Popped into Go Outdoors for a new waterproof for my DD and ended up with a new tent - a Vango Vista 800 (at £129.99 it seemed rude not to :-)). Having searched on the web, it would appear that there isn't a specific Vango carpet for the Vista 800, so I was wondering if anyone knows whether any of the other Vango carpets would fit?
Sorry if it is a no-brainer of a question, I'm a newbie when it comes to such luxuries as carpets for camping :-)
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I also picked one up last week for the same price, now back up to £290 by the way. I asked in store about Footprints and Carpets and it seems that this tent is made by Vango exclusively for Go Outdoors and therefore there is no official Vango accessories. Best thing to do is try and find something of similar size, although I have done without success, or look at picnic style blankets. To be honest with both bedroom pods setup their isn't much living space to cover so it wouldn't be expensive to carpet.
Thanks - was having a mooch at the Outwell and Gelert carpets and think I may just buy one of their carpets for a larger tent and cut to size (I read that they don't fray), and hopefully I can then use the off cuts under the air mattress.
BTW, have you pitched yours yet? I noticed on the Go Outdoors site that the image of the Vista has a side and front opening - but on the demo we saw in shop, I'm sure there was only 2 side openings?? My DH is away until tomorrow, so not going to be able to put it up to check before then.
Mine is still sat in the bag, I'm waiting for a dry day to put it up :) It has 2 side doors and if you leave one of the bedroom pods out there is an opening at the front of the tent.
Pete.
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I had my first outing in the Vango Vista this weekend and had a great time.
Pete is right, three doors in total. We only put one of the bedroom pods up at night (literally a five minute job) and it gave us more space and use of the extra door.
In terms of carpet I had a temporary solution while I searched - I sewed some of the plastic backed picnic mats from poundland together, worked well and they are washable.
I'm temped by this tent too. I was all ready to buy it but the wife suggested I wait until the credit card cutoff date & now the price has gone up to £290 so I'm not happy!
I just missed out on that deal too, but then went down to the local store and they had a 'sold as seen' one for £50. 3 tiny holes in the flysheet from it getting caught in the zip were quickly repaired with a £1.80 nylon repair kit. They had a couple more in there (Pudsey branch), so worth a trip down. Apparently the price fluctuates a lot anyway, so it'll be back down to £150 before too long I predict.
I've also been looking around for a carpet for it. The Gelert Horizon 800 carpet is 280 x 350 which should cover the living space and the open sleeping end. Would need folding at the open end at each corner, but otherwise a nice fit.
However, that's £40 from outdoors-online, so I like Amy's tip about sewing poundland ones together. Will get down there today and save myself a few more bob if they have any in - thanks Amy.
Tom.
p.s. good luck getting the flysheet back in the bag - it took all of my 15 stone to wedge it back in there.
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It's groundsheets that shouldn't fray - I think a carpet would fray unless you edge it.
The picnic blankets sown together is a good idea. I use picnic blankets but don't sew them, the benefit is I can take one and give it a good shake outside to get the grass off, but they are also a tripping hazard as they tend to curl up at the edges. On my tent I can fit four, but I sometimes lay another rag rug in the middle which tends to lodge them into place, or dispense with them altogether.