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10/10/2014 at 3:54pm
Location: Derby. Outfit: Karsten 350+Awnings
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Joined: 01/7/2012 Diamond Member
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Personally, I wouldn't dream of camping in a tent "so small", ( I insist on full standing height, at the very least!) and I guess, they are hinting that on that score, it'll be fine for a night or two, but you may go stir crazy using it for a week!
Quality-wise, I don't see any problems. First off, it's a Vango. Yes, they may let the odd failure through the out door, as most manufacturer's do from time to time, but they are, of course, a long-standing company with a decent rep, so in theory, a reliable company who make reliable tents.
The HH (The waterproof rating) is 3000. I believe to be classed as waterproof, it has to be 1500 or more. Quite a few family tents are coming out at 4000, 5000, and even 6000, just lately, but even at 3000, I would consider that ample for anything below "A deluge"! I'd hazard a guess that "average" was somewhere between 3000 and 4000, so for 3 season camping in the UK (and quite possibly 4 season, who am I to say?), I'd put a month's wages on this tent being fit for the job!
For your occasional week or more, all the above qualities would still apply, of course, so the only thing you have to decide is whether it's big enough for you to camp in the style you wish.
I'd ignore the word "Festival"... this is not "A throw-away tent" if that's what was concerning you!
EDIT:
NOTE:
All the above is based on 100% amateurism, and subject to confirmation by at least one person who actually knows what they are talking about... I just thought I'd at least make a start in putting your mind at rest, as I'm pretty sure I'm on the right lines!
------------- Campervan:
Give us chance!
Tent:
July 2012-Dec 2024: 456 nights.
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10/10/2014 at 4:46pm
Location: Northern Ireland Outfit: Bell Tent Vango Coleman and Quechua
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Joined: 28/4/2013 Diamond Member
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Which model of tent is it?
A 'Standing Height' tent is about 195cm high. You need to think about your bed. If you are going for a camp bed with a Self Inflating Mat on top, or a double height airbed, then you have to take into account the slope on the side of the tent if the bedroom 'pod' is compact (if it's quite big you can always move the bed away from the side).
A 'Weekend' Tent often describes a stand up height but smallish footprint size tent, and of course you can go for longer! If you look at the Vango Kalu, it really fulfills the 'weekend' tag, but also take note of the front extension. That would turn it in to a tent you could stay in for longer and in less favourable weather.
A 'Festival' Tent often refers to a small tent that you crawl in to. They are often but not exclusively dome type tents. They would be fine but someone young, but I wouldn't want to spend a week in it. However I can see if you are doing lots of touring that it would be easier to pitch and strike in different sites each night. I would be happy with this situation if the weather was good.
I do a lot of solo camping, and my preference is a four or five man tent for just me (and the dog). I have a couple of options, a Gelert Cabana 4 - a Decathlon BS 4.2, or my Vango Icarus 500. The Icarus is probably the most flexible one, as it will accommodate other people too. Then as well as that I have the extension for it, so I have used it for fortnight long family holidays as well (there's three in my family).
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10/10/2014 at 6:41pm
Location: Northern Ireland Outfit: Bell Tent Vango Coleman and Quechua
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My Icarus takes about 15 minutes to put up solo, I put it up last weekend in a bit of a breeze. There's a good video on Youtube about the 'Gary Cross Method' of putting up any tunnel type tent, which does help. Now I pitch my Icarus by pegging all four corners, putting in the poles, walking around the other side, putting the pin in the poles, and then erecting the tent with the front door open.
If I was going to buy a tent right now, in this 'three (flexible) pole tunnel tent' category, I would prefer the Coleman Galileo. I like the mesh sleeves which are short sleeves, the angled corners making more stand up height inside. The design is good, it's better than the Icarus/Unfortunately named Isis. If it had a pelmet covering the space between the inner pod and outer fly sheet it'd be damn near perfect. But that's a minor point.
Of course while you're looking at Coleman, look at the 'instant tourer' range. I've not seen one in the flesh, and to me having built in poles makes it harder to replace one - but the trade off is that, I believe, they are very quick to pitch.
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