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I bought a new Diablo in May 2007 (£300+), have used it quite a bit, and now find that the flysheet is tearing like tissue paper, rendering it completely stuffed.

Vango say "Prolonged exposure to strong sunlight weakens the material, which fades and becomes brittle.  With careful use, tent material should last for many years.  Avoid long term pitching in strong sunlight."

I have been abroad twice (Brittany - fair weather, French Alps - a bit of sun) and have camped in the rain in Wales several times and the tent now needs to go in the bin as Vango do not stock flysheets.

I have sung Vango's praises over the years (I have had many of them) but this has left me feeling bitterly disappointed - am I being unreasonable? Any views welcome...

It does sound quite a short lifespan for a quality synthetic tent though. If you count up your total weeks/days of use and if it's less than 16 weeks then I do think you should contact Vango about the problem. The usual lifespan of a synthetic tent is reckoned to be about six months in total, bit less if it's used in very sunny areas or (might be important this) high altitudes.

Just remember though that ex-display tents can be useless by the end of one season, even if they've only been pitched once for the entire summer in our dreadful UK weather. It's the cumulative UV exposure that's the crucial bit, not how many years old the tent is.

Smee05 - it is the XP. I will keep my eye on ebay. Thanks for the tip.

Val - I think it may have been up for around the 12 week mark, maybe a bit more if I added up all the weekends. I reckon about three quarters of that has been in Wales, mostly in the rain! We also bought the sun canopy at the same time, which has been used for most of the time, and which is absolutely fine!

Quote: Originally posted by ahhh..fresh..air! on 16/10/2009

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Smee05 - it is the XP. I will keep my eye on ebay. Thanks for the tip.

Val - I think it may have been up for around the 12 week mark, maybe a bit more if I added up all the weekends. I reckon about three quarters of that has been in Wales, mostly in the rain! We also bought the sun canopy at the same time, which has been used for most of the time, and which is absolutely fine!

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12 weeks in total is ridiculous and if you've been using the sun canopy as well then it's clear there's something wrong here. Really, get in contact with Vango and at least give them the chance to sort it out.

Quote: Originally posted by ahhh..fresh..air! on 16/10/2009

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I have been in touch with Vango - that was their quote in my post above. I am almost at the stage where I don't want to bother anymore. Don't get me wrong - I can be a bit of a beast when it comes to getting satisfaction from retailers - I did get a brand new tent from Vango when a previous repair was not done properly - but after a lifetime of supporting Vango I am genuinely not sure I want any more of what they produce these days. The whole company seem to have changed quite a bit when they moved production abroad. It is like they recognise that they will have more compaints and have 'battened down the hatches' to cope. Pity, as they were a great tent make at one time, one I could always rely upon.

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Quote: Originally posted by smee05 on 16/10/2009

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i doubt whether you will get anything with regards to contacting vango, however..

on the the odd occasion, brand new flysheets for the Diablo 600 and 900 have been know to make an appearance on ebay, however these are for the XP model - and if i remember correcly were usually sold around the £60 mark./

is yours the XP?

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I've found this whole thread illuminating & horriifying. My own past tents were all borrowed/2nd hand, but OH (in the days before me) had Vango tents but they were canvas he says.  We bought a Vango Breckenridge last year & are now wishing we hadn't after reading all this.

I completely agree with those who feel Vango ought to be taking your complaint very seriously indeed, & to reject out of hand the idea of supplying you with a new fly sheet is ridiculous & disgusting.

Mind you I do reckon that as Finnboy says prob all synthetic `British' tents will be getting made abroad, & so like most stuff these days the quality be compromised to say the least.  We both think this is a shockingly short life for a quality tent. Mind you even 16 weeks is IMO (& in his !) Wish we'd bought canvas now  

I really hope you take them to task over this. I'd make sure they know you'll broadcast this...good luck.