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Topic: What`s happened to Vango quality??

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blueshirted

25/6/2014 at 5:17pm
Location: Kent
Outfit: Tenter.

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Have just come back from a week down the New Forest with my Vango Icarus 400 & on the day of packing to come home the tent pole split, the shock cord in the second set of poles just broke & the bottom of tent where the pin ring is ripped!!! This is only its second outing bearing in mind I bought it online last May where it had a 2 night trip in June, & this week which was trip number 2! Are Vango losing their touch with quality & reality just to mass produce tents?

I would contact the retailer I bought it from but I have no idea who it was - I've also begun to think my tent is a 'seconds/return' as I noticed when it was up last week it had '1283' written on it in what looks like chalk....

What do you think??? I've today bought a pack of new poles from Blacks but do not have the motivation right now to fix it :-(

LesD

25/6/2014 at 6:49pm
Location: Stourbridge
Outfit: Tent: Outwell Nevada MP

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Blueshirted
Sorry to read this. Vango used to be a trusted brand but they do seem to have reduced their quality. I was thinking of getting new tent next year so will look closely at the points you have raised. Still like my Vango Beta
Les

Solar Cycles

25/6/2014 at 8:06pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Vango Inspire 500

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I think this a common problem with all brands since they moved their manufacturing over to the Far East. I think it's more do with quality control then a reduction in quality per say.

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RTS5

25/6/2014 at 9:04pm
Location: North Wiltshire
Outfit: Elddis & 3 tents

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We have and old style Icarus 300, and have had to replace a section on each of the last 3 trips. Also have a new style Icarus 400 that has just had its 6th outing and had to have 2 sections replaced.

The internet is full of Vango pole repair kits, which also gives you an idea of what the quality is like.

blueshirted

25/6/2014 at 9:07pm
Location: Kent
Outfit: Tenter.

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yes it's a shame as vango used to be such good quality now it's just a big name with no reputation! I bought my replacement poles for £9 in Blacks cheaper than most sets I've seen online

Lurcher Luvva

25/6/2014 at 9:56pm
Location: West Yorkshire
Outfit: Outwell Newport L and various Vangos

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I was amazed at the difference in quality between my Icarus 400 ( first year it came out ) and my Outwell Newport L I've replaced it with .

The Vango was new , had loose threads , a couple of wonky seams but I got a few years out of it in all weathers , and a friend of mine bought one at the same time and had to return hers as the zips weren't aligned and she couldn't zip any of the doors up !

Mine lasted well until last year when it started to leak ; and when 2 pole sections broke when I was pitching it ( it was extremely windy so not Vango's fault ) I decided to look for a new tent .

I initially looked for another Icarus but wasn't impressed with the price increase so started looking at other brands ( I have 4 other Vango tents ) . When I decided on the Outwell I was very impressed with the quality , and the poles are so much thicker .

I saw the reviews on the new Vango's and decided it was time for a change . My new tent does take me just a little longer to pitch , but not much ; had 10 nights away in it so far this year , and got a few more trips planned

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youlbury

25/6/2014 at 10:43pm
Location: Cornwall
Outfit: Outdoor Revolution Ozone 6.0 xtr Vario

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I guess Vango have gone down in quality since the Goven days but the prices would be beyond reach if manufacturing continued in Scotland.

We started off with a 2nd hand 2009 Icarus 500 and we were happy with our first tent...no comparison of course.

Since then we have purchased a Vango Calisto 600 basically a steal poled Icarus and we are largely happy with it, what was important was the layout above super duper quality and I picked it up cheaper than than an Icarus 500 £138.00.

We have a Gelert or should I say a Beyond 5+2, the quality is better believe or not, I think everyone thinks Gelert "cheap"....now they are Sports Direct yes probably.

Anyway I think it is luck with some tents and some brands, I remember joining in 2010 and everybody was complaining about Outwells quality control.

I think QC is down to model, make and who is at the end of the production line in China.

I look at this way, they are a structure for my breaks and holidays and now and again like a house, caravan, camper they will need maintenance.

Now wait for someone to turn up and say you should have bought a Karsten.

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jelboy53

26/6/2014 at 7:37am
Location: Cumbernauld Scotland
Outfit: Monty 6Icarus 500 Halo 300

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I have 3 Vango tents at the moment...And have had separate issues with each of them....Hardly use the Icarus 500 because every time I have in the past something else goes wrong (usually in the pole department)

Vango Banshee 200...Used 3 times in dry sunny weather....All vents open each time....And have been soaked with condensation!!!! It's really not worth the hassle to take away with me!!!

