Outwell Bear Lake 6 (2008)

[Alphonso De Lard]

We love our Bear Lake. Bought a package containing the tent, side extension, footprint and carpet from a Yeomanns Outdoor show.
They almost price matched another dealer who were selling the package - wouldn't drop all the way, but promised us good customer service.
(Which proved worth it, as the bedroom had a hole in it, and the footprint ripped on first usage, but Yeomanns changed both without any quibble).

We use the extension for the kitchen area, living the living area for relaxation. The living area is a lovely size.

It certainly is a very sturdy tent. Cosy at night once the curtains are drawn. The canopy over the front door is great, although the full
length version of the Norfolk and Wolf are better, but it's still nice to sit under in the rain, and keeps the inside dry when it's raining.

Easy to pitch once you get the knack. Although takes us about two or three hours from arrival to complete the whole process, including all the 'bits' that go inside. Altho the tent itself takes much less than that!
Very very sturdy in the Cornish storms last August. Didn't budge in the winds.

Other positives include the built in pockets, one set between the bedrooms, and another to hang under a window. The fact the two
bedrooms can be opened out into one large room suits us - having a little camper with us. They enable us to easily check on her via the zip.
The fly mesh on the windows helps to keep out the bugs - although it's missing on the front door.

The tent does come in two big big bags. I underestimated how big it would be, so take care if you have a small car. The pack sizes are
massive. We keep the ZIG attached to the canvas - my OH can't pick that bag up it's so heavy.

We've had a couple of minor faults with the tent over the last year, tent pegging loops and the looping at the bottom of the poles near to the
pins have come undone, something we've repaired ourselves rather than returning the tent.

I'm not so sure it's just us, as I've read other owners have the same problem on other forums, but when pitched, one of the side windows doesn't lie correctly. It has a velcro fastener which always finishes up an inch higher than the velcro on the tent... Maybe it's the way I (and others) pitch the tent... Sometimes when windy this fault does allow rain to blow through, which isn't great.

I've revisited Yeomanns again this year to take a look at the new Outwells amongst others, and I've always walked away happy with what we already have. I always get excited in the run up to a break. I could live in the damn thing. I totally recommend this tent to anyone pondering whether to get one or not...

[DaveS]

They are an absolutely beautiful tent.
When we bought our Norfolk Lake it was the Bear Lake that inspired us. It's a fantastic sturdy tent that looks great.
I can see us getting one in the future.
It's hard to describe they just look so right. The only thing that stopped us was the fact that the sides on the front canopy didn't come right down.

[Alphonso De Lard]

I agree that sides for the front canopy would make it, for me, the perfect tent... Maybe if Yeomanns had had a wolf lake 5 on display I would have gone for one, but the WL7 was too large, and I do love my BL... It's like the wife... They both have their faults, but I love them both to bits

[DaveS]

It's like the wife... They both have their faults, but I love them both to bits

Ha!

[novo]

Hi Alphonso, I too have a bear lake 6 , we bought it in 2007 and used it once or twice that year, but we were unhappy with the front door, as in we have had problems with shutting it/zipping it up. The 2 sides seem to be 2 inches apart when trying to pull the zip down, we need both of us to close it. We took it back to the shop where we got it from and he watched us put it up and the door seemed a little bit better. Last year we only used it once and so far this year we have used it 4 times within the last 2 months and the door is still hard to close.

Just got back from Newgale in W. Wales and someone there had a BL6 so I went over and had a chat with him, basically you could shut his door with 1 hand, no problem.

Any idea what we could do? whats Outwells customer service like?

[DaveS]

Just got back from Newgale in W. Wales and someone there had a BL6 so I went over and had a chat with him, basically you could shut his door with 1 hand, no problem.

Any idea what we could do? whats Outwells customer service like?

Have you tried some grease or WD40 on it. Careful that you don't get it on the fabric though... could be worth a try and then wiping any excess off.

Can you see what's causing it to be a problem? Misaligned zips? Badly made zip?
Is it the tension that's causing the problem? Whenever we've had a problem with zips it's because of the tension not being correct.

[Alphonso De Lard]

The Bear Lake front door is a well reported glitch (there are many posts on uk-campsite)... I think it's to do with how the tent is pitched that's for sure, but I just can't work out how... Sometimes our front door is absolutely fine - other times, it's a reet beach... One of the side doors has gone ever so tight this week (never happened before)... So I'd say it's def to do with either how it's pitched, or the slope of the pitch itself... (We moved the tent on Thursday 180 degrees and about 7 metres further up our pitch due to the amount of mud and standing water under the tent - side door was fine before we moved - but now we're pitched with the front towards a slight downhill)... What about the side windows - does your velcro on the window ever fit the velcro on the tent? Ours doesn't that's for sure... I love the tent.... These little faults I live with as I've not yet found anything else I'd rather be pitched in...

Customer service from Outwell is poor I believe - they expect you to go through your dealer if you have any problems... So it's pot luck on how good the after sales customer service is from the dealer you bought the tent from....

To return briefly to the door zip problem - I don't believe WD40 would help - it's not the zip that's the problem - it's the canvas across the front of the tent is so tight that it's a right struggle to shut the door...

Cheers for now,

ADL

[DaveS]

What about the side windows - does your velcro on the window ever fit the velcro on the tent?

Yes we have one window, the front door one with our NL where the Velcro only just meets and any stress on that door and yes it won't meet. And surprise that's the door we have most problems with stiff zips!

[novo]

Hi DaveS, its not that the zip is stiff but the canvas across the front section of the tent is stretched so much so that the 2 sides do not meet to close it, again must be the way it is erected.

Chances of taking it back to the dealer are slim because we have had this tent for 3 seasons now even tho we have only used it half a dozen times.

Cheers for the advice, I'll look at different ways to pitch it to see if it makes a difference.

Paul. (Novo)

[OaseWine]

Nigel - Nice report on the Bearlake - a lot of true points . For me the Bearlake was the ultimate tent until I realised how big and heavy the bags are - but its staying as I think its the best of the outwell offerings - I presently working on a couple of "side panels" that will attach to the conopy - these are just the crystal clear window material edge stiched with green canvas and using the Outwell straps and clips avaliable from Scottish Mountain Gear ( outwell repairers ) I am hopin these home -made clip on panels will bring the tent on a parr with the Wolf lakes in that area !

As for the Bearlake Extension - well I think its a must have - but I have to say that on the 6 - it doesnt quite reach the horisontal tenssioner bars and as such wind can whip under it and cause it to flap around - Im also of the opinion that Outwell should have made it with an optional zip off front ( door ) so as to allow it to be used as one additional living space when nessescary.

Nigel, I would be very interested to know which sites you stay at that ( as on your photos ) show hedge borders between plots - very nice and posh !!

Cheers

OuseWine