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Tent Reviews: Outwell Trout Lake 4
Tent and Awning Reviews Index > Outwell > Trout Lake 4 Reviews
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Current Model?
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Weight:
RRP on date added:
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Discontinued
4 (more 4 berth tents)
33.70 KG
£999.99
2
Bathtub
In one
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Average User Rating:9.16/10 from 31 reviews
Viewed: 96068 times
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31 Reviews of the Trout Lake 4
Showing 01 to 10 Page:
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By: Beetlecrusher Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2010 Rating: 
These are fabulous tents. Very well made from durable, quality materials with substantial, zip-in bath tub groundsheet. I have 3, all about ten years old. 2 hardly used, 1 very well used and all previously owned. The latter is my main tent and although seriously bleached by the sun, it still gives worry free camping despite whatever the British weather can throw at it. Extremely resistant to strong winds due to very sturdy construction . They are warm and cosy when it`s cold, cool and airy in the heat. I have never had an issue with condensation on the inside in all my time of using them.
Depending on your physical ability, they can be erected single handed but better with two. I`m rapidly approaching 70 and I can still manage to put one up by myself.
Personally, I prefer the earlier model with the 5 opening windows and rain safe side entrance. Later models with the panoramic front have no opening windows but they are tinted. These polycotton tents will outlast any made from polyester and you can still find excellent, second hand ones that have had very little use.
I`m writing review this in December 2021. Still a great tent so if you`re looking for a real campers tent, seek and thou shalt find. Don`t be put off by their age.
2 from 2 people found this review helpful, was it helpful to you?  
By: Nedra1 Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2011 Rating:
I have written reviews about our Trout Lake tent before. I would like to add some comments about our model compared with the most recent ones.
We find it very pleasant to be able to open our windows which can still be protected by mosquito netting. The windows on the recent models do not open and are darkened. I realise that the doors can be opened for extra ventilation but I would miss the opening windows. I am very curious to know whether Outwell have chosen to fix the windows as an economy measure or if they believe that having less openings makes the tent more snug.
2 from 2 people found this review helpful, was it helpful to you?
By: JimCall Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2013 Rating:
I managed to acquire a 2013 model of the Trout Lake 4. There are a good few changes since last years model, the main one being the very pleasant panoramic front, complete with tinted windows. The inside of the tent feels a bit dark to start with but you quickly get used to it and it is a nice place to be! The window curtains are fabric and are kept in place with velcro tabs. The zip-in ground sheet is very thick and will be able to withstand years of abuse!
The Outwell standard bedroom inner has 2 bedrooms with a zip panel allowing one extremely large room.
It has had a good few wet and windy days in Glencoe and I am delighted with its performance. One drop of water got in through the gap at the front door (the mozzie net supplies the zip for the water valance but the front door has the standard 3 velcro pads so there is always a gap for ventilation), but nothing to worry about.
It is anchored to the ground with 16 guy lines (yep, 16!) and it just laughs at wind. There is no flapping of material either, making it the quietest tent I have! It has 3 doors and I only used the rain shielded side door so no worries about rain ingress when opening the front door.
The zip-in groundsheet makes the tent less heavy when pitching and striking and it can easily be done in under 30 mins by one person. The ventilation is excellent with the usual large rear vent (with gusseted sides which can be unzipped and rolled up for even more fresh air or closed for storms), vents above all 3 doors and the bottom of the front door(which incidentally has 2 toggles to hold up the groundsheet at the front and can be used to lower the groundsheet down to the floor if the front door is ever used)
Thankfully the manufacturing defects are practically non existent. The only thing I can think of is one 'finger nipper' clip is not quite what it should be but still works when you attach it to the pole!
There are lots of little things that make this a great tent so it deserves 10 stars
2 from 2 people found this review helpful, was it helpful to you?
By: Jacoby Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2012 Rating:
Beautiful tent. Easy to pitch, very comfortable in extreme temperatures. Perfect for long stay camping trips. Stood up to heavy wind and rain with no leaking or noisy flapping! A lot of money but worth it for sheer comfort value :-) It needs two people to pitch though. Once you go polycotton you'll never go back!
