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Hi All,

Just purchased Bear lake 6, was told to weather it outside and get the polycotton wet a few times before going camping the 1st time.

Would the tent leak if this was not done?

mark

I used to have a Norfolk Lake and didn't weather it before its first use, and it never had a so much as a drop of moisture inside!  Also, if weathering the tent was necessary I think it would be mentioned in the manufacturers instructions?!!! Cotton tents require a good soaking before first use and I think that is where the confusion lays!

That said, it is always a good idea to pitch a new tent before using it for the first time, and so while it is up there is no harm in giving it a shower with the hose, but it really isn't needed!

i am serious tent freak i currently own 6 tents from vango to robens.I got my bear lake 6 9 months ago for longer trips in the lake district.YOU DO NOT I REPEAT DO NOT have to weather your bear lake 6.i do reccomend putting it up in your garden first for the following reasons.

1.learn to pitch it properly.start at the back and work foreward slowly,tidy it up as you go along  ie tighten the tension straps etc.it will make it so much quicker on site once you know how to pitch it. oh i pitched my bl6 in 25 mins on my own with a little help from my wife who just held the poles up vertical.

2. to check for any damage,errors in the manufacturing of it.which there wont be.i did spray mine with a hose pipe but just the window seams thats all and that was to check for leaks ie fauts. IF YOUR TENT DOES LEAK THEN ITS A FAULT AND SHOULD BE RETURNED STRAIGHT AWAY.ITS NOT THIS WEATHERING NONSENSE.

AND FOR GODS SAKE LOOSEN ALL THE TENSION STRAPS WHEN YOU TAKE IT DOWN. another good tip if you are shelling out £650 on a tent then don,t try and do it on the cheap,if there is a problem you want to be able to take it back.yeomans have an excellant customer service record,they will replace it straight away. my mate got his second hand off e bay for £340. he was laughing at me.however it was on ebay for a reason. it leaked at the window seams (quite a good leak) yep it was a fault in a bad batch and he was stuck with it.hahahahaha.£350 i say.mine has been perfect,infact my first polycotton tent.wow i,ve now just bought a robens horizon for shorter trips. again polycotton,zipp in ground sheet and only 11kg in weight.wow.

yes polycotton tents are heavier,BUT,when the weather turns you can zip yourself in,no drafts.I was at great langdale in april. i took my bear lake 6 the others took their hartford's.at night it was 5 degrees outside and the same inside my mates hartford's.NOT IN MY BEAR LAKE 6.WHY?? because its polycotton i was able to have 2 little gas heaters in there churning out 1kw each.along with my carpet i was sat there with my coat off,shoes off watching my dvd player with not a drop of condensation in sight.yes the tent breaths.my tent showed 10 degrees inside hahahaha.oh yes and even better you can cook away and again no condensation.when you wake up,no condensation,no damp clothes. i am now converted to polycotton tents.PLEASE PLEASE CHECK OUT THE ROBENS HORIZON.ITS A SMALL 4 MAN TUNNEL IN POLYCOTTON WITH A ZIP IN GROUND SHEET.IF YOU DO FIND ONE BUY IT QUICK THEY ARE LIKE GOLD DUST.