Popup Tents - Any good?

ballooba

I'm camping Fri and Sat on Achill Island. I need a tent. I was thinking of buying a Eurohike popup tent from Millet's. Are they any good?

http://www.millets.co.uk/millets.storefront/product/094591.aspx?breadcrumbs=MIL%20SS06%20Camping;MIL%20SS06%20Tents

buildabong

I have never used one but they are very heavy and bulky (when folded up), the one I saw.
So basically useless if you are backpacking.

As a ex boyscout, these tents go against my err "believes"

ballooba

I'll be driving down. I have a commercial jeep, so I was thinking of just putting my air mattress in the back but a tent may be more conventional and less controversial.

cavedave

These tents are great for car camping. If you have to carry the tent around they are not. Practice taking it down in your back garden as that can be tricky.

ballooba

Thanks for the advice. Hopefully should pick it up for less than €70.

Evil Phil

I'd sleep in the jeep myself but carrying a tent will do you know harm.

ballooba

Evil Phil wrote:

I'd sleep in the jeep myself but carrying a tent will do you know harm.

That's what I'm thinking. Hedging my bets with the tent.

Pros of Tent
- Can leave matress etc. in it while off windsurfing in Jeep.
- Likely to be warmer.

Cons of Tent
- Could blow away.
- Could be wet.
- Have to put it up.
- One of my mates may knock it down for the laugh.
- Wake up early.

Pros of Jeep
- No assembly.
- Dry and Sturdy.

Cons of Jeep
- May have hassle with campsite owner about parking it on his grass.
- No curtains (wake up early).
- No insulation.
- Need somewhere to put windsurfing gear.

ballooba

I got two popups today. The first was single skinned and then when I thought about it I went and bought a double skinned. I'll bring the single skin down and pass it off on some unsuspecting punter.

numpty999

Hi Ballooba,
We are going to Achill Island the second week in August. Any chance that once you have been this weekend you could post a quick review of the island and/or sites you used. This would be much appreciated.
Many thanks in advance Mike

Ps I realise you are only going for the weekend but any help is good cheers

ballooba

I slept in the jeep. It was perfectly fine apart from it had no curtains so very bright in the morning. I neglected to open the windows a craic on the first night and woke up with a headache.

We stayed in the Valley Hostel, it's very disorganised which is a bit annoying. The rooms looked fine from what I saw. The people were fantastic and the bar was great craic. I will definitely go back down because the lack of organisation was more than made up for in the craic.

I don't know about any of the other camping sites. The highlight of the trip for me was Keem beech at the very end of the Island. I was winddsurfing on Keel lake for two hours on Saturday which was good craic. Diesel after Longford was prohibitively expensive. 110 plus. I filled up in Longford for 105.

numpty999

Cheers for that. cant wait to get there. cant wait to experience Ireland. 1st week Tralee then off to Achill. Leaving tomorrow and feel like a kid on christmas eve