Our new tent has arrived , as recommended by a mnetter and it is completely brilliant!

[northender]

I started a thread ages ago asking for suggestions for a tent of reasonable size for family of 4 for long weekends or just single nights which is easy and quick to put up. Tonight ds and dd are sleeping in our new Quechua base seconds 4.2 in the garden and it really is fab. We're going away next weekend and I can't wait now. I put it up on my own in less than 20 mins. Thank you wiggletastic who recommended it

So glad you are happy with it! Happy camping :)

Yay, I've got one of those too, fantastic piece of design. I love how quickly it pitches and they you can sit back with a G and T watching other families arguing over which pole goes where. Happy camping from me too

lostinwales we've been that family struggling with the poles and having at least one row putting up and one taking down so this will be even sweeter. Have just taken it down and despite a few wrong moves, it was done in 15 mins.

we are taking ours away next weekend too :) . I can't wait. dh had a go at putting it up and taking it down today. he is really quick and doesnt have to roll around on the floor wrestling with it like I do.

Just a quick check though, everybody when they do the cock and balls fold don't they?

OYBBK we needed you earlier, what on earth was going on here although the exciting windspeeds have gone now, we had gusts of 300 forecast round here

Metcheck uses an automated forecast without human input. When the computer model falls over (maybe failing to converge on an answer) it gives stupid results. its why I don't use metcheck :)

:) another base seconds owner :)

I have the 4.1 but just wanted to add, that we were camping in it in really strong winds and heavy rain in cornwall on Thursday night. It was fantastic, it stood up to everything.

I would recommend some longer pegs for rough weather but the tent its self was great.

I have an ordinary 4 man tent but you can't sit in it (too low) I am seriously considering a pop-up (especially as a single paretn with a 5 yr old).

But how the hell do you get it down?

And is it high enough to sit in?

We have the 4.2 and it is fab. Plenty of space to sit/stand in the main area and I can put it up myself in less than 10 mins. (and down again too) I was demonstrating the 'cock and balls' fold to my friend who has also bought a 4.2 and she immediately said - 'oh yes, I see what you mean' in a very knowing way (wink wink, nudge nudge)

Another Quechua fan. We have 5 for 3 of us .

Quick overnighter with no packing room - one Base Seconds plus bedroom inner - me & the two kids squashed in together.

Bit more space - Base Seconds Full plus bedroom for me & DS (2) and four man 2 Seconds for DD (12).

Loads of space - as above, plus a Base Seconds for a living area (chairs, carpet etc) and one as a kitchen / dining area. Also got a three man 2 Seconds for when DS is a bit older and needs his own pod.

We took them away at the weekend. Some kind chap saw harassed mum arriving late in the evening with two kids in tow and offered to help. I said thanks, but I'll manage. He went off to the toilet block and by the time he got back all 4 were pitched and twinned!

It takes maybe 15 minutes to get them up, twinned, guyed and groundsheets in, and about the same to get guys out, fold and pack away. Hurrah for the cock and balls. ( Kewcumber , check the video clips on YouTube - it's easy once you get the knack.) And yes, I with all of them!

Happy pop-up camping.

hahahaha at the cock and balls, i genuinely every time. we have two of the base seconds, just the no-added-frills ones, can't remember what they are called. love them, truly. we had four adults and two kids (and assorted detritus) sitting in one bit yakking and drinking for an evening... bit of a squeeze but do-able.

kewk, definitely go for it.

We bought one last year and it is fantastic. It does exactly what it says on the tin.
Another great thing - ideal for the british rainy weather is that if it is wet when you take it down, its so easy to just pop it back up in your garden when you get home to dry it off.

Err doh! Didn't even notice that you had said it was me that recommended this in the first place [thicko emoticon] - anyway, glad you are pleased with it northender and hope you have many happy camping trips.

I do think 'seconds' is a bit of an offputting name
They do look fantastic though...

fmtb, that presumes that it will ever stop raining

Tent was really really good. Two minor quibbles. I'd like the sleeping compartments to be a bit bigger as I didnt have quite enough room for me with a bag at the end of my mat and when the wind got up I dreamt I had birds nesting in my hair - turns out I was being battered by the sloping side
Also, somewhere in/out for shoes would be great - going to get a little tarp to make a porch.

It was very very easy and quick to put up and even more importantly very easy to take down even in the wind and rain. I was rather sad though that nobody stopped to admire how cool and efficient we were

oh and easily tall/big enough to sit in round a table in the living bit.

Yes ours was a success too although we struggled a bit in the wind taking down. Must have been amusing to watch. Agree about the sleeping compartments but a price worth paying for the convenience of the tent generally. It's definitely coming to Cornwall with us in August (needed to make sure it gave us enough living space).

I have just ordered my Quechua from Decathlon, simply based on the above recommendations, I'm soooo excited and can't wait for it to arrive ;0)

We have the 4.2 seconds base too and it's lovely. All 6 of us spent three happy weeks in in the other year touring france.

I have one too - but am a bit that DH is insisting on taking the bloody enormous slightly bigger Vango when we go to Wales .