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 Topic: Outwell Montana wanted!
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22/4/2009 at 1:36am
Location: Glossop - Gateway to the Dark Peak
Outfit: KAMPA Frinton 5 Outwell Nevada S
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Quote: Originally posted by Mick S. on 19/3/2009
Im beginning to get an inferiority complex having just bought a'lowly' Minnesota! Apart from the greater 'head'/water protection, (is 5000mm really necessary) are there any other notable important differences between the two models apart from the price?
From my review of the Minnesota 4:
The Minnesota is the poor-man’s Montana: lower hydrostatic head material, shorter living-area and simplified side door porch; and these compromises are reflected in the lower price. In truth, only one of these compromises creates any real inconvenience; we endured constant, heavy rain and suffered no water ingress and the living area was quite adequate for four. But I do have concerns about the side door.
The first problem with the side door is that the fibreglass pole that is bent to form the canopy puts a lot of stress on the zip and material of and around the door. On my tent this stress even caused damaged to the material where it was stitched to the zip. It should be noted that not everyone has experienced this problem which suggests that this is a quality-control problem rather than a fundamental design flaw. After discussing this problem with other members on this forum a simple solution has been suggested: use plastic cable ties to more closely align the plastic ferules (the black plastic brackets into which the ends of the fibreglass poles slot) to the upright steel poles which are far more able to take the stress of the bent fibreglass pole than the tent material or zip.
The second problem is less easily or cheaply resolved. A major inconvenience of camping in this green and pleasant land of ours is the very stuff that makes it green: rain. Getting in and out of a tent when it is raining can be a comical affair as you try to un-zip the door, get out and re-zip the door quickly so that water does not get into the tent. Do not be fooled into thinking that the canopy over the side door gives any serious protection from the rain; and you certainly can’t leave the side door open while it’s raining unless the door is in the lee of the wind. The front door, because of its slope, is certainly not an alternative. As a result I would seriously consider budgeting for the extension (~£80) or, at least, Outwell’s canopy (~£65) or a cheaper, generic alternative (the Coleman awning costs about £30). The general consensus of members of this site is that the extension is of much more use than the canopy. It also provides a sheltered cooking area or simply somewhere to sit under sheltered from the sun of the rain. However, assuming that you also purchase the footprint groundsheet and living area carpet you will end up paying a lot more money than you may have first bargained for.
Why then, you may be wondering, have I been so generous in allocating 7 stars? The first problem with the side canopy, should you have it, is easily fixed (though I’ve yet to try it, it does make sense) and the second problem is certainly not peculiar to this tent. So what you are left with is a good, sturdy, spacious tent that four can live in and two or three very comfortably so.
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