Verdict
If you’re just looking for a simple windbreak to use on caravan holidays, barbecues, family picnics and trips to the beach, the Quest 7 Pole Family Windbreak could be just what you need. It’s not as cheap as the formerly ubiquitous old-style rainbow-striped windbreaks, but it is a higher quality product. It’s heavier than many modern windbreaks and bulkier to store and carry.
Yet there’s something most appealing about those strong wooden poles and the green-and-cream or blue-and-cream striped fabric that may well sway you.
Compared to all the modern windbreaks in our test, we’ve awarded the Quest 7 Pole Family Windbreak three stars.
Pros
Quick and easy to erect
You know where you are with strong wooden poles
Connects to caravan rails and awnings
Attractive
Simple
Cons
Bulky to store
Not cheap
Fairly heavy at 4.22kg
We’ve seen a large selection of modern windbreaks made by tent manufacturers during our big Practical Caravan windbreaks testing session. But are they really that much better than the original traditional types of windbreaks with wooden poles?
To find out, we decided to include the Quest 7 Pole Family Windbreak. It could be the one for you, if you just want something simple to keep the wind at bay on holiday. It is a bigger, more subtle version of the rainbow-coloured three-panel windbreaks of the past. But it is certainly not as cheap.
Quest Leisure is a British company, which has been going for more than 30 years and is based in the heart of the Midlands, in Washford, Redditch, Worcestershire. Given Quest’s proximity to Birmingham, it’s no wonder that the firm often exhibits at big oiutdoor leisure shows, such as the NEC Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show and the autumn Motorhome and Caravan Show. The vast halls of the NEC give Quest Leisure a chance to display its range of outdoor leisure equipment, caravan awnings (both inflatable and traditional), camping, caravan, home and garden products. The firm has many stockists around the country and even has helpful YouTube videos on how to put up awnings from the Quest Leisure awnings range.
No such technical skill is required with the Quest 7 Pole Family Windbreak in our test, however!
With this traditional windbreak you simply unwind it, and hammer in the poles, but it is larger to store. When the 7 Pole Family Windbreak is up, it measures 5.2m wide and 1.23m high, but once you’ve taken it down, the pack-down size is 160cm x 18cm x 10cm. Quest Leisure quotes the folded size as 150cm x 14cm x 14cm, however, so perhaps the makers are folding it differently! The whole windbreak weighs 4.22kg.
The lack of guy ropes limits stability, but you can always add some spare guy lines of your own.
We like the materials used. There are seven aluminium-capped wooden poles, with metal end spikes to dig into the ground, and the pole size is 20mm diameter. We also like the clips that will allow you to connect this windbreak to your caravan awning rail or to any tent or awning poles.
The main sheet fabric is ‘non-woven’ and is available in two colourways. We chose the green and cream striped design to blend in with the countryside and campsite pitch, but there is also a classy blue and cream version that you might prefer if it matches your car or caravan better.
This traditional-style windbreak is up against some very tough competition from modern high-tech windbreaks made by experienced tent manufacturers and rival outdoor leisure equipment makers. Before you make your mind up about which are the best windbreaks to buy, take a browse through our other Practical Caravan windbreak reviews online and a total of 14 windbreaks tested in the July issue of Practical Caravan magazine. We’ve tested the Trespass Windbreak at £33.99, the Vango 5 Pole Windbreak at £64.99, the Coleman Windshield XL at £49,99, the unusual Olpro Picket Fence Windbreak at £29.99, the Gelert Breeze Blocker at £24.99, the very expensive Quest Windshield Pro at £104.99 and the Kampa Deluxe Windbreak at £89.98. As you can see, the prices vary widely. Happy browsing!
With this traditional windbreak you simply unwind it, and hammer in the poles, but it is larger to store
Technical Specifications
Size | 5.2m wide and 1.23m high |
Poles | 7 wooden poles with metal end caps and spikes |
Colours | Green and cream or blue and cream horizontal stripes |
Weight | 4.22kg |
Size when folded | 150cm x 14cm x 14 cm |
Pole size | 20mm diameter |
Fittings | Awning rail attachment |