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Quote: Originally posted by Speedcamp on 22/2/2011

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Wouldn't camping be boring if there was only 1 "perfect" tent design...

Helen

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saw the new Montana lake at the NEC today, lovely tent but have to agree that sloping front means its hopeless in the rain and really the tent needs the front extension to get the most out of it. The price made my eyes water. I loved the new orange Outwells despite not expecting to.

The Wolf Lake and Bear Lake were much better tents imo (the three ranges were pitched next to each other)

I am guessing that the Monty Lake will be the same set up as the original Monty as far as the side door goes, between outer and inner door is a small bathtub and the main ZIG is within the main area. I take your point pitchperfect that the Monty does have the side door but to be honest the area is so small and the outer door is at such an angle that unless the rain is falling away from the entrance then it will still come in, ok not as much as it would normally but you will have the outer door open longer while you are unzipping the inner door. Also the step over the inner doors lower section is a nightmare with little children and in our case LOW dogs !!

Sorry but I just dont see the point of it, change the angle and add a small canopy over the door and then it would be perfect. They added one to the later Trout Lake so why not the new Monty ???

Quote: Originally posted by 2gocampin on 23/2/2011

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They added one to the later Trout Lake so why not the new Monty ???

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I assume that the regular monty extensions, canopies etc will fit the monty lake so if you upgrade just keep them rather than splash out on polycotton versions.

tonnes of monty's on ebay atm, is that because more monty's sold than other outwell tents or people just dont like them?

Quote: Originally posted by shirleys on 24/2/2011

I assume that the regular monty extensions, canopies etc will fit the monty lake so if you upgrade just keep them rather than splash out on polycotton versions.

tonnes of monty's on ebay atm, is that because more monty's sold than other outwell tents or people just dont like them?

 

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Hi Road_Hog,

I would normally agree with you but in this instance im sorry but I just dont when it comes to Outwell. Yes you make changes and upgrade your product in answer to customer requirements and known faults to maintain ongoing sales of a product but this also must make financial sense for the company.

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If you look at most tents, they will fix any major problem (that hits sales of the tent) in the second year. Then after, they will start adding the customer 'wants' year by year.

Ok lets take the Norfolk Lake for example, a great tent with a strong following next too the Bear Lake in fact but with one main design issue, a sloping entrance and no canopy. So what do Outwell do, taking into account the tent has a following? They drop it then spend money on re tooling as such and produce the Clear Lake which is basically a Norfolk but with less features and hay guess what a sloping entrance and no canopy !!! Now please tell me how this makes commercial sense?

They listened with the BL canopy but I guess that the Monty has always been a good seller for them over the last few years with so many new campers taking up our pastime combined with the fact that just about every Outwell dealer sells the Monty even if they dont sell the Lake range. Monty's are around every corner and in every camping shop, they are thrust at you on every internet page you open and are regularly the subject of special offer events. Is it any wounder that it is Outwell's best selling family tent !!!! I just would like to know the fallout rate of these amassed units because as shirleys said above; "tonnes of monty's on ebay atm" does this suggest a difference between the best selling tent and the best overall tent in light of the recent awards?

Anyway I should butt out as there are hundreds of happy Monty owners on here so it must just be me being cynical

Quote: Ok lets take the Norfolk Lake for example, a great tent with a strong following next too the Bear Lake in fact but with one main design issue, a sloping entrance and no canopy. So what do Outwell do, taking into account the tent has a following? They drop it then spend money on re tooling as such and produce the Clear Lake which is basically a Norfolk but with less features and hay guess what a sloping entrance and no canopy !!! Now please tell me how this makes commercial sense?

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