By: Beach333 Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2010 Rating: Date: 03/05/2010
We've just returned from a wonderful bank holiday camping in this tent, we haven't been since before we had children 3 years ago and this tent has reignited our passion for camping despite the fact we had 2 toddlers with us! We chose this tent as we wanted one that we wouldn't find too much of a chore putting up and bringing down at weekends as we plan to go quite a lot this year.
We also bought the footprint, carpet and side extension which I defo recommend, we had 20mph winds, rain and sun but no leaks at all and the side extension meant we could still cook and sit outside once the children had gone to bed and the carpet made it feel really comfy inside. The fact that there are so many windows was a big plus for us too, and helped heat the tent up in the mornings. I cant think of any real negatives, except maybe the bedroom fabric could have been a bit darker to help the kids get to sleep quicker, all in all a wicked tent, really glad we chose it!
(N.B theres a great video on you tube that shows how to put it up really quickly!)
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By: Blackedmagic Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2010 Rating: Date: 30/06/2010
So far so good, my first 'big' tent and it took us a massive 40 minutes to put up, however I'm good at learning from my mistakes and reckon this will be halved next time.
Haven't used it properly yet, planning 2 weeks in France in September so we'll have to see how it stands up to the weather (which will hopefully be nice).
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By: AngmeringTim Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2010 Rating: Date: 09/08/2010
Bought our Oakland XL from Go Outdoors online and couldn't wait to get it all set up. Also purchased the carpet with the tent and that really made all the difference making the whole experience so much more comfortable.
Set the tent up in the garden initially and the first attempt took about 45mins (wife helping, kids not helping!). We did find however that you need to pay attention when pitching to ensure the roof is well centred otherwise we ended up with a gap on one side of the tent between the floor and the ground.
Packed away so easily, check out the youtube vids for this as we found it really helpful.
Arrived at the campsite and got all unloaded and set up in about 90 mins. I found the plastic tent pegs supplied were not man enough for the slightly hard ground and will be investing in some decent metal pegs for our next outing.
In terms of living and sleeping space we can't fault the Oakland XL. Plenty of room inside for a table, 4 chairs, 2 adults, 2 kids, cool bag etc etc. As we had really good weather we were not able to test the wind/rain capabilities so can't comment on the posts below.
All in all very happy with the choice we made and looking forward to our next trip in a couple of weeks time.
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By: Adandemsmom Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2010 Rating: Date: 26/07/2010
After reading some of the reviews I was slightly nervous about using our new Oakland.
We were forced to replace our Minny 6 due to a broken zip and problems with the fabric and this was the nearest match.
The size and layout were perfect for 2 of us plus the dog, we opened up the sleeping area and used the bigger half for the bed, the smaller for storage and dog bed.
The living area was fabulous and a better shape than the Minny as it's more square. Plenty of room for storage, fridge, large loungers etc.
The windows in the living area were fantastic and you still feel part of everything even when indoors. We didn't open the curtains on one side but it was still really bright and light.
I love the fact that the tent is easy enough to erect for a weekend but big enough for longer stays- esp. With use of the extension.
No problems with front pole to report so far but will keep an eye on it.
All in all an excellent tent for the money, we got a really good deal with ours and can 100% recommend.
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By: Damo1306 Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2010 Rating: Date: 31/07/2010
After selling my horrendous VANGO ORCHY 500, my girlfriend and I decided to buy a new tent. We were both looking for something that would give us the space and comfort for longer trips of say 5/6 days. I was a little nervous about which tent to go for after bad experiences with weather and my last tent but one tent that kept catching my eye was the outwell oakland XL.
After reading a couple of reviews on here I was unsure of this tent so went to Go Outdoors and discussed my fears with staff who said they genuinely didn't have many complaints and that its a popular buy, so after throwing caution to the wind went ahead and bought one and I'm so glad I did. The tent is robust, easy to put up and the space is amazing, I'm 6'4 and can easily stand up, plus we use the small bedroom as a changing room and I can even almost stand in that!
