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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.

Small / 2nd tent advice- Decathlon?

33 replies

ToooOldForThis · 04/05/2021 22:55

Wondering if anyone could advise...we go camping as a family of 4 plus dog, in a big inflatable Outwell tent. We're not at the blow up sofa and TV stage bit I do take a fair bit of stuff and like it to be comfy. Tent is huge and I can't lift it or put it up or down on my own.
dH is increasingly busy with work and my kids are a bit older now, so I'd like to be able to take off just the 3 of us even for a night or so without dh. Looking for a tent which is small enough that I can lift it and put it up with dds help, but also big enough that it doesn't drive me mad and put me off camping!
Decathlon have a 4 man inflatable for just under £300 - I was wondering if anyone had tried it (will try to add link) or could suggest something else that would fit the bill?

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ToooOldForThis · 04/05/2021 23:02

www.decathlon.co.uk/p/inflatable-camping-tent-air-seconds-4-1-f-b-4-person-1-bedroom/_/R-p-302837 this is the one I'd looked at. Kids are 12 and 8 and tall..wondering if we'd find it tiny

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Goldrill · 04/05/2021 23:07

www.gooutdoors.co.uk/15903815/coleman-kentmere-3-tent-15903815
I bought one of these a couple of years ago for the same reason and it has been great! 5 minutes to put up on my own and I really like the blackout!
We've managed to sleep all 4 of us and a large dog in it; plenty of space for sleeping but no room for manoeuvre.

ToooOldForThis · 04/05/2021 23:22

Oh thank you! Great price too.
Do you have a larger tent also, does the change to a smaller one not bother you? I'm worried I'm a bit spoiled with our huge family one and might not enjoy being at such close quarters with my kids!
I have a small event shelter to put chairs, cooking stuff etc under separately

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ToooOldForThis · 05/05/2021 07:48

Oh also we have camp beds rather than air mattresses, wondering if they'll fit!

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ShroomShroom · 05/05/2021 08:11

We have this one as our smaller tent: www.millets.co.uk/15986794/eurohike-cairns-4-deluxe-tent-15986794

I had four of us in it this weekend but it was a bit squished. Fine for 3 though. Bigger than I had expected and good head room. The angle of the door is a bit of a pain if it rains. Haven't tried the camping beds in it yet though only the inflatable mattresses.

MrsWombat · 05/05/2021 08:14

The decathlon one looks fab. I use an Vango Icarus 500, which is a similar size, as it's normally just me and the kids. (If DP is with us we take the porch too) My 12 year old is very useful in helping me put it up.

ToooOldForThis · 05/05/2021 16:19

Thank you so much! The main issues with our "proper" tent in terms of me putting it up is the weight when it's in the bag, and the height, as i can't reach the top of the "doorway" or the supporting beams. These all look like they'd overcome these obstacles!

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OpposableThumbs2 · 05/05/2021 17:23

I have the 5 man inflatable decathlon tent. I wouldn't want to carry it far but I can get it out of the car and it is easy to put up on my own.

averythinline · 07/05/2021 08:01

Those are all a bit small for your party i think...the first is your best bet....I wouldn't want to all sleep in 1 room but it is doable....does it have to be inflating? Pole tents generally much lighter and easy to put up if not huge.....you could do yourself but 12/8 year old could def help...
The Vango Icarus mentioned is a really good one ....you don't want less than 3 poles...
Its a great idea and I often do quick trips with dc but I think you would regret too small....where do you all go when its raining ?
What's your budget I love tent shopping ...

ToooOldForThis · 07/05/2021 22:36

Oh thank you @averythinline
By the 1st one do you mean the decathlon?
It doesn't have to be inflatable, I've just never had a poled tent,but I'd be very willing to learn.
I think £300 absolute ceiling?
Yes I really think I'll miss the space, our main tent is HUGE

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dalrympy · 08/05/2021 21:33

Does the decathlon inflatable tent have a sewn in groundsheet? I've always been put off by the separate ground sheets in their tents. Maybe that's changed now?

Aalvarino · 08/05/2021 21:38

I've got a monster polycotton one as my main tent and we like our camping comfort stuff...

