We have an Outwell Sun Valley 8 (2008), which in March 2009 is not longer available. As far as I can tell it was only introduced in 2007 which means it was in production for 2 years before being dropped. That seems like a really short time to me. It's a great tent with a simple but elegant (in my opinion) design, it's roomy, easy to errect and packs down nice and small. So why remove it from the gene pool so soon?

It wouldn't be such a pain if it didn't mean that all the accessories for it disappear too. We bought a footprint when we got the tent and we're glad we did now as it seems it would be pretty hard to find one now. My in-laws have an Outwell Casagrande L which was retired a few years ago now it seems. They would love a footprint for it but thay have been unable to find one. (Actually they may have now found one on a Dutch website).

Is it just Outwell (who appear to be the Ford of tents) who replace their designs so frequently or do other manufacturers do the same I'm not sure. Perhaps I am wrong and the Sun Valley has had a long and illustrious life and it was time to put it out to pasture.