Vango Halo 300.....Love this tent for my back packing...But from day one there have been issues with the light alloy poles bending out of shape (have seen this on other Halo's) culminating in a snapped pole last but one trip out...I am convinced from my last pole section hunt that the 3 poles that came with this tent are too short....Several cms shorter than a full pole replacement on sale on any bit of the internet you care to try....

I reckon I will have to think very carefully about buying Vango next time....

Jelboy.

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VangoMan02

26/6/2014 at 8:32am
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Well as my user name might suggest, I am a big Vango fan and have been since I was a teenager..I am now retired and still tent camp but just not as often.

As has been said all the manufacturers have quality issues at times. I had three Outwell Montys that all leaked like a sieve back when they had big issues and still have on occasion as has Vango.

At last count I have 8 Vango tents and really have not had any issues, must be lucky I guess.

Can I just say the biggest problem with poles breaking is putting tents up with inner still attached. I know the makers sell this "up all in one" milarky and yes it can work but there is a high degree of failures using this method in my experience and what I have seen on sites with people not doing it the right way maybe through lack of experience or not reading the instructions.
Depending on size of the tent it can also be quite a weight doing it all in one with the stress all going to the poles.

It won't be the only reason for all pole failures but none the less still a big factor.
I am sure we have seen examples on site and no surprise when you hear the pole snap..

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blueshirted

26/6/2014 at 8:43am
Location: Kent
Outfit: Tenter.

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I must admit in the last 12 years I've been camping I have never liked the idea of leaving the inner attached - for me there is a reason why it's on the hook/pin system & that's so it can be detached. Even though it may take up a bit more space in the bag I am religious in separating all parts of the tent before putting up or taking down.

Like you said VangMan02 all manufacturers have their issues it's just a shame as I love the style & size of my 400 although it gets far hotter than any of my previous 'canvas homes' but with my previous 2 Sunncamps & my Lichfield over the years I've never had any issues - I think I am just unlucky & that this is a '2nds'. I was planning to see if my bank could pinpoint the transaction via last yrs statements - now everything is paperless the last I have is Jan 2013.

VangoMan02

26/6/2014 at 10:11am
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I might be wrong but I think your bank can go back 6 years?
I would also give Vango a phone and explain the situation although I don't think any popular makers cover the poles as part of the guarantee but its worth a try..

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youlbury

26/6/2014 at 10:53am
Location: Cornwall
Outfit: Outdoor Revolution Ozone 6.0 xtr Vario

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With the Icarus I always felt that even with the straps loose I was going to break the poles and it never happened. I gave the tent to my brother and he broke two in the first pitch, we are of the same build tall and big, however it depends how you are with your hands I guess.

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RTS5

26/6/2014 at 4:44pm
Location: North Wiltshire
Outfit: Elddis & 3 tents

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We are not hamfisted with the poles by any means. Feed them gently, don't get them jammed in the ground, make sure we don't put excessive strain on them when inserting the pins. I do think they should be designed better to take the fact that there is some bend to them as you put the pins in though.

Having said all that, we still love both tents and would buy Vango again. DS also has a little one for Scouts but his has aluminium poles, so no danger of breakage there. DH is also now an expert in replacing sections on poles

youlbury

26/6/2014 at 4:53pm
Location: Cornwall
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I am sure most people are not hamfisted..my brother is though.

Tbh with the fibreglass poles it was like playing Russian roulette.

At least Vango and certain stockists appear to have spare poles and parts in abundance, some would say that's down to the poor quality? or is it good aftercare?, a friend of ours cannot get certain Outwell poles for their tent so it has become obsolete.

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It's better to ask a silly question than make a silly mistake.

Nosaj

26/6/2014 at 5:39pm
Location: Rayleigh Essex
Outfit: Currently looking

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Oh dear...reading this thread with a bit of trepidition having just put a deposit down on an Air Beam, still at least I won't have to worry about poles.

wiggy25

26/6/2014 at 5:47pm
Location: Near Sleaford
Outfit: Karsten Opera 2400 & Instant tourer 4

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Nosaj, being an Airbeam really doesn't seem to make any difference to Vango!

I know THIS review is an awning but makes you wonder!
They really don't like to accept responsibility for anything from some of the comments I've read.

Cheers

Ian

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