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Tent Reviews: Outwell Norfolk Lake
Tent and Awning Reviews Index > Outwell > Norfolk Lake Reviews
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Current Model?
Berths:
Weight:
RRP on date added:
Bedroom inners:
Living area groundsheet:
Pitching Style:
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Discontinued
8 (more 8 berth tents)
67.10 KG
3
Fully Sewn-in
In one
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Average User Rating:9.39/10 from 36 reviews
Viewed: 88326 times
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36 Reviews of the Norfolk Lake
Showing 21 to 30 Page:
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By: 2gocampin Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2009 Rating: 
Ok the Norfolk, wow about sums it up, its big but not too big to cause pitch problems, its so much better than the Bear or Wolf Lake as it has the separate front section so you don't clutter the living area and for what ever reason it just feels right, balanced and very welcoming.
It doesn't take any longer to pitch than the Bear does, 20 minutes will get the Norfolk standing on its own and then its just the tweaking.
The packed size is a tad daunting though and the weight of the canvas takes some shifting but you cant have this quality of tent without this.
The only negative, although this does not relate directly to the tent as such is that there is no canopy for the front. A canopy like the Bear's would be perfect as this is the door we will tend to use most and being angled as it is without a canopy when raining its going to get wet inside very quickly.
We have seen that other owners have used Montana 6 and Minnesota canopies so I think we will take the same route.
Don't think we will ever use the 3rd bedroom but always good to have it spare.
All in all an gorgeous tent that feels so good that we wont ever want to come home, what ever the weather brings.
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By: Issym Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2009 Rating:
Having had experience of camping on and off over the years we had a vague idea about what we didn't want rather than what we did want. Having seen the Norfolk Lake there wasn't one 'didn't want' part about it. We are now in our 50's and worried about the weight of the tent, but shouldn't have, it was very easy to handle and took 20 minutes from getting it out of the trailer to being able to 'let go'! I only gave it 9/10 as there was a loop missing from the bedroom tent and one of the elastic loops looked like it had been overstretched, so it's 10/10 for the tent but 9/10 for quality against price.
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By: Blaze591 Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2009 Rating:
We bought our Norfolk Lake to replace a Khyam Ontario, as we wanted a tent which had an internal porch area - somewhere to cook inside, leave tables & chairs, boots etc etc, and also was cooler than a polyester tent. We have not been disappointed. It's a big tent, plenty of headroom for me, and the internal porch area is perfect for having a 'wet' & 'dry' area. In this respect it beats the Bear & Wolf Lakes hands down.
First of all, the size. The pack size of the basic tent is slightly larger than the whole of the Ontario, so if you factor in the size of the second Pole bag, you will need more than twice the space in the car to carry it. In terms of weight, this is a heavy tent. I can carry both the Pole Bag and the Tent Bag on my own, but I'm 6'5' and frankly it's a big struggle - a two person lift is desirable / essential!
Pitching the tent is easy. Lay out the flysheet, assemble the poles, and put them into the colour coded sleeves. Lift the tent into the vertical position, insert the pegs into the ends of the poles, and repeat, working your way down the tent. Two people can have the basic tent up in 25 minutes. However, I do not imagine that a single person could put this tent up, as I could with the Ontario - it's just too heavy. Once the tent's up, it just a matter of zipping in the heavy duty groundsheet and fixing in the bedrooms.
Once the tent was up our impressions were of a handsome tent which is very solid and secure. There is none of the annoying flapping which plagues polyester tents, the tension poles on side of the tent anchor the whole thing together, and really there's no need to guy it out. Our first camping trip to Derbyshire involving pitching in 10 - 15 mph winds and the tent didn't move at all. In hot weather it's cool and pleasant inside, in stark contrast to our previous polyester tents!
A lot has been said in the forums regarding the quality of Outwell tent. I won't say that it's absolutely perfect, there are some loose threads that need to be tidied up, and two small (2p sized) spots where the dye in the tent material is a very slightly different colour, but there's no doubt that this tent is a quality product that will last for many, many years. We weathered it in the back garden, there were no leaks of any kind despite a very heavy and prolonged soaking.
In summary, if you want a comfortable, practical and high quality tent with a built in porch area, look no further.
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By: Dezzie Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2008 Rating:
We bought the Norfolk lake to replace our Gelert Utah. The first thing that strikes me about this tent is the pack size. It can be quite overwhelming to see two massive bags and wonder how to transport it along with all the other gear that us campers essentially need. Once the initial shock is over, it becomes a pleasure to open and unfold this beautiful big tent. As with all polycotton tents, its heavier than synthetic tents and the pole bag really needs 2 people to carry it (as does the main tent bag). It is very straightforward to erect. You build up the colour coded poles, slip them into where they go and then raise the tent.
