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Camping

Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

outwell tents

33 replies

thisisyesterday · 06/06/2010 15:00

if you were going to buy an outwell tent, which one would you get?

we currently have a vango colorado and really want to swap it for one with a built-in ground sheet (after a rather windy few nights in devon!!!)
2 adults, 3 children.

OP posts:
plonker · 06/06/2010 15:31

We've also got 2 adults and 3 children and we have the Montana 6, which we love!

We love our Monty and wouldn't swap it for the world however we've found the lack of cooking space a bit difficult and are getting the awning for it this year, which should solve the problem

The Monty is a fab tent, really well and thoughtfully made and although we've only been on a couple of trips we've had allsorts of weather from boiling hot sun to wild winds and thunderstorms. The tent has stood as strong as a house with no leaks or problems at all.

fryalot · 06/06/2010 15:34

I second what plonker says - we also have a montana, with two adults, three children and a dog (although the dog is a recent addition and hasn't been out in the tent yet - don't envisage any issues though)

it's fab

thisisyesterday · 06/06/2010 15:39

ooh d'ya knpwo, i was just looking at montana's on ebay!!!

OP posts:
Slubberdegullion · 06/06/2010 17:48

Saw two matching Wolf lake 7s last week set up last week by matching families with their matching cars and matching trailers. They both had the additional mega side porches projecting out towards each other with central dining area and small stage for the string quartet at the back [made up lie]

O M G did they need the trailers. GIANT trailers that each needed two trips to pick up all the stuff needed to go inside and outside said tents.

Loverly loverly tents mind. I coveted them from afar. You could play a decent game of badminton in them. dh made a stuck choking noise in his throat as we watched them being unloaded and put up.

Slubberdegullion · 06/06/2010 17:51

tbh I wouldn't get the wolf lake unless you were the von trapp family and had a trailer that could fit a hippo in.

I'd imagine owning a wolf lake and that would be enough.

The Monty's always get great reviews and look v nice, sensible and taut on site.

fryalot · 06/06/2010 17:54

last year, people were walking past our tent like this at its perfection

Seriously, it's a fab tent, looks great, elicits envy in others and is comfy and easy to put up and take down. What's not to love?

Slubberdegullion · 06/06/2010 17:58

It's not canvas squonk

nice to see you btw

SanctiMoanyArse · 06/06/2010 17:58

We ahd a Sun valley and adored it; they stills ell them on Ebay IIRC.

We now have a vango Monte Verde (size was essential but we;re a complex lot LOL)- nice tent but a few teething issues we are waiting for vango to get back to us about >

Slubberdegullion · 06/06/2010 18:00

oh dear Sancti - this was the Vango's maiden pitching was it not? Are you going to get it replaced?

SanctiMoanyArse · 06/06/2010 18:07

Nope, it's a good tent (well we would replace like for like IYSWIM but not change).... just one bed pod anchor needs reattaching, and the stitching on the rolelr bag is already looseing: there's also an anchor point in the porch which has a water seepage issue.

We're awaiting advice from Vango as to whether theyc an just replace the bag and pod, and what to use to fix leak, if not tent will need a direct swap

fryalot · 06/06/2010 18:08

no, slubbers, you're right it's not canvas. Your point?

Slubberdegullion · 06/06/2010 18:09

oh that's a pain.

Was it good otherwise?

Slubberdegullion · 06/06/2010 18:11

ahh well squonk, if you don't understand the point of canvas then I'm afraid we will have come to an impasse.

fryalot · 06/06/2010 18:12

I like canvas

But I like my montana too

(good to see you too btw)

SanctiMoanyArse · 06/06/2010 18:15

Absolutely wonderful Slubber, well designed and exactly as required

Slubberdegullion · 06/06/2010 18:16

I like montanas

and I like canvas too

Slubberdegullion · 06/06/2010 18:18

Oh that is great sancti, any piccies?

I do envy you having a hunsband who seems to relish getting and trying out new tents.

My dh goes into strong muttering and glaring mode if I even so much as comment on another tent.

JackiePaper · 06/06/2010 18:29

we have a wolf lake 7 and it is loverley
yeak ok it is big but it's fab, and much cooler inside in the heat. We get it in the boot of our car with 2 adults and 2 kids, no trailer required! that family must have brought a lot of additional crap with them to need huge trailers!

