Pitching the Montana is predictably easy once you know how, although some more thorough instructions than the few basic diagrams pinned to the inside of the tent bag would have been most welcome for the first pitch.
Once we'd worked out that all beams inflate from the one valve, which is unlike other air tents we've used, the Montana was standing proud within minutes. As is common these days the tent can be pitched as one and the bedrooms come pre hung within the outer, so there's no faffing with a million toggles after pitching the outer.
The pegging system needs little explanation, you simply match the peg colour to the guying or pegging point and work your way around, securing everything as you go. The pegs are a mixture of thick steel items for the corners and equally as heavy duty looking plastic items which we gave a good hammering and show no signs of failing.
The porch and sun canopy both have to concede to a traditional pole system using a mixture of steel and alloy poles - both of which are fairly straightforward and intuitive to pitch. The sun canopy extends the living space to the outside, making for a great place to sit in favourable weather. If you're going for a short break or the weather doesn't play ball, you can simply roll the canopy up and fasten it above the front door, or zip it off completely.
The Montana can be accessed by a choice of three doors. In most weather you'll probably find yourself using the side porch, which comes complete with cupped groundsheet and rubber mat. This is a great touch which keeps mucky shoes and boots well away from the living space.
The 12.6m2 living space is bright and airy thanks to a good amount of windows and a large front door. The windows all have zip up or toggle-fasten curtains. These are quick and easy to use and block out a decent amount of light.
A family of four complete with seating, storage units and a camp kitchen can happily fit inside the Montana, leaving a good amount of floor area for the general flow of traffic around these items.
The bedrooms are equal in size and are divided by a fabric wall, which can be unzipped and rolled back to create one large room. The 6-person rating is optimistic, from a sleeping quarters point of view, as the rooms are a comfortable size for two in each. But if you were desperate for extra sleeping space you could fit a small army into the front room.
Outwell have ensured that storage space is plentiful in the Montana. This includes a large tier of mesh pockets run up the divide between the bedrooms, which provide ample storage for anything from clothing to maps to DVDs. Generous, deep pockets in the bedrooms provide easy access to night time essentials.
All zip pulls in the Montana have a bright, luminous yellow finish and the wide mouthed, D-shaped rubber toggles on the zip pulls make them super easy to grab at when you're half asleep at night.
Vents are plentiful and can all be set open or sealed shut. The bedroom vents can be accessed from within, which is a great touch as you can regulate the temperature through the night without having to leave the tent.
A packed weight of just under 40kg and size of 50 x 103cm are reasonable for a tent of this size but we highly recommend you have help when trying to lift the tent into and out of a car. The wheeled bag is an essential inclusion and is sturdy enough to last the test of time.
Although expensive, the quality, design and ease of use of the Montana shine through, so if you camp with your family on a regular basis then it may well be worth the investment.
