help me with our choice of tent for imminent trip please

[cheerup]

Off to the Loire later today - arriving tomorrow when the weather is forecast to be lovely. Sunday it's forecast to change and we might want to relocate having already had one 100% wet week under canvas this year. We were planning to take our old but lovely frame tent which takes over an hour to put up and take down but have now decided to take the Quechua 4.2 so that we can easily move on if needs be. There are 5 of us - 2 adults and 3 children aged 2-9 - and I'm a bit that we'll all be tripping over each other and get cabin fever. We've used it successfully for one or two nights but never as long as a week... We do also have an enormous Obelink tarp so hoping that will provide the necessary extra space. Anyone else ever spent a week with 5 in a Base 4.2? I don't want to take both and not use the huge heavy one.

LostInWales has done 3 or 4 weeks iirc with 5 in the 4.2. I'll do a shout out for her.

If it helps any we (only 4 of us) spent 6 weeks in a tent measuring 3x4m (+ tarp) last year and not only survived but had a great time.

Take the popup, save yourself an enormous amount of hassle and have a lovely holiday and a bit

I reckon the pop-up will be fine - have a great time bon voyage!

Thank you thank you... sooooo excited. Cabanon still in loft, pop up awaiting loading. Arghh I love camping but find packing & loading v stressful. Roll on tomorrow & a nice glass of or two.

We have the 4.2. What we do is take an extra 2 man, 2 seconds tent for the kids. They don't always sleep in it, but it gives them a "playroom" away from the main tent. It only takes a couple of minutes to put up and down so it is no extra bother.

Second French Fancy - you can get these small 'festival' tents dead cheap in most supermarkets atm, as littel as £20, at that price it doesn't matter if you don't even bother to bring it home again. Although not very 'green' of course...

I'm with you anxiously watching the French weather forecasts. Will be in Rouen by Sunday evening. Weather looks changeable...

Have a great holiday cheerup. Have a pichet glass of Loire Valley for me

It might be cheaper with the exchange rate to pick up a pop-up in a French branch of Decathlon?

The problem with the cheapo pop up festival tent - or any single skin tent - is that they run with condensation, and are steamy to sit in within minutes.

The Quechua 2 Seconds ones, having a fly and inner, are much better.

Sorry, late to the party, we did a loop down to Italy and back up again with our 4.2 and 3DS (11,9,4 at the time) we had a one man pop up for DS1 as he is tall with huge feet and takes up loads of room. We set up a tarp outside and had the best adventure ever. I am very jealous, have a fantastic holiday. We had such a great time we booked to do it all again this year.