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Well, although the Diablo was the top selling tent of 2004 (I think) what we are hearing at the moment is that dealers are selling out of Montanas and their accessories but starting to offer their Diablos at discounted prices.

But I am not sure if its fair to compare the two tents as to me they are very different, to the extent that a tent buyer who liked one would simply not like the other at all, rather than have a slight preference for the one over the other. Does that make any sense at all? MT

I've had both the Diablo and the Montana and can say with 100% conviction that the Montana wins hands down for the following reasons:

1.  Speed of erection - about 20 minutes with 2 adults (Diablo takes double that)

2.  Light - the Montana has 7 windows (Diablo feels like living in a cave)

3.  Erection style - Erect outer first or as one (Diablo inner first)

4.  Bedrooms size - you can fit a high rise airbed comfotably into a Montana 3 berth bedroom(same cannot be said for the diablo)

5.  Pitch size - standard pitch size (some sites charge double for the Diablos)

The only draw back with the Montana is that it doesn't have a porch to cook in but we just bought a front canopy and hey presto, happy days

Hi,

So you think you've got it nailed to the Montana 6 or Diablo 6. Well I'd just like to suggest that you seriously look at either the Outwell Sun Valley 6 or 8. Loads of windows, massive porch, sewn in groundsheet for the sleeping section, easy to erect (and the sleeping pods are already attached inside, once its up and pegged its all up and pegged !), and of course you can stand up in the sleeping pods.

I've read with interest your posts, and fully appreciate what you're going through. We did the same very recently, in fact purchasing our Sun Valley 8 last week. We put it up last weekend in the garden.....all I can say is WOW.....we're novices and we put it up in under an hour (all pegged out)......without too many arguments !

Its a great tent and gives you the best of both worlds. Please please please just consider it. Here's a few links:-

• Sun Valley 6 -  http://www.basecampuk.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=71_74&products_id=192
• Sun Valley 8 -  http://www.basecampuk.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=71_77&products_id=211

Oh yeah and you can also pick up a 4mx5m tarpaulin for £6.98 from B&Q to go under the SIG area.

OK....thats it....I've said my piece so I'll shut up now and leave you in peace. Thankyou.

Cheers,

Pete.

Hi Wilson,

Please don't get me wrong....we looked around the Montana 12 as well....loved the look of it  BUT  I tripped entering it. Now I've got 3 kids ranging from 19mths to 7 years and if I tripped they most certainly will. One of the questions you got to ask yourself is "What do we do with our wet and possibly muddy gear ?". Ok so you could get a side or front canopy for the Montana but its effectively outside.

And that is what sold it for us with the Sun Valley.....the big big porch (even on the Sun Valley 6) can store all the stuff you don't want inside the SIG area. Its greatest feature for us is the fact its got this 60/40 split between SIG and groundsheet. But the porch can been completely zipped up, the door is just massive. I know you shouldn't cook in your tent but I felt we could get away with it in the doorway easily and stay dry.

We even looked at the Colorado....but we wanted the sleeping compartments to be draught free.

Either way if you go for an Outwell you going to get a great tent.

Oh Boy ! LOL....Happy Camping.

Quote: Originally posted by Lukara on 01/07/2005

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4.  Bedrooms size - you can fit a high rise airbed comfotably into a Montana 3 berth bedroom(same cannot be said for the diablo)

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Lukara,

Could you please tell me what dimensions your high rise airbed has? We have one with 50 cm height, about 208 cm length and 163 cm width from Costco and we're not sure if it would fit.

This is one of the reasons we're looking at the Monty 12, as it has that wide bedroom...

I have also noticed from another post of yours that you have friends with Monty 12. Having seen both 6 and 12, how would you compare them for a family of 4?

Thank you.

Quote: Originally posted by wilson280 on 01/07/2005

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Anyone with any down sides to the Outwell Montana 6, please let rip

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Only downside, if it is one as it depends on personal requirements, is probably what Gunnar has mentioned e.g lack of integral porch to store wet gear. I keep mine outside under the side canopy until I can bring it in and shove it in a corner somewhere or just leave it there to dry. Don't find it too much of the problem so far........ but then I'm still on a high from buying such a great tent

HTH

Pete.

We have a Diablo and like it especially the internal space and the porch.

We  don't like the slope on the bedrooms.

We did want to look at the Montana but it came down to laziness and price for our final choice. The montana wasn't on display at the shop we went to and it was £ 70 dearer.

I'm sure there are lots of people who are very happy with both tents