We too are big Outwell fans and have never had any problems.because Outwell are probably the biggest manufacturer of this type of tent they do get a few 'rogue' tents slipping through the net so to speak.I know this is no consolation to the person who has been unfortunate to buy a tent that leaks.I think this is the same no matter what product you buy,whether it is a TV,washing machine or whatever,you always get 'bad-uns'.
------------- Sue & Phil
--------------------- I Love My AeroBed
If you are that should be in the instructions, instructions outwell don't seem to know the meaning a little bit of card with about 10 words on basically saying insert poles then peg down.
I hope this might be the case though as it might at least make my parents feel better if they could recover the situation. Just a question why the poles broke so easily. Seems to me to be quite a bad design, it is a tunnel tent so the poles seem to have to bend a long way in. They have to bend much more than the ones on our dome tent.
Sounds like writing to Outwell isn't going to do much to get the poles replaced and the dealer no longer exists having been bought out by go outdoors.
We bought a Hartford XL08 this year and ended up with a 'duffer' ill fitting material making the tent as tight as a drum and causing the poles to snap....SIG barely touched the floor in parts it was so taught,fortunately,the suppliers Allweathers were excellent,no hesitation in collecting and replacing tent and poles.
So far the new one has been excellent,and is definately waterproof.I mentioned my concerns on a previous post and several others experienced similar problems,may be time for them to contact the suppliers also?
I guess,as mentioned already,you are always going to get the odd rogue,unfortunately....we did!
Oh....i did also contact Ouwell,or Oase outdoors directly to voice my concern and received an e-mail wishing me a pleasant summer,please contact your supplier.....
my pollycotton outwell tent does say in the instructions that before use you should weather the tent so the fibres come togeather and seal the fabric,we pitched it and ran the hose pipe over it prior to our first trip away and we've never had a leak... and it has been in some awful downpours and survived...
------------- 2008 Bailey Pageant Champagne series 6 with a Dorema Daytona Awning + Nissan X-Trail + Outwell Trout Lake pollycotton tunnel tent
The new Vango Nile 800 was used for the first time this week, for four nights camping in the borders. The tent was fantastic compared to the two duff outwells I previously owned. We had the worst weather with thunder and lightning and heavy rain and best of all no leaks. At one point the rain was so heavy I thought it was sure to callapse under the force, but it didn't so if you are looking for a large family tent, ours fits 2 adults, three kids under 4 and 2 large dogs and come highly recomended.
hi shearwater, i also think you are being unfair to Outwell tents - mine is an Outwell Hartford XXl owned since 2004 and has just been subjected to horrendous wind and rain on our 2 week hol in Cornwall and has stood up to everything thrown at it. There was a problem with SOME Nebraska XL Tents on 2007 models which can happen with anything(not just tents) which is mass produced - Vango also suffered in 2007 with the Killington 900 most of which leaked. I understand your frustration because your product leaked but there are thousands of others like myself who swear by Outwell Tents - It also has to be noted that some of the conditions experienced during this "Summer" have proved a challenge to the roofs of houses let alone tents!!!!!
Hi Shearwater, please remember that you are a customer of the dealer from whom you bought the tent and it is they that should be sorting things out and providing the customer service, not Outwell.
You have no contract with Outwell and in all fairness should not expect them to deal with you.
If it's any help, I'd say that over the past few years of reading this forum, Kyams and Vangos seem to be the two major manufacturers that have the fewest complaints against them.
Hi Shearwater, please remember that you are a customer of the dealer from whom you bought the tent and it is they that should be sorting things out and providing the customer service, not Outwell.
You have no contract with Outwell and in all fairness should not expect them to deal with you.
If it's any help, I'd say that over the past few years of reading this forum, Kyams and Vangos seem to be the two major manufacturers that have the fewest complaints against them.
I thought that too. I have seen many posts saying that Outwell have poor customer service but my first point of call would be the place I bought the tent from as my 'contract' would be with them and not Outwell.
We have a Vango and an Outwell and have never had any problem with either of them.
I know you shouldnt have to do it with a new tent, but i coated ours in fabsil the minute it started leaking, and never had another drop come in!
Its a case of cutting your losses. Do you want to faff about returning or replacing with iffy customer service departments for weeks on end, or sort it yourself and be done with it.
Bought my first Outwell tent this year wish i'd bought one sooner superb tent (monty 6) it stood up to every thing the North Yorkshire Moors weather could throw at it and believe me it was some test . Thumbs to Outwell for me i'm so pleased that i will be buying the Minnesota 4 shortly for long weekends
------------- I Think Therefore I Am I Think? eh? If all is not lost where is it?
I would echo that we had a problem with our Outwell Hartford XL bought about 4 years ago. We had an initial problem with a 'squew whiff' inner....a phone call to the supplier rectified this problem swiftly with the supplying a brand new innner and they didn't even require the old one back ( Raglan Camping and Kite Centre - Highly Recommended ). After that though we had no problems whatsoever ( apart from two shattered poles in gale force winds which we felt was our fault for taking it out in )...but it has been out in some horrendous weather and never leaked or moved an inch. Certainly, I would say that it is the supplier who's responsibility it is to rectify any problems with items purchased from them and the Raglan centre certainly bent over backwards for us. With regards to the broken poles we called in on our way to wales with the broken poles and although they normally can't do them in a day ( not that we realised at the time ) they did so for us. It really is worth sticking with a good supplier if you are regular campers. We will certainly return to Raglan for our next tent, which is likely to be another Outwell.
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Topic: Leaking Outwells
instructions outwell don't seem to know the meaning a little bit of card with about 10 words on basically saying insert poles then peg down.
