Quechua Base Seconds XL Tent Extension Reviews and Details

Tent Extension Reviews: Quechua Base Seconds XL

Tent and Awning Reviews Index > Quechua > Base Seconds XL Reviews

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14.00 KG
Ł199.95

Average User Rating:

9/10 from 8 reviews

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8 Reviews of the Base Seconds XL

By: AndyRomain Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2012 Rating: 9 from 10

In the last year or so I've added the Base Seconds XL to my Quechua pop-up collection, and haven't been at all disappointed.

Having used the Seconds 4.2 with the Base Seconds living area as a porch, I decided to try expanding and using the XL as the main room, with the Seconds fitted out with the bedroom liner as the main bedroom, and another Seconds with just a groundsheet as a storage space.

This worked superbly, and so this year, tried the configuration of using the two Seconds with bedroom inners as bedrooms, and the XL as the living area. Again, lots of space and versatility. I am now considering getting one more Seconds to use as a storage tent, so the 3 adjacent doors almost function as a 'vis-a-vis' style tent.

This range has enormous flexibility. When I want to go camping alone, I just take a Seconds with a bedroom liner, and when I take my son etc, we take the tents we need to make the configuration required centred around the XL as the 'hub'

The build quality is superb as can be expected by the Quechua range. The footprint is a little large and complex when compared to a standard tunnel tent, which would probably give an equivalent, more manageable layout, but for a big tent, this is easy to put up single handedly, important when I have my young son accompanying me.

It would have been nice (being picky now) if they had produced it in green to match the Seconds tents, but that's no real biggy.

It is the most awkward of the pop-ups in the range to pack away, as there's a bit of a 'double fold' action required due to it's hexagonal shape, but again, it's just a matter of practice (and brute force).

I've used it in relatively high winds with no problems, but am not sure, given it's size, how it would hold up to a gale force wind. But then, saying that, it would seem that many larger, more expensive tents also tent to fail in such a scenario.

The space will easily hold a table and chairs comfortably. It would be nice if Quechua would produce a custom carpet for the tent, as due to its size and shape, it takes a lot of picnic rugs to cover the groundsheet for comfort!

Where the doors meet those of the smaller tents, there is a small gap that can be blocked up to an extent by the triangle sheets included, as mentioned by another reviewer, but it's not a perfect seal. Nothing drastic though.

In conclusion, this tent is ideal for anyone with other tents in the base seconds range to expand their living space, and it also makes a handy garden tent for summer BBQ's!

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By: Baseman Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2012 Rating: 10 from 10

This is a massive hexagonal living area with 6 zip window openings of which 4 also open up as doors. If you want to extend your Quechua Seconds Base 4.2 tent or to an extent one of the Seconds 4.2 or 4.2 XL tents then this gives an extraordinary amount of space for the money (on sale for Ł149.99 at Decathlon). It's not a sleeping tent, more a day tent or living space. It may not be as rigid in extremely high winds, but it was never advertised as an extreme mountain tent and Quechua didn't post a video of it in a wind tunnel getting the stuffing blown out of it (like they did with the Seconds Base 4.2). For what it was designed to do, it does it very well and it's a great alternative to a gazebo when you want one at a BBQ in your garden!

NOTE: Be aware though, all the Base range including the Seconds Base 4.2 (but not the Seconds 4.2 or 4.2 XL which have been updated and raised this year) are now being discontinued by Quechua. I think this will up the 2nd hand market for the Base range, maybe even make it an investment at the current Decathlon promotional prices!

The replacement MSH (My Second Home) range is really aimed at a higher luxury market as it starts at Ł449.99 for a living room area that is roughly equivalent to the Base XL, going up to Ł649.99 if you want the LED illuminated version! Also linking corridors and tents are equally expensive but do zip-up for a better seal. The MSH range are no longer pop-up but use inflatable pillars to prop-up the tent and have sew-in groundsheets. It's not really a like for like replacement, a real shame as the Base concept is such a great innovation of versatility.

Hopefully, Quechua will reverse their decision and bring the Base range back - otherwise, you will be missed!

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By: Alistair908 Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2012 Rating: 9 from 10

We got this model (Base Seconds XL) to accompany our Armadillo (as we call it) Quechua and add some much needed space for cooking and lazing about it.

Being over 6foot tall I found this to be ideal and it packs away to a dustbin lid sized bag in under 4 minutes (with practice, get on youtube for videos).

Fantastic price in the Decathlon sale at Ł150 and brilliantly functional.

Like others have mentioned, not 100% in strong winds as gets a little mis-shapen, but bounces back well.

