Snagger
Explorer
http://seconds.quechua.com/index.php5?lg=EN
So called because they take about 2 seconds to erect, popping up by themselves once removed from their carry bags, they're available in a range of colours and sizes, from 1-4 man tents. They also have the "2 Second Air" which has large open side flaps to allow plenty of air circulation in warm climes, with mosquito netting to prevent insects (these flaps can be clipped shut in cooler areas).
The tent uses composite hoops as a folding frame, and is twisted shut like car accessory sun blinds for children when stowed. On removing from the bag, the tent can literally be thrown up in the air and will come down erected (it might need rolling upright). A peg in each corner loop (if windy) and it's done. There is a specific technique to folding it away, and the instructions are sewn into the bag, but watching the demo on Quecha's site is worth while. If you know how to do it, the time for stowing the tent, from removing the first peg to zipping the bag, is about 30 seconds.
The tents weigh only 5kg, are folded flat in their bags (about 3" thick), and the bag even has padded shoulder straps to be worn like a rucksack.
They cost about 60 Euro (a bit less for the simple one man, more for the four-man air), and the two man models fit perfectly on a decked roof rack, so not only work as a ground tent but also as a very effective and cheap roof tent.
There is an extensive range of extensions and accessories to join tents to eachother or have "annexes" for eating or changing. I found them to be excellent. Unfortunately, they were withdrawn from the US market, allegedly due to "fire risk", but I can't see how they differ from any other tent in that respect. I suspect it's a market protection thing, given their rapid dominance of the European small tent market - their quality seems good, and we Europeans are so hamstrung by "Health and Safety" regulations that we can barely step out of the house without warning notices or restrictions, so I severely doubt there is any real fire problem with them.
The best supplier are the French owned chain of "Decathalon" stores, which are huge sports and leisure warehouse stores across Europe. They can't import to the US, but I'd recommend them as a purchase to any Americans or Canadians visiting Europe.
So called because they take about 2 seconds to erect, popping up by themselves once removed from their carry bags, they're available in a range of colours and sizes, from 1-4 man tents. They also have the "2 Second Air" which has large open side flaps to allow plenty of air circulation in warm climes, with mosquito netting to prevent insects (these flaps can be clipped shut in cooler areas).
The tent uses composite hoops as a folding frame, and is twisted shut like car accessory sun blinds for children when stowed. On removing from the bag, the tent can literally be thrown up in the air and will come down erected (it might need rolling upright). A peg in each corner loop (if windy) and it's done. There is a specific technique to folding it away, and the instructions are sewn into the bag, but watching the demo on Quecha's site is worth while. If you know how to do it, the time for stowing the tent, from removing the first peg to zipping the bag, is about 30 seconds.
The tents weigh only 5kg, are folded flat in their bags (about 3" thick), and the bag even has padded shoulder straps to be worn like a rucksack.
They cost about 60 Euro (a bit less for the simple one man, more for the four-man air), and the two man models fit perfectly on a decked roof rack, so not only work as a ground tent but also as a very effective and cheap roof tent.
There is an extensive range of extensions and accessories to join tents to eachother or have "annexes" for eating or changing. I found them to be excellent. Unfortunately, they were withdrawn from the US market, allegedly due to "fire risk", but I can't see how they differ from any other tent in that respect. I suspect it's a market protection thing, given their rapid dominance of the European small tent market - their quality seems good, and we Europeans are so hamstrung by "Health and Safety" regulations that we can barely step out of the house without warning notices or restrictions, so I severely doubt there is any real fire problem with them.
The best supplier are the French owned chain of "Decathalon" stores, which are huge sports and leisure warehouse stores across Europe. They can't import to the US, but I'd recommend them as a purchase to any Americans or Canadians visiting Europe.
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