It is heavy and 2 can get the tent erected, but in my opinion its a lot easier with 3 people. Once erected, you will witness the sheer quality of the tent. Nice thick canvas, strong metal alloy poles, good quality guy lines. Quality is the key word here - The lake series of tents are definitely the jewel in the crown of Outwell tents. Everything just feels well made and well designed. The zip in groundsheet is fantastic though VERY heavy. The porch area has a detachable bathtub groundsheet too. I mention porch area, but to be honest, the porch has ample living space in it for a table and 4 chairs.
I haven't had the door canopy up yet due to the time of year camping, but I imagine this will only enhance the size of the porch. We actually use this part of the tent as our living area, and its bigger than the living area of our last tent. The room area of the tent is contained within the zig and all 3 rooms are detachable, so they can be left out if a smaller party are going camping. We use all 3 in the winter months as our oldest son uses the smaller room at the front of the room area. During the summer, this room is left out to make a very large living area that has a degree of privacy for evenings, eating inside etc.
All in all this tent is in my opinion one of the best tents in the market today. The only let down for me is the main tent bag. The strap burst on our first trip away with the tent. It didnt affect the carrying of the bag, but I was a bit shocked that it snapped so easily. I would have preferred a bag with a zip rather than the very large sack that the bag is. A minor gripe though. The tent is massive, but has a nice understated stance when pitched among other units, it does stand out, but not in a garish unsightly way. The Norfolk Lake is a modern design classic and the best way to enjoy this tent is to use it.
If you are considering buying one, remember that you need to pack it away dry. So it may involve it being erected in your garden till it dries out, or laid out in your house somewhere. It does take a while to dry because of the materials.
If you see it on a campsite, don't be scared to ask for a look. It is a thing of beauty and should be appreciated by all, but then I am biased.
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By: Melissa90 Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2007 Rating:
We recently returned to camping after quite a few years and my husband wanted a 'canvas' tent as we had previously had canvas followed by a nylon tent. We spent quite a lot of time researching them, and saw this one on display and really liked the layout. We put it up for the first time in our garden (took about an hour for the two of us), we made the mistake of leaving the groundsheet zipped in and then it took two of us to lift it! We used it properly for our annual (previously caravanning) holiday in South West France and loved it. Saved us over 5 hours driving, took an hour to put up in the dark. Had loads of room for the two of us and a 12 year old - we put up the third bedroom and used it to store our bags and a portaloo for the night but still left enough living space for us and a fridge. Only slight complaint would be that we bought an outwell campbed for our daughter and it was a bit of a squash trying to fit it in the bedroom area. The front porch area we had a cupboard, table, cooker and three chairs and there was enough room to sit in there with the front up at night time enjoying a glass of wine and watching the world go by! Had rain and a thunderstorm - no leaks, just had to get up at 5.00 one morning to shut the windows - tent remains cool in the heat. We too tended to use the door at the front but didn't find it a problem. Also bought a Quecha 3 second pop up tent for the journey down rather than unpack and pack the bigger tent, that was great too! Would recommend this tent to anyone, easy to put up, although large to carry it's easy for two people.
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By: Mumshadenough Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2008 Rating: 
We have just used our Norfolk Lake for the first time, and found it incredibly easy to put up.
We are used to erecting Tunnel tents so this was not a challenge. We were aware that there may have been an issue with the side poles fitting in the mesh sleeves, so we just made sure that the butons that clip the poles together were facing the tent as we slid it through. Worked a treat!
The space in the tent is fantastic, and even though we used the 3rd bedroom, we still had plenty of living space.
I love the fact that the front porch can be used for cooking, having had a tent with only a small canopy to cook under, this was luxury!
With the front door on poles as a porch canopy, with the sun shining, we had a lovely weekend lazing around in the sun.
And inside the tent you really feel like you are under canvas. The tent was cool, and darker than in the polyester tents, which definitely helped when the kids had to go to bed!
The night time was rather chilly outside, so we spent the night with a fan heater on, and we were toasty all night. It was lovely to wake up to a warm tent, with no condensation, and be able to get a cuppa without going outside.
Taking down the tent was incredibly easy, and we kept the ZIG attached to make things easier next time we set up. The bag is great, because it expands if you want to fit more in.And even though it takes 2 of us to put it in the trailer, its still no heaver than an old canvas frame tent!
This is the perfect tent for my family with the versatility to use it for a long weekend or a couple of weeks! I can see a long happy relationship with this one!
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By: BERTIE Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2007 Rating:
We love our Norfolk Lake, since owning it we have had 2 x 2 weeks in France and several weekends in the UK, so it has had quite a lot of use over varying terrain and weather conditions.