As our second weekend tent we have a cheap decathlon one (Arpez family 4 or something like that) and it is brilliant. It cost about £90. I mean, air ones are great if you can afford or frequently camp in places that are very blustery but our cheapo one has served us very well. It has a good full height area and is plenty big enough for the odd night here and there. My kids are preteen and teen.

Only thing I would say is, if you can, maybe get one of the decathlon ones with the blackout lining. The cheaper ones are light-coloured.

EdHelpPls · 08/05/2021 21:45

Can you get to a decathlon to see the tent set up? I think if you are just using it as a place to sleep and will be out a lot it's fine. Or if you are happy to stack the beds away to create more floor space it would be fine. I would have found it claustrophobic with my two little kids.
( We actually have their small blackout pop up when it's just the 3 of us but they are both 7 and under, and it's just for sleeping. We don't cook or eat there. Blackout is fab)

TriSeaSwim99 · 08/05/2021 21:50

I’ve put up our old Outwell Nevada M several times with a 10year helping with the poles. They are really well made tents so hold their value second hand. Poles are just as easy to put up you just feed them through and slot in. Then get kid to hold the guy rope one end when you pull it up. Loads of videos on you tube to help watch with the kids before you go showing you how to do it. This tent has good head height so it’s half way between the small dome tent and the long big family tent ( we’ve got a big Vango one as well).

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Outwell-Nevada-M-Tent-/144026995367?var=0&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338268676&toolid=10044&customid=EAIaIQobChMIvLrhhfq68AIVTbDtCh0LbgLvEAQYASABEgJh0fD_BwE

UpTheJunktion · 08/05/2021 22:53

I don’t think the Decathlon one had a sewn in groundsheet in the living area? Does it have mesh doors?

What about this?

www.gooutdoors.co.uk/15903813/coleman-mosedale-5-family-5-person-tent-15903813

Great tent.

Easy to put up by yourself, but your 12 year old will be an expert helper.

UpTheJunktion · 08/05/2021 22:55

Check out the Cross Camping Method for putting up a tunnel tent, made by Gary Cross.

You and a 12 year old would have this tent up just as fast as an inflatable.

EduCated · 08/05/2021 23:10

I’ve been eying up this one though I’m not familiar with the brand.

ToooOldForThis · 08/05/2021 23:20

@EduCated I love the look of that! Never heard of the brand either.

To whoever mentioned wind, we are in Scotland- it's always wet and windy! So I do need something reasonably reliable.

I've been eyeing up that Coleman one today actually, it looks like a contender!

The weight of a poled tent in it's bag is swaying me I think. There were a few mentions of the decathlon groundsheet in the reviews- sounds like it's sewn in but people were mentioning gaps at the front

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UpTheJunktion · 09/05/2021 07:51

I am swayed by the fact that I just don’t like the look of those Decathlon ones. I don’t like the turquoise colour (for a tent), the bulbous beams in the outside....

All the money is going into the air beams. At this size of tent I would rather pay less for a much better spec tent and have poles. Once you have worked out a new pole tent they go up inside 15 mins. And inflatable tents are no quicker to pack up, all that squeezing the air out.

FleetwoodRaincoat · 09/05/2021 08:03

This is a game-changer, but you can only get them second-hand now. I love mine.

www.ukcampsite.co.uk/tents/p/Quechua-Base-Seconds-4.2/972

UpTheJunktion · 09/05/2021 08:07

To be fair, the Decathlon blow up dies have a good spec, but it does not have a sewn in groundsheet in the living area. The ground sheet clips in, and has an upstanding all round the edge, hence the term ‘basin’ or ‘bathtub’ groundsheet. It’s possible that a dog could get out.

ToooOldForThis · 09/05/2021 08:34

We have a very biddable and non escaping dog, but the bath tub groundsheet does put me off in terms of wind and rain!

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TriSeaSwim99 · 09/05/2021 12:28

That Gemini Tent would you have to climb over the person your sleeping next to in the night? I wasn’t sure if the doubles went sideways? That would annoy the crap out of me for those middle of the night weesGrin

Liliolla · 09/05/2021 13:02

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

ToooOldForThis · 09/05/2021 13:03

Wow wasn't expecting that helpful comment ShockGrin

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