Just come back from a week away and for the first time I started tutting at our Norfy. Ah, I don't know what's wrong. It's getting me down that it's so MASSIVE in the car - we have a big trailer with an extension top, a roofbox, and a huge boot and we're STILL jam packed, and a big part of that is the tent. I'd just love not to have to be so careful with packing, using every little bit of space.
Plus, I'm really fed up with that front door. If we don't roll it up or prop it up then it's just a big massive flap of canvas that has to be shouldered out of the way whenever I come in or out of the tent. And when it's raining, it's a liability - just drips water in all over the porch when you come in and out. Mind you, the porch always seems to end up soaking when it's wet anyway. Even when it's just a fine drizzle, there's nowhere sheltered to sit so it's full lockdown inside the tent, unlike with my Mum and Dad's Ohio - they can sit under the front canopy, sheltered and dry but outside. We've got the side extension but it's too narrow for the family to sit in, but if we jury rigged a front extension (like the Monty 6) then that's MORE tent to carry. I don't know whether to try something else instead. Like a Monty 6, or even a Bear Lake (although I suppose that's only *slightly* smaller to pack).
But I love this tent, I know I do. It's a great tent and I can't understand why I'm being so moany. I just... I don't know if the honeymoon's over. Does anyone want to remind me of the good points?
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Why not chop the front door off? Save a bit of weight and gives you the open front canopy!! ;-)
How about the benefits of being able to make a cuppa in the morning without having to go outside.
Chucking everything in the enclosed porch and zipping up when you go out.
Snug as a bug at bedtime.
Still love mine. Has everything I want out of a tent to take away for a week. Although I do agree it's massive in the car.
Quote: Originally posted by mumshadenough on 16/8/2010
Why not chop the front door off? Save a bit of weight and gives you the open front canopy!! ;-)
I've always thought that the Norfolk Lake minus the front door makes for a fantastic tent, it turns it into a Bear Lake with a super enclosed canopy! Perhaps chopping it off altogether is a bit extreme, but if you were to keep it rolled up and think of the front room as a canopy rather than a room then it actually knocks spots off the BL (IMHO!!!)
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Quote: Originally posted by mumshadenough on 16/8/2010
Why not chop the front door off? Save a bit of weight and gives you the open front canopy!! ;-)
I've always thought that the Norfolk Lake minus the front door makes for a fantastic tent, it turns it into a Bear Lake with a super enclosed canopy! Perhaps chopping it off altogether is a bit extreme, but if you were to keep it rolled up and think of the front room as a canopy rather than a room then it actually knocks spots off the BL (IMHO!!!)
That is so true , and what have you got at the moment all the BL owners crying out for a front extension so they can create a NL all over again, and pay a lot more money for the privilege
Hi Meddy, I just looked back at the review you posted over a year ago of your Norfolk Lake and even then you had mixed feelings about the tent ie loving some aspects of it but not happy with the size/weight of it and the front door issue.
The front door issue could resolve itself if you could rethink the front space as a porch rather than a room iyswim, as others have said above. But the pack size is what it is, so you either accept that and work around it or try to find another tent which will do what you want but is smaller pack size, so that would probably mean a smaller and/or nylon tent. A personal choice.
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Yep, you're quite right - the things that were tiny niggles when I reviewed the tent are the same things I'm narked about now! I think it's a good idea to look at how we use the tent, particularly the porch. We've got a 3 nighter planned next week, I was going to take the bell tent but maybe we'll take the Norfy so we can 'play around' a bit with how we use her. You're right, if I think of porch = canopy, I think I'd like it more. Amazing how a change of perspective helps!
That leaves the pack size. As you say, the pack size will never change. I *think* I can live with it though it's a pain. I've been looking at alternatives... other tents, trailer tents, and none of them appeal as much as the Norfy. So maybe that's just the price I have to pay. Hmm.
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We have only been using ours this summer as we got it last Autumn, but we love it.
We have the Side extension so rarley use the front door.
The small 2 bedrrom gets used as a stoor room for all the food and boxes etc, leavind the front secton, or "Drawing Room" for sitting and cooking.
If you have not got the side extension I would start looking for one. Im sure someone was on about trying a Wolk Lake or Bear lake one one it, but this is not going to help the pack size issue at all!
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Topic: Norfolk Lake Owners - still love yours?
