Verdict
An awning that unashamedly borrows from Outwell’s long pedigree as a tent manufacturer. Extremely versatile, it offers a lot in terms of spec and living space. Perfect for campervans that need more on-site living and sleeping room.
If you liked this… read more reviews of awnings, such as the Vango Motor Montelena 330, or the budget Quest Falcon Driveaway.
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Pros
Flexibility of use
Ease of set-up
Cons
Gaps between the awning and ‘van sides will mean draughts
Versatility is what this drive-away campervan awning is all about. It’s so new, it’s only hitting shops in March, so here’s a preview of the latest motorhome awning from Outwell.
First, the design. It runs parallel to your campervan, front door alongside vehicle bonnet. It can also be fitted on either side, connection points allowing.
Ideally, you need 250cm of awning rail, 5mm or 7mm. Double-beading lets you slot into most rails (VW California owners can put both together for perfect fit).
You could even remove the connection section of fabric – or Link Access Zone – and use it as a stand-alone tent, although a factor here might be campsite fees. Anyway, running parallel to your campervan makes for a more efficient use of space.
Stowing in your vehicle might be a bigger issue. Not that the Blossburg is bulky – packed dimensions are 86 x 44 x 45cm, and it weighs in at just under 21kg.
The three main poles are inflated individually; there’s a more efficient manual pump as standard this year, with an optional electric version.
Pegging out is courtesy of Outwell’s Easy Pegging System – three types of peg: standard steel for corners, black plastic for side points and luminous yellow plastic for guylines. Clip-on storm straps are also supplied.
Elasticated edging helps the canvas fit tight to your vehicle, while double zips allow you to open up the whole front, or zip back to either side. There’s also full mesh panelling here.
As ever with Outwell, the windows are tinted, while the Blossburg relies on toggle-up curtains, rather than zipped. The HookTrack system, for adding items up to 1.5kg such as lights, will come in handy.
The sewn-in groundsheet helps optimise insulation and keeps bugs at bay.
The official price for the Blossburg is exactly a grand. You probably won’t need to go too far to find it available for less than that. You’ll also want to investigate the rest of the portfolio for lighting, furniture and accessories.
Full Specification
Price £1000
Weight 20.7kg
Dimensions 300 x 385cm
Fixing height 175 – 200cm
Pack size 86 x 44 x 45cm
Access Side door, front door, two doors in connection area
Key selling points Space-efficient design, can be used as a stand-alone tent, plenty of smart features
Optional extras Dual beading Connect Set (£26.99), footprint (£44.99), inner bedroom (£124.99), carpet (£89.99), Wind Gust electric pump (£109.99)
Running parallel to your campervan makes for a more efficient use of space