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Subject Topic: Norfolk Lake Owners - still love yours? Post Reply Post New Topic
15/8/2010 at 7:07pm
 Location: Solihull
 Outfit: Norfolk Lake
View Meddy's Profile View Profile   Reply to Meddy Reply   Quote Meddy Quote  
Joined: 22/6/2009

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Hi all!

Just come back from a week away and for the first time I started tutting at our Norfy. Ah, I don't know what's wrong. It's getting me down that it's so MASSIVE in the car - we have a big trailer with an extension top, a roofbox, and a huge boot and we're STILL jam packed, and a big part of that is the tent. I'd just love not to have to be so careful with packing, using every little bit of space.

Plus, I'm really fed up with that front door. If we don't roll it up or prop it up then it's just a big massive flap of canvas that has to be shouldered out of the way whenever I come in or out of the tent. And when it's raining, it's a liability - just drips water in all over the porch when you come in and out. Mind you, the porch always seems to end up soaking when it's wet anyway. Even when it's just a fine drizzle, there's nowhere sheltered to sit so it's full lockdown inside the tent, unlike with my Mum and Dad's Ohio - they can sit under the front canopy, sheltered and dry but outside. We've got the side extension but it's too narrow for the family to sit in, but if we jury rigged a front extension (like the Monty 6) then that's MORE tent to carry. I don't know whether to try something else instead. Like a Monty 6, or even a Bear Lake (although I suppose that's only *slightly* smaller to pack).

But I love this tent, I know I do. It's a great tent and I can't understand why I'm being so moany. I just... I don't know if the honeymoon's over. Does anyone want to remind me of the good points?


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15/8/2010 at 8:40pm
 Location: Wales
 Outfit: None Entered
View PembPitcher's Profile View Profile   Reply to PembPitcher Reply   Quote PembPitcher Quote  
Joined: 07/7/2009

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I still don't think there is a better one for us at the momment

BL6 not enough bedroom pods 

WL7 to big

Kampa Polzeath 8 let down by the light weight groundsheet as with the new Outwell polycottons, compared to the lake range at least.



16/8/2010 at 9:15pm
 Location: Somerset
 Outfit: Raclet Astor 300 & something new
View mumshadenough's Profile View Profile   Reply to mumshadenough Reply   Quote mumshadenough Quote  
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Why not chop the front door off? Save a bit of weight and gives you the open front canopy!! ;-)
How about the benefits of being able to make a cuppa in the morning without having to go outside.
Chucking everything in the enclosed porch and zipping up when you go out.
Snug as a bug at bedtime.
Still love mine. Has everything I want out of a tent to take away for a week. Although I do agree it's massive in the car.


16/8/2010 at 10:21pm
 Location: 
 Outfit: 
View TheWorth's Profile View Profile   Reply to TheWorth Reply   Quote TheWorth Quote  
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Quote: Originally posted by mumshadenough on 16/8/2010
Why not chop the front door off? Save a bit of weight and gives you the open front canopy!! ;-)


I've always thought that the Norfolk Lake minus the front door makes for a fantastic tent, it turns it into a Bear Lake with a super enclosed canopy! Perhaps chopping it off altogether is a bit extreme, but if you were to keep it rolled up and think of the front room as a canopy rather than a room then it actually knocks spots off the BL (IMHO!!!)


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17/8/2010 at 12:47am
 Location: Wales
 Outfit: None Entered
View PembPitcher's Profile View Profile   Reply to PembPitcher Reply   Quote PembPitcher Quote  
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Quote: Originally posted by TheWorth on 16/8/2010
Quote: Originally posted by mumshadenough on 16/8/2010
Why not chop the front door off? Save a bit of weight and gives you the open front canopy!! ;-)


I've always thought that the Norfolk Lake minus the front door makes for a fantastic tent, it turns it into a Bear Lake with a super enclosed canopy! Perhaps chopping it off altogether is a bit extreme, but if you were to keep it rolled up and think of the front room as a canopy rather than a room then it actually knocks spots off the BL (IMHO!!!)
 That is so true , and what have you got at the moment all the BL owners crying out for a front extension so they can create a NL all over again, and pay a lot more money for the privilege 


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17/8/2010 at 8:55am
 Location: A quiet pitch with a lovely view
 Outfit: Cabanon Noumea
View Merry's Profile View Profile   Reply to Merry Reply   Quote Merry Quote  
Joined: 20/5/2004

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Hi Meddy, I just looked back at the review you posted over a year ago of your Norfolk Lake and even then you had mixed feelings about the tent ie loving some aspects of it but not happy with the size/weight of it and the front door issue.

The front door issue could resolve itself if you could rethink the front space as a porch rather than a room iyswim, as others have said above. But the pack size is what it is, so you either accept that and work around it or try to find another tent which will do what you want but is smaller pack size, so that would probably mean a smaller and/or nylon tent. A personal choice.

-------------
Tackling life the Western District way


17/8/2010 at 10:53am
 Location: Solihull
 Outfit: Norfolk Lake
View Meddy's Profile View Profile   Reply to Meddy Reply   Quote Meddy Quote  
Joined: 22/6/2009

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Yep, you're quite right - the things that were tiny niggles when I reviewed the tent are the same things I'm narked about now! I think it's a good idea to look at how we use the tent, particularly the porch. We've got a 3 nighter planned next week, I was going to take the bell tent but maybe we'll take the Norfy so we can 'play around' a bit with how we use her. You're right, if I think of porch = canopy, I think I'd like it more. Amazing how a change of perspective helps!

That leaves the pack size. As you say, the pack size will never change. I *think* I can live with it though it's a pain. I've been looking at alternatives... other tents, trailer tents, and none of them appeal as much as the Norfy. So maybe that's just the price I have to pay. Hmm.



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


17/8/2010 at 2:05pm
 Location: Leicester
 Outfit: Outwell Norfolk Lake
View nag1_uk's Profile View Profile   Reply to nag1_uk Reply   Quote nag1_uk Quote  
Joined: 10/9/2009

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We have only been using ours this summer as we got it last Autumn, but we love it.

We have the Side extension so rarley use the front door.

The small 2 bedrrom gets used as a stoor room for all the food and boxes etc, leavind the front secton, or "Drawing Room" for sitting and cooking.

If you have not got the side extension I would start looking for one. Im sure someone was on about trying a Wolk Lake or Bear lake one one it, but this is not going to help the pack size issue at all!



17/8/2010 at 2:25pm
 Location: East Kent
 Outfit: Cabanons x 2. Norfolk Lake
View Bradybunch4's Profile View Profile   Reply to Bradybunch4 Reply   Quote Bradybunch4 Quote  
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I still love mine, the pack size is massive, but our alternative is massive too.

 I have to say though, if push came to shove, I would probably chose my Athena over my NL



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Jo
PREVIOUSLY u400jb9



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