18/06/2013 09:38

It depends which one you get. If you want to be sure to stay dry if it rains go for a double skin one like the Quechua ones. You can get cheaper but these ones work! So quick and easy to pitch, bit of a knack to folding up again but you just have to learn it.

MummyPigsFatTummy · 18/06/2013 09:39

They are great. Easy to put up obv and easy to take down once you get the hang of them. Personally I think Decathlon do the best range. With other brands you need to be sure you are getting a double skin tent to avoid condensation.

They are a bit of an awkward shape to carry when folded (big disc) but fine for car camping.

MummyPigsFatTummy · 18/06/2013 09:41

X-post! Quechua are the Decathlon brand OP btw.

mckenzie · 18/06/2013 10:47

thanks guys. I have just reserved a Quechua one and I'll collect it tomorrow
As for taking it down, if necessary I'll just have to smile sweetly as some of the more experienced campers and ask for help huh?

OP posts:

MummyPigsFatTummy · 18/06/2013 11:21

Good idea, although other people's help can be worse than useless if they do not have a pop up themselves (even to the point of damaging a tent).

Try looking at the videos on the Decathlon website (or googling as most of them are on You Tube). Whenever we get a new pop up, we take it in the back garden with the laptop and practise following the video. That way, we don't have a nightmare at the site.

hz · 18/06/2013 13:40

If you are a reasonably logical person you should be able to work it out from the instructions on the tent. But MummyPigs is right watch a video and practice a few times (only takes a few moments) and you will save yourself any stress.

Blu · 18/06/2013 13:46

Collect your tent when the shop is not busy and ask the Decathlon staff to show you how to fold your tent - they are happy to do this

Do not do what I did and try and put your tent up in the spare room and then discover there is not enough space to fold it down again...

FannyBazaar · 18/06/2013 21:56

I'd heard they were damn near impossible to pack away quickly and easily. Poo to that! I found a stray one bouncing across the field at the end of a festival last year and managed to round it up and twist it back into a circle in no time! I handed it in to the salvage neatly presented! Would have taken it with us if we weren't already caring loads.

Blu · 18/06/2013 21:58

The tiny ones are a doddle.

I grappled with mine at first, not being good with instructions, and having ordered online so no help in-store, but now find it v easy indeed, on my own.

Wolfiefan · 18/06/2013 22:05

Ha Blu me too! Do get staff to show you. We got a 2 person one from millets. Great trick that really helped (involved kneeling on it at one point!) YY to video too.

mckenzie · 18/06/2013 22:43

thanks very much guys. I'll ask them tomorrow if they have time to show me but if not, i'll watch the videos before I go. Luckily, I won't be pushed for time when i take it down. It's a local scout's campsite so if necessary, I can go back for it the next day

OP posts:

paneer · 18/06/2013 22:47

study the youtube videos on how to take it down and put it in the bag. have, practice a couple of times too.
my pop up is so easy to stuff back into the bag, but you do forget.

Blu · 19/06/2013 14:04

In our nearest Decathlon they have demonstrations and competitions to see who can fold pop-up tents the fastest.

Blu · 19/06/2013 14:05

Which Quechua tent did you get, mckenzie?

mckenzie · 19/06/2013 14:15

I got the QUECHUA2 SECONDS XL AIR ILLUMIN III POP UP TENT, GREEN
I'm about to put it up on the garden and then see if i can put it down!!

OP posts:

Blu · 19/06/2013 19:33

Snazzy!

Illumin, indeed!

mckenzie · 19/06/2013 21:59

I didn't get to put it up in the end, I was worried it looked like it was going to rain.
The video on you tube makes collapsing it look really easy but from my experience of a pop up sun canopy, I know that's not going to be the case.
Normally I'd ban all our family gadgets and computer equipment from camp but this weekend, the i pad is going to have to come with us, fully charged!!

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SilverSixpence · 20/06/2013 06:50

We did a practice with our Quechua last weekend. We did need to consult YouTube a few times before we managed it but think it should be ok to do now we know the trick. Dont think I could do it alone

mckenzie · 20/06/2013 22:10

That's good news silver that you managed it after a few attempts. Thankfully our scout group is uber friendly and full of really lovely people so I'm sure I'll get some help.

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SilverSixpence · 23/06/2013 22:54

We just came back from camping, DH and I managed to get the tent down very quickly once he listened and did it my way.

ravenAK · 23/06/2013 22:59

Pop up tents are completely straightforward to put away...

Until you have to do it in front of a field full of strangers, that is. .

We have a 2 man for the kids mucking about in the garden, but I must admit I think a trad tent is sturdier & less likely to rip.

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