The Outdoor Revolution Vermont porch awning is available with a steel or the company’s Carbon-Lite frame and comes in blue/sand or anthracite/mercury.

Although Outdoor Revolution call it a porch awning, the Vermont is somewhat larger than conventional models, measuring 320cm wide x 250cm deep. As a result, it can be used as an extra room  for sitting or eating.

It is a good-quality product, too, boasting 280g polyester throughout. It is a four-piece design, comprising a one-piece roof – no seams prone to leaking – two sides and a front. All of these can be zipped in or left out to suit circumstances. Importantly, the material is double thickness at the corners and at the centre of the roof for increased strength and wear resistance. There is a door in each side panel and two in the front.

The Vermont’s individual frame members are numbered to make erecting it stress-free. Attaching the roof poles to the caravan is done using bracket pads, which fit onto a bead stitched alongside the awning bead.

The two rear vertical poles clip into plastic clips stitched to the padded draught strips, rather than being tied or secured by Velcro strips. The only disappointment is that the poles are locked together with wing nuts – a method that we consider to be old fashioned in the 21st century.

On the other hand, we were impressed by the bungee pegging elastics. Their design means they are immensely strong and easy to remove quickly if necessary.

Price Around £530 (steel frame) or £626 (Carbon-Lite frame)
Tel 01924 410 050
Web www.outdoor-revolution.com

Reviewed in the September 2011 issue of Practical Caravan