Decathlon Base Seconds 4.2

[DoodleAlley]

Hi we have a huge monstrosity of a tent being convinced that we would use it all the time but it's a pain to set up with a three ear old unsupervised and is most definately a two man job and sixty mins either way. It also fills the entirety of our boot which is a slight pain.

So I'm thinking about a pop up family tent so we can do weekend trips with a little less angst.

I've been looking at the Decathlon Base Seconds 4.2 tent which is apparently a pop up family tent and I was looking for any comments good or bad.

In particular ease of putting up or down but also I can suffer very slight from
Claustrophobia in certain circumstances and so would be grateful or opinions on whether their claim that two people can sleep in one bedroom
Is actually realistic?

Thanks in advance

We have the 4.1 which is slightly different and just has one bedroom. However, in terms of putting it up and taking it down, I think it is not dissimilar and, once we got the hang of it (you do need to watch the online video) we find it quite easy and quick. It is easier for 2 to do it but my DH can do it on his own (and I probably could do but haven't tried).

We have friends with the 4.2 and they are very happy with it. We watched them put it down the very first time and they actually did it really quickly and are experts now.

As far as the bedrooms are concerned, you could fit a double airbed in each but you have to sleep width wise (as they show on the website) and the one furthest from the door will have less airspace as the rooms taper down to the ground. So if your DH is ok with it, you could sleep near the door and should be fine.

If you were ok with all sleeping together, the 4.1 allows you to sleep with your heads near the door so both of you would have more head space. However, if you have claustrophobia, you would be best sleeping in the centre with your DH and DC on either side.

Otherwise, I think Decathlon now do even bigger pop ups, but I don't know anyone who has one so can't comment on how easy they are to take down.

That's great thanks, I think I might measure the sleeping space out in my lounge too!

I love mine. I do it myself, even in the rain.
But it does take practice and lots of watching of the video.

That's interesting to hear that you can do it on your own. I guess I need to decide whether the space/ ease of putting up is the right balance.

I was looking at the Quechua quechua family 4.2 seconds or even the family xl which if you are claustrophobic you may prefer as it is taller all the way through (rather than peaking in the centre). Really, the only thing that stopped me is that I have a perfectly good tent the groundsheet isn't sewn in so I was worried about bugs. but, maybe that is a small price to pay if it means getting the tent up in 5 minutes rather than 45...

We have a big old Cabanon frame tent which is a home away from home for longer stays. We also have a Base 4.2 for weekends & stop overs. I wouldn't want to spend a week living out of it but it's great for last minute get aways. Two people can comfortably sleep in each of the bedrooms although there's no additional room for bags etc and it's standing height in the middle with enough room for bits and pieces and a couple of chairs. For a family, unless you'll be off doing activies or sight seeing all day, I would suggest a tarp, gazebo or utility tent to go with it and free up the living area for living rather than cooking equipment/food storage. It's a good tent and I don't think you'll find anything easier to put up/take down of a comparable size & quality. Putting it up is easily done by one person but two people make putting it away easier.

By the way, I see that the 4.1 is on sale for just under £100 at the moment

A few of us campers have bought the base seconds xxl recently. It's smaller than the others but is a good weekend tent. It is easy to put up and take don if you follow the instructions

actually mine is the Quechua BASE SECONDS 4.1

Watch the video, it really is quick, light and easy.

Yeah I looked at the base seconds xxl but I think its just a bit too closed in for me. It would not end well!!

Just looking at the set up video and the tent seems to be only single skin even in the bedroom.

I'm used to there being double skin tents and the waterproofing coming from that.

I presume people have found them adequately waterproof?

We have just purchased a family xl which seems great. I don't know how bad your claustrophobia is but the bedrooms are absolutely fine, especially if you sleep by the door. The bedrooms in this one are definitely double skin ie a sleeping compartment inside the main tent. You don't have to put it up separately, it just pops up with the tent.

Ours has been up for a few days in very wet weather and is bone dry with no pre treatment, apart from a puddle at the door which was our fault as we didn't velcro the lip of the groundsheet up.

Hope you find the one that's right for you

I'm sure they are outer skin and inner pod, not single skin.

Can you get to ma Decathlon store? They have all the tents pitched in the car park at the Surry Quays store in S London atm.

Our 4.1 has a single skin in the main living area and the bedroom pod is separate with its own sewn in groundsheet. As Melonian says, the bedroom pod is attached to the tent and pops up with it.

I am almost certain the 4.2 is the same with respect to its two bedroom pods.

RE waterproofing, my understanding is that the outer fly sheet provides the waterproofing and the inner means you don't have condensation running down the walls.
A single skin living area is fine, IME

We made the change last year from a huge tunnel tent to a 4.2 xl. It is great.

So easy to put up, not cramped at all inside. Bedroom pods have inner pods but they are already there when the tent goes up. It survived a really bad storm last year with no leaks (I think it was the only tent on the site that did).

Bit of a trick to put down, put quick once you've got the knack.