Home

   Log in or Register



Insurance Quotes
forums Campsite Search Comp Directory tips virtual brochure Profile
Tent and Awning Reviews Competitions Caravans and Motorhomes For Sale Shopping Diary Advent Calendar

Advertisement

Message Forums

Welcome Guest Register Login Search The Forum Posts Since Last Visit
 Reception - All Forums
   Camping under canvas -  Tent talk. Advice, info and recommendations
Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email  Printer Friendly Version Print
Subject Topic: Vango or Outwell
Page:  1  2 Post Reply Post New Topic
16/2/2018 at 6:28pm
 Location: London
 Outfit: Karsten 350 + SE CA EA RA FW & ZIG
View TimCESmith's Profile View Profile   Reply to TimCESmith Reply   Quote TimCESmith Quote  
Joined: 17/9/2014

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   1013
Tent Reviews:   3

Site Reviews Total: 77
Site Reviews 2024: 11 
Site Reviews 2023: 9  
Site Reviews 2022: 8  
Site Reviews 2021: 5  
Site Reviews 2020: 5  
Site Reviews 2019: 10 
Site Reviews 2018: 6  
Site Nights 2024: 32
Site Nights 2023: 29
Site Nights 2022: 39
Site Nights 2021: 30
Site Nights 2020: 31
Site Nights 2019: 50
Site Nights 2018: 37

Thanks Jim. Yes, Kampa had a faulty batch where the interconnecting hoses disintegrated. The problem for us has been that the connecting points create a weakness in the main beam sleeves, leading to all the explodey beam trouble.

The convenience of plugging an electric pump into a single point and watching the tent put itself up is such a bonus that I'd probably go for a SmartAir tent again. That said I'd definitely open it up and have a good look at the connecting bits.


Don't forget to leave a review of all tents you've used, for a chance to win fantastic prizes

New! Please upload a photo of your tent to the Tent Showcase!


16/2/2018 at 7:28pm
 Location: Leicestershire
 Outfit: Karsten 380 Veranda
View Jim1977's Profile View Profile   Reply to Jim1977 Reply   Quote Jim1977 Quote  
Joined: 06/8/2013

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   1988
Tent Reviews:   2

Site Reviews Total: 11
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 1  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 2
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

You'd like to think after 5 years they'd have ironed out a lot of these issues and refined the design, so hopefully a 2018 or 19 model would not have these issues. Early adopter woes maybe! They do look to have changed the material the beam sleeve is made from to a more rubbery looking material compared to the suspect woven stuff that was failing and then allowing the inner beam to bulge through and rupture, so that bodes well.

They really could do with a way to regulate the pressure in hot weather to save the user having to regulate it manually. Remember reading on here someone had the perfect storm of very hot weather and strong wind with their Harrier. They couldn't inflate the beams enough to stop it collapsing at the back for fear of the heat blowing a beam.


17/2/2018 at 8:34am
 Location: Derby.
 Outfit: Karsten 350+Awnings
View Mucker1884's Profile View Profile   Reply to Mucker1884 Reply   Quote Mucker1884 Quote  
Joined: 01/7/2012

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   9058
Tent Reviews:   5

Site Reviews Total: 40
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 2  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 6

I'm mightily impressed that those tubes of yours are still going strong, Tim!


... Just be careful that your tent doesn't turn into "Trigger's Broom"!!

-------------
Campervan:
Give us chance!

Tent:
July 2012-Dec 2024: 456 nights.


18/2/2018 at 7:14pm
 Location: London
 Outfit: Karsten 350 + SE CA EA RA FW & ZIG
View TimCESmith's Profile View Profile   Reply to TimCESmith Reply   Quote TimCESmith Quote  
Joined: 17/9/2014

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   1013
Tent Reviews:   3

Site Reviews Total: 77
Site Reviews 2024: 11 
Site Reviews 2023: 9  
Site Reviews 2022: 8  
Site Reviews 2021: 5  
Site Reviews 2020: 5  
Site Reviews 2019: 10 
Site Reviews 2018: 6  
Site Nights 2024: 32
Site Nights 2023: 29
Site Nights 2022: 39
Site Nights 2021: 30
Site Nights 2020: 31
Site Nights 2019: 50
Site Nights 2018: 37

Jim, I heard of some manufacturing defects in last year's Vermont SAs, so as a technology it still calls for a test pitch.

I've seen a frustrating vid of a Harrier collapsing at the back. I'd have re-pegged all the end wall points and got the rain-skirt taut, tightened the vent guys and storm guyed that end beam so it was guyed against the direction of collapse as well as against the wind. Also, my experience is that a good breeze stops the inside of the tent - and the beams - from getting too hot, so I'd have got some airflow in the tent and increased the pressure, if only in that one end beam.

Mucker, thanks for that! It's an amazingly strong tent apart from the beam material. I do pitch it with reasonable care but I've not had to pamper it at all - apart from a bit of gaffer tape once a year.


