THE Tennessee 5 is a big tent. However, thanks to it being a tunnel, with chunky steel poles to take the weight of all that fabric, an experienced couple will find it pitches quite easily.
To highlight its AvanteGarde status Outwell uses a subtle print of a grassy meadow on the outer and a cheerful ‘deck chair’ print on the inner. However, the thing that really strikes you about the Tennessee is the huge windows and you can understand why Outwell call that front section the panoramic room. You almost have an uninterrupted view of the campsite when ensconced in that lounge area. Luckily, Outwell now uses zip-up internal curtains so you can adjust the amount of covered window space to match privacy requirements.
With all those windows you would expect things to heat up inside, but the multiple vents stretching around the tent help direct any breeze inside. You can also roll up the front door (backed by flyscreen panel) or the whole door panel to open up the tent. Through flow of air can be increased by opening the simple back door, too.
That panoramic room is certainly a civilised place to dine and it will comfortably house kitchen, cupboard, table and five or six dining chairs. However, enter the inner sanctum at the rear of the tent and you are presented with yet more space for furniture – be it storage or a few more chairs where you can peacefully and comfortably catch up with the reading. And here you’ll find a clothes rail to compliment the drying rail found in the front room.
Of course, if all this space is not enough you can always make use of Outwell’s Universal inner tent and unzip one side so that it can be folded back to create yet more room! By the way, the left hand bedroom compartment has a little ground level window so you can check the weather before you get out of your sleeping bag.
Camping says Did you know that industry standards allow for 60cm width per person in a sleeping compartment? Well, that’s not good enough for Outwell – it provides between 70-80cm per person. Trivia aside, this is an upmarket tent – and has the price tag to match.However, you do get a lot for your money and while you can see the obvious, like space, materials and bedroom design, also bear in mind the hidden factors like Outwell’s Wind Stabiliser System that caters for wind speeds encountered in Force Ten gales. The Tennessee really is home from home and, besides turning a few heads, a family of five will find it simply luxurious. That panoramic front room is particularly impressive...
MORE INFORMATION
Price £999.99
Packed size Tent 78cm x 40cm x 42cm (27kg); Poles 25cm x 76cm (25kg)
Materials Outer Outex 5000 PU-coated polyester, 5,000mm hydrostatic head Inner Polyester Groundsheet Polyethylene Poles Steel
Dimensions Outer 620cm x 535cm Bedrooms Bedroom one: 140cm x 215cm; Bedroom two 180cm x 215cm Height 225cm (215cm)
Sleeps 5
Packed weight 52kg
Pitching time 35 minutes
Style Tunnel
Sewn in groundsheet
Electricity port
CONTACT
Outwell
Tel 0151 645 2278 • Web
outwell.co.uk
This review was published in the April 2011 issue of Camping magazine. Order our latest issue.