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Subject Topic: Coleman vs Outwell Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonBroner
31/7/2014 at 4:47pm
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Hi peeps,

I'm busting my head over which tent to pick. I'm going on vacation with my lady and I'm looking for something that we will feel comfortably in for two weeks. I expect to set up and break it down about three times in those two weeks.

I've narrowed it down to two tents:
-Coleman Lakeside 4 Deluxe. This is a fairly big tent. I like that the sleeping compartments are spacious so that another couple could easily join us. I also like the opening on the side.
-Outwell Birdland M. This tent is somewhat smaller, though for us that is a minor detail. I like the attention for detail, such as a canopy over the door.

The Birdland is roughly £50 more expensive and I'm wondering whether this is justified in terms of durability. Most of all I would like the tent to last several camping trips.

Any comments on the two tents are appreciated. Other suggestions are also welcome (in which case £250 is the upper limit).

Post last edited on 31/07/2014 17:24:53


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PersonBroner
01/8/2014 at 10:49am
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Having thought a little more about it, I discarded the Coleman Lakeside 4 Deluxe option. The Coleman Da Gama 5 is a more interesting deal as it offers the possibility to add a front extension in the future, as is also the case with the Outwell Birdland M. It's also a smarter tent in that it offers mesh doors and protection from the rain when entering the tent.

So here we have it: Birdland M or Da Gama 5. Prices are very similar. The Da Gama has a complete steel frame (opposed to only 1 steel frame bar of the Birdland M) and is slightly larger and it's space can be used slightly more efficiëntly. But there is something about the Birdland M that says 'this is a quality tent' and despite it having only 1 steel frame bar, it can withstand wind force 9, and I do intend to use the tent quite a lot. Unfortunately I can't check out both tents for myself.


Personjeffmasson
01/8/2014 at 5:48pm
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if you want the tent to last the higher the hh the better as it will withstand the uv for longer before it starts to leak. as the bird land has 4000 and the da gama is only 3000 i would pick the bird land.


PersonBob61
01/8/2014 at 7:50pm
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A couple of years ago I had the Outwell Carolina 3 which was similar in style to the Birdland. If I remember rightly it had two metal poles and then a fibreglass pole at either end. I thought it was a nice tent although the material seemed to be a little skimped and it was sometimes difficult getting the pins into the poles even with the straps loosened off fully...a bit like tight jeans...look nice but difficult to get into! It stood up to some gusty weather although I never camped in force 9.

I now have a Coleman Da Gama 6 which was an ex display model. Bearing in mind it was erected for the whole of last year in a display field it seems to be in pretty good nick and must have withstood an assortment of weather. It is the easiest tent to erect I have ever had and is not skimped on material. If you have seen the videos on Utube you will know what it is like. I have only used it a couple of times and have no complaints yet.

Difficult to compare the two because I like them both but perhaps the Coleman gets it on ease of erection and the upright front door with a little rain porch.

Incidentally...according to UKCS tent reviews the Da Gama 6 is cheaper than the 4 and 5 so it may be worth getting the 6 although shop around because prices vary considerably.

Post last edited on 01/08/2014 19:58:10


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PersonBroner
02/8/2014 at 8:58am
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Thanks for the responses so far. I didn't know that the max rated hydrostatic pressure coul also be of influence on its longevity. It's also good to hear the positive experience on the Coleman Da Gama. I might take the 6 if it's indeed similarly priced, but I still have one or two weeks to mull over it.


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PersonBroner
02/8/2014 at 11:08am
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Looking a bit further, I also found the Outwell Oakville 500 for under £250. It looks a lot like the highly rated Virginia 5, but it's a little bit larger and heavier, but it doesn't show up on the outwell website and I can't find any ratings.

Weird.

EDIT: actually, it is almost identical to the Outwell colorado 5.

Post last edited on 02/08/2014 11:22:13

Post last edited on 02/08/2014 12:05:33


Persondchbrown
03/8/2014 at 12:04pm
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the oakville looks like its from last years budget outwell range - we had the larger amarillo 6 in the same colours and style.

if it is then it should be a good tent as the amarillo was fantastic.


