Outwell Vermont XL, Bear Lake 6 or Wolf Lake 7-any experts who can help us decide?

[MilaMae]

We've got 3 dc,2 boys and a girl.

Has anybody got any of these??????

Have looked round all 3 all have pros and cons

bump

We have a Norfolk Lake - they don't make them this year - but in terms of desgin and quality of build they really can't be faulted. Weight is the big issue, they come in two huge bags, each weighing getting on for 20+ kg and so can't be fitted in a roof box! We have a trailer
In terms of sleeping areas you'b be best going for either the Wolf or vermont - you don't get that much inside space in a Bear lake either.
I love the Wolf, I like the covered porch for cooking stuff, plenty of inside space too.
BUT it is v expensive and VVV heavy - although it will be surprisngly easy to put up.
What are you thinking?

Was hoping you'd reply,you seem the tent expert,many thanks

Bear Lake sadly crossed off for reasons you mentioned and the front awning thing.

Vermont pros-closed in porch to cook and store stuff
sleeping arrangements
lighter and cheaper
probably better for weekends?????
wardrobe thing to store stuff
cons-length(770) and not canvas(Yeomans man
said would only last 6 years so expensive
for short life span
annoying looking rain flaps on the
awning and I don't like ground sheets
on awnings but I could take it out

Wolf Lake pros-canvas so tent for life
sleeping
shorter than Vermont
I want one
cons- width (510)
heavier for weekends and generally
expensive but only £250 more
no closed in zip up place to store,wee
and cook
no indoor storage either

Worried about pitch size with both,would plan to do long and short trips in it-heeeeeelp me!!!!!

Just looked at the Norfolk Lake-would have been bloody perfect except for the length-sob!

We've never had a problem with the length of Lakey - we put a canopy on the side though.
I wouldn't cook inside the tent but you can put a windbreak round the front if you don't mind that sort of thing!

is there anywhere near you that you could go and look at them, or at least one pitched? A Yeomans outdoor display perhaps?

mmm yes tis a dilemma

Do you have probs getting regular pitches or do you have to get the jumbo size, just worried 770 is a tad long?

No we've always been fine - just let the site owners know that it's a big family tent and they do fit on the pitch as it is a tunnel design rather than the dome style.

Then again we don't use Caravan & Camping sites.

That's good to know,we weren't planning to much either.

Have you been to Woodlands in Devon though,you get free entry if camp and as it's hellish expensive for 5 we thought it could be a good 1st night tryout thing(for some reason I thought you were Devon too)? If so what is the Well Park as opposed to the terraces thing they mention in peak season?

No we stay at Dornafield near Newton Abbott when we are in that neck of the woods - The first picture on my profile is in The Orchard there.here It is lovely and quiet but really safe for the kids to run around - I ahve a review on ukcamping under lucycat too!

Is it the site near Dartmouth that you are thinking about?

YooooHoooo, we just bought the Vermont XL at the weekend. There was a Yeomans tent exhibition here in Bristol, we went there a couple of times, and checked it out a couple of times. Then did the reviews on the net blah blah.

It seems to give everything we want. DH wants the porch bit to sit out with beers at night, and Im happy with the middle division for some privacy should I want to change clothing, or read or... etc.

Plus, from what I can see on eBay, they seem to hold their price. I went through Topcashback and found the tent with Wilddaycom, which seemed to be the cheapest on the net, plus the 10% cb. So we asked the sales guys at the exhib. if they would price match and they did. so we got it for £580. Our nearest Yeomans store, should there be a problem is Thornbury about 12 miles away, so we are happy with that too.

HTH

We love our Bear Lake 6 but it doesn't seem to me that it's really that roomy for 5 of you. We only have me, DH and DS and it's just right for 3

Yes think it is,the kids have wanted to go for ages but it's too many ££££ for 1 day but killing 2 birds with 1 stone so to speak it would be ok.

We're very near NA too ,hadn't even heard of Dornafield,how did we miss it???Looks good. Never know you might see a sad 40 something cooing over your Norfolk one day,should we ever make a final decision, errring towards the Vermont at the moment but still not sure.

On your list of pics where is the 2nd 1 down under the Dutch Cabanon thing?

Waves to Wolfgirl,what made you go for that one?

That porch thing could just clinch it,night time wees,no way my twin boys are peeing all over my Outwell carpet. I could stick them out in the porch,also thought dp might still make my morning tea when it's tipping down if he's fully under canvas.

Just wish it lasted forever like the Wolf Lake,mind you I reckon if we looked after it it would do us proud-decisions,decisions.

waves back. can't chat at the minute, got to go make omlettes, but will be back to chat a bit later.

ahh that picture was at Chantepie in the Loire valley It was a lovely site recommede to us by IvyKaty. That was the view from our pitch towards reception and the pool area.

Lucycat that site looked gorgeous !!!!Is it as lovely as it looks, expensive????

Not cheap - it'll be over 200E for a week in high summer - but you do pay for location, pools etc.

Lots of French sites are cheaper - and lots are more expensive - some of the Castels sites are over 50E a night!

