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Hello All

I am usually the one who sits patiently while my OH hogs the keyboard but as I am the piece of equipment known as the all weather tent erector I have decided to throw in my own post regarding which new tent we should go for. My preference is the new Outwell Nebraska XL. We have looked at The Hartford XL the Diablo 900 and OH's favourite The Brekenridge. However I can get no further than the Nebraska. We recently went to view it and I ended up selling one to the shop assistant (perhaps I have missed my vocation) The other tents seem flimsy and a maze of crossing nylon poles and I have visions of me standing in the rain trying to pitch my sodden inner first.

 The Nebraska also seems to be the perfect tent as regards minimum bug and spider intrusion. With two hysterical insect/aracna phobics in our party surely my choice is the best all round

Somebody please back me up I have to be right at least once in this life is the Nebraska as good as it seems.

Markie

why is it raining again dad?

Having been the owner of one of those "inner first" beasts (Diablo 900) and now being the owner of the Outwell Montana 6 I can honestly say of the two types the Outwell wins hands down for the following reasons:

1.  Pitching time - the Montana is pitched in 20 minutes and I would guess that the Nebraska would take 30 to 40 minutes.  The Diablo and similar types take well over the hour because of all the pegging and guying points.

2.  Bedroom size - we always had a probl;em with the bedroom size of the diablo because we use a high rise airbed which don't fit too well in the low slung bedroom pods where as in the Montana/Nebraska you have headroom to spare so we just haven't had a problem at all.

3.  Weight and pitching style - there is absolutely no way that one person could pitch a Diablo/Hartford/Breckenridge on their own whereas at a push the Montana and nebraska range can be pitched by a single "all weather pitcher" like yourself.  We know because a firend of ours pitches his Montana 12 on his own due to his wife's condition.

4.  Pitch size - the Nebraksa tents are more like the size and shape of a standard frame tent so I would guess that there wouldn't be the problems that some have experienced with sites not allowing large satelite type tents in like the Diablo/Hartford/Breckenridge.

Hope my input and reasons help you in making your decision.

Its a really smart tent, BUT its enormous, very heavy and canvas! Its certainly looks the dogs but I would consider the ease of use and storage, drying out if needed and its really pricey, never the less a lovely tent. Bit too big for us.

von + jon

I saw it yesterday at Yeoman's show - it IS fantastic, light and airy. It is a big un but then the others you may have considered for your needs would be a similar size.

It has the advantages of the Montana design but with a whole porch area on the front- a winning combo. And if you are the poor soul who will be out there doing the do in all weathers, I think you have every right to take the deciding vote!

Hi Markie,

I think your comments are spot on. The Nebraska ticks all the right boxes for me too. This is the tent for me this year.

I've added a couple of new photos to my profile which you might be interested in, it's the XXL though, the two side bedrooms are plenty big enough for the four of us but I think the huge 3rd bedroom will come in use. You could always take it out for more living space too (like you're gonna need it).

Regards

John

Markie I don't think you could sell it to me I'm afraid, I had a look at it today at Yeomans and while it's a cracking tent my preferences lie in other directions.

If you want to protect against insects a double skin SIG makes more sense I think, also they're better insulated so if you were expecting hot weather they're cooler (say if going to France for example). Also if it's cold they're cosier as you need to vent a synthetic fly so you're not direct venting your living space, you're also protected from condensation dripping onto you. I've never tried to pitch in the rain so I don't know if that would put people off after a bad experience but I just wait for it to finish.

Similarly with the pitching the effort required from the second person can be very small if you want, just lifting the centre at the right time. Once it comes to pegging out I stop and start unloading the car and setting up the inside (that can take half the pitching time) then crack open a beer and leisurely finish the pegging while OH cooks tea etc.

If you're away for two weeks, not moving, then it is worth spending 20 minutes extra getting your shelter right and taking the best shelter.

At 7.5M long you're into large tent territory so you may have the same problems finding a site as 7M seems to be the limit sites are suggesting (not an issue if you know where you going tho).

With the XXL you lose the advantage of headroom in the side bedrooms so you couldn't get a campbed in there, also I like everyone to be able to get to the door without climbing over anyone.

For the amount of money they're asking for the Nebraska you can get a comfortable frame tent or a Vango Aspen without worring about the size of the tent (unless you go for the Aspen 700DLX) but with the added benefits.

Like I said a great tent but not for me.

Mmm Bear Lake now that was superb but I think it was £749 at Yeomans! But only £ 599.00 on their website - have you come into some money?

Regarding the pegging points did you look closely at them cos a lot are double guys so only one peg (speeds it up a bit). Have you seen langleys Sunncamp Marathon 16 review? 102 pegging points! if you wanrt separate bedrooms, porch etc you have to put up with the hassle of pegging it all out. That's why Lukara likes the tunnel, have the pitch time.

Andy Pandy - not sure what you call a 'huge amount' of pegging points - my Monty 12 needs 16 main guy pegs (Delta pegs of course!) plus 8 vent guy pegs - the rest is pegging down the tent edges - not that many really compared to some of the big domes like the Vango Diablo 900 etc.

Maybe it's the rectangular shape - you get the impression of a 'lot' of guy ropes on each side, rather than being spread round a more circular layout.

Dave

We just bought the XL, used it over the BH and thought it was a really great tent..

It seems to do everything right for us..

I noticed a few people peg out a few guy ropes together, i guess that speeeds things up.

Quote: Originally posted by Tim+Rose on 20/4/2006

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I noticed a few people peg out a few guy ropes together, i guess that speeeds things up.

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It will certainly speed up the rate at which it falls down in a high wind as well....

One guy rope, one peg. It`s a rule. Break it and you`ll regret it eventually.  (Some guy ropes attach to the tent at both ends of course and peg in the middle but that just looks like two guy ropes per peg.)

As to the nebraska...well, I`ve never seen one up so no direct opinions. However I do think that if a tent "speaks" to you as well as ticking all the boxes then it`s the one for you.

Of course, you do get the situation where different tents are speaking to different halfs of a couple....in which case, you have to sit down and discuss it point by point. If you`re still stuck, then let the kids decide. At least then the loser can blame the entire family when the tent they didn`t want in the first place doesn`t work out.