Yesterday being warm and dry, I decided to test-pitch the Outwell Nevada M which I was lucky enough to have bought at a bargain price from Go Outdoors on Boxing Day.
The tent had been in its plastic bag since I bought it. There had been no point in even opening the packaging until I had time to test-pitch it and I can resist curiosity for curiosity's sake. Besides, there is not enough space in my garden to even unroll the tent let alone raise it.
Below: in the bag
But as the weather is so fantastic just now, yesterday I took the tent onto the village greeen and started unpacking it (much to the amusement of my neighbours).
Everything seemed to be present: tent, bag of pegs, pole sets and spare section, instructions (in both a booklet and on fabric sewn into the carrybag), even an Outwell doormat.
Below: everything is there
I unrolled the tent onto the grass. It was, I confess, rather bigger than I'd realised.
To be continued
Don't forget to leave a review of all tents you've used, for a chance to win fantastic prizes
Having watched Outwell's YouTube pitching video several times and carefully read both sets of instructions, I set about threading the poles - it was pretty obvious where they went.
As I worked, I noticed a few instances of poor finish, mostly slightly untidy sewing and rough finishing on the pole ends - it's the little things that sometimes tell a bigger story. To be honest, given the hype surrounding Outwell tents, I was not quite as impressed by the overall quality and feel than I had anticipated being.
Anyway, with a helper I carefully lifted the tent exactly as the video showed. That's where I hit the first problem. The pole ferrules are not made of jointless tube (to be fair very few 'non-tech' ferrules are) and I noticed that one ferrule was slightly split open along its joint. Despite taking extra care, as soon as the twisting load came onto this particular ferrule, it opened out rendering it incapable of retaining the adjoing pole section.
Below: one ferrule was already split but it opened right out under pressure
It was a minor three-minute job to slide the pole out of the polesleeve, undo the shockcord, replace the damaged section with the spare supplied, re-tie the cord and thus effect a repair.
With the pole fixed, once the tent was standing with the front guy pegged to support it, I started to check the pegging points. Problem two then emerged. One of the three sewn-on webbing strap attachments at the back of the SIG was incomplete - instead of a loop with adjuster sewn on at two points, there was just a truncated length of webbing. To repair this would be a skilled job with an industrial sewing machine, certainly well beyond my DIY skills.
Below: the incomplete pegging point strap
The angled poleset supporting the porch rainshield locates into two blind ferruled cavities in a pair of fabric gussets. Self-evidently the two blind cavities must face inward towards each other to resist the outward pressure of the tensioned poleset. One gusset, however, had been sewn into position facing the wrong way. Again, this would entail a major repair as the gusset is sewn into a load-bearing seam. There was no point in going any further as it would've been impossible to tension the porch.
Below: the gusset sewn on the wrong way round
So down she came and I carefully repacked everything exactly as I'd found it and carried the bag back to the house.
The story has a happy ending (see this thread) but I must say that I had not expected three faults (one of quality control, two of actual manufacturing) in a brand new Outwell tent, especially not one from the company's 'DeLuxe Collection'.
In conclusion, I am sure I will enjoy using a Nevada M - overall, it seems a nice enough tent. But to go by posts to various forums, bulletin boards and email groups the received wisdom is that Outwell's tents are the best on the market. To some hardcore enthusiasts Outwell seems beyond criticism.
I have long been unconvinced that such adulation is unconditionally deserved and now my personal experience bears out my scepticism. I'm not sl*gging off Outwell but - like any manufacturer - they evidently have quality control issues which need addressing.
The story has a happy ending (see this thread) but I must say that I had not expected three faults (one of quality control, two of actual manufacturing) in a brand new Outwell tent, especially not one from the company's 'DeLuxe Collection'.
In conclusion, I am sure I will enjoy using a Nevada M - overall, it seems a nice enough tent. But to judge by posts to various forums, bulletin boards and email groups the received wisdom is that Outwell's tents are the best on the market. To some hardcore enthusiasts Outwell seems beyond criticism.
I have long been unconvinced that such adulation is unconditionally deserved and now my personal experience bears out my scepticism. I'm not sl*gging off Outwell but - like any manufacturer - they evidently have quality control issues which need addressing.
Don't forget to leave a review of all tents you've used, for a chance to win fantastic prizes
As an afterthought, I am not entirely convinced that the guying arrangements as designed by Outwell would be adequate in windy conditions for this fairly high tent. The guys loop between two attachment points round a (slippery) plastic peg so the line could slide back and forth as the load varied allowing the poles to flex quite a lot - I tried this on the Nevada M erected in GO Outdoors. My solution would be to use two separate guys on each pair of attachment points.
