Topic: Vango Tempest 200 (Read 17084 times)

KyleL · « **on:** March 01, 2013 »

So before I dish out 100 notes on this baby, I'd like to ask you lovley people for your expert opinion.

What I want from my tent: lightweight, suitable for 2 people or myself and gear. Porch area for dog (If he comes along).

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hdzMnhzZRr4&feature=relmfu

hud · « **Reply #1 on:** March 03, 2013 »

Hello! I had a tempest 300 for a couple of years (the 2009 model) and couldn't really fault it...

Couple of minor gripes, when pitching you seemed to always have to go round it three times to get the guys sufficiently tight to have it pitched without it flapping, and after a while the round top became a bit flat which then acted as a puddle holder (but the 300 is wider so more likely to occur than on 200)

That said, I thought it was a great wee tent for the money and it stood up to a couple of real stinking nights without any issue (remember one v blustery night in the Mournes and one torrential night in Fermanagh)

Oh, final point is IMHO, the 200 will be snug for 2 people!

KyleL · « **Reply #2 on:** March 03, 2013 »

Thanks hud.

I've opted for the 300 as I'd like to take my brother and dad out sometimes. It will mean lugging an extra half a kilo when I'm on my own but it will make a man out of me,

fourman · « **Reply #3 on:** March 04, 2013 »

I have a tempest 200 ,great wee tent .
It has a good poarch area for your kit ,which keeps the sleeping area clear
and is also handy if you wake up to a wet morning, at least you can get breakfast cooked out of the rain.
Not as lite wieght as some tents can be but you pay more for them,Vango always seem to go for durability and value for money ,so it ticks those box's.

KyleL · « **Reply #4 on:** March 05, 2013 »

Yea I've heard all sorts of good things about the tent. I've opted for the 300 version for slightly more space and the ability to take another person or two.

It arrives tomorrow, so looking forward to giving it a go this weekend.

whoRya · « **Reply #5 on:** March 25, 2013 »

Hi Kyle

Now that the the Tempest 300 has seen a bit of action, fancy sharing your thoughts on it?

Cheers

KyleL · « **Reply #6 on:** March 25, 2013 »

Sure!

In my limited experience, I have to say the tempest 300 has been brilliant. Lightweight, easily packed (and it's a 3 man too!) and pitched and it has no problem with soaking ground, 30mph winds, lashing rain, hail and sleet.

It warms up well, and I've had no condensation issues as its very well ventilated. The only downside is the pegs - crap aluminium jobs so I bought some steel pegs and problem solved.

whoRya · « **Reply #7 on:** March 26, 2013 »

Have you only used it solo so far? I'm thinking about a combination of 2 adults or 3 teens. I've done a fair bit of comparison on these - on paper anyway. Please feel free to add your thoughts to what I have set out below:

- weight at 3.5kg sits ok for both the combinations mentioned.
- head height at 120 cm seems generous
- width - internal sleeping area goes from 190 down to 170. Standard sleeping mats are 51cm, bags of room therefore for two adults, much less so for three teens but not uncomfortably so.
- porch - I find this bit harder to visualise, it has to be perfectly fine for two rucksacks, what do you think for 3 rucksacks?
- Pitching - I presume this is up to a standard of what you can expect from Vango. Are you able to get a taut pitch? Any problems in wind e.g. flapping?

Does it come with a porch groundsheet? I have looked at so many I can't remember if it was optional or not.

You mentioned £100, is that about what you paid for it, maybe that was the 200 you were talking about at that stage?

It's nice to see the tent in a few of your photos.

KyleL · « **Reply #8 on:** March 26, 2013 »

I paid £112 or so for the 300.

Pitching is easy, though it takes a bit of practice to get it taught. You can see on some of my pictures that there is a little slack on the roof which can be fixed easy enough on even ground - however I did hear a bit of flapping. I will be more particular when pitching next time too see if I can eliminate this. Even so, it took a fair wack on Bernagh even though I set it up terribly - no issues.

I have been solo, and once with the dog. For two people it's great, 3 people would be great too but the gear would have to go in the porch. Two rucksacks would work fine in the porch (which comes with a detachable groundsheet) 3 would work with a bit of shimmying around and piling. It's nice and sheltered. The only picture I have of the porch doesn't give a very good representation:

It pulls much tauter to match the slope of the forward guy line.

But hey, if you want to see it I can set it up somewhere for you.

whoRya · « **Reply #9 on:** March 26, 2013 »

Thanks for the replies Kyle, I might be buying a couple in the next week or so.

KyleL · « **Reply #10 on:** March 26, 2013 »

Too bad the weather isn't decent and we could get a camp going to show you it!

Rugged Track · « **Reply #11 on:** April 09, 2013 »

Mrbushcraftsurivial has one on loan to review (just reviewed the vango blade 200 check out his link), he will be doing a video this week on the tempest 200. Watch this space.

whoRya · « **Reply #12 on:** April 10, 2013 »

I had a wee go putting up the Vango Tempest 300 in my garden last night. It was a worthwhile activity since I learnt a few of the wee quirks with the tent.

For instance care has to be taken when inserting the main poles to ensure that the guylines are fully towards the main side panel of the tent. Otherwise the flysheet clips cannot be connected to the poles.

Also I found it very difficult to unclip the groundsheet clips on the inner tent from the outer flysheet when packing the tent away again. The clips are too small to use a full finger or thumb for pressure to open the gate so that it can be unclipped. The gate was very stiff and I was unable to use another immplement to open it, failing whilst trying with a tent peg. Instead I found that I had to use my thumb nail to put direct pressure on a small surface area leaving space for the flysheet ring to pass by. That sounds complicated but it was quite a frustration at the time and I'm glad I found a way to do without trying to learn on a wet and windy hillside.

The most even way of splitting the tent between two persons seems to be:

No. 1 - Flysheet / pegs / stuff sack
No. 2 - Inner / poles / porch groundsheet

This actually results in No. 1 carrying 100g more. If No. 1 took the stuff sack it would be more even but it seems to make more sense using that for the flysheet. Inevitably weight can be balanced taking into account stoves and fuel anyway.

At 1465g for the flysheet it is almost 40% of the weight so other group kit needs borne in mind when splitting up kit between three persons.

Will hopefully get a night in the tent on Saturday night, nothing too wild though

KyleL · « **Reply #13 on:** April 11, 2013 »

Glad you went for it, I'm sure you will enjoy it.

And as for the issue you described - yes, those wee clips are a bugger to open sometimes, and it can be near impossible with cold numb hands. So much so that I have bought some equally small carabiners to use instead of the clips - will report back how that works out.

hud · « **Reply #14 on:** April 12, 2013 »

I followed the same process as KyleL regarding the clips; bust them off and replaced with carabiners! No real change in weight and much easier operated

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Author Topic: Vango Tempest 200 (Read 17084 times)

KyleL

Vango Tempest 200

hud

Re: Vango Tempest 200

KyleL

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fourman

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