Hi everyone, I am thinking of buying one of those pop up tents. The particular brand I am looking at is the “reactive outdoors” ones. I have seen some comments on facebook about some that are not waterproof, though I’m not sure what brand they are. Has any of you had first hand experienced of these tents? Are they any good? I welcome all advise/comments.
I looked at them but like you found a load of mixed reviews - that and the paid for promotion on FB put me off. I want for a Decathlon 2 second tent - really well made and super easy to set up.
If it helps, my current is a Helm Compact 2, got good reviews, dome tent, 2 doors, only 2 ‘poles’, self standing meaning if you want to move it, pull the pegs and it still stands up, just pick it up and move it. 
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We have four different Decathlon pop up tents - a huge 4 person tunnel tent (yes, still pops up in a few seconds), a three person, a two person and a beach shelter.
The tunnel tent and two person have been used in hideous weather and are years old, they still perform admirably. In fact the tunnel tent survived a storm which closed Camp Bestival one year and damaged and blew away lots of tents. We stayed despite the show being cancelled as we didn’t want to pack up in a storm and drive for four hours. The experience was unique - like a zombie apocalypse with rampant looting going on amid howling gales and non-stop rain, but the tent kept us safe and sound.
With Decathlon tents being so well designed and made I don’t think it’s worth spending crazy money on other brands.
I bought Vaude brand tent which my local independent outdoor store recommended. Original price £400, on offer at £200. It is Everest base camp capable with something like a 10 metre head pressure withstanding ability.
An each end door with no pole in the doorway is great. The tent’s corners get pegged down first, then the exoskeleton frame is pushed into the corners and hold up the outer flysheet with bungee cords. Not to heavy, goes up in 15 minutes maximum. Once up can be carried around erected by the frame, so presumably doesn’t even need pegging down if it’s hammering down with rain. Been on a few bike camping trips and really like it.
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Hi, I’ve had one of these too and have used it for around 15 years. 3 man tent is you are intimately acquainted… Would endorse everything you say, it goes up in a few minutes and has always been waterproof. Only problem I’ve had is that the alu tent poles were prone to snapping due to fatigue at the insert end. This seems to have been a manufacturing fault as the ones replaced under guarantee are not staked at this end. The UK distributors changed the poles as they snapped without charge for at least 10 years despite my offers of payment so can’t fault the backup. Not cheap but worthi t in the long run.
Not sure which model my Vaude tent is however it is supposed to be a 3 man tent but a double air bed leaves about 6"-12" for person number 3…
And remember to only blow the air bed up when it inside the tent lol
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RE the Vaude model: I used to have a Mk3, yours looks similar to that, with the external pole arrangement. Good tents.
When you said ‘pop-up’, I imagined those that pack into a circular bag, which while convenient, are a pain to carry on a motorbike, but, that Reactive Outdoors one looks clever, very simple, packable, and quick to pop up.
They’ve some offers available too so decent prices.
I’ve a couple of Vango tents, a two and another three person job, both bought from Milletts, However, though bought with good ‘intent’ to use either on a European or TT trip (as they pack in a manageable way to strap on the bike), I’ve not used either.
Would be interested in any feedback on those Reactive ones. 
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thank you all for your input , I am in a better place to make an informed decision
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Hi there, l had one of these a few years ago and whilst erection time was amazing, one had to take care when folding it up, especially trying to avoid snagging the fly sheet material in the pole hinges. I found it to be spacious and water proof, but, (and this reason I sold it) it’s folded up size was 750mm almost as wide as my handle bars and certainly wider than my foot pegs , which meant extra care when picking through traffic.
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I’ve not seen many good reviews of the Reactive Outdoors tent, but l can vouch for the Slumit Cub which is very similar, but in my opinion,much better quality with a decent sized vestibule for panniers & boots etc.
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I have a 2-man Slumit Cub. Chose it over the cheapy pop-ups from China so that I could buy spares if needed. The 3-second pop-up claim is a joke, you can stand it up in that time once it has been laid out and each of the four slender legs are checked and in line at each of their 3 joints. Once up, you have to go around and peg it out (about 13, plus 2 more pegs, 2 poles and 2 more guys to hold the front entrance open as a canopy, plus 4 more pegs and 4 guys if the weather is very windy).
Space inside for 2 is do-able since there is a reasonable vestibule for kit inside the main entrance and I can keep kit that’s not needed on the bike in panniers or top box. The space works very well for one person, however.
It rolls into a relatively long sausage shape, and you need to check the size and shape will pack ok on your bike; mine sits on top of my stuff bag across the pillion seat. It is relatively heavy as well.
I have used the Cub on 4 or 5 camping touring trips on my Breva 1100 and the total setting up and down times are faster and improving still with a little practice. It is good for one nighters when touring. In rainfall I can stand it up and put helmet and gloves, etc inside before pegging out.
Best price for this and the reasonably insulated Slummit inflatable bed was direct from the manufacturer.
I would expect the other similar pop-up tents would have similar pros and cons.
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Whilst not quite a ‘pop-up’…
I’ve a Eurohike Cairns 3 DLX, it’s simple to erect, provides ample room for two with space to spare, has a nice little porch and is widely available often at a discounted price, (mine was less than £60 from Millets).
It’s pretty compact and the poles can obviously be carried separately to ease packing.
Can’t advise on pop-up tents, I’m afraid, they are all too big when packed to interest me. I like to have everything locked away in panniers and topboxes, not keen on strapping stuff across the pillion seat.
I spent a lot on a Terra Nova Starlite, allegedly three-man but you would have to be Very good friends. My priority was small pack size and it is only 29x16cm. I can pack all my camping gear in a 42l topbox, which means I can confidently leave the bike out of sight at stops on the way to wherever.
Despite the small pack size it has a large porch - I have sat inside that on my camp chair during a thunderstorm. Sleeping area plenty big enough for two, or for me and all my bike clothing in the sleeping area.
Looking online, though, it seems to have been discontinued - though they do something similar with a slightly bigger pack size in their Wild Country range - again, at a price!
I’ve been using a Vaude Taurus Ultralight for years - packs small, very light and plenty of room for 1 with all your gear, the porch is big enough to cook inside, reasonable headroom and it will fit 2 if required.