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Hi, new to all this and was after some feeback and suggestions.

I have been considering purchasing a Vango Orchy 500; but after reading the reviews I am feeling a little deflated.  I really like the layout of the Orchy with good head height in the living area,  which is a requirement.   The reviews between the 400 and 500 seem so different.

Are there any real alternatives to the Orchy range,  I should be considering.

Any advice would greatly be appreciated.

It looks a similar to the Outwell Baltic Sea L

http://www.outwell.dk/TentMeasure.aspx?b=Outwell&bid=2&lid=1&l=en-GB&catID=28&TentId=206&pid=1

Its pretty much the same size with a tiny bit more headroom

There are only a couple of reviews which are both favourable

Price is a bit different tho.....

Not sure the answer to this one.

I was very interested in the vango orchy 600 this summer until I saw the precise tent I wanted collapse completely in the wind.

Changed my mind totally.

I ended up going for an old, raclet 4 berth frame tent which I LOVE!! The pack size is small, the poles are lightweight aluminium and the colour is chocolate lime!!

I find the bedrooms are fine for the 4 of us, and the living space is also enough to fit a table and all our stuff.

Emma

Hi.. and welcome to the forum!  I have the Orchy 600 which I bought in April and initially was thrilled with. The main thing I needed was a tent I can put up and take down on my own and the orchy definitely does this.  We have been away in it 4 times and the space is great. However, we did have a pole split and come through the roof ( in the tent's defence .. it was REALLY windy!) and we have never really got the tent to go up without the front door sagging inwards..there are a few people on here who have posted similar issues.  The other thing that has bothered me a little (but this is in part just a bi-product of our wet summer) is  condensation.. this may be inevitable with a nylon tent with sig in really wet weather...

The Baltic Sea Woofers has posted looks great and I would be tempted to go for polycotton if I could stretch the budget as they breathe better and are cooler in the sun and warmer when it's cool (if that makes sense)..   

Sorry this is a bit rambling.. hope it's of some help... Sarah x

Hi, Have just spotted this,

I`ve got an orchy 600 and we love it, we`ve camped in apalling weather this summer with no problems,

After the initially problem with the sagging front door, when we pitched it properly we had absolutely no further problems, and I`ve never heard anyone with the 500 having the sagging door problem.

I would have loved the Outwell, but finance made us buy the Orchy,

We pitched on a hard standing this summer and the ground sheet stood up to a week on that with no punctures ( we have since bought the foorprint).

We do get a reasonable amount of condensation over the bedroom pod, but even during a very wet week in Wales it never caused any real problems,( we don`t have a heater or EHU so not sure if that would make it worse)  I`ve never had a SIG / ZIG before so assumed this is normal......certainly other campers I know with posher ZIG tents have it.

Split poles, sadly happened with all tents, so I don`t think the Orchy can be blamed for that.

If you`re after a reasonably priced tent I think the Orchy is a cracking little tent......I have no doubt I`ll outlive it, but I didn`t buy it to last forever.

Oh and OH is 6` 4`` and headroom is great for him

Thanks to everyone for their comments and feedback. Still not decided on which route to take but with the weather we having and going to have I am sure I can hold out and not rush the decision.

Thanks again

Firstly, the 500 is very different from the 400 which feels very cramped in comparison.  Also, despite its name, the 500 is only just a 4-sleeper tent.

A friend owns a 500 and I have helped pitch it twice.  In the words of Oscar, I was whelmed.  It's okay but nothing more.  The front door does sag and there just isn't a feeling of solidity about it.  I would not want to be in one if the wind picked up.  I have seen a few others while camping over the season and they seem to me sad little things that do not inspire confidence.

Of course, a lot is down to what you want/can afford to spend.  My Minnie is quite a bit more expensive but with the steel poles it is much sturdier and feels more spacious (maximum head-height is spread throughout the tent).

Be aware, the Oregon suggested above does not have a SIG living area.....this is an important consideration and I would not go family camping in our climate wihtout one, which is why I effectively replaced my Lakeside 4 with the Minny after just one season.