Tent Advice

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I'd appreciate some thoughts on the following -

1) I', looking at the "Outwell Buckville 700" at http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/outwell-buckville-700-... - (which is said to be rename of "Outwell Drummond 7") http://www.outwell.com/en/Products/tents/deluxe-te... as a family camping tent for the 4 of us - any experience of Outwell or the tent?

2) I'm slightly concerned re the size of tent Vs pitch sizes (UK & Le Mans) - as pitches seem to be 5x5/6x6 - is it book 2 pitches or ask nicely?

3) any experience of Go Outdoors as a retailer?

4) any alternatives?

happy new year!

[Chrisgr31]

Outwell always were great tents and I havent heard any rumours about a reduction in quality. Plenty of cheaper options around however quite a few years ago now we were camping in a Force 8 storm. it was only the quality tents including out Outwell that survived. They tend to be heavy but will last.

Quite a few sites offer jumbo pitches these days as tents have got larger. Fairly sure my caravan with awning up is larger than that tent and I have never had a problem at a campsite. You will struggle to get it and a car on a Le Mans pitch though, so if necessary book two.

Nothing to say about Go Outdoors as never had any issue with them they do some great deals though

[pozi]

Outwell are very good and well known in camping circles, also take a look at Vango as an alternative.

However that size is what I refer to as a "week away" tent, for starters it weighs a total of 41.6kg once you account for the steel poles and the packed size is going to fill most car boots.

For Le Mans or any other motorsport camping when space is at a premium I would go no bigger than a 5 berth with fibre glass poles for speed and ease.

As for Go Outdoors I do not shop there out of principle because all their prices are marked up on the assumption you have bought their discount card, hence when I stepped into Go Outdoors in a rush to buy a £7.99 umbrella I then had a "discussion" at the checkout because I only wanted to pay £7.99, not the £15.99 he tried charging me or the £12.99 after I had filled in the form for a discount card.

The 12 year at the check out could not see the logic that I did not need the Go Outdoors tax added to my first and likely only purchase from their shops and seeing as there was a Decathlon next door I went there instead.

[Bill]

I've never understood the discount card thing, presumably it's aimed at getting return business. As an outdoorsy family of 5 i don't notice the extra £5.

I like GO (and Decathlon) and have only had to return one item which I'd got online 6 months previously and they swapped it in store without a quibble.

[chasingracecars]

Not sure where you are based but I went here for a caravan awning. Some £350 cheaper then anywhere else. Most tent are erected however call first. They have a tent pitching area so you can try and put it up.

Very surprised what you can find in this small back street place near Brum.

https://www.a2zcamping.co.uk/tents.html

Have you thought about second hand??

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All

thanks for the advice - purchased a "Outwell Buckville 700" from GoOutdoors Oxford - and the footprint & carpet from GoOutdoors Basingstoke; very helpful staff.

Now I'm just trying to decide if if should get the Dual Protector as well - any thoughts? http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/outwell-buckville-700-...

Camp sites seem to be ok with bookings so far, just most of them asking for us to book a L or XL pitch at £5-10 extra - so no issues.

Fits in the bot of the Range Rover nicely so all good there (although the bags are heavy - any recommendations on collapsible carts?)

Cheers

Ian