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Can you ptich a Vango Artemis 500 on your own?

we have a Vango Maritsa 700 which is brilliant but have a few weekend trips coming up and want a qucik easy set up that i could also use with just me and kids (2+2 family)

really like the look of the Airbeams... but can't not justify the price!! plus they look abit dark inside??

What about the Vango Calisto 500 (which IMHO has the edge over its predecessor - the Artemis)?

If you peg down the SIG and pitch a pole at a time, pegging guyropes as you go, you should be able to pitch both single handed (albeit much faster with 2 as there is not so much running from one side to another). Simply Hike have some useful videos on the tents. I think there is also a retailer with a pitching video for the Calisto (can't remember which unfortunately).

its a bit like a min Maritsa without the porch... the Artemis was in a deal £240 inc canopy, best price i have found is £200 for the Calisto.(£99 for canopy)

the Calisto would make more sense in being the upgraded model and if we were going any long then 3 days we'd take the Maritsa, would/should manage without extra porch for that length of time... ?! trying to keep the cost down..

found a local tent show this weekend, hopefully they will have one to look at!

cheers

One of the reasons I suggested the Calisto is that as neither have guyropes on the sloped front apart from at the top, the additional pegging points around the base of the front on the Calisto will give it more stability. The Artemis had a bit of tendency for the front of the groundsheet to lift a bit in windy weather as the stability of the groundsheet at the front relies on the flysheet to be down and pegged. The extra waterproofing, darkened inner tents, flymesh options and additional ventilation are also factors. But as you say, the Artemis is cheaper so its a question of value for money... Going by last year's pitching video the Artemis also had more fussy poles, as the poles required a separate bend/sholder to be added before connecting the uprights to the roof pole. We feared that those would just get lost and then you'd be stuck. Going by the pitching instructions I don't think the Calisto has those.

When we bought our Kampa Bude 4 we considered the Artemis but ruled it out even with the steel poles. It would have been a tougher decision by far with the Calisto.

Thanks for the advice.. for £50 less,  sounds like the Calisto is a better tent... some deals are never as good as they sound.

love your idea at the bottom about trying to stop looking, but it isn't easy is it!

cheers

Quote: Originally posted by kazza on 06/5/2011

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Thanks for the advice.. for £50 less,  sounds like the Calisto is a better tent... some deals are never as good as they sound.

love your idea at the bottom about trying to stop looking, but it isn't easy is it!

cheers

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No - not easy at all - and the Calisto is really the only tent that has attracted my attention from the 2011 offerings, but we have our weekend tent and very happy with it! .....but the Calisto's steel poles and slightly greater space....mmmmmh!

No - no more tents!

Hi Kazza,

I have an Artemis which i pitch on my own with a bit of help from my 8 & 6 yr olds ! But have to agree with Speedcamp that the Calisto does look very smart . I like my Artemis as it has the steel poles and is very sturdy once its up, and i have the canopy which is fab for cooking under and sitting outdoors in the british summer !!

Both good tents .... you wont go wrong with either in my opinion.