MilaMae! hi ya. OK, to start - you need to know that we are camping newbies, and only been to sites with our church. So Im not familiar with rules and reg of national or European camp sites.

But, wrt to choosing a tent!. Grief, we looked long and hard. Our last one, an Outwell Colorado 8, was a tunnel tent and our first. I bought it second hand for about £170 and it did us pretty well for the first few years of camping. But then, I just got picky and fussy, and wanted space and every camp item in the pesky shop. OOOOOOOh I want that and OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOh I want those! I've been adding to the collection every year. We now need a trailer!

Oh, yes the tent. Well, we are a very, no wait! VERRRRRRRRRRRRRRYYYYYYYYYYY tall family, both me and DH are 6' plus; my son is 6 but in clothes nearly 8 yrs plus; so we wanted good sleeping space. Plus we have a queen size Intex blow up air bed, so we needed good size sleep domes for that alone. The kids can share a sleep space at the moment, and DD would prefer to be next to her brother anyway.

So the Vermont, met our needs on both these counts, head height, and sleeping quarters. Then we wanted something that we could expand on in the future, again the Vermont allows us to do that (but most tents do anyway).

Then the living space, and that oh so gorgeous built in wardrobe with rail! Brilliant idea. The living space tips nicely over into the porch area, and you can either roll up the net to extend and open it up, or zip it up to give some privacy and extra warmth I shouldnt wonder when its cold!

The porch area is very big too, and I love the width of it. You can lift up the entire front area, held up by 3 poles, to give a huge sun canopy.

As for someone telling you, that these tents only have a.... what did you say? 6 year life span? Well, Im not so sure about that. Our old Outwell is at least 10 years, and if werent for the pesky mice nibbling through a couple of corners, and me wanting a more luxurious space, we would have kept going with it.

Have you made your mind up yet, what you will go for?

Other tents we checked out were these on eBay...

Skandika

and

Gelert Seabury 8

These two tents are huge, but very nicely and reasonably priced... unlike the Vermont which is very expensive.

by the way, we did look at the Wolf tent, and whilst we loved the fabric and quality of the floor etc, it was not as spacious as the Vermont. Bear also in mind, that we are creatures of habit... and like to turn things around and get the latest model of whatever is on the market so whatever you buy you will no doubt sell in about 3 years time anyway.

Oh, just thought, what about the Outwell Maryland xl? but its not as nice as the Vermont and is a dome style. I like the porch myself, nice and spaciious, invite folk round for beers, that sort of thing.

Just remembered a You Tube video you can watch, of a Yeoman rep putting up the Vermont in record time! 10 minutes I think it was!

Man putting up Vermont XL tent

God do you reckon they'd pop that man in the bag with the tent if we asked nicely?

Think we're set on the Vermont for all the reasons you've mentioned (although the Wolf's plaid curtains and all round gorgeousness are doing their best to seduce me). The Vermont is soooo big though. I'm getting the jitters not dp. Scared everybody will hate us when we pull up and pitch. Also I want loads of freedom to camp anywhere, just worried the length may limit pitches, however I'm sure the Yeoman man said width was more important than length. Also a friend of mine has got a tent the same length and she reckons they squeeze onto most pitches.

We actually went to Yeomans to buy a Montana 6 then dp said lets chuck in 3 airbeds to double check we can get the kids in, just as I was about to pay. We're now about to buy the biggest tent Outwell do-how did that happen?????

Re how long it'll last,think the Yeomans man might having been giving us some sales patter in order to swing a Wolf sale when he said we'd only get 6 years from it.

We want to do long stays in Europe,week and weekends in Cornwall and England so I'm thinking the Vermont would be more versatile and easier to put up although not as cool/warm and gorgeous. I think you're right too in 3 years it will have paid for itself and our perfect Lake one may be available by then. They may start doing the Norfolks again then.

Soooooo thinking it'll be the Vermont......

we are still in love with our Vermont XL. Yes the seam is needing repairing (by ourselves using the repair kit) and all tents goes like that at some point. We used this tent for more than 2 nights as it takes us all in 1.5hrs to set it up - with taking our time (first time it took us an hour extra).

For an overnight stay - we are looking for a smaller tent.

Thanks did your Vermont come with tent pegs? Bit nervous about opening the humungous wheeled bag incase I can't get it back in-have prodded it a few times

We have just had a fantastic weekend away in our Vermont XL!! I have owned 4 tents and have had our Vermont for 18 months, I still LOVE it!!

I can put it up by myself in 40 minutes (have you watched the You Tube video?). Its the setting up of the beds etc that takes the time!

Its not quite so easy getting it back in the bag, in fact we have never been able to get the bucket ground sheet for the porch back in it. But as long as we remember to take the extra ground sheet, thats fine by me as its such a great tent!

Happy Camping!

And yes, ours did come with tent pegs and of course the important thermometer and door mat, they really thought of everything!! The tent pegs did come in the Pole bag, right at the bottom!

Oooo thanks atg .I'm very excited now, errrr whats the thermometer for????

We've booked a week in Cornwall end of July,then a week the end of August. Can't wait!!!!

Will search the pole bag.