Hello. I am looking to buy a second hand poly cotton tent. This is for a family of three (myself and two children). I need to be able to pitch it in my own so don’t want anything massive.
I like the Outwell Trout Lake 4. These are available second hand at a reasonable price and seem about the right size. My only worry is that this model seems quite old now. Maybe from 2013? I know polycotton is meant to be hard wearing so should I be concerned about a tent of this age? Are there any alternatives I should consider?
Thanks for the advice.
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Look at second hand Dutch pyramid tents, and second hand bell tents?
Blacks of Greenock do 2 models at 4 and 5 metres with an excellent polycotton cloth, as are Dutch pyramid tents.
If looking at Blacks, the website is rubbish....phone them and you might be surprised.
V easy to pitch solo.
Yes, the Trout Lake is quite an old model now and few of them come up for sale. If you do find any, check them out for fading. The green polycotton does show its age when well-used. That's not to say it won't still be okay but don't pay much for a faded one.
I agree with Caligula that bell tents and pyramids are easy to pitch. Cabanon are good but pricey, even used. A Cabanon Biscaya 370 would also fit the bill but they seem to be going for silly money at the moment.
There are 2nd hand bell tents all over the internet, but perhaps if looking at them, you may prefer one with a zipped in groundsheet? Mozzie doors?
These two addresses sell 2nd hand Dutch pyramid style tents. I have dealt with both, and found them very helpful...........
We had a Trout Lake 4, bought it used and sold it on again last year. We used it for 4 and was a little tight, but was for use at festivals. For 3 it would be ideal.
Think ours was a 2010 model. If you see one with green stripes on the bedroom inner it will be 2011 onwards. Before that they were plain grey inners.
I think this is when Outwell’s quality peaked. The windows with mesh and zips to open the plastic etc, now they are all fixed windows and more plastic window than polycotton fabric on the tent!
These days as mentioned above something dutch or a bell tent would be a quality buy.
I have the Robens Klondike, with everything(footprint, carpet, inner tent, which you don't need to use and front porch.)
I'm selling as I've bought a Karsten.
Bell tent style so one pole in the centre and the A-Frame at the door.
I have 3 Trout Lake 4`s, believe it or not. I bought my latest last month, it`s 10 years old, only been used for 3 weeks and it`s like new. Another is extremely well used and has significant fading as it was used mainly in the south of France. (Not by me, I hasten to add) Despite the bleaching of the material, it is perfectly serviceable and I reproofed it earlier this year with Nikwax Cotton Proofing. It doesn`t leak and stands up to the elements better than any new polyester tent. I`d recommend them to anyone. I don`t think you will be disappointed and you can still pick up examples that have had very little use despite their age. Ebay and Gumtree are probably your best bet. Personally, I prefer the model with the rainsafe side entrance and the three opening front windows. Here`s the one I bought last month.
Thanks for all the suggestions. I think an inflatable seems the easiest to pitch solo, so I will keep a look out for a 4 berth on eBay or FB. The vango solace 400 looks good.