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Topic: Vango Rhapsody or Illusion

Debs12

03/4/2016 at 2:09pm
Location: None Entered
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I've been after a new tent for a couple of years. Very nearly bought an Outwell Wolflake a few years ago as I really want a polycotton tent. Then the airbeams really took off and like the idea of being able to put up a large tent on my own. So, Vango seem to have cracked it with larger airbeams and lighter polycotton in the Rhapsody. BUT, how good is this new polycotton. I'm a bit wary as it's untested (within the market) and I can't find much spec info on the old v new polycotton. As the price difference between the Rhapsody and the Illusion is relatively small the question is; gamble on a new polycotton or a suped up polyester version?

Post last edited on 03/04/2016 14:59:12

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taneth16

03/4/2016 at 5:50pm
Location: WHITCHURCH
Outfit: Swift Fairway 586 & Mazda CX5

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Funny enough, I have not long got home from looking at both of these tents pitched adjacently and comparing them.
I cant help much though because they both looked fantastic tents. I am not very experienced either, but looking myself for something substantial, sturdy, safe, the right layout and good looking etc etc. They both fit the bill.
The polycotton of the Rhapsody really looks and feels luxurious (i have no experience of polycotton tents) but it has to be said the 420 denier double rip stop (i think) fabric on the Illusion looks and feels pretty good too.
So i will be following this post, cos I dont know which i would go for either.........

Debs12

03/4/2016 at 7:40pm
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Hello there. Good to know I'm not the only fusspot! But if you're spending 1500 quid on a tent it needs to be right. I've just watched a youtube video which states the polycotton is 40g per square inch lighter than last years p/c which sounds quite a lot for 1 sq inch (interesting mix of measurements!). Since posting, I've also discovered another difference between the two models which is the internal door on the Rhapsody only opens halfway, is this an issue? Probably not, but the option to fully open would be nice. However, I need to see in the flesh but it does look like the Threshold on the Illusion folds flat (because the door opens all the way) thus removing the inevitable trip hazard for children and beer addled grown-ups! There is also an additional side door with rain cover on the Illusion but not really fussed about that omission. My main concern is the fabric. Polycotton is considered better not only because it is breathable but because it keeps you warmer when cold and cooler when hot, but if it doesn't do this (because it's thinner) is it really any better?

taneth16

03/4/2016 at 8:10pm
Location: WHITCHURCH
Outfit: Swift Fairway 586 & Mazda CX5

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Interesting that the Illusion is actually heavier than the Rhapsody (unless i misunderstood). I didnt notice about the door only opening half way, as a fourth bedroom was in situ, but a very good point.
I did notice though, that the panel on the opposite side directly accross from the side entrance, was solid... Ie no window. I think i may have preferred it windowed with curtain like all the other panels - to have the option of opening for light/view or not.

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Jim1977

03/4/2016 at 8:32pm
Location: Leicestershire
Outfit: Karsten 380 Veranda

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We spent a long weekend in a 5 berth Coleman polyester tent at a festival last summer. Coming from a canvas tent, and before that 2 Polycotton tents, I could not believe how hot it got in there, and at night it was rustling away in the wind. The weather was not particularly hot or windy either. The tent climate inside a polycotton would be much better from our experiences of the two types...

Debs12

11/4/2016 at 10:05am
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Thanks Taneth and Jim for your comments. I bit the bullet and went for the Poycotton Rhapsody! I decided that after opening the 1 side door on the R sufficient air came into the tent so not bothered about the additional door on the Illusion. Also decided that the middle door on the R only oping half way was not an issue for me. The Polycotton fabric is what I wanted at the end of the day. I'll update when I take the tent out. My only gripe is the footprint is in 2 parts, one piece for the living/sleeping section and another part for the awning section. However, this could be resolved easily by buying a different footprint and cutting to size. Purchased from DW Camping A259, just south of Chichester. Very helpful, friendly and not pushy. Large tent display and well stocked camping supplies shop.

loydall

11/4/2016 at 12:51pm
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I've been switching between these 2 tents for a few weeks now.. Illusion slightly bigger, slightly cheaper and the doors open fully with the option of flat entrance so no tripping for kids.

But then - polyester not as good as polycotton. Simple as that. And, if you can live with the 'flap' that doesn't go right down on the rhapsody inner entrance, there's not much difference - both massive tents.

This thread has made my mind up - think I'll go for the Rhapsody.

Looking forward to seeing some photos.

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taneth16

11/4/2016 at 12:59pm
Location: WHITCHURCH
Outfit: Swift Fairway 586 & Mazda CX5

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Me too, umming and ahhing, between the two and even looked at the Kampa Croyde 6 classic air.... But still kept coming back to the Rhapsody. I too have decided that the door is big enough for us and that the blank panel, would be the ideal place to site my tall storage cupboard, using end two bed pod for loo and bits and bobs storage. We will be unlikely to use the extra bedroom pod in the living area, so plenty of light from that window panel.
Congrats Debs on your purchase, I am hoping to make the same purchase myself in the next week or two. Happy camping, look forwards to any updates. X

Legnum Nick

11/4/2016 at 1:30pm
Location: Worcestershire
Outfit: Khyam RigiPod XL.

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We collected our rhapsody on Saturday. All we need now is a lawn dry enough to get it up in the garden to weather it!
We also like the walls as places to put stuff and can live with the trip hazard between the awning and the living space. The polycotton was the biggest want for us but what some have pointed out as bad points we are either neutral or we actually like.
I hope that everyone enjoys theirs!

Cross Camping

12/4/2016 at 9:17am
Location: Hertfordshire
Outfit: Anything I like !!!

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Just to make people aware, the Rhapsody stock will not last long, I predict most retailers being sold out for the season by the end of May

The side awning, although not available until mid May is nearly sold out (pre orders) already.

-------------
Gary Cross - The masked camping guru.

Debs12

29/4/2016 at 12:26am
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Ok so put the Rhapsody up for the first time this weekend - definitely bigger than it was in the shop! Easy to inflate with the supplied pump until the pressure built up so the last 10 pumps or so per beam required quite a bit more effort ie too much for my strong and stubborn 8 year old daughter.

Tent went up skewed with the back end about a 6" off the ground so un clipped bedrooms, deflated, reinflated and it was fine. Looks amazing and happy with feel and