MilaMae · 06/06/2010 18:31

Just had our trial weekend with our Outwell Vermont XL and it was fab!!!!!

We did masses of research re Outwells and this was the only one for us and our needs. We have 2 boys and a girl and after spending £100s on a tent we don't want to have to replace it when they need more privacy whenever that may be.

The Montana 6 would not fit 3 Campingaz airbeds in the kids section so that was sadly out as we loved it. The Bearlake wasn't much better. We were warned against the poddy Hartford ones by the Yeomans guy as he said they were way tooo big for a lot of pitches and some sites don't like the way they ramble.

Soooo this got us down to the Wolflake 7 and the Vermont XL. We didn't like the lack of a zipped up awning for the Wolflake price and figured the extra size and canvas weight was too much at this time. Soooo we went with the Vermont XL and are very,very pleased with it.

The bedrooms are fab you can have 3 separate,1 huge one or 2 and a 1. The wardrobe is really useful as a clothes/towels heap area,you can just zip it all up out the way.

The awning is brilliant,dp and I rolled it up and the side bits and roof bit really protect you in the evenings,it's lovely for sitting out in.And it's great for cooking in.Also we could leave everything in to go out for the day without having to drag stuff in.

We had a bit of drizzle and the carpet was lovely to sit on and play top trumps on. Masses of space in the living bit. We easily could fit a small clothes airer in the living space too and a table.

The space was heavenly to be frank,the kids had their own space and we were never tripping over each other or loosing things.

It was really easy and quick to put up.

I've booked 3 pitches this summer and nobody has blinked an eye when I've warned them about the size as the width is within the normal size pitch and apparently they worry more about width than length which it is very slightly over. The site guy this weekend said we could have as much length as we wanted. The Yeoman guy was right as all 3 sites did ask if it was a pod one when I booked. I noticed on the site we were at this weekend we took up a lot less space than a lot of other people as they seemed to have elaborate windbreak and pup tent additions.

I reckon if your kids are single sex and not spoilt airbed sleepers like mine and size worries you go for the Montana with the zip up awning addition although if you add the 2 lengthwise/pricewise it's very similar to the VermontXL. If you went for the Montana you've got the option to go awning free to get on small pitches(although personally I'd miss it).

Hope this helps

SanctiMoanyArse · 06/06/2010 19:36

Normally it takes a year of nagging persuasion to get Dh to buy a new tent LOL, however the disastrous abandoned trip in early May meant that DH wanted an extra bedroom to separate the boys down, and a covered porch possibly more than me!

there are pics and if I should ever reach the camera at the bottom of the car then they will appear LOL

Slubberdegullion · 06/06/2010 19:38

lol

Have we heard the abandoned camp story? Are all your boys in separate bedrooms now?

duckyfuzz · 06/06/2010 19:41

anyone got a nevada? thinking of it for weekends for 4 of us...

SanctiMoanyArse · 06/06/2010 19:42

Bas is still with us, but then the little barnacle is at home too!

There seems to be a space in the tent where one can add a further (5th!) pod if only we can ever locate one, but we could always get one from another breand as they are all fairly similar size wise.

Went off camping to the usual Forest site- lovely weather when we camped, but rain came in, boys kicked off badly all evening (they do this thing where they crawl over each other in their bags screaming sluggy that makes my hackles rise! grim!) and as it was only 30 minutes from home we abandoned the tent, went home for the second night, and Dh returned next day to retrieve.

However we got almost £400 on ebay for the tent + accessories so hey, win-win LOL

Off agin in a fortnight as my Aunt is getting married / my Grandad is celebrating his 90th and it's easier than driving back, it's in Glastonbury so just staying at Cheddar (Broadway House)

Slubberdegullion · 06/06/2010 19:45

Wow. You do so well with your ebay sales.

At least when you are only 30 mins away abandoning camp isn't such a huge ordeal. New tent sounds perfect for you all.

SanctiMoanyArse · 06/06/2010 19:46

Ah yes we do but tehn DH is a power seller on tehre for his litt;le business so you know, good reputation and being used to writing blurbs etc.....

Now, as for getting glammed up for a wedding in a tent....