Outwell Backroads Awning Room: Our Real-World Test (Featuring Typical British Weather…)
We recently took the Outwell Backroads Awning Room out for a proper test at a local campsite near us. The plan was simple: get it set up, see how it works in the real world, and give it a fair trial.
What we didn’t plan for… was the weather.
Let’s just say it wasn’t exactly postcard camping conditions.
First Impressions & Setup
Straight away, what stood out was how simple it is. If you’ve already got a wind-out awning on your van, you’re halfway there. The Backroads Awning Room uses that as the roof, so you’re essentially just adding the walls.
The sides zip on, which made the whole process super easy, simple, and reliable. No fiddly bits, no guesswork — everything just lines up and does what it’s supposed to.
We spent a bit of time getting familiar with it, working out the best way to pitch it, and once you’ve done it once, it’s genuinely quick and straightforward. No complicated pole systems, no wrestling with fabric in the wind — just a nice, logical setup.
(And yes… we filmed it all so you can see exactly how it works 👇)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fh1xhIJjmQc&feature=youtu.be
Then the Weather Turned…
Now, this is where the real test began.
The heavens opened.
Not a light drizzle. Proper, full-on British rain — the kind that usually sends you diving back into the van with a cup of tea and a slightly disappointed look on your face.
But this time, we stayed put.
How It Held Up
This is where the Backroads Awning Room really impressed us. Once everything was zipped up, it created a fully enclosed space that kept us dry and surprisingly warm.
No leaks, no flapping chaos, no “this was a bad idea” moment.
Instead, we had a comfortable, sheltered space to sit, relax, and wait out the weather — which, let’s be honest, is a pretty important feature when you’re camping in the UK.
The large windows kept it feeling light and airy, even with the rain pouring down outside, and the option to close everything up meant we could properly shut ourselves away from the elements.
The Overall Experience
Despite the not-so-lovely weather, we actually had a lovely time. The campsite was great, the surroundings were spot on, and having that extra sheltered space made a huge difference.
It turned what could have been a soggy, cut-short trip into a relaxed, enjoyable one.
And that’s really what this awning room is all about.
Final Thoughts
The Outwell Backroads Awning Room isn’t trying to be a full drive-away awning, and that’s exactly why it works so well. It’s quick to set up, easy to pack away, and gives you that extra space exactly when you need it.
After testing it properly (and unintentionally putting it through some very wet conditions), we can confidently say it does what it promises.
If you’ve already got a wind-out awning and want a simple way to make it more usable in all weather, this is a brilliant bit of kit to add to your setup.
Because let’s face it… the British weather isn’t always on your side. But at least now, you’ve got something that is.
