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Camping

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

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Original poster

I really want a pop-up tent .. AIBU to buy one in secret?

27 replies

SherlockHolmes · 11/06/2011 21:04

DH says no to a pop-up tent,as we already have a mahoosive Vango, as well as a couple of 2-man tents, and a 5-man Easycamp. BUT, I would like to go with the DCs on my own sometimes, and the big tent is too hard to put up without him, the 5-man is fiddly and exasperating and the 2-mans (men?) aren't big enough.

Tell me how much I need the Quechua Base Seconds 4.2 please.

Thanks.

OP posts:

chipmonkey · 11/06/2011 21:22

You SOOOOOOOOOO need it! We have a 2 man Quechua and ds1 who is 14 can put it up and take it down in minutes all on his own. We do need to get a big tent as well but I am thinking of getting a bigger Quechua for the odd weekend. I like the middle bit of that one, looks quite roomy.

MollieO · 11/06/2011 21:24

They are quite big as they fold up into a huge disc shape. Where would you hide it?!

Last summer I watched two grown men wrestle one of these back into it's bag. Great spectator sport. I've got a smaller Outwell Alderney pop up and there is a definite knack to folding it up. I'd worry I wouldn't have the strength to fold the Quecha up by myself.

chipmonkey · 11/06/2011 21:34

They always have videos on youtube showing you how to do it though. You could download one and save it to your phone?

The disc for the two man is large but quite flat, you could hide it under a mattress!

AlsoAvailableSober · 11/06/2011 21:36

We have just ordered this Quecha. We also have a Vango Tigris 600 and 2 two man tents.

Therefore you are being utterly reasonable. Not that this is AIBU

AlsoAvailableSober · 11/06/2011 21:38

We chose the other one as, although it means all sleeping together, you get a nice porch for the evening to drink

TooManyBlossoms · 11/06/2011 21:38

Ooh I've got a Quechua pop up tent - this one. Tis fab, and (after a bit of practice!) takes hardly any time to wrestle expertly twist back into it's bag - it's all in the wrist action .

You definitely need one.

MollieO · 11/06/2011 21:42

Both those Quechuas are quite small compared to the one the OP is after. If I planned to get one that size I'd want to have a go in the shop first before buying.

Nightingale12 · 11/06/2011 21:50

You are not being unreasonable. I've secretly bought one for the exact same reasons! Arrives next week. I have my reasons for neeeeeeding it in my head in case OH stumbles across it :)

5GoMadOnAZ650 · 11/06/2011 21:53

I've got that exact tent, it's fab, had it for about 2 years now and it's brilliant :)

AutumnWitch · 11/06/2011 22:25

I'm also eyeing it up - DH says "just get on with it" but I'm wondering if it would be big enough for the four of us (DSs are 6 and 3) for weekends. There is a bigger version.

We usually spread out in a Cantera 9, but it takes an age to pitch and takes up half the car.

Now you've got two of us to convince

IloveJudgeJudy · 11/06/2011 22:38

Friends of ours have one. We went camping in a big group one weekend and they were set up in no time. They had obviously practised as they put it away at the end of the weekend, no problem. You definitely both need one.

I wish I needed one, but I'm not allowed as we have a folding camper. You sleep sideways in the bedroom bit, and the middle is definitely big enough for a weekend.

chipmonkey · 11/06/2011 23:22

Our two man one is surprisingly roomy. Our 3 boys, 14, 12 and 6 fit in with room to spare. Would imagine the four berth should be big enough for you.

5GoMadOnAZ650 · 12/06/2011 15:14

We are a family of 6 and fit in it, spent three weeks in it a couple of years ago :)

Wiggletastic · 12/06/2011 20:12

I can put our 4.2 up and down on my own in 5 mins - simples!

mamasmissionimpossible · 12/06/2011 20:20

I have been thinking about buying this tent too, after reading the glowing reviews on mn. We live in a flat, so don't have much storage. Does anyone know how big it is when folded? Can we stick in the back of a wardrobe?

Wiggletastic · 12/06/2011 20:33

It is big and round but quite flat - about 5cm thick and about 80cm diameter I would say - dimensions should be on the Quechua website.

Tangle · 12/06/2011 22:54

We've got an Outwell Fusion 400, which was OK for DH, DD (4) and I for 3 nights. Wouldn't have wanted to go longer, and were glad we were with friends as there was very limited space to sit out of the rain (friends had big tunnel tents with porches). On the plus side, the entire thing (incl. beds) was set up within an hour of arriving.

We're still refining our packing up technique. I can do it by myself, but I do find it quite hard - I'm 5'8 and struggle to bring it all together prior to the "squash and twist" maneuver as the 'gather point' (for want of a better phrase) is about the height of my neck. (Plus every time I think I've got it right DH tells me I've done it wrong and then faffs around for 10 mins trying to do it differently before looking at the video and admitting I was right...)

Pop-ups are great for speed - but do make sure you've tried putting it down before you buy.

Original poster

SherlockHolmes · 14/06/2011 20:36

thanks for all the replies. Still haven't plucked up the courage to buy one YET . Will keep you posted.

OP posts:

Original poster

SherlockHolmes · 15/06/2011 20:58

Tis done! Very excited, and feel very extravagant. I rarely spend money on stuff I really like though, so what the hell. Should arrive within a few days, so will let you know how much I love it

OP posts:

MisSalLaneous · 15/06/2011 20:59

Brilliant, enjoy!

Ineedalife · 15/06/2011 22:20

Well done sherlock.
I am sure you wont be disappointed, there is a knack to putting them back in the bag but you can watch the video on the web site.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy my 4.1.

Original poster

SherlockHolmes · 22/06/2011 16:36

Just to update you... it arrived this morning while I was out, so DH took delivery . He was grinning when I got back, and then happily let me wrestle with it in the garden before coming to help. I managed to put it up easily once DH had opened it up for me (double ). It really is very straightforward and we even managed to get it back into the bag on the 2nd attempt. Think I'm on top of it now and have downloaded the videos to my phone, just in case.

Thanks everyone for talking me into it. May go off on Saturday night just to give it an airing!

OP posts:

scaryt · 22/06/2011 21:57

So jealous. We have a caravan on a seasonal pitch (which I love) but I'd love one of these to do some 2 night explores round north wales. DH says I should concentrate on one thing at a time (the caravan!) and not get carried away. I do see what he means, but think my 5 year old boy would love this and I fancy a few adventures!!!!

scaryt · 22/06/2011 21:59

Very pleased that you have one though!!!

Lovecat · 22/06/2011 23:37

Yay, glad you got it!

I've just secretly bought a (very cheap on clearance, my only justification to DH) Vango Juno tepee to use as a utility/loo tent. It arrived this afternoon while he was out, so it's under the bed with the other camping gear at the moment. Seeing as how it's bright purple and pink, it's not going to pass unnoticed when we next go away, is it...?[ooer emoticon]

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