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Tent Reviews: Outwell Bear Lake 6

Tent and Awning Reviews Index  >  Outwell  >  Bear Lake 6 Reviews

Current Model?
Berths:
Weight:
RRP on date added:
Bedroom inners:
Living area groundsheet:
Pitching Style:
Discontinued
6  (more 6 berth tents)
52.90 KG
£1,749.90
2
Fully Sewn-in
In one
Average User Rating:
9.25/10 from 91 reviews

Viewed: 210513 times

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91 Reviews of the Bear Lake 6         Showing 41 to 50          Page:   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  

By: Timjsearle  Reason: I own(ed) one  Made in: 2010   Rating: 

Bought this last spring-2010. Love the tent. The 4 berth side of the inner is large enough for our 3 tier inflatable kingsize airbed. With fitted sheets and quilt is home from home. We wanted a tent with sturdy groundsheet to withstand dogs wear and tear. This zip in one is excellent. Windows are good and can be opened when weather is warm. Only minor con is, although not tricky, takes a lot of huff and puff to erect. However, once up, it's quality all round. We paid just under £700 for a new box unopened one at a camping show. Well worth it.
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By: Neerglip  Reason: I own(ed) one  Made in: 2010   Rating: 

Really enjoying the bear lake but missed the covered sides of the canopy we had on the Sunvalley 6. So, we bought the polycotton tarp and trimmed to size and using simple pole clips this works well for us.Keeping the rain and most of the wind out of the cooking area. For next season we have stitched an overlap on the tarp to allow the pole to slide in. A better fit.We hope.
1 from 1 people found this review helpful, was it helpful to you?   

By: Mark+Jill  Reason: I own(ed) one  Made in: 2008   Rating: 

We bought the BL6 after looking around for most of the summer 2008. Before the BL6 we had a trigano so we were looking out for a canvas/polycotton and the bear ticked all the right boxes.

As others have said it's heavy and it is a two man job to put up, although we now use the Yeomans way which we find much easier.

We have now used it for two years and have no issues with quality, our only grumble is that the front canopy does not go to the ground.

This is a great tent and we would recommend it to any one.
2 from 2 people found this review helpful, was it helpful to you?   

By: Tenthappy  Reason: I own(ed) one  Made in: 2010   Rating: 

Tent selection:

After much deliberation and trudging around camping shows last Easter, I chose the Outwell Bear Lake 6 and am very glad that I did. Yes, it is expensive and heavy but it is polycotton and just so quiet in the wind and also not so stifling in the summer heat. It is nothing less than an awesome tent and looks like it means business (other campers do feel the need to check it out when you are pitched so not for the shy and retiring amongst you).

Tent durability:

Out of the tunnel-style tents, it was the only one I saw with extra side poles that connect the arches and this makes it that bit more stable. We have had wind and rain and this tent just shrugs off the elements with an air of superiority. On a coastal site, we saw one tent in the bin after a windy night but nothing seemed to have happened to the Bear Lake 6 - all the poles seemed to be in their correct shape. I would also recommend paying extra for the footprint - this is brilliant in wet/muddy conditions and ensures a dry tent and groundsheet when packing down - the footprint is lightweight and easy to wash and dry before you go home. The tent is attractive and well made, with loads of room for a family and the large table and all the other things you need for camping. Nothing has broken or ripped after a full season of use and mud splashes sponge off easily. It has withstood the onslaught from the children, so that must be a sign of quality and durability. Another plus point is that it is an investment. When I was looking, I saw fairly old ones going on well-known online auction sites for ludicrous sums of money.

Ease of setting up:

Although setting up is straightforward (it is obvious which poles go where etc), it is not a quick put-up and the whole unit weights a ton. I'm sure you could do this by yourself, you just wouldn't want to put yourself or your back through the hassle. We are used to camping and have put up this tent a few times now but bank on 1-2 hours from start to finish (including putting up the inner tent and getting all the beds inflated and table set up etc). The zip on the (very well made and sturdy) groundsheet is also fairly hard to operate and would benefit from a little spray with something to ease its passage before you go. I would recommend getting a couple of extra wheelie bags and dividing up the poles and zip-in groundsheet and also the tent and inner tent to reduce the weight of individual bags.

