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Subject Topic: trout lake or bear lake 4? Post Reply Post New Topic
Personhankakampa
15/9/2012 at 4:27pm
 Location: uk
 Outfit: Karsten - sun storm - doesnt matter! View hankakampa's Profile View Profile   Reply to hankakampa Reply   Quote hankakampa Quote  
Joined: 14/9/2012

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which tent would you choose?

i cant decide! the bear lake looks more practical with straight useable sides and that would continue into the front porch extension.

the trout lake looks the characterful tent but losing useable space due to the angled front which creates unuseable space both inside the tent and outside the front extension.

what else should i consider?


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Personarsenaldes
15/9/2012 at 5:48pm
 Location: Aston Clinton
 Outfit: Kampa Holkham + Outwell Yukon River* View arsenaldes's Profile View Profile   Reply to arsenaldes Reply   Quote arsenaldes Quote  
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Out of the 2 I personally would choose the Trout as I like the design and the loss of space isnt as much as you think as normally nothing would be put infront of the main door whether sloping or upright

-------------
Experience enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.
Everything has been said before, but since nobody ever listens we have to keep going back and saying it all over again and again and again


PersonHumbird
15/9/2012 at 5:55pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: 5M Bell Outwel WL5 Rosas Q Base II View Humbird's Profile View Profile   Reply to Humbird Reply   Quote Humbird Quote  
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Hi, I would chose the BL without a doubt.  I am a Wolf Lake owner, so they are very similar - the porch area at the front is a great feature especially when the weather isn't so great ... just to sit or cooker under a bit of shelter, and the gear is somewhat protected from the weather.  Also its a great place to take off the wellies and waterproofs before entering the tent.

I had a previous tent (a Coleman) similar in design to the Trout Lake and I hated the slopey front door because in bad weather it wasn't usable because the water would entre the tent any time I opened it up.  I know you have the option of the side door with the TL but it still doesn't compare in my view to the canopy of the BL.

HTH.

Humbird


PersonWh1tesox
15/9/2012 at 6:41pm
 Location: Co. Durham
 Outfit: Vango Eternity 400 and Genesis 300 View Wh1tesox's Profile View Profile   Reply to Wh1tesox Reply   Quote Wh1tesox Quote  
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Hi.

Our first new tent for a while a few years ago was an Outwell Nevada M. While I loved the tent and understood the reasons behind it one of the things I didn't like was the sloping front and corners. Well, that's 2 things.

When we were able to buy a new tent we decided on a Bear Lake. We bought the 6 as it was only £50 more expensive than the 4 at the time and we didn't think it would take much longer to pitch than the 4.

It was a lovely tent and I really liked the flat front but was way too big for 2 of us as we don't take a lot of stuff just 1 chair each, a coleman 6 in 1 table so usually have 2 coffee tables and the kitchen stuff indoors and the coolbox and stove outside.

We realised it was just too big but I really surprised myself when we came to replacing it by getting a Trout Lake rather than the smaller Bear Lake.

We haven't used it much but can't imagine using it without the canopy in decent weather conditions(which only takes about 10-15 minutes to put up) so the sloping front door doesn't really bother us. I actually prefer the shape now with the canopy on as those corners are perfect for storing the coolbox and stove without losing any space. We also use the space inside the tent directly in front of the door to put shoes which we never did with the Bear Lake so I agree with Arsenaldes. You don't lose much space.

Even if both tents were the same price I would still opt for the Trout Lake.


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PersonHumbird
15/9/2012 at 8:00pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: 5M Bell Outwel WL5 Rosas Q Base II View Humbird's Profile View Profile   Reply to Humbird Reply   Quote Humbird Quote  
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Hi, I also forgot to highlight that the Bear Lake has the horizontal stabilizer poles, which the Trout Lake does not have.  We have weathered many bad storms and I honestly feel that the horizontal stabilizers have been a huge reason why our tent hasn't moved a bit.

Humbird


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PersonDebhill
15/9/2012 at 10:07pm
 Location: Northampton
 Outfit: Pennine Pathfinder Q6 X Trail View Debhill's Profile View Profile   Reply to Debhill Reply   Quote Debhill Quote  
Joined: 25/7/2009

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Bear lake 4 for defo. We have a Trout Lake 4 which we bought for weekends and a Bear Lake 6 which we use for a week or longer. The sloping front of the Trout wastes space. It's also easier getting in and out of Bears.  


