The Camping Forum

[Wayne]

Andy, me and OH have sat for over an hour tonight and very nearly purchased the Trout Lake. That deal with Yeomans finishes at midnight and we have been trying to work out exactly what we need and what is best for us.

We love the Trout, but our concern is it might still be a bit too tight for the 5 of us.
We also love the Trouts big brothers (Bear, wolf, Arrow and Norfolk).

The main factor is, we want a solid compact tent, polycotton for warmth out of season on local camps.

However we decided to wait and see what happens as the year goes on and keep eye out for a bargain at back end or over winter.

In the meantime we are going to fully upgrade what we already have.
We plan to:
Buy a carpet and footprint for the Carolina
Buy a carpet and footprint for the Vermont L
Buy a small 2man pop-up that we can have in the Vermont L for us to eventually sleep in making 3 cabins, this would also give us a third cabin if we got the Trout or Arrow. Would be nice to pick up a Norfolk with 3 cabins as standard, but can't see that happening and then maybe we are getting to big again.

My point is, by sitting down and talking about our needs we have made the right decision on how to move forward with our camping experience. One thing that still annoys me is that Outwell never did an extension for the Carolina, would have been a good thing to have. I'm looking forward to seeing your trout in use, much more better to see than an empty tent at show.

[Admin]

Wayne,

I think that's an excellent choice

one that i think you will be glad about far more later in the year

[dadsbeaniemad]

Do you think one of the other Outwell (or other make0 canopies could be used on the Carolina?

I have an old outwell retailers book thingy from 2008 that gives sizes and dimensions

[Rob-merlin1973]

Do you think one of the other Outwell (or other make0 canopies could be used on the Carolina?

I have had a mooch about the outwell site and can't find one that would do it in the present range

[Wayne]

Seems since introducing the three new Carolina models and phasing out the Carolina 3 (The 3 has become the M) they now produce a Side Extension around £90.

Actually Andy, If you update the Gallery with the three new models. I'll get some photos for each section etc.

There is now the Carolina S, M, L.

I notice some companies selling the accessories are listing the M as M/3
Is it best to keep the 3 separate or merge them, it is the same tent. I'll do a piece on the description explaining years and whats what.

[Admin]

Seems since introducing the three new Carolina models and phasing out the Carolina 3 (The 3 has become the M) they now produce a Side Extension around £90.

Actually Andy, If you update the Gallery with the three new models. I'll get some photos for each section etc.

There is now the Carolina S, M, L.

I notice some companies selling the accessories are listing the M as M/3
Is it best to keep the 3 separate or merge them, it is the same tent. I'll do a piece on the description explaining years and whats what.

I will get this done for you.. I'm working on the gallery at the moment though trying to resolve these problems. so it may be a few days before i get them added.

Cheers

Andy

[Wayne]

No probs, know your up to the neck in it. Once you have it set up I'll add some stuff to it.

Thanks

Wayne

[Wayne]

Andy, I think this is a really obvious question.

The Polycotton tents keep cooler in the summer, but are they also better at keeping warmer in the colder months

I'm sure they do, don't they

[Admin]

Not tested in the cold but cooler yes without a doubt

[Wayne]

Not tested in the cold but cooler yes without a doubt

, nice one

[Admin]

Not tested in the cold but cooler yes without a doubt

, nice one

We did our first year in Germany in a nylon and had to be out the tent usually around 8am/9am or at least have all the doors open but even then it was awfull.. ok so it was a dark green and as we know darker colours tend to attract the heat!. but the following year in the trout lake despite being far hotter this time round we had no problems. Mid day lunch was getting pretty hot (see image) And we were opening the doors up to get a bit of airflow but was still comfertable instead of.. I gotta get out'a here!

[Wayne]

That's hot.

We are still toying with the idea of having a Polycotton, mainly because we both work hard (as we all do on here) and want one. We haven't spent thousands going abroad this year or next for that matter. Also the need for a further tent is the requirements to house a family of 5 as the little one gets a little older.

We spent Sunday afternoon walking round the Yeomans show at Nottingham (and I did Calver show in my dinner break the other day). My OH loves the Trout, but even with the canopy extension we worry it might not be as big as we would like for week camps.

We have:
The Carolina with a pitch size of 2.45m x 5.30m
The Vermont with a pitch size of 4.2m x 7.7m

So we are looking for something in between but with 3 sleeping cabins, which was proving a little hard.
I stood inside The Wolf Lake, thinking its almost perfect but for 2 points. One point being its too big, but when I actually studied the sizes I realized that its size was misleading and actually its smaller in length than The Vermont, although it is wider. But it has about the same square footage but more compact (or squared away)
The Wolf Lake 7 pitch size 5.1m x 6.4m


The only other point that puts me off is the fact that the area at the front can't be closed in to make a cooking area under cover like The Vermont, but I think I could cut a tarp to size to cover a 3rd of it and put eyelets in it and lash it to the frame for protection when needed.



Its currently selling for around £950 , but I'm figuring on keeping a close eye on things towards back-end after a season of hard saving and some weekend work .

That all said, I'm sure we'll change our mind before October comes