Ease of transportation:

We have a large car and scoffed when we saw comments about people needing a trailer with this tent. One camping trip and a large portion of humble pie later, we now also have a camping trailer and life is that much easier. Top tip: fit out the rear of your trailer with a camping fridge and oven/hob and it parks perfectly under the front awning to make for more comfortable cooking.

Summary:

So in summary, not cheap but I am banking on getting £600 back in a couple of years so why not camp in style! We tried camping this October and with electric hookup and a little heater, this was nice and cosy and even the kids were snug at night. Another top tip, once you have a trailer you will have the space to afford yourselves the luxury of taking a 15 tog duvet and pillows, so much nicer than a sleeping bag. I put all the bedding in those plastic storage bags, which you then shrink down by sucking out the air with a hoover. Take a 12 volt pump with suck action and it does a pretty good job during the packing down to come home. Would I recommend this tent to a friend? Definitely, treat yourself and don't forget to buy the trailer while you are at it!
4 from 4 people found this review helpful, was it helpful to you?   

By: HELEN.H  Reason: I own(ed) one  Made in: 2009   Rating: 

Myself and partner can put this tent up without injury or argument. Yes it is that easy. Its comfy and very roomy. It has withstood high winds without so much as a sound. Truly fantastic to stay in. Well designed and thought out. Will be using it for many more trips yet. Still need to add more words so. Ground sheet good and thick. Great head space and well designed ventilation. Performs beautifully on every trip we have used it for. Its a real star
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By: Hillybilly15  Reason: I own(ed) one  Made in: 2008   Rating: 

On reaching retiring age and our overdue mid life crisis we purchased BL6 and took up camping. For over 2 years we have thoroughly enjoyed using this tent. Yes.Its heavy and Yes.There are drawbacks at our age.The muscles are not as strong as they were.But the joys of using this superb tent far outweigh the issues. We also purchased the side extension which is ideal for extra storage and cooking but why oh why Outwell didn't you put a door on it making it more versatile. A few problems with the front door zip (which I understand have now been solved in newer products). We also have a Nevada M with front extension but we are glad we took BL6 on our recent trip to Arran. Gales and rain were the order of the night, so bad the ferries stopped sailing. With gusts of wind up to 90mph and rain the like of which I have rarely experienced the BL6 stood proudly while all around campers/caravanners were battered into submission.Tents and awnings ripped and poles bent while we sat it out snug and SMUG. BL6 is definitely a considered purchase at a hefty price but I would recommend this range to anyone it is an excellent product
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By: Sunvalleysue  Reason: I own(ed) one  Made in: 2010   Rating: 

We bought the Bearlake 6 in August 2010 after reading positive reviews by UKCS members and we wasn't disappointed,we LOVE it.

Yes it is heavy and does need a bit of car space,but its quite easy to put up once you have a had a couple of goes.

We experienced wind and heavy rain on our first outing and it stood up well,not letting a single drop of water in.

The ZIG is very thick (weighs 13 kg) and is really top quality,as are all the materials used on the tent.The front canopy zips off when not in use and keeps the rain away from the front door,a bonus when you are returning when its raining,giving you chance to take your wet things off before entering the tent.

We zip off the ZIG and keep it in a separate bag.This way it keeps the weight down and makes the tent easier to roll up and put away.

We keep the inner in another bag.

The polycotton fabric is much more stable in wind than polyester and also much cooler when the sun is shining on it.
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By: Tonyduck  Reason: I own(ed) one  Made in: 2010   Rating: 

Just been on our first weekend away with our BL6. Took 2 boys (2 and 5) and we found we had tons of space. Pretty quick to put up (we arrived at the campsite at 7 pm so had to be quick to put it up in daylight!). Zip in groundsheet fab. Only niggle is I'd prefer a 3/3 split for the inner tent/bedrooms as the 2 sleeper pod is a bit cramped for an adult and a child with inflatable mattresses.

