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Subject Topic: Is it risky buying an air tent? Post Reply Post New Topic
Personreck
20/7/2021 at 10:22pm
 Location: Leicestershire
 Outfit: Outwell Vermont L (2008) View reck's Profile View Profile   Reply to reck Reply   Quote reck Quote  
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Thinking about the possibility of getting an Outwell air tent. I love their tents, currently have a Vermont, but I’ve heard their customer service isn’t great.

My main concern about getting an air tent is what happens if I get a puncture and need a new tube or need a new valve a few years down the line? Do Outwell have any sort of guarantee that they can supply parts for so many years after a tent has been purchased? In fact do any manufacture do this?

My biggest concern is having a blown tube or knackered valve and not being able to get a suitable part and then have a very expensive tent that’s ruined due to a simple puncture.

What are the options for air tents that are 5 to 10 years old when a fault like this occurs?


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Persondk168
20/7/2021 at 11:23pm
 Location: Devizes Wiltshire
 Outfit: MWB VW Crafter PVC View dk168's Profile View Profile   Reply to dk168 Reply   Quote dk168 Quote  
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Have a look at this recent thread on this topic:

Air tents and deterioration

DK

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PersonBob61
20/7/2021 at 11:42pm
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One of my best tents was an Outwell, but maybe that was because it was my first large family sized tent with a sewn in groundsheet rather than the smaller dome tents I used to go camping in. I did find the material a little skimped and struggled to get the poles onto the pins, and when I did, it always seemed slightly raised off the ground on one side. I have never had that problem with other tents, but it was pretty good quality and served my purpose at that time. I probably wouldn't buy another one though.

Bearing that in mind I would hesitate in buying an Outwell air tent because I wouldn't trust that it was good value for money and nothing would be wrong with it.

With regards to air tents generally, I have heard nothing but complaints about them for one reason or another and that includes exploding tubes and knackered valves. I certainly wouldn't buy an air tent at the present time and would only buy tents with metal poles...call me old fashioned but they don't make 'em like wot they used to


PersonMucker1884
via mobile 21/7/2021 at 6:29am
 Location: Derby.
 Outfit: Karsten 350+Awnings View Mucker1884's Profile View Profile   Reply to Mucker1884 Reply   Quote Mucker1884 Quote  
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For the past 4 decades, Karsten have been able to supply spares “5-10 years down the line”.
Of course, nobody can predict if that would still be the case in 5-10 years time, if purchasing one of their inflatable tents today.
The tents do come with a 5 year warranty.
The “problem” with that is that there doesn’t seem to be any need for spares, and I’ve been unable to find any evidence on the internet, of exploding air tubes, punctures etc… unlike virtually all other brands.
Similarly with their extra thick ground sheets, and 100% cotton canvas.

If it’s longevity you’re after, my advice would be to look at nothing other than Karsten.


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2014: 34 nights
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From July 2012: 23 nights


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PersonDebbieSaunders
21/7/2021 at 8:26am
 Location: Suffolk
 Outfit: Karsten Lacerta View DebbieSaunders's Profile View Profile   Reply to DebbieSaunders Reply   Quote DebbieSaunders Quote  
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I've had two airbeams - both from the Vango 'elite' range. Yes, I've had an issue with one beam, replaced and repaired under warranty by Vango (with excellent customer service from Gary Cross who supplied us with extra additional beams, just in case). It was unfortunate - issue with zip tie that didn't tighten.... that was back in 2015. Sold the tent only yesterday. You can still buy replacement beams for that one.

Second tent we still have - been using regularly since 2107 with no issues whatsoever (one of their TC range) - can also buy replacement beams

Ironically though, we're now very much thinking of joining the Karstens mob, and most oddly of all, with poles..... (just because that particular tent suits our needs best - not because we want to get away from airbeams!!)

So what I would say is - airbeams can be great, but like most things in life, you get what you pay for!


