We've bought an Outwell Oakland XL and side extension.....But we've not even got it out yet because we're having second thoughts and wonder if we should've spent more money and bought the Wolf Lake 5.
We're really keen on the Poly cotton and solid feel of it and reckon we can live with both the price and the bulk/ weight. However, the big question is about the pitching time and whether this'll put us off using it for weekends.
Things we've read suggest that the Oakland will take about 25-30 minutes but we've seen a big range for the Wolf Lake 5.
So what do you reckon?
How long will it take once we're practised at it?
Will it put us off short trips?
What should we go for?
Help!!
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I pitch my BL4 by myself and its takes about 45 50mins with a fair wind. WL 5 should be comparable and with another set of hands (who know what theyre doing) should do it I reckon in 30 -40 mins.
------------- Some mistakes are too much fun to make only once!
BTW dont compromise get the polycotton, you will not regret it, by the sounds of it you already have some nigly regret on your current purchase. Go and get the Lake, you know its the right thing to do.!
------------- Some mistakes are too much fun to make only once!
We bought a BL4 last year and it is a fantastic tent - a real home from home and the polycotton makes all the difference.
BUT we do find it a real hassle to put up/down (1 hour with 2 of us to put up properly, including pegging it, and putting it away in the rain is just horrendous) so this year we're buying a smaller/lighter/quicker tent for weekends away. Its way too much hassle to pitch the BL4 for just 2 nights, but for a break of 4 days or more it is a fantastic tent to have.
Best
Chris
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It took us an hour and half to pitch our Wolf 5 first time, but it was really poor weather and we were taking extra care to keep mud off the tent. We have pitched it 3 times now, and the last time it took us 35 minutes. However we had left the ZIG attached. This helps reduce time, but has quite a big drawback. When you pack the flysheet, bedroom pods and ZIG together, it weighs a ton! Next time we will pack the ZIG seperate. Trust me though, the extra effort and hassle in having a polycotton is worth it. You will not regret buying this tent.
Thank you all for the rapid responses - really impressed!
Why's nothing clear cut?! Our first time out is supposed to be next weekend for only one night- so sounds like we'll be in for a very lengthy time putting up and taking down if we change to the WL5! ...and just hope it's not raining!
we were looking at buying the Oakland XL but then decided to get the Bear Lake 6 which we bought 1 Saturday from the Yeomans show in Lincoln, we took it away that night to test it out and then packed it away after just 1 night in it. We have considered buying the Oakland XL for just weekends but tbh now that we have polycotton I don't think we could go for polyester again so we're sticking with the Bear Lake for weekends as well as long stays. If I was you I would go for the Wolf Lake 5
------------- -x- Diane -x-
May 13 - Cala Gogo, St Cyprien (didn't go, hubby too ill to travel)
May 14 Ranc Davaine
August 14 Les Sablons
August 13 - Camping Playa Brava, Pals
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I'll feed back when we've got our act together and then tried it all out.... I thought we were both in the same place on this one but it seems that my wife has moved to the Oakland end saying that the pitching time business is the most important... got to decide tomorrow as we've got to practice pitching something tomorrow!
I agree with valbarley. My son has a polyestester vis a vis tent that goes up and is pegged out in 20 mins. We borrowed it once as the Norfolk Lake takes an hour to get to the same stage. To have the comfort of the ZIG and space to move around in, and no noise when it's windy is well worth the effort and extra time. Even with a smaller tent it still took another hour to get all the gear set up.
My aim this year is to reduce what we take. We can't cut down on pitching time but carrying "stuff" into the tent can be reduced.
------------- Started with a motorbike and tent.......my gallery, my life.
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Sorry, I'm not going to offer anything constructive for making your decision, except to say that we are in the same position as BlueC. Upgraded from a Hartford to a Wolf Lake 7 after coveting this tent for a year and we haven't regretted it at all (despite it being a monster of a tent!) Like ValBarley says Polycotton is the way to go.
It takes us an hour to pitch and guy out, then another hour to sort beds and kitchen, which isn't a problem but its when its time to pack up that it does my head in!!!
So we have also looked at a weekend tent, like the thought of the Minnesota 6, don't like the bedroom set up for the Oakland XL and they only do the side extension(Mmmm chocolate fireguard useless!)
But as its discontinued and just loving the canvas, now considering a belltent for weekends.
You won't regret the Wolf Lake but you might end up considering a weekend tent!
Thanks everyone for the wise words... all really helpful. We agonised over it for ages (it's so strange - I don't remember house or car buying taking this much decision!)
Anyway,on the basis that we're only just getting back into camping and have a 10 monther to keep busy and likely to be doing mostly weekends at the beginning anyway, we've stuck with what we'd bought - the Oakland and have a date booked this Saturday. for just the one night...
However, I can see the Wolf joining the fold in the next couple of years after we've been sweated out of it a few times and I've bored on about "I wish we'd bought..."!!
The WL5 was my tent of choice back in 2008, untill that is I found the Cabanon Biscaya 370 in Cotton Canvas, the 370 is almost the same size as the WL5, but it was the Cotton Canvas that swung it, sadly the Biscaya 370 Cotton is no longer made, but Cabanon now do a 370 Awaya, which is very much like the Biscaya, and again true Cotton Canvas, if you get the chance, check out a Cotton tent, despite there foibles I still prefer them to the PolyCotton alternatives.
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Topic: Outwell Wolf Lake 5