What's more, I would definitely not trust the plastic pegs provided: I would either use Deltas (please don't flame me for mentioning the 'D' word) or use my 20-inch steel angle-section pegs.
That said, I believe the overall shape and proportions of these large family tents renders them vulnerable in anything over a Force 5 wind anyway. I'm pretty sure I'd struggle to pitch a Nevada M in much more than Force 3 gusting Force 4. That's purely my opinion - I'm not claiming it as gospel let alone a scientific fact. I am sure there are stories of big tents surviving gale Force 9 and above.
What a shame you got a faulty one...it's a good job you know so much about tents though, if that was us, we'd probably thought we'd broke the pole tube by doing something wrong!
Glad you got it replaced (I've just seen yourt other thread)
I wish we had a GO nearby...
------------- Bev :o)
2013
March - Pooley Bridge (Pod booked!)
May - Spiers House, Pickering
June - La Garangeoire, Vendee, France
Aug - The Cotswolds?
Don't forget to leave a review of all tents you've used, for a chance to win fantastic prizes
Good for you Scep - when you buy from someone as well know as Outwell you expect better than this (well, I would anyway). Glad you got the replacement and hope it's better than the last one!
I must say I've always been a little unsure regarding the stability of the large, tal family tents with fibreglass poles - my old Outwell Oregon 5 moved a lot in windy weather - the steel poles of the Carolina seem much more stable.
It was a real bargain though - hope you manage to 'get it up' soon
------------- Anne - mad mum to one - foster mum to many - adoptatent to you guys!
I have had a couple of fibreglass poled tents and find the flexibility in windy weather rather daunting, hence my purchase of a metal poled Outwell Carolina. I have not yet tested the Carolina in really windy weather but reports I have seen are favourable.
I too, don't rate the double guying and would prefer individual guys for each attachment point, especially since the Carolina only has two metal poles holding it up and only two guys on each side (not attached to the poles) and one on each corner. There are a couple more guys at the rear but these are just to create shape and operate the large vent. I carry extra storm guys now just in case.
If the Nevada M has the Outwell blue plastic pegs I found them to be pretty effective providing they are hammered right down into the ground, but after a few trips the ends became bent beyond repair. As with most plastic pegs they tend to pull out a large plug of soil when extracted which doesn't do the pitch much good and makes a mess in your peg bag/box.
Luckily my Carolina seems to be well made with no defects as yet...which is unusual for me...it is usually me that gets damaged goods and has to send things back!
We pitched our GO bargain Nevada M for the first yesterday and found exactly the same fault with the pegging point at the back. There was also a small flaw in the top of the flysheet so ours will be going back too!
Don't forget to leave a review of all tents you've used, for a chance to win fantastic prizes
I have had a couple of fibreglass poled tents and find the flexibility in windy weather rather daunting, hence my purchase of a metal poled Outwell Carolina. I have not yet tested the Carolina in really windy weather but reports I have seen are favourable.
Yep, there is nothing better than having a metal poled tent. The wind during the night is still noisy, but you know your tent is safe and secure.
Firstly, I'm rather relived this thread hasn't caused controversy - I'd half-expected some howls of protest from Outwell fans .
Quote: Originally posted by Bob61 on 09/4/2011I too, don't rate the double guying and would prefer individual guys for each attachment point
I'm glad I'm not the only one, Bob. I will definitely address the problem when I use the Nevada. I am with you on plastic pegs too.
Quote: Originally posted by juzza123 on 09/4/2011We pitched our GO bargain Nevada M for the first yesterday and found exactly the same fault with the pegging point at the back.
That's a bit worrying, Juzza - the same fault slipping through quality control on two tents. The rear pegging points will be the first thing I check when I pitch the replacement tent.
I too, don't rate the double guying and would prefer individual guys for each attachment point
I'm glad I'm not the only one, Bob. I will definitely address the problem when I use the Nevada. I am with you on plastic pegs too
I have the Carolina and thought the same about the double guying and have since bought some more guylines and feel a lot better that each corner now has two guylines set out in different directions - yet to be tested and I still use the blue plastic pegs until finances allow further peg purchases, so still may not make much difference as pegs seem to be the important factor in keeping any tent reasonably secure from reading threads on UKCS. Fingers crossed for now.
------------- Sue
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Spring - but I can`t get it up