We only use the 2 bedrooms and use the area to the front of this as our 'Living Room' - we have carpet and find it to be very warm and cosy, during the hot days in France we had a fan on most days and this kept it cool and a place to get away from it all - the sides we tend not to use except for the night time toilet!
The front porch area we use as a kitchen enabling us to cook whatever the weather and whatever the time of day - it quite easily accommodates a camp kitchen with cooker, larder, table and usually 2 x coleman coolboxes.
We felt that the design regarding the sloping front door was a bit of a pain during wet/damp days to open the zip from the bottom so, we purchased a canopy for the Minnesota 6 (nearest size to it) and fixed this to the front. This now enables us to keep the front door open all day from breakfast time to bedtime allowing the air to circulate through the tent!
I have recently seen the new 2008 and model and like the idea of the tent tidies and the bedrooms zipping together!
The zig works fantastically, we have got the footprint but do find that it gets very wet, could be the condensation from being laid under the carpet and thick groundsheet, but it is certainly easier to wipe moisture of the ZIG and then clean the footprint when we get home!
The only down side we have really found is how much the fabric has faded - we bought it green it is now a very light khaki - this can be seen quite obviously from the front door when it is down as the canopy normally protects it from all weathers!
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By: Wissymo Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2007 Rating:
We have just returned from Longnor woods and it is the 3rd time we have camped in our norfolk lake.
For us this tent is perfect! With 2 adults,2 children and 1 dog we fit just fine.
We also never use the side doors as we have a carpet,and never use the 3rd bedroom as it isnt needed for the 4 of us.
The living area is lovely on an evening if it is chilly and we really do set it up to be quite homely.
Through the day we use the porch mainly as its big enough to lounge in and you get the nice outdoors feeling without wet grass on your feet or bugs running up your legs!
I don't mind the way the porch opens as we put the front up on poles instead of rolling it up and a little wipe with kitchen roll sorts out any drips.
The only thing I would change is the bag.It would be easier if it had a zip along the top rather than a opening at one end with the tent being so heavy.
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By: Bossdog Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2007 Rating:
Hi, I first saw the Norfolk lake tent at Mitchells of Wakefield. Loved it straight away but the price tag put me off, eventually I bought 1 and I can say honestly, its worth the money !. As all the reviews say, this is a top top family tent built to last,it has all the space you could ever want,very versatile, warm and dry. We too don't use the third pod in favour for extra space and we also recommend having the carpet.We have used our tent several time and experienced all weather,the Norfolk lake is equally brilliant in both sun or rain. I agree that it is very easy to pitch and it does take approx an hour. My only draw back is the amount of space it takes in the back of the car and its also heavy,(both bags) but its worth it.
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By: Ro11erba11 Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2007 Rating: 
Only used the Norfolk lake twice and last week was the first time in rain, but it leaked quite badly on the front door about an area of 8' x 10' low down. We only use the front door because we have a carpet in the living area and try to keep it clean. As the front was used frequently by 8 people we experienced problems with lots of water and mud entering the front area of tent. Maybe the constant use of this door in rain didn't help with our leak problem?. If the tent had a front extension it would probably help with the front door problems and would get a higher recommendation from me. Overall we found this a very good tent, easy to erect, cosy, quiet, plenty of room and full of nice little touches.
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36 User Reviews of the Norfolk Lake - Showing 21 to 30 Page:
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Manufacturer's Description
The manufacturer has advised that this model has been discontinued.
With sleeping accommodation for up to 8 persons in its 3 + 3 inner tents across one end, plus a
removable 2-berth inner, the amazing Norfolk Lake makes a truly spacious holiday home. The full
zip-out groundsheet provides maximum protection from the elements, insects and floor draughts in
the enclosed bedroom and living area, and helps make housekeeping a cinch. The Norfolk is easy to
pitch, uses aluminium poles throughout, and remains stable in adverse conditions. Other strong selling points include the detachable groundsheet in the front living area, the large front door that doubles as a canopy, the additional half-opening entrance, and a wide range of sophisticated and carefully crafted Outwell details. Norfolk Lake is a wise choice for a large family that wants reliable quality and comfort.
Specifications:
Flysheet: Outtexฎ Airtech
Inner tent: Polycotton
Floor: PVC Tarpaulin
Pack size: Tent: 35 x 103 cm / Poles: 35 x 102 cm
Weight: Tent: 34.8 kg / Poles: 32.3 kg
Poles: Alloy poles #6063, 22 mm, 2 upright steel poles
Features:
Detachable bathtub groundsheet for porch area
Organiser pockets
Full length mesh pockets in the inner tents
Lamp holder and light cable tidies
Reinforcement patch on all stress points
Adjustable pegging points
Luminous guy ropes
Heavy duty Outwell zips
Outwell doormat included
Optional Extras:
Kids Room
Carpet
Footprint
... there may be more info on their website
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