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Original poster

Decathlon pop up tent. What sorcery is this?! (Help!)

43 replies

HappyMaltesers · 09/07/2022 18:13

Tent purchased for some occasional camping, I thought not having to bother with tent poles etc would be just wonderful... so it's a pop up tent.

Of course, I'm not an idiot so I'm testing it before we go away, but I don't have a garden.

I have a pop up tent in my kitchen.

It wont go back to being a nice round package again, the clips don't line up, and the decathlon video is not really helping. Someone here MUST know what trickery is needed to reclaim my kitchen from the devil tent.

Help!

OP posts:
user1471530109 · 09/07/2022 18:15

They are a nightmare!
Go on you tube and keep pausing the video. All of a sudden it will work. Took me ages.. it wasn't a decathlon one though. It's about crossing it and twisting etc.

user1471530109 · 09/07/2022 18:15

They are a nightmare!
Go on you tube and keep pausing the video. All of a sudden it will work. Took me ages.. it wasn't a decathlon one though. It's about crossing it and twisting etc.

Dizzywizz · 09/07/2022 18:17

Yeah you just have to keep watching and pausing the videos, they are a nightmare!! And then when you get it, you get it.

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Ducksurprise · 09/07/2022 18:17

Imagine you are wearing a pull on bra that is two sizes too small and you have to cross your arms to remove it over your head.... its the same kind of movement.

Aconitum · 09/07/2022 18:18

Once you get it flat you have to hold it on opposite 'corners' then twist it on to itself.
It's easier to show than explain.
I am a whizz with folding up pop up tents but that's of absolutely no use to you - sorry😂😂😂😂

MrsTerryPratchett · 09/07/2022 18:18

Firstly, take a picture. Because that hilarious.

Second YouTube is your friend.

MrsTerryPratchett · 09/07/2022 18:19

Ducksurprise · 09/07/2022 18:17

Imagine you are wearing a pull on bra that is two sizes too small and you have to cross your arms to remove it over your head.... its the same kind of movement.

How do men work out how to do it Grin

Shortpoet · 09/07/2022 18:26

If it’s the same decathlon tent I have I spent about 30 mins trying to find one of the orange clips on the outside before realising it is inside and you pull on it to turn the tent partially inside out.
it took 2 of us to get it to squish down. Onces it’s clipped together it’s a squish and twist.

If it’s a smaller one, you have to squish it into a figure if 8. Watch the video lots.

Original poster
HappyMaltesers · 09/07/2022 18:35

Ok, I dont know why I didn't look at youtube. That is helping a bit!
I now have a big circle, clipped together... and I'm supposed to squash it flat into a figure 8 shape (fine) but folding it over onto itself feels like I'm going to break it.
It that right? I just fold?

OP posts:
Shangrila · 09/07/2022 18:40

It feels like you'll snap it but don't worry it won't. Just keep pulling down on that twist and it will eventually be small enough for the bag. Make sure the bag is near by so you don't let go and it pop back up again.

FirstFallopians · 09/07/2022 18:45

If it’s the same as the one we just bought, I sympathise.

We took it out to the beach a few weeks ago and it took two of us to work out how to fold it again. DH is normally great with stuff like that but even his flabber was gasted!

Whatelsecouldibecalled · 09/07/2022 18:45

Where are you? I'm a master at this haha.

Unhelpful comment.

Please post a pic of tent in kitchen

ApolloandDaphne · 09/07/2022 18:50

I am laughing so much at the vision of OP wrestling a pop up tent in her kitchen. They are the devils work!

FlamingGoat · 09/07/2022 18:51

My husband got flummoxed by it in the rain on Skye. The campers opposite us couldn't stop laughing. I watched the YouTube video secretly in the van and did it in one go much to their amusement.

They are a bastard.

FogoInn · 09/07/2022 18:53

Haha they are the work of the devil!
I find myself standing in it and fold it up around me iykwim

Clymene · 09/07/2022 18:53

They're amazing! But there's a knack to getting them back down, that's for sure Grin

Wakemeup17 · 09/07/2022 18:56

Ha! I'm the only one from a group of friends who knew how to do it so I had to teach the rest.
They are great and when you get it you get but it's horribly annoying until then.

cantsleep2022 · 09/07/2022 18:56

You are not alone

I still can't put mine down after 5 years

When you figure it out let me know

Original poster
HappyMaltesers · 09/07/2022 19:01

Sorry, no kitchen tent photos, it's a bit messy in there because of some building work! It was ridiculous though, it took up the whole floor.

Thanks to the power of mumsnet I do now have the tent back in it's bag!

OP posts:
ErrolTheDragon · 09/07/2022 19:01

cantsleep2022 · 09/07/2022 18:56

You are not alone

I still can't put mine down after 5 years

When you figure it out let me know

Hopefully that doesn't mean you've had one up in your kitchen for 5 years....Grin

ODFOx · 09/07/2022 19:10

Is it the 2 seconds where the wires are the circle base and a double arch loop a bit like a bent Pringle from side to side?

If so, you need to find out which side has the tie strap on it.
Leave the zip partly undone.
Stand on the strap side and reach down to hold the middle of the back of the tent, lift it and hold it to the middle of the next wire loop, then the next and the final one.
At this point flick it upright so the strap is on the floor and you are holding all the wire middles together.
At this point it should be like a really elongated 8 with loops at top at bottom.
Reach up and grab the top loop with the hand that isn't holding the 4 wires together, and slowly pull the top of the 8 down as if to tuck it inside the loop on the floor. The sides will move in on their own as you pull it together, lat them overlap then shift your grip to 'juj' the circle to the correct size. Wrap the strap round it, neaten and tighten.
If it isn't that model, ignore everything I just said 🙂.

Honeyroar · 09/07/2022 19:11

FlamingGoat · 09/07/2022 18:51

My husband got flummoxed by it in the rain on Skye. The campers opposite us couldn't stop laughing. I watched the YouTube video secretly in the van and did it in one go much to their amusement.

They are a bastard.

I remember being in our caravan several years ago watching five pop up tents in a row resist being put away while their owners struggled. It was so funny! (Don’t judge us, we’d have helped but we didn’t have a clue either!!).

ODFOx · 09/07/2022 19:12

I wish it hadn't taken me so long to explain or I'd have seen the update! Well done 😀

scrivette · 09/07/2022 19:14

The trick is don't overthink it!

Well done for getting it back in, when I do it I always have to be half talking to someone else otherwise I get in a muddle.

alterego2 · 09/07/2022 19:21

This is why I love Mumsnet ...

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