By: Camping pooches Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2011 Rating: Date: 09/04/2012
Just got back from our second time using this tent and felt it time to write my review.
Overall we are really impressed with the Oakland xl, it is a great value for money tent with lots of space, we are a party of 3 adults and 2 dogs and still have plenty of space.
Pitching the tent is pretty simple and takes us around 40 mins to pitch, would agree with a lot of people on here and don't go by the Outwell video of how to put it up, we tend to peg out the 4 corners and then place in the 2 metal poles first then the fibreglass ones last, seems to work well for us, also using the footprint helps to centre the tent.
We have had quite a lot of condensation in the mornings but we have used it so far in very cold weather so hoping it won't be as bad in the summer.
So far the tent has easily stood up to some very strong winds and rain and we've not had any problem.
Would really say a great tent and really good value for money.
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By: Sam.j.c. Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2011 Rating: Date: 01/01/2012
We have only used this tent once so far, and in mixed weather, so I may need to update in the future! I really like this tent, loads of room and appears to hold up well in bad conditions. The only negative thing I can say at the mo, is that the groundsheet billowed up (considerably so actually, much to the amusement to my baby daughter) as the wind blew under it, however next time we will be a bit more adept at putting it up,( well, we can but hope!) which should fix this 'breezy' issue!??
I want this tent to last us a good few years as our family expands, and I love that you can add extensions. Personally I'm not keen on the carpet idea, with an 18 month old and a clumsy Partner (really, if there's something to knock over he'll find it!) I think a big carpet is just too easy to get dirty, I much prefer just a small waterproof backed rug (and easier to fit in the washing machine I suspect). Here's to happy camping in 2012 and beyond!
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By: Dejes Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2010 Rating: Date: 19/09/2011
Update to my previous review. Well just got back from another camping trip in Dorset, had 20mph winds on the front section, and again our fibreglass pole snapped and the tent crumpled on top of us! At £35 a pop for each replacement and now on our 3rd pole on it's 3rd camping trip it is becoming a very expensive tent. I am fuming to say the least, care has been used when erecting, but there is a design fault in my opinion, its such a shame because I love this layout of the Oakland XL, but can't carry on like this, and like another reviewer our tent has ripped at the seam where the clamp was attached. Now will start the process to contact Outwell direct. Wish me luck! More pics to follow.
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By: Jmhaigh Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2011 Rating: Date: 09/09/2011
I previously reviewed this tent having only set it up in the garden. We got to test it for real last weekend.
It is easy to set up and I managed it in 35 minutes by myself, which was just as well as it was getting dark.
We left the bedroom as one big room for the three of us and we had loads of room.
Plenty of living space and the carpet and footprint ensured we felt snug when the temperature dropped at night.
It absolutely tipped it down on the Saturday night and am pleased to say there were no leaks, the wind also picked up and the tent remained solid, the steel poles make a difference as do the delta pegs I bought. I checked the guys later on and no issues what so ever.
We do have the front extension (great deal from Value Tents) but didn't bother with it on this trip so once I have used it I will review separately.
All in all I am very pleased with the tent, gives us plenty of space and feels secure.
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By: Gedhart Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2011 Rating: Date: 04/09/2011
As first time campers, I don't have any experience of other tents. We purchased the 2011 model a couple of weeks ago and have just returned from a 4-night stay at Fishpool in Delamere. We got an excellent deal by doing a price match at Go Outdoors (matched against Yeomans) and with the 10% discount, picked it up for £207!
As other reviewers have stated, we were lucky to view a pitching video (rather than Outwell's) and did a practice pitch is around 35 mins. Took us a bit longer for real, but we weren't in any hurry :)
We purchased the footprint, carpet and side extension as well (I'll review the side extension separately). We absolutely love this tent, and is very roomy for me, my partner and our 4 year old son.
I don't really have any negative points to say about this tent; some reviewers have stated that the front door is a bit of a pain with the velcro flaps, but as we had the side extension, we didn't use the front door often, so this didn't bother us. The only negative niggle would be the build quality of the footprint. On our test pitch, we noticed that the stitching was coming away near one of the pegging points, so we exchanged it without any problems at Go Outdoors. However, when we came to strike (is that the correct word), a gust of wind lifted the footprint and about 3ft of the seam came away from the groundsheet (in a similar place to the first one), which suggests a weak point. I'm going to try and take this back as well, as it should last us more than one camping trip.
The weather was kind to us on our trip, with no rain, so can't comment on it's waterproof abilities. But going off some other reviews, I'm confident that the tent will hold up.
Overall, this is an excellent tent and I can see us having many years of enjoyable camping.
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By: Bobetjo Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2009 Rating: Date: 25/08/2011
As other reviewers have mentioned this is a roomy tent and quite waterproof. Having used this tent I concur with most of the positive comments. The negatives that drop this tent down to a six are on build quality. The tent has been used a total of four times over two years.