Don't forget to leave a review of all tents you've used, for a chance to win fantastic prizes

New! Please upload a photo of your tent to the Tent Showcase!


22/2/2018 at 7:38pm
 Location: west yorks
 Outfit:  Vango inspire 600xl 5m bell tent
View john#mel#3kids!'s Profile View Profile   Reply to john#mel#3kids! Reply   Quote john#mel#3kids! Quote  
Joined: 30/8/2010

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   859
Tent Reviews:   6

Site Reviews Total: 5
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Just buy my hawaii reef, then you have the best of both worlds polycotton and strong poles


Advertisement



26/2/2018 at 4:16pm
 Location: Beds
 Outfit: Outwell Wolf Lake 7 and Greycliff 7ATC
View JustinParker's Profile View Profile   Reply to JustinParker Reply   Quote JustinParker Quote  
Joined: 04/5/2007

Gold Member
Gold Member

Forum Posts:   253
Tent Reviews:   2

Site Reviews Total: 6
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Rhubarbs just fyi the Greycliff has moved to the older thicker polycotton fabric that Outwell used to use. Its same thickness as the WL7 I bought 8 years ago. The groundsheets arent as thick as they zip in groundsheets used to be so will be interesting to see how these hold up now that they are sewn in.

The Greycliff was on offer at the camping show for £2239 including carpet and footprint this weekend so not that much more than Vango now.

The 3 main contenders are Outwell Greycliff, Vango Illusion, Kampa Studland all great tents just personal choice really on size and layout.

The Greycliff has longer bedroom pods at 250cm long and has some nice new feature like windows with curtains in the bedroom pods.

Both Vango and Kampa have an extra bedroom pod that can be put up in main lounge area if you want an extra bedroom.

The Outwell uses two separate inflation points with shutoff valves between individual tubes. The main body of tent has 1 and then the zip on porch (that you must use) has another separate inflation point

Post last edited on 26/02/2018 16:21:57

-------------
------------------
Outwell Wolf Lake 7
Outwell Greycliff 7ATC

upcoming camping trips:
Henlow Lakes May 18
Somewhere over the rainbow June 18
Henlow Lakes July 18
Hele Valley Devon Aug 18
Ross on Wye Aug 18



27/2/2018 at 5:00pm
 Location: west yorks
 Outfit:  Vango inspire 600xl 5m bell tent
View john#mel#3kids!'s Profile View Profile   Reply to john#mel#3kids! Reply   Quote john#mel#3kids! Quote  
Joined: 30/8/2010

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   859
Tent Reviews:   6

Site Reviews Total: 5
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Just been over to look at some Outwell and vango tents at outdoor world direct, upon asking the salesman, he maintains vango still have the best tents in the air range, and are better made, also the beams are more reliable, with less than a 1% failure rate in 2017


Don't forget to leave a review of all tents you've used, for a chance to win fantastic prizes

New! Please upload a photo of your tent to the Tent Showcase!


27/2/2018 at 9:18pm
 Location: buckinghamshire
 Outfit: Vango Anantara 600tcxl
View rhubarbs's Profile View Profile   Reply to rhubarbs Reply   Quote rhubarbs Quote  
Joined: 04/9/2011

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   62
Tent Reviews:   1

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Thank you Justin and John, Mel,3Kids for your informed replies.


27/2/2018 at 9:26pm
 Location: west yorks
 Outfit:  Vango inspire 600xl 5m bell tent
View john#mel#3kids!'s Profile View Profile   Reply to john#mel#3kids! Reply   Quote john#mel#3kids! Quote  
Joined: 30/8/2010

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   859
Tent Reviews:   6

Site Reviews Total: 5
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

BTW, the vango polycotton airbeams look the biz, if I was a more serious camper and not the weekend type I would have one tomorrow.



In order to post a reply you will need to register, or if already registered please log in here

  Prev       Next

Jump To Page:  1  2

Quick Links - All Forums - Tent talk. Advice, info and recommendations - Top of Page

Printer Friendly Version Printable version      Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email


Latest News, Discounts and Competitions  see all...














4028 Visitors online !

Free UKCampsite.co.uk Window Sticker  -  Recommend to Friend  -  Add a Missing Campsite

[Message Forums]  [Caravan Sites & Camping]  [Company Listings]  [Features / Advice]  [Virtual Brochure]  [Shop!]
[Reception]  [Competitions]  [Caravans & Motorhomes For Sale]  [Event Diary]  [Contact Us]  [Tent Reviews



Please note we are not responsible for the content of external sites & any reviews represent the author's personal view only. Please report any error here. You may view our privacy and cookie policy and terms and conditions here. All copyrights & other intellectual property rights in the design and content of this web site are reserved to the UKCampsite.co.uk © 1999 - 2024


Advertisement


Advertisement


UKCampsite.co.uk
2024 Advent Calendar


Advent Calendar

24 Daily Prizes PLUS a Christmas Day Star Prize worth £999

Request a Reminder