Other than that, buy one! The weight will help build your muscles!
1 from 1 people found this review helpful, was it helpful to you?   

By: W25mat  Reason: I own(ed) one  Made in: 2010   Rating: 

My bl6 was great until I found a hole in the front window fly screen which you bl6 fans might think is not usual but having camped with a fellow bl6 owner who may I add was also on there first outing in there new 2010 tent also found holes in there canvas and had several leeks on the seems . I was also camping with a Montana 6 which also had a fault consisting of a over stitched zip which meant the window would not open is this just very unlucky or is it common . I'm sure the shop where we got them from will help us out but the problem should end with Outwell but as with most big companies you cant contact them.
1 from 2 people found this review helpful, was it helpful to you?   

By: Paul Reddington  Reason: I own(ed) one  Made in: 2009   Rating: 

Go on, you know you want one! We spied BL6 pitched at Yeomans August 2009 and despite the hefty price tag to go with the hefty construction, bought it, plus the side extension and footprint groundsheet - handy for sizing up your pitch.

Reasons why we bought it:

Cooler and quieter than all the nylon tents on a hot breezy day

Looks great - colour and shape

Sturdy feel to the material and all the zips

Less prone to the UV damage that the nylon ones also on display at Yeomans (since April) showed

Great reviews all over the internet

Good size for me, the missus and three boys

We took it on a two site 14 day trip last year (talk about jumping in the deep end!) to Gloucester and Noongallas in Cornwall. I took the precaution of proofing it with a tent sealer in the garden before we left, and had no trouble with leaks, other than our fault where the baby's cot was putting the bedroom inner in touch with the outer material.

The BL6 coped great with everything the British weather had to throw at it, especially in Cornwall. Torrential rain, high winds (this year we had 40mph gusts at Norfolk) and we love it.

On the negative side, the bedroom inner had a clip and strap missing out of the pair at the rear, which meant the remaining one took all the strain and the material ripped. Yeomans were extremely helpful, after seeing that all the other stock had the same fault they sewed a strap onto our inner for us and gave the option of swapping for a brand new one, which we will, as one of the bedroom pockets is split.

We have had some difficulty with the front door zip, best to erect it with it shut and not to over-tension nearby pegs.

The front canopy is great to sit under, but really needs to have two removable panels that go down to the floor, as when the wind is up, you have to have a windbreak erected. We found it really hard to cook at the windy Cornish site, due to the pitch not being large enough to erect the extension, which we now use for all our cooking gear. When I get round to it, I'm going to make two clip-on side panels - anyone know who sells the clips?

We cart it round in a trailer as it's heavy and the three bags (with the side extension) take up a lot of room.

Like others, we have a lot of people admiring it and have given 'tours'. In Norfolk this Bank Holiday there were three more on site, plus a BL4 which was fine for a couple with no kids.

With side panels on the front porch and better quality control - 10/10
3 from 3 people found this review helpful, was it helpful to you?   

91 User Reviews of the Bear Lake 6 - Showing 41 to 50          Page:   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  

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Manufacturer's Description

Smart, stylish and full of Outwell innovation, the Bear Lake 6 sleeps six in two bedroms with an airy feel to the panorama front from its large tinted windows. The zip-off front canopy offers extra dimensions of shelter and storage for flexible family tent living, particularly practical for cooking.

Type of tent: Three room tunnel tent
Sleeps people: 6
Flysheet: Outtex® Airtech (65% cotton / 35% polyester)
Inner tent: Breathable 100% pongee polyester
Rooms: 2 bedrooms, 1 living room
Poles: Alloy poles #6063, 22 mm, 2 upright steel poles
Floor: Tarpaulin PVC coated 100% polyester, 10,000 mm hydrostatic head
Groundsheet: Sealed Ground System, Zip-out
Pitching way: Flysheet first or as one
Pack size flysheet: 31 x 106 cm
Pack size poles: 27 x 106 cm
Weight flysheet: 26.3 kg
Weight poles: 26.6 kg

... there may be more info on their website

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