First the front carbon fibre pole snapped, and getting a replacement was a real pain. Outwell were not helpful and the shop where we bought it did not reply to emails.
Then the seam on the side door where the plastic anchors attach tore for about an inch.
Then the elastic joining the pole sections broke.
It is a good tent, but it is quite hard to erect even with two people. The video cunningly shows the man only carrying the tent bag on screen. That's why he can lift it. He is not carrying the poles.
I would not be likely to buy this make again.
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By: Blueted1968 Reason: I've used one Made in: 2011 Rating: Date: 20/08/2011
We have been looking for a bigger tent for a while, recently during our camping trip to Dorset, a couple pitched next to us,we fell instantly in love with it. Went to a local camping suppliers, near our campsite. There we found the Outwell oakland xl. It was a display model, with carpet and footprint. We paid £355 for it and are very pleased with it. Fantastic large spacious tent.We took down the tent we were camping in, and erected that one. Much to the amusement of other campers on our site. The heavens opened that night and all the following day. Being outdoors for approx 3 months in the camping shop, I was praying it wouldnt have used up all its waterproofing. I don't think it would have taken much more rain, but it did hold up, and next day when we had dried it out I fabsilled it all before packing it away to come home today. Gotta give it a 10 out of 10. Easy pitch , comfy big and delightful.
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By: RTS5 Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2010 Rating: Date: 20/08/2011
Having used this tent a few times now since buying it last year I felt the time was right to give a review.
Firstly, ignore all video's you see on putting this tent up and follow the instructions from other reviewers or search on this site for instructions. Once we followed the advice found on here we were able to get the tent up in 15 mins.
Good points
Very large & spacious living and sleeping areas. Versatility of two doors. Large windows, so nice and light. Good water proof rating (1000 more on the 2011 version). Great colour. Curtains on all windows & doors. Fly screens on doors. Front door opens into a great sunshade (or rain protection) with a couple of extra poles. Handy pockets for storage in living area and sleeping areas. Smaller bedroom can be unzipped to allow for more living space if not needed.
Bad points (well minor irritations really)
Could do with a touch more material or more adjustment so not so taught once poles are pinned The doors do flop in if not careful when opening which if its been raining means water runs into the tent (can be solved with a porch).Pegs are pants
We keep the poles separate to the tent which makes carrying and loading/unloading them a lot easier.
There are 3 of us in it with cooker stand/table & chairs, plus various boxes and there is still plenty of room. It is a great mid priced family tent.
Overall we love this tent and would recommend it to anyone.
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By: BuddingTraveller83 Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2011 Rating: Date: 19/08/2011
Well- what a tent! First the tent, then some instructions. We had 35 mile an hour winds and 38 hour downpour and it did not even blink. We thought it was going to take off at times, but with no extra pegs it stayed put. It does get a little condensation but with the doors rolled up, it soon sorts itself out. We undid the divider for the bedrooms and used it as a double giving us loads of room. The windows make such a difference to the lightness of the tent. A great buy.
Setting it up: first of all, ignore the instructions for setting up in the bag. They are WAY too complicated. The best way to do it is:
Peg all four corners and keep loose. Put in two steel poles, put in the ring pins and lifting after first one. Then put in back carbon fibre pole finishing with front carbon fibre pole. Get someone to go inside the tent to ensure the ground sheet is even and flat and begin to peg all the way round. After doing it this way twice we only need 30 minutes to get it all done.
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By: Flowergirl21 Reason: I own(ed) one Made in: 2010 Rating: Date: 17/08/2011
We are very happy with this tent and have recommended it to others. We upgraded from a basic family tent set and we are so glad we did. We bought the footprint and the carpet and this makes for a very comfy feel under foot. The living area is a good size and the windows let in plenty of light.
Once you get used to pitching it, it's relatively straightforward with two adults. It has a sturdy feel to it once erected. The tent has withstood some absolutely dreadful weather - torrential rain and high winds for 24 hours in Anglesey, with no leaks. It is reasonably heavy and takes up quite a bit of space in the car, but then I guess that's the trade off for the generous proportions of the tent.
We only have a maximum of two people in each of the bedroom pods, and the space feels comfortable. We can comfortably fit a cupboard, folding table and four chairs and inflatable sofa in the living area. The hanging pockets are useful. We have experienced a little bit of condensation, but in fairness we have forgotten on occasion to open all of the vents.
Two minor criticisms, one of which has been raised in a few other reviews. The outer door only velcroes at the bottom and doesn't zip, therefore in windy weather it flaps around a bit. Also, it would be really useful to have poles to hold up the outer door, rather than having to roll it up every time you want it open. When it has stopped raining, the outer door is still wet and therefore you don't want to roll it up, but you often need air in the tent.
In summary, we are very pleased with this tent. We are considering buying either the side or front extension, but decided to wait a while to see what the reviews are like, particularly for the front extension which only came out this year.
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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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