Took our new baby away for a week last week for it's first "proper" camp, (had previously taken it for a weekend, but this was a longer 8 night "set everything up" camp)... We had a couple of teething problems in that we had three small leaks; 2 in the awning by the first seam near to the front (one on each side of the tent), and one very small one in the middle of the cabin roof. Wondering if previous owners hadn't weathered it - they only used it once for five nights - spoke to a chap at Forest Camping [as they phoned me about something I'd ordered], and he said the canvas might leak during it's first wet spell, so will have to check it out next time it gets a soaking - it did rain overnight on a following evening, and the little puddles were not to be found in the morning - so maybe the leaks were a one-off - it did lash it down heavily for hours when it leaked...
On the positive, the Outwell carpet we bought for the awning fits like a glove...
Anyway, here is a video of my Stratos in all it's pitched glory...
Nice one Alphonso, great tour, I see you managed to get the straps sorted then. They do look fantastic when pitched don't they? Thats why I went for mine, such a striking unit. Ours has never let water in though, but I shouldn't worry too much, like you say it's probably the new material.
Which Outwell carpet you got if you dont mind me asking??
It's the Imagine, (the blue Montana).... It's a great fit.. (Tried to include as much of the carpet outline in the video as I could, as I remembered when filming it that you'd asked me to let me know how I got on with it)... Two straps short, but Forest Camping have promised me they'll forward them on when they come into stock... (The ones in the middle above the A bar)... Only bad point in tent is the fact the zig doesn't zip to cabin, and the leaks which will hopefully sort themselves, if not aa dab of fabisil here and there will fix that,...
Just for the first time properly watched the video in full 720 HD glory (during a "quiet" spell in work)... Tonight I will mostly be cleaning my absolutely filthy camera lens
We are interested in buying a Cabanon Stratos, apart from the leak, are you satisfied with it. Can you recall the size of the Outwell Montana blue carpet?
We are interested in buying a Cabanon Stratos, apart from the leak, are you satisfied with it. Can you recall the size of the Outwell Montana blue carpet?
Regards Eric
Sorry for the delay in replying... Just been away in the Stratos for two weeks It didn't leak this time, so maybe it was badly pitched last time and the seam was stretched? Sure am satisifed with it - had some nice compliments from fellow campers too... Would come recommended... Think the carpet was 415 x 350 (not 100% sure though) - it was an Outwell Imagine carpet... As this is blue, rather than the green Montana carpet...
It's taken sometime to win me over, and I'm still not happy with having to climb over the OH to get out of the bedroom pod, but that's it's only fault...
The awning is a darker blue than the cabin, different material, not sure what it is, maybe another Stratos owner can help there... The sun canopy is newer than the tent, so there is a slight variation in the cream, the blue on the awning may come across as grey on the video, but it is dark blue...
Hi Alphonso, the cabin is made from cotton canvas and the awning is made from All Season Polyester. They are pretty much identical colour on mine. The awning is different material as it would weigh a tonne if it were canvas like the cabin. It is still really high quality though, and I THINK it is breathable. Much better quality than normal polyester. Love ours to bits and would highly reccommend. The only thing I would say though, if you want a kitchen, I would choose the mercury as the flat side is better suited for one. Saying that we place our kitchen against the cabin as it is flat sided, where the under bed pods are and it is fine. Off to Keswick for the week in ours on Sunday - can't wait!!!!!!!!!
Glad yours hasn't leaked, odd that it did. Never leaked a drop ours and it's seriously solid in high winds.
Love the video. You've also solved a problem we had with your light. We have been trying to think of a way of hanging a light from the roof and see you have used clips - can you tell me what they are and where we can get some as we have the same light and would love to be able to hang it from our stratos. Our canvas on both the base and awning are the same colour too. Love our Stratos, just wish we could put it up quicker so we could use it for weekends, not just our main 3 week holiday.
The clips are from ebay... Item number 260724714209 £2.74 for four inc p & p.
They are really strong and do the job well - light hasn't fallen off in three weeks of use - although I think we use maybe 8 clips to hold all the wire neatly. Also use the clips along with four clingons for solar fairy lights on sun canopy.
Can anyone help, just bought a second hand Mercury which apart from the push out kitchen is the same as the stratos. When we got it the awning and groundsheet was stored in the foot well which does not leave much room. Should these be stored on top of the beds (once folded) just before the canopy goes on leaving more room for storage, advice appreciated