1 from 1 people found this review helpful, was it helpful to you?
By: Blythespirit Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2011 Rating: 
After persuading my wife that camping could be enjoyable - I quickly realized that the snugness my Vango 'Force Ten' I had last used nearly 30 years ago, wasn't going to cut it. My wife, quite rightly, thought the 'Bear Lake' offered superior living accommodation but it felt a bit extravagant for just the two of us and I wanted a tent I could put up on my own. When my 'Trout Lake' arrived, I lifted the two heavy boxes and was glad I opted for the smaller model. The tent is well made and is comfortable in all weathers. The only drawbacks are the sloping front makes it difficult to arrange furniture and there is nowhere to cook when it is raining.
1 from 1 people found this review helpful, was it helpful to you?
By: Mr Dinx Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2012 Rating: 
Right. This is my personal evaluation of this tent. On the whole I really like this tent. It is easy for two people to set up and does what it is supposed to. My beef is with Outwell
1. The finishing is less than lovely, primarily bad stitching, and small fragments of cloth that should have been removed before stitching
2. Apart from the assembly video on the website and YouTube there is no instructions with the tent nor is there any information on the 'accessory' clips that are on the bedroom which gives rise to the comments in other reviews on this tent.
Nor does it tell you where to hang the set of pockets which come with the tent, that's trial and error searching.
3. The footprint for this tent is much larger than the tent floor area, if you peg it out, then try to peg out the inner over it, you will have to peg THROUGH the footprint, NOT good.
Having said all this, the TENT is good and I won't change it, the problem is with Outwells quality control and their lack of information
2 from 2 people found this review helpful, was it helpful to you?
By: Rosieposie Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2011 Rating:
Wanted this tent after visiting än outdoor tent exhibition,We were checking out a Bear Lake 6,but was so impressed with the Trout Lake I wanted one,got a Bear Lake,but kept agging the missus,so when it was in the sales last august she gave in and We got One.We have been out 3 Times up to yet,and use it for weekends and 3/4 night stops,its a fab tent,loads of options For windows and doors,the wife calls Me Mr Zippy,as im always Messing about with the windows and doors,theres plenty of space,We use the second bedroom For storage and getting changed.Its been battered by wind and rain and weve been cosy as toast,we got the front extension this year,which is great For cooking or sitting in when its raining,in fact,when our son stops Camping with Us we shant use the Bear Lake,We will go in the Trout as its perfect For two.
2 from 2 people found this review helpful, was it helpful to you?
By: SPeace Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2012 Rating:
I've never pitched a tent in my life and so was somewhat apprehensive when my shiny new Trout Lake 4 arrived. I managed to put it up solo in under two hours, not bad for a first attempt. I know it'll get easier. Oh, by the way, I'm female, under 10 stone and the wrong side of 50. If I can do it, anyone can! Have a look at the photo above - Newbie first attempt.
I suppose I should say something about the tent! It seems very nice but then I haven't actually camped in it yet. It all went together well and seems to be very well made.
4 from 4 people found this review helpful, was it helpful to you?
By: Fairycampers Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2011 Rating:
After many years of having nylon tents and them letting us down we decided to purchase Polycotton. We previously purchased a Wolf Lake 7 and was so impressed with the quality of this tent, we decided to purchase the Trout Lake 4, footprint and carpet for short weekend trips away.
We found the Outwell video a great help in pitching the tent, and is well worth watching them, without this it can lead to incorrect pitching.
On our first weekend away we experienced hot weather during the day and cold weather on a night. We found that the tent was cool in the sun but on a night the tent was warm and no extra bedding was needed and felt well ventilated We also experienced high winds and the tent stood up to this very well.
There is plenty of room if there is just the two of you definitely a week + camping, but we are a family of 4 and found this too to have plenty of room for a long weekend and we stored all our belongings at the front of the tent and still had plenty of room to use our chairs in the front area without being squashed.