Well worth investing in some decent pegs and extra guy lines, but hey, we should all have a basic camp/repair kit of -

Pegs - Guy Lines - Mallet - Gaffer Tape etc.

This tent is most suited to use as a day/cooking and entertaining unit and deffo worth the investment.

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By: Andrew Green Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2012 Rating: 6 from 10

Took one of these to St Agnes, Isles of Scilly

Plus points. I found it very easy to put up and fairly easy to take down (watching their video a few times helps). It is a lovely space to be in, very flexible with the four openings. The six overhangs also keep it very cool in direct sunlight, and in rain, as long as there is no wind, doors may be left open.

Minus points. This is very much a day tent and not a serious camping tent, at least not in UK weather. In strong winds with gusts (thank you Atlantic) the tent deforms. Once the overhangs get blown flat in the prevailing wind some of the structural stability is lost and the main ribs begin to cave in.

After 2 days of strong winds (not storms), a fibreglass hoop from one of the overhangs broke free from its rubber anchor (the anchor tore) and penetrated the tent wall. Fortunately I was able to use the velcro tags that attach to the overhangs as additional guy attachments (these velcro attachments replace the plastic clips shown in the video as a means of securing the overhangs for packing - a bit of a downgrade I think). Using 2 for each overhang, I was able to stabilise them (12 extra guys mind!) and the whole tent was then stabilised and just about survived. It still made a terrible noise with its flapping. Also, the guys provided use a single peg to secure 3 lines each. With the movement in the wind the guys frayed, both where they run over the peg, and where they run through the ring. They almost all frayed, though only one snapped. A serious design flaw I think. I used delta pegs. The pins provided would have probably pulled out in the wind. The tent is well ventilated (I felt safe cooking in it, although made sure I had a CO detector) but the downside is that there is no way of keeping the wind out once it gets cool.

In summary. Lovely tent if no wind but not for the serious UK camper. Please see my review for the 2seconds+3. An entirely different proposition and no complaints there

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By: Jez5005 Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2010 Rating: 9 from 10

Used this tent along with my base seconds and joined together 'see pics'. Where the 2 tents join,there bit of a gap allowing wind to sneak in.Where as the smaller version on this family room tent didn't .Above the doors there are air vents which let in air.Great on hot sunny day allowing the breeze in,but useless at nite as you can not close them off? you should be able see them in my pics. Thinks I'll have to tape them up next time. As when all or some of doors open in the day,there more than enough ventilation coming in. Even the doors have windows which can open to let in air.Don't understand why they bothered to put those top vents in? Negatives over now.Plus side to things is the space,it's huge.Ideal for a big family.Easy to put up,as long as there not gales as then it nearly becomes a kite.And is awkward.Loads of doors with built in windows.Which is handy for all round views .So I gave it a 9. Would of give it a 10 but for the vents above the doors as been mentioned here on a earlier post.

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By: Bretskee Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2011 Rating: 9 from 10

I Love my Quechua Tents - Base XL and Base 4.1 Joined together. So easy to pitch and fold away and I'm getting better at it each time. I give them 9 out of 10 simply because although they are wonderful, they can let in a certain amount of drafts and bugs from the floor/skirting area and a breeze from the vents which are permanently open above. I now have a quiet fan heater that has kept it all warm enough, and when it has got very cold and/or drafty in the night I close the doors where the two tents join. In heavyish winds in September 2011 in Derbyshire the tent was flapped around a lot and was noisy, but I was amazed to find the next morning that my 'standard' tent pegs that came with the tents all stayed in place and all I had to show from the blast was a few slightly slackened Guy Ropes.

I love having the Base XL attached to the 4.1 because you get Loads more room, it looks amazing, you can stand up and walk around, and the 3 Big doors at the front give a lovely panoramic view and make it light and open, and you don't have to use the ground sheet if you don't want to.

I found that I needed a couple of bedside type Lamps with at least 40w bulbs to keep the 2 tents bright and chirpy in the evenings and enable you to find anything you were looking for. The vents at the top of the XL are large and breezy at times and I wish I could zip them up to an extent.

Almost as soon as I got my 4.1 I pretty much knew I wanted the Base XL to go on the front of it, and I am sooooo Glad I did. Even though there is a gap where the two tents meet and you can see some daylight through there. There are long triangle bits they provide the cover the gaps, but I don't think were made for joining different size tents together. You get drafts sometimes, but no rain came in because of the doorway canopy of the XL sitting nicely on top of the canopy of the 4.1.

I love the color too as I read someone else on here rates as well. I wish it had some windows that were 'see through' plastic instead of breezy porous fly sheet type material, then I could unzip and let the light in without the wind as well. I guess when the weather is sunny and Hot, I'll be Very Thankful for all the light and air that I have in there. It is extremely light and airy and spacious!