The storage pockets are a delight for my girlfriend who has loads of places to store womanly gadgets such as straighteners etc now. I would definitely agree about the velcro and doors, a little annoying but nothing to lose sleep over. As for 'pitching in no wind whatsoever', what a load of rubbish. I have yet to see what a gale force can throw at this tent but we camped in Cumbria and saw a few blustery moments and I must say the tent held up admirably, and I am an time served camper.
So all in all, nothing really to moan about, if you want a good solid tent at a reasonable price this is your one
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By: Damo1306 Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2010 Rating: Date: 07/10/2010
Im just updating a previous review I made of the Oakland XL as I've just arrived back from a VERY wet and windy four days in Cumbria. If you're planning on buying this tent then do so, it can stand up to some pretty nasty weather that mother nature cares to throw at it. The first night we arrived the heavens opened at around 8pm and didn't let up until 10.30am the following day, and it was no 'light shower' either and I'm pleased to say not one leak all night and we were as warm as toast in the sleeping pod.
The second night the rain eased off but the wind made up for it reaching a pacey 25mph and I can definitely say the front pole held up admirably and didn't snap, neither did the tent rip and it seems able to flex quite considerably.
The third night - we had both rain and wind in equally scary measure, but by this point I'd stopped worrying about the few horror stories on here and had a fantastic nights sleep and low and behold the tent was still intact the following morning.
My only gripe was the massive amount of condensation on a morning, but it was cold, damp and we were running a heater with the vents closed so cant really grumble. All in all a fantastic buy and Im gutted the season is coming to a close so we cant use it a few more times.
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By: C_d_butterworth Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2010 Rating: Date: 05/05/2011
This is our first tent and our introduction to camping. We went to Go Outdoors in the sales in September last year and were advised that this tent was very easy to assemble, spacious, and well built. As novices we should have no problems with it.
I read a few reviews online before discovering this site and most said the same thing. We bought the Side Extension, footprint, and carpet at the same time as they were part of an offer. We would not be without the carpet having tried it!
Bearing in mind neither myself or girlfriend had pitched a tent of this type or size before we had a trial run in the garden. It took us about an hour and a half to carefully unpack, watch the videos, assemble the tent, and pack it away again.
We have just returned from our first trip in it and are happy to award it 10 out of 10. We stayed in a very windy spot near Scarborough and the tent stood up brilliantly against the wind. Many of the tunnel tents were struggling whereas ours had no issues at all.
We were so impressed with how light and spacious it feels and the build quality is excellent. We had two adults, a 3 year old, a dog, and lots of 'stuff' and there was still plenty of room for when we had a further two adults and 2 dogs to visit.
Like other reviewers of this tent, we found the same niggle with getting the tent centred on its poles - but now we know about it, it is not an issue for us.
I haven't the experience with camping that many on this site have, however if you are after a well made spacious tent, look no further.
Overall, fantastic. And well worth the money.
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By: Mazian Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2011 Rating: Date: 10/05/2011
As newcomers to camping (in our early fifties) we really didn't know what style or make of tent we wanted to purchase, then a Go Outdoors leaflet came through the door with a '£100 Off' voucher inside for the new Outwell Oakland XL. We popped along to our nearest store just to have a look, never thinking that we would actually buy this particular tent, but the minute we saw it, we were hooked. Go Outdoors was selling this tent at £350 excluding the voucher, so getting this quality of tent for £250 was fantastic. As we got such a bargain, we also purchased the footprint and the carpet and we are so glad we did.
The Oakland XL is classed as a five man tent and you can sleep five in it and there is enough living space for five, but we would call it a roomy four and if like us, there are only two of you, then the space this tent provides is luxury. Pitching the tent was no problem. We watched the 2 guys on the Outwell video and apart from a little tweaking here and there, it really was that simple! We managed to do it in 40 minutes!
There are panoramic windows right round the living quarter which makes it so bright and airy, a real bonus on a wet rainy day. There are plenty of air vents and both the side entry door and the centre panoramic window at the front of the tent can open fully which will allow the air to circulate on a warm day and both have zipped mesh doors to keep out flies, midges, etc. The curtains on the windows roll from the bottom up and can be fastened half way, which gives you a little extra privacy but still allows you to see out.
