Can i just show off my new pop up tent as i finally have photos!

[4andnotout]

My dream tent

My kitchen set up as modelled by my dad

Ah there's an article on those tents in camping this moth is there not? Seem very good indeed.

Like the kitchen set up LOL, ours is just a Cobb and a picnic table if there's one hany MSL

omg is that tent a pop up?

PLEASE tell me what it is!?

It looks fab.

Is it easy to pop back down again?

Ian't it the decathlon?(or the Queschua, same thing IIRC)

Camping mag says that there's a handy video of both pop up and put down on the website and is easy enough once you get the hang of it

here

Yes it is the Quechua 4.2 seconds base, it is completely pop up, no poles at all to faff with, we can now get it up in about 4.5 minutes and down in about the same. It is ideal for us as having 4 young kids you need eyes up your arse keeping tabs on them, so speed is essential, it looks pretty too which is a bonus!

I remember looking at the Quechua small ones when they first brought them out, I didn't realise they'd brought out bigger versions though. How fab. Might NEED to go and have a look at one of those .

Can't beat a bit of tent porn!

I love the way it says you can put it down in 15 secs "with the knack" ..... and if you don't have the knack it takes forever with much swearing and cursing .

Did you go camping with Michael Stipe?

i think i could fold it in 15 seconds but taking it down completely in 15 secs no way!

Everyone says he looks like Michael Stipe He looks fairly good for being a father of a 27 year old and grandad to 4!

Can you add a standard 2 seconds tent to one of those (so you get an extra bedroom iyswim?

No you can't which is a shame.

oh boo. We need room for 5 and the one you can twin has too many gaps....

We squash fit 6 in ours but our dd's are all under 7 and have like to share beds with one of us

4and, he certainly does! I have a thing about Michael Stipe.......

pictures won't open [sob]

saintlymrst, they're not cheap (!) but one of these would be closest for your family I think

damned good tents

I know but I can;t put a khyam up myself quickly (have checked out my parents).

Its going to be a bell tent I think with a bedroom inner and sewn in groundsheet.

Have yo tried the ONtario? One person can do that- not an easy up though. Would your Dh be going? I guess that's the crux, due to ds1? I used to sit in the car with the boys and dh could pitch the ontario in 20 minutes single handedly.

Damned site chreaper than the easy up as well!

Bell tents are great, but i'd worry bout your ds1 and the sides being rolle dup at night (unless there are easier option available without roll up sides, last time I camped in one I was a girl guide LOL)

No roll up sides on our model. We'd get the sewn in ones.

Will check out the ontario.

Dh will be going, but ds1 will be off as soon as we arrive.

I am hoping for a spot in the disabled site - this is for Camp Bestival (actually never heard back I will rebook) - because then we can park next to the car.

We're thining about bestical in the future

Another one I can wholeheartedly recommend from next year is called Ty Park in pembroke- they're building 3 hideaway pitches: ie nothing that would distract your ds1, some space for him to make noises etc. We camped in the main bit (still only ten pitches) but they did have fires which was ahrd with ds3 even with every aprent on the site watching.

The couple who run it are incredibly amenable also, so worth emailing (and also worth noting they book a year in advance so you need to get in early!)

Any more... erm, cardigan bay caravan and camping site is fairly small with minimal pitches and you can aprk close to the tent.

Oh and yes, a SIG is essential; coldn't camp with mine without one

And a Cobb for cooking (cool sides so no burned littlies)

oh we won't be cooking (too hard with ds1)! In the summer we'll probably set up one day when he's at respite nearby then collect him the next morning so he can spend a day and night with us all then go home. I think anything else is just too hard. He loves it but it is such hard work as he just won't stay nearby and walks and walks and walks the whole day, it means we can't sit down at all (or we have to take it in turns to not sit down) which sort of loses the point a bit.