The bedrooms we had two double airbeds and found that there was still room at the sides.
If like us you are fed up of purchasing nylon and them letting you down, it is well worth the extra money to purchase polycotton and we know this will last us for years.
3 from 3 people found this review helpful, was it helpful to you?
By: SoggySteve Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2012 Rating: 
This is a tough review for me to write as our first experience with out new 2012 Trout Lake 4 wasn't exactly as we were expecting. I will get the bad bits out of the way first as I think it's important this special little tent ends up with a positive end but it's important that any lack in quality control is met with a complaint.
Bought from BCHCamping in Trowbridge (30 miles from home but they had one set up). Our first trip started with myself on my own for a couple of days, then joined by my GF for a few more days. The weather was fine and still. I had watched the video on how to set it up and felt that I could actually manage it on my own. If you are concerned whether you can do the same then I will tell you it's not that hard 'other' than trying to stand the poles up. Opening the front door (to allow the air to pass in easily) helped a lot although remember to close it before you peg the tent down!
Despite how the tent can look a khaki colour in many of the photographs and videos, it's a very pleasant soft green in real life. The material feels solid enough and despite some dubious stitching, felt strong to the touch. On setting up, I realised that the inner bedroom area had been badly stitched which resulted in a small hole in the back. One of the velcro strips at the bottom of the front door simply hadn't been sown in at all. It looked like it had simply been forgotten! This had consequences during the coming downpour. One of the snap in retainers at the top/rear of the inner sleeping area was missing although I have since been informed that it was for a child's bedroom option that is no longer (or was never) available. Outwell have simply not bothered to remove half of the clip in system!??!
The first night I was there was dry. I knew that there is a 'weathering in' period with cotton/polycotton tents so I was hoping for a light rain and then some sun to get through this without leaks. That following evening it rained then dried up resulting in the tent drying up remarkably quickly (I had been told that polycotton take longer to dry then polyester but this is apparently untrue, which makes sense to me now).
So. I hoped that the tent was proofed, or at least had gone through it's first battle with the rain. The rain came back and continued for hours and hours. Come the morning, below the window between the storm door and the front door a small amount of water had been let in which I mopped up with some tissue. Other than that, all good. The sun came out and rather than running for the exit gasping for breath, as i've done so many times in polyester tents, it was pleasantly warm and airy. So much so I drifted back of to sleep. Perfect.! (in fact, rain or shine, i've slept for the longest periods in this tent than any other tent before me (they've all been polyester).
Jumping forward two nights. I awoke in the night needing to use the loo. It was raining fairly heavily. As I stepped out of the sleeping area, I stepped in to a large wet area of the carpet (extra but worth it). I pulled it back and revealed a large puddle of water which took a bath towel to soak up. I checked the door (opposite the storm door) and it was drenched on the inside near the bottom. It appeared properly closed though. The following morning we realised that there was half a builders buckets worth of water creating a pool at the end of the bed (luckily under our double air bed). This combined with the water that we had mopped up represented a substantial amount of water. The inner material of the tent door should NOT have been wet to the level where your hand is dripping when you touch it. The rest of the tent material on the inside was perfectly dry and no other leaks were evident. Since taking it back to the shop it's loosely been concluded that the door missed out on the water repelling treatment that the whole tent should have had.
I phoned up BCH Camping and they politely told me to bring it back to the shop (behind the scenes people were phoning each other at home on their day off to say I was bringing it back which was extremely warming to hear). The manager was called without asking for him and he proceeded to offer probably the best customer service experience I can remember having on any level. We took the tent out of the bag where I showed him the issues i've mentioned and he said that although Outwell want their tent back to ascertain the issues before we would qualify for a replacement or a refund, BCH's policy was to replace the tent completely. Outwell are in Denmark as well so the process would hardly have been swift.
So. Well done to BCH camping. We have a new tent that he personally removed from the bags and check the whole thing over for missing bits or manufactured rips or poor stitching. Despite the shop being moderately busy, he gave the situation all the time it required for me to leave with a smile on my face. Shame on Outwell for missing a bad bit of stitching, for completely forgetting to stitch all the velcro parts on (there are there for a reason) and for seemingly missing out the side door when treating the tent.