PersonMorganTD
16/9/2012 at 7:50am
 Location: London
 Outfit: Outwell Trout Lake Robens Klondike View MorganTD's Profile View Profile   Reply to MorganTD Reply   Quote MorganTD Quote  
Joined: 26/8/2009

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With the Trout lake you have the option of adding the front extension which would give you full weather protection as opposed to only partial protection of the Bear Lake. I can leave all my kitchen stuff out in the front extension and sit out in all weathers, don't think you'd have the same level of comfort and convenience in the Bear Lake. And for shorter trips you can leave the extension behind and put the tent up in 20 minutes..... Trout lake plus extension and youve got it all covered. Decisions decisions...!   Either way, fantastic tents you'll love 'em both.


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Personarsenaldes
16/9/2012 at 12:43pm
 Location: Aston Clinton
 Outfit: Kampa Holkham + Outwell Yukon River* View arsenaldes's Profile View Profile   Reply to arsenaldes Reply   Quote arsenaldes Quote  
Joined: 13/6/2010

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I thought you said in another post you had a Trout Lake and also in your tent info???

Post last edited on 16/09/2012 20:19:38

-------------
Experience enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.
Everything has been said before, but since nobody ever listens we have to keep going back and saying it all over again and again and again


Personhankakampa
17/9/2012 at 10:28am
 Location: uk
 Outfit: Karsten - sun storm - doesnt matter! View hankakampa's Profile View Profile   Reply to hankakampa Reply   Quote hankakampa Quote  
Joined: 14/9/2012

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at arsenaldes - yes you are correct i do have a trout4 and also a bear6, i was curious as to others thoughts on the uses / practicalness of both tents.

i love the trout lake for short trips - its easy to put up, in fact 1 person can put it up using the method on youtube for a bear lake 6 by pegging just 2 corners to start and erecting just the front pole then the next pole and finally the bedroom pole. then peg the pent and its done. the front extension is a little harder for 1 person to attach though because the elasticated part which attaches to the tent when attached on one side, unsprings from the other - so a different technique needs to be used!.

because the trout lake is smaller and easier to handle than the bear6, i camp more often. the bear 6 though is a lovley big space to relax in when camped in one place for a longer time - but it encourages me to bring more stuff because i know it can fit! - this can be a drawback of it. and i always sigh at the thought of putting it up and taking it down - something i dont get with the trout.

always interesting to read others points of views though and how they do and see things.

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PersonWh1tesox
17/9/2012 at 3:04pm
 Location: Co. Durham
 Outfit: Vango Eternity 400 and Genesis 300 View Wh1tesox's Profile View Profile   Reply to Wh1tesox Reply   Quote Wh1tesox Quote  
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Hankakampa.

Neither me nor OH are very tall (under 5'7) which is why we used to have a problem with the Nevada extension.

OH found an easy way to put this one up - use a king pole to lift the elastic part above the front pole of the tent and it's a doddle. Less than 10 minutes including pegging out both times we've put it up.

And it's big enough for 2 of us for a fortnight


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Personhankakampa
17/9/2012 at 8:11pm
 Location: uk
 Outfit: Karsten - sun storm - doesnt matter! View hankakampa's Profile View Profile   Reply to hankakampa Reply   Quote hankakampa Quote  
Joined: 14/9/2012

Diamond Member
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at wh1tesox, hey, many thanks for that! - i knew there had to be a use for those king poles that always remain in the pole bag! - and now youve told me it! - great, many thanks, ill use this tip for next trip!

-------------
Facebook:- Tent Camping group

Living the Dutch Dream - Karsten 300 pod + extns in Sea Green and Pure Cotton

Zempire Air Force 1 Pc

Cabanon Bora Bora cotton

Outwell Brandon 4e

Zempire Aero Shelter 150D

Vango Illusion 500TC & 420D

Vango Galli 420D

Outwell Concorde 5SATC

Vango Capri 400xl


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!



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