All in all a Glorious tent setup that I'm very proud and pleased to own and will hopefully use a lot from here on.

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By: Emelem1 Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2011 Rating: 10 from 10

Well what can I say this tent is fantastic, we bought it to use with another Quechua tent we have just bought. Its great 'pop' and you have an extra large living space. We had rain and wind, probably not the strongest gales but enough to give it a good test! The difference with this tent and the smaller base tents is that it has a hoop that you fix to the inside top of the tent, this gives it much more stability and although the sides can bend in a bit in the wind the hoop stops it from completely caving in like I have heard some of the smaller ones do. Another good feature is how you have so many doors, so you can get more Quechua tents to use with it and can also open up doors to get a good view and good ventilation. I only have two small con's which are the fact that for good ventilation the mosquito mesh above the doors lets in quite a breeze in the wind, it would be nice to have an option to close them up and also the groundsheet is not fitted, but it is 'bucket' style so it works well anyway. I am still giving it 10 out of 10 as the ventilation is probably for a reason, we suffered no condensation and also it probably helps the wind to pass through the tent rather than knock it over.

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By: Willow_catkin Reason: I've used one Made in: 2010 Rating: 10 from 10

Fantastic tent, great size and amazingly flexible as it attaches to the base seconds to give more living space or as bedrooms.

Quick and easy to pitch and can be folded down by one person in minutes.

Size and weight - Hexagonal living area, 2m sides for a surface area of 10 m˛. Max headroom 2.05m. 14kg.

Ventilation

1 ventilation flap above the 4 doors. 6 large mosquito-netted windows (can be closed). Everything is designed to maximise ventilation, and reduce natural condensation.

This Seconds Base was designed as the (very big) living room for 2 Seconds tents, for fresh, rainy, or mosquito-filled evenings. It therefore does not have a bedroom, but is compatible with 2 Seconds bedrooms.

Entrance/exit - It has 4 large doors, 3 of which are adjoining to allow for a panoramic view of the countryside, and a 4th door at the back. These doors are easily stored in adjacent pocket, for increased ease of use. Large overhangs protect each door from the sun and rain - and allow you to keep them open.

Pitching/ folding

Innovation: the groundsheet can be positioned and secured before the tent is unfolded. This facilitates the right positioning of the tent, and its accurate set up. Then, you can unfold and set it up in under 2 minutes! Folds down in less than 2 minutes when you have the knack.

This tent can easily be used without the groundsheet.

Living and storage space - With its 10 m˛, 8 or even 10 people can comfortably sit at the table. The groundsheet is included. It is basin shaped, and prevents any rainwater runoff into the tent. Base tents can be twinned together, either with a Full Seconds Base or an XL Seconds Base.

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Manufacturer's Description

Designed for camping for up to 10 hikers who need a quick set-up living area offering shelter from bad weather conditions.
The very large 2 Seconds living area: 2-minute set up.1 ventilation flap above the 4 doors. 6 large mosquito-netted windows (can be closed). everything is designed to maximise ventilation, and reduce natural condensation.Poles Solid fibreglass; highly break resistant.Tent pegs Galvanised steel, 6mm in diameter, for excellent twist-resistance.
Cover Disc that is 90cm in diameter, and 10cm thick. no-zip flap, which is more practical, and 2 straps for occasional carrying.Warranty All our tents are guaranteed for 2 years under normal usage Size and weight Hexagonal living area, 2m sides for a surface area of 10 m˛. max headroom 2.05m. 14kg.Bedroom space This seconds base was designed as the (very big) living room for 2 seconds tents, for fresh, rainy, or mosquito-filled evenings. it therefore does not have a bedroom, but is compatible with 2 seconds bedrooms. Storage space (or living space, for some tents)
With its 10 m˛, 8 or even 10 people can comfortably sit at the table. the groundsheet is included. it is basin shaped, and prevents any rainwater runoff into the tent. base tents can be twinned together, either with a full seconds base or an xl seconds base, extending the shelter area from 5 to 10 m˛ or 15m˛ or more. see demonstration film
Entrance/exit It has 4 large doors, 3 of which are adjoining to allow for a panoramic view of the countryside, and a 4th door at the back. these doors are easily stored in adjacent pocket, for increased ease of use. large overhangs protect each door from the sun and rain - and allow you to keep them open.
Pitching/ folding - Innovation: the groundsheet can be positioned and secured before the tent is unfolded. this facilitates the right positioning of the tent, and its accurate set up. then, you can unfold and set it up in under 2 minutes! folds down in less than 2 minutes

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