On the positive side. The tent is potentially lovely. It's easy to work with although learning the ropes with the windows and door retainers will take some practice. In the wet it 'promises' to keep you dry. In the wind, it holds it's own very well. When it's sunny, it opens out so much that just sitting there shading from the hot sun doesn't make you feel that you're missing out on the fine weather. It breathes excellently, it's a lovely colour (earthy) and is remarkably quiet when it's windy.
I can only hope that the new tent has all the properties that we expected from the faulty one. Many of which we've enjoyed already. If you're thinking of buying this tent then I would hate to think that i'd put you off. It's a cracking dwelling, just make sure you look out for issues with the manufacturing and take it back to where you got it if you find any. Buy online at your peril. If I had have done that to save myself a tenner or so. Than I would be footing the bill to send it back to them as well as waiting for probably weeks to get a replacement or maybe the soggy one back with a couple of bits replaced. If you're in the market then I highly recommend BCH camping. It's the first time i've used them and it wont be the last. Privately run businesses versus large warehouse style outdoor shops are clearly better so we should support them as they support us in the way we expect when things go wrong.
The Troutlake 4 is a great tent. It's perfect for couples or a couple with young children. The living area allowed for a couple of little Coleman tables that we bought (the mini ones that aren't that mini really, which have a mesh magazine style rack at the bottom), two lazy boy chairs with enough room to move around. Using the second bedroom as a storage area worked very well as our double air bed fitted comfortably in the other bedroom.
Next stop, France and Spain for three weeks. Wish us well with the weather and the new tent! If the price scares you, but you feel you could stretch to a polycotton or a full cotton tent then I highly advise you do it. I'll never go back to a polyester tent after experiencing cotton.
3 from 3 people found this review helpful, was it helpful to you?
31 User Reviews of the Trout Lake 4 - Showing 01 to 10 Page:
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Manufacturer's Description
The manufacturer has advised that this model has been discontinued.
The compact Trout Lake 4 is ideal for the smaller family or couples who demand a little extra space and superlative quality in a full-featured tent. This three room tunnel comprises two bedrooms and a living room that features the superb panorama front. It is made from our unique Outtex® Airtech polycotton with alloy poles housed in flat pole sleeves, and a Zip-out colour-coordinated groundsheet. Good looks are emphasised by the Outwell Floating Guyline System while the Outwell Wind Stabilizer and Easy Pegging Systems enhance stability and easy pitching. The inner has the new stripe front. Features include a Rain-safe side door and the ability to create a screen house by opening all doors to reveal a backing mesh door panel – a great way to maximise the amount of sun and breeze entering the tent while keeping out bugs.
Recommendation: Smaller families and couples will love the quality of this compact full-featured polycotton tent.
Type of tent: Three room tunnel tent
Sleeps: 4 people
Rooms: 2 bedrooms, 1 living room
Pitching way: Flysheet first or as one
Flysheet: Outtex® Airtech (65% cotton / 35% polyester)
Floor: Tarpaulin PVC coated 100% polyester, 10,000 mm hydrostatic head
Inner tent: Breathable 100% pongee polyester
Pack size: Tent: 29 x 106 cm / Poles: 24 x 97 cm
Weight: Tent: 18.0 kg / Poles: 15.7 kg
Poles: Alloy poles #6063, 16/22 mm, 2 upright steel poles
Features:
Large panorama front
Enclosed rain-safe door and additional side door
Mesh in each door
Zip-out colour coordinated groundsheet
Front door and groundsheet can be zipped together
Large tinted windows with polycotton curtains
Striped inner tents
Organiser pockets
Mesh pockets in the inner tents
Lamp holder and light cable tidies
Reinforcement patch on all stress points
Adjustable pegging points
Heavy duty Outwell zips
Outwell doormat included
... there may be more info on their website
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