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PersonBroadside
via mobile 21/7/2021 at 9:34am
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I would say go for it, we’ve been using large air beam tents for the last 6 years. We did have some quality issues with an Outwell Vermont 7SA which was replaced twice under warranty, in the end we gave it back and went with a Kampa Studland and have never looked back.

I love the look of Outwell air beams but in my opinion you get much better value with Kampa, the finish may not be quite as nice as Kampa but the quality is better and long term reliability matters to me more than appearance.

I would suggest that you view the pack size with your own eyes before buying, ours is huge and needs 2 people to lift but it is an 8 person polycotton tent. They are a surprising amount bigger when packed up.


PersonMitchamitri
21/7/2021 at 10:03am
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Eventually if you can buy a Karsten that's great, but it's not in everyone's price bracket.   

Mass-market Air tents have improved massively over recent years - guarantees are good, spares are generally available. A lot of air tents have the same size beams throughout which means if you want to carry a spare you only need the one.   

Fibreglass pole tents you can easily get replacement poles. Steel poled tents youd probably never need to.

Its more important that you buy a tent that fits your needs and budget rather than differentiating between whether its an air beam or not, although generally on smaller tents you will get better value for money on a poled tent. Air beams are more forgiving of people who cant pitch out properly, and become more sense in my opinion with larger tents.   Don't forget even with an air tent you have to peg out so the time saving isn't massive, and the bags they come in can be huge.

As for us we have both a poled tent and an airbeam - vango and kampa so both mass market. Both are perfectly fine and have been for a long time.


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Personverycontrarymary
via mobile 22/7/2021 at 7:15am
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We have had an Outwell air tent for five years and I have had no problems with it at all. We have four children and needed a tent big enough to fit everybody in (at that point none of them was old enough to be in a separate tent). Getting an air tent meant I was able to pitch it with just help from the children whereas I couldn't manage a similar size poled tent.


Personreck
via mobile 22/7/2021 at 1:28pm
 Location: Leicestershire
 Outfit: Outwell Vermont L (2008) View reck's Profile View Profile   Reply to reck Reply   Quote reck Quote  
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Thanks all for the comments, I think I might contact Outwell directly and ask them about this.

Will also have a look at Kampa as I’ve not looked at their range. Karsten isn’t for me.


PersonGraham T
22/7/2021 at 8:45pm
 Location: south derbyshire
 Outfit: campmaster air trailer tent View Graham T's Profile View Profile   Reply to Graham T Reply   Quote Graham T Quote  
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I have a Campmaster air trailer tent which uses a Kampa Hayling air tent it is four years old and no problem so far. I was told you could remove the air tube and repair a small puncture with a bicycle puncture kit.


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Personwsurfa
via mobile 23/7/2021 at 7:03am
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I had an Outwell Tomcat that lasted 5 years until one air beam failed taken a main seam with it.

I couldn't trust it after that and put it in the bin. Outwell didn't care, their after sales care was a link to an expensive replacement airbeam.

It had c20 weeks use and parts of it felt a lot 'crispier' than when new, so it may have been on the way out anyway.

I wouldn't buy Outwell again on that experience.

It was a lot easier to put up compared to the zempire mothership I got to replace it though (ebay £100, so I can cope with the added pitching difficulty)


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Personreck
via mobile 23/7/2021 at 8:00am
 Location: Leicestershire
 Outfit: Outwell Vermont L (2008) View reck's Profile View Profile   Reply to reck Reply   Quote reck Quote  
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Thanks for sharing your experience wsurfa.

It’s good to hear you were able to get a replacement beam after 5 years if you’d chosen to.

To be fair to Outwell you were well out of the warranty period and they offered you a replacement part so not sure what else you could expect of them with a 5 year old tent. Out of interest how much does an Outwell replacement air beam cost?


Personwsurfa
via mobile 23/7/2021 at 8:12am
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I can't find the link at the moment, but it was c£100 IIRC. Links to ones that don't fit are closer to £60 I think



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