We can also vouch for the waterproofing of this tent. We spent Easter Friday in the highlands of Scotland where the heavens opened up about eleven that evening and torrential rain prevailed all through the night. We awoke in the morning as dry as a bone and hardly a drop of condensation to be seen.
We have seen this tent sell in some stores for £450.00 and even at that price, in our opinion. This tent is worth every penny.
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By: Emmasmum61 Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2011 Rating: Date: 01/06/2011
We love this tent! We've just started camping again after 25 years so we were a bit rusty when it came to pitching the tent but even so it wasn't too difficult
There's only the two of us so the living area is more than adequate for us and we tend to sleep in the larger pod and use the other pod for storage and as a dressing room etc
There are two aluminium poles as well as the fibreglass poles which help with the sturdiness of the outfit. We have had heavy rain but there were no leaks or anything so we remained warm and cosy. The carpet is a must because it makes it feel much more warm and homely
We love the huge panoramic windows which bring the outdoors straight to your door and create such light in the living area it's fab! If it's draughty outside we like the fact that you can roll the front door up and sit just inside out of the wind but still feel as though you're sitting outside
We would prefer the doors to zip around the bottom and not just have velcro but when the flyscreens are zipped this means that they are sealed anyway to stop any bugs getting in
All in all we love this tent and we're very pleased that we chose it. Today we have taken delivery of the side extension and can't wait to try it out next weekend
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By: Damo1306 Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2010 Rating: Date: 22/06/2011
I absolutely love this tent, I've reviewed it before but only after one trip. Me and my partner have used this tent quite a few times now and have finally worked out the best way to put it up. First off, don't follow the video off youtube, found a much easier way to get the tent set up. We use a ground sheet, invaluable as you can position you tent before you even start. Once happy with where you want it put the poles together and spread the tent out. Peg the tent at the back (all of the back points) and peg the two front corners. Start with the metal poles, insert the curves and then the legs which need to be pointed towards the back of the tent. With a person on each side, lift the poles upright and insert the metal pegs into the holes. This is the perfect moment to align the tent evenly on the poles as you can pull it easily. Next, insert the blue pole and the red pole to shape the tent, clipping the tent to the poles. Starting from the back, align each tent side going from pole to pole and pegging once happy. Finish with pegging the front and tighten the tension straps. Finish by pegging out the guy ropes. It really is a brilliant tent and the carpet and the side extension or front extension are a must ( both if you have the money and a big car).
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44 User Reviews of the Oakland XL - Showing 01 to 10 Page:
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With an innovative inside and out, the Oakland XL sleeps 5 people in a universal 3 + 2 inner that comes pre-attached it is made of breathable polyester, and comes with mesh pockets. The extraordinary amount of standing height is made possible by the Outwell Extended Frame System (OEF System), while the large windows fill the interior with generous amounts of daylight. With both a front and side door for easy access and ventilation, indoor comfort is maintained at all times by the fully seam-sealed Outtex 4000 flysheet and the double-coated polyethylene floor of the Outwell Sealed Ground System (OSG System). The Oakland XL pitches flysheet first or as one, and has adjustable pegging points as well as pre-attached luminous guys. Designed for multi-child families, the Oakland will delight its target group from very first glance.
Pitching way: Flysheet first or as one Flysheet: Outtex 4000 with taped seams Hydrostatic head: 4.000 mm Inner tent: Breathable polyester Groundsheet: Sealed Ground System Pack size: 34 x 80 cm
Features: •Large panorama windows •Pre-attached inner tents •Organiser pockets •Mesh pockets in the inner tents •Lamp holder and light cable tidies •Fully seam-sealed flysheet for maximum protection •Reinforcement patch on all stress points •Adjustable pegging points •Pre-attached guy ropes •Luminous guy ropes •Heavy duty Outwell zips
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Date: 03/05/2010
