I've got two of these now, and as everyone has said, great in a car, bad on a bike. But if you're car based I'd go for the 2" XL, it's a little bit bigger than the standard and opens up from the side giving a huge huge self supporting opening which can act as a "rain porch" and it also has a small vestibule for bags, shoes etc.



Decathlon - 2 Seconds XL - QUECHUA - tente - le camp itinérant de 2 randonneurs recherchant une installation instantanée et spacieuse avec une grande capacité de rangement. -

They also now do this



Decathlon - Base Seconds full - QUECHUA - tente - le camp itinérant de 4 randonneurs cherchant un séjour protégeant des intempéries et permettant un accès direct à une 2 Seconds. - which is a vestibule for linking the tents together.

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I use a Hilleberg Staika with a footprint, I find it fantastic.

Hilleberg

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I have the full footprint with mine too. It makes the porch a very useable space. It's easy to put up and take down, lightweight and the poles look quality. I'm going to do as Gearpac suggested and start folding them from the middle and not one end to prevent the shock cord stretching too much. Once I've re-proofed it (£30) it should be perfect.

I am shocked... you spending £30 to reproof a tent and mine cost £10 ?
It has survive four years including pyrenean thunderstorms, north german driving mist and north french frost.
If mine needed reproofing I would go buy another from our local Hypermarket.

I admit, the material is thin and single skin, I would not choose to use it where i expect to get very cold weather...

...so I browsed the internet.

How about this one: Eureka K-2 XT Four Season Series Tent - 110287

I mean, Eureka tents have a pretty good reputation. And that is really a discounted price!! Just to provide some more information, and YES, please Grant, how about a new tent link!?!?!

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personal opinion. i dont think there's any need for a seperate tent link as we all found this did'nt we! just click on equipment find a thread on tent's and VOILA!
anyway back to the tent bit. i just picked up a vaude 4 seasons tent in january sales and it was reduced from £190 down to £130. i'm thoroughly happy with dimensions,material's etc and due to elastics on the out side and it's shape i'm told it'll be great in the wind.(we'll see)! i think a porch area also is a real must to leave your muddy boots and cooking gear etc. also if it's pouring down you can have door open and make coffee etc(very carefully) in the porch although this is not recomended! the only downside is that it's a bit bulky to carry although not massive. a great tip though i seen the other week is to go to a d.i.y shop (take your tent poles) and get some plastic tubing that your poles fit in nicely and 2 end caps.attach this to pannier rack or similar and then put your tent in a compression bag making everything smaller. also i use the tent pegs johnW_gearpac recommends (i am nothing to do with this man/his shop) but instead of using another peg to withdraw them which does'nt give much grip i cut old guide string down and made a small loop (6" diam) which can be just hooked on to peg and leaving loads of room to get your hand in to pull.
that's my thought's for today!
picture is not my tent but just for illustration purposes! mine goes lower and narrower at the back end.

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I've got a few cheaper tents too although not that cheap. I'm lucky and spend 5-6 weeks a year in my tent. I treat it as my holiday accommodation. It may have cost £400 but it's a pleasure to use and it works out over the 2 years that I've had it at £40 per week, with plenty more to come.

i think people are missing the point of the original question, sounded to me like Matt wanted some simple advice on a basic camping setup, (keywords; "finances", "round UK on a C90") not £130 vaudes or $320 eurekas, or another list of the tents we all use, too many threads like that on here already,
**bored yawn!**

i dont know exactly the sort of thing you need Matt but if you want a week slumming around britain or france on the cheap then a festival pack from argos for £50 will be adequate, anything more comfortable will cost extra, simple as that.
if you want a big name brand there are some deals around for last years stuff?

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dave

Tim,
Apart from that, how do you find the Mongoose? A supplier near me has some for £39 which seems to be a good buy. I'm also considering the Vango Banshee and Coleman Avior X2, both of which are much more expensive. Any other suggestions welcome for similar tents in the sub £100 price range.

I'll be taking it to Germany, Austria and N. Italy in mid May-early June and possibly France and N. Spain in September and it only has to sleep me +gear.

BTW, I've also got an EasyCamp Messina 400 which I'll be taking to the MotoGP at Assen in late June. It not only fits on a bike, it's big enough to fit mine and my mates bike inside (minus inner), keeping them out of sight of thieving scum while we enjoy the racing.

1) Comedy tents - They have only one layer, and the seams are not the tightest, I would advise against them.

2) Carrying on from the above, theses tents which can be thrown into the air and spring into shape, again any good?
If anything goes wrong with it, you will be in trouble. It is better to have a simpler tent that you can set up yourself the way you want it.

3) What size of tent is appropriate? E.g I am 6ft tall. With my bags etc would i be better purchasing a 2 man or 3 man tent? Also considering there may be occasions when i am not in there on my own...
Check the measurements, but I take a 2 person tent if I am going alone, have a 3 person tent if you are going to have company. You will need space for your gear.

4) Finances dictate that 1 summer and 1 winter tent are not applicable. 1 tent, all weathers for UK and hopefully european travel. Any suggestions?
Buy a 3 season tent, avoid heavy snow and windstorms.
5) Roll mats. Which are better inflatable or foam?
I use foam, but inflatable is more comfortable if you have a machine inflatable mat.

So i have gone down the thick foam route for underneath the sleeping bag...

In the end i did buy 2 tents, 1 for a festival from Tesco... which surprisingly lasted well mid Scottish summer

And another Vango lightweight tent, which i will post the model number of later...
Which is the one i may or may not take to Morocco in November...

LOTS here to think about...

Thank you for all the advice and tips

Matt

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2025 Planning.....