After a disastrous experience with a 2012 Vango airbeam Infinity 400 it has gone back to the retailer today.
Originally we'd narrowed it down to the infinity and the Robens Cabin 600 (Me, hubby, and a 7yr old).
Just wondering if anyone has bought the 2012 cabin 600 and tried it out as there aren't any reviews yet.
We went back and had another look at the Cabin over the weekend and the only thing bugging us about it is that despite it having SIG, the bottom of the door doesn't close and there isn't a cable in point.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated
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Most of the Oase outdoors tents (Outwell, Robens & Easycamp) dont close fully at the front doors. This is to let a low level flow of fresh air through the tent. Dont let that put you off. I have a couple of Outwells and the mozzie nets have full zips and a rain valance that in effect "closes" the door fully. Robens tents are well respected and a lot of folks view them as the superior of the Oase group. The cable in point - well only you can judge if that is adequate reason for not wanting one! Good tents though!
I should have explained that the mosquito net doesn't seal at the bottom either. The net zips onto the door across the top and side but both are left open across the bottom. The groundsheet folds down in the doorway and can be folded back up when closing the door but you still get a fair gap between the door and the groundsheet. We're not too bothered about the wind, I'd rather have too much ventilation than not enough. I'm more bothered about the fact that a tent with so many net panels and a SIG has a gap under the door to let anything that wants to keep warm in. Just doesn't make sense.
We have thought about putting some velcro along the bottom but it would mean sewing a panel across the bottom of the netting as well as it's literally just net straight to the floor.
Obviously the gap under the door does solve the issue with the lack of cable in point!
Ah, having looked at the simplyhike video, I understand what you mean. I didn't realise the groundsheet had an anti-trip flap at the doorway. Like you said, cable entry sorted! but not so good for the bugs. I wonder what it would be like in a head on wind with rain? I know if I dont use my mozzie net with the rain valance on the front door of my Carolina, then when the wind turns head on, I get rain inside at the door.
Another observation is that my little Vango Junu tipi has a similar groundsheet flap at the door. It tends to sag in the middle so I end propping it up with something on the floor. Never had a lot of bugs come in mind you.
------------- Jim
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Totally agree Jim - the Vango we had had fully zipped mosquito panels on the doors with a solid panel at the bottom that was a good few inches high. Without that the rain would have been up under the doors (attached at the bottom with velcro) and in the tent. That was one of the aspects of the vango we were impressed with - really weatherproof.
Maybe we are after something that doesn't exist - the 'perfect' tent. Having looked at loads now I don't think we are going to find something that suits us 100%. We did look at the Montery which is similar in design but we want something that is light and has as small a pack size as possible due to fitting everything in the boot of a clio (No tow bar for trailer & no room for roof box as the bikes go on the roof rack - can't get a rear rack for our car).
Cheers for your help though. Glad it's not just us that thinks the design of the door is a bit pants!
We recently purchased a Robens Cabin 600 + extension / awning. We have not been impressed.
The materials are good quality, the layout and size good, but the design is poor.
We camped in it for two weeks on the Scilly Isles. With a moderate wind across the front of the awning, the awning pulled the front of the tent over, damaging the front pole. No other tents in the campsite had a problem; expensive Outwell tents, cheap Vango's, etc, etc all stood up better.
The tent flaps a lot in the wind. It is difficult to tension at the back. With an unsealed door, and a flat front, the front flaps all over the place.
The door, which does not seal, lets in the rain if the wind is in the wrong direction. The door overall seems a weak point; when pegged out it stresses the groundsheet.
In summary a poor purchase. It replaced a much cheaper Vango (Diablo 400) that we've used for years with no problems.
I'm reading this thread with interest. I bought a Cabin 300 in last year's end of season sale, partly as an extra tent for when my sister and her kids can get away for a few days with me, partly because I thought my beloved old tent was on its way out after 15 years.
As it turned out, I managed to refurb the old tent and have had several weekends away in it this year and the Cabin 300 hasn't had an outing yet! I have pitched it in the garden several times and it is extremely well made and with top class materials, but I too have wondered about the door (I'm wasp-phobic and need to know they can't get in when I'm in the tent). I did pitch it in pretty strong winds back in the spring and can't say I noticed it flapping about, it seemed okay to me, and it stood up to some heavy rain too. Its the door thing that bothers me, might try and fix something up with velcro.
My old tent is a simple old fashioned dome with extended porch. It shrugs off wind and rain and has the traditional double door with fully zippable mesh and outer. I notice many, many new tents this year don't have the full mesh door. Why not - we all love them - manufacturers, please listen to us!!
I'm lending the Cabin 300 to a friend who'll be taking it to the Peaks for a week's walking holiday in September; I've asked him for his honest opinion on it when he gets back.
------------- Is it Friday yet?
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I had a look at the Cabin 600 and was pretty impressed. I then got on the polycotton trail and looked at their Vista 600 which appears to be the Polycotton version of it. I couldn't however find one up to have a look at.
The higher price bracket got me on the hunt for alternatives and so ended up with the Outwell Trout Lake 4 which is similar in it's design (sort of) and is lovely (and cheaper).
Good looking tents though.. The polycotton versions are probably very nice as well although I now prefer the Trout lake's space design.
EDIT. I was just looking at the Robens range again and a couple of things struck me.
The guy that does their product videos is the same guy that is the current Outwell presenter. On top of this, Roben's Double Horizon Tent bears a striking resemblance to Outwell's Trout Lake 4
Anyone know the connection between the two companies? I thought Robens was German and Outwell Danish???
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Topic: Robens Cabin 600