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PersonKampaWendy
03/8/2014 at 12:32pm
 Location: High Wycombe
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Quote: Originally posted by jeffmasson on 01/8/2014
if you want the tent to last the higher the hh the better as it will withstand the uv for longer before it starts to leak. as the bird land has 4000 and the da gama is only 3000 i would pick the bird land.


This is wrong as HH is only the materials ability to withstand water penetration, the higher the better, and nothing to to with UV degradation. Polyester tents using better quality, thicker and UV treated materials will last longer



PersonBob61
03/8/2014 at 1:43pm
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The British Standard for calling a tent 'waterproof' is 1500mm HH. That doesn't mean that anything below that will not be waterproof. An umbrella which may not have anything like 1500mm HH will still keep you dry.

Anything higher than 1500mm HH will be waterproof and of course the higher the HH rating the higher it has been tested before it leaks.

The way they test material (in simple terms) is to seal a one inch tube to the material and fill the tube with water. They measure the height of water in the tube in millimetres at the point where water starts dripping through the material.

If I am not mistaken, 1500mm is about 5 feet, which is a heck of a height of water, so unless you intend camping in monsoons 1500mm HH is plenty.

These days 3000mm HH is generally about average for most good quality tents. Higher than that just adds cost without any real benefits in my opinion.

Post last edited on 03/08/2014 13:49:53


Personjeffmasson
03/8/2014 at 6:30pm
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Quote: Originally posted by KampaWendy on 03/8/2014
Quote: Originally posted by jeffmasson on 01/8/2014if you want the tent to last the higher the hh the better as it will withstand the uv for longer before it starts to leak. as the bird land has 4000 and the da gama is only 3000 i would pick the bird land.


This is wrong as HH is only the materials ability to withstand water penetration, the higher the better, and nothing to to with UV degradation. Polyester tents using better quality, thicker and UV treated materials will last longer




how do you think they achieve the higher hh?

it done by using better quality fabric and waterproof coatings. yes hh does not have a direct bearing on the life expectancy of a tent but the fabric and coating used do and as a rule of thumb the high the hh the better they will be!!!


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PersonBroner
03/8/2014 at 6:40pm
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Hi guys, I struck a deal on an Outwell Trout Lake 4 which is three years old, has been used for 5 weeks and is supposed to be in perfect state. Price is just about similar to the options I listed above, and considering that I also want to use it in southern France, I might seriously benefit from the Polycotton fabric.


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Personarsenaldes
03/8/2014 at 6:45pm
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How they achieve a higher head height is easy a thicker layer of polyurethane is sprayed on the inside of the material the polyester fabric remains the same. A standard 75 denier polyester with a 6000HH will not last anywhere near as long as a 150 denier with a 3000HH. Most of the time manufacturers use the same denier polyester material in all their tents and just have the HH increased as they move up the range.

Well done on the Trout Lake you will find polycotton a much nicer material to live with.Longer lasting than Polyester, Cooler in warm weather, Warmer in cool weather, unlikely to condensate and wont sound like a rattling crisp packet in the wind

Post last edited on 03/08/2014 18:52:02

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PersonBroner
03/8/2014 at 6:59pm
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That's what I though, but considering that I've only been looking and reading into tents for about a week, I am still at risk of making many stupid decisions :)

Actually, I was also in contact with some about a much larger Outwell Reef Kaouai, but I just don't see myself taking that tent with me on a short weekend trip with my girlfriend, while one of the reasons for buying a tent, is because we want to get out more often. For me the Trout Lake 4 seems to strike the right balance.


PersonBroner
04/8/2014 at 7:40am
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Am considering purchasing the matching carpet for the Trout Lake 4, but that might be a problem. The video of the previous version of the tent shows a carpet that matches perfectly, but the video of the newer version doesn't show any carpet. The shape of the tent has changed slightly and it's unclear if a new shape of carpet has been introduced, and if so, which shape of carpet I would buy when ordering the product online.


PersonKampaWendy
04/8/2014 at 8:26pm
 Location: High Wycombe
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Hi If your Trout is 3 years old you need the "old" carpet 2012 or earlier as the front has change on the new ones. Ebay is probably your best bet. Hope this helps.


PersonBroner
04/8/2014 at 9:02pm
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I think it's the 2010 version, which might be identical in size and shape to the 2012 version, but not to the newest one. You're probably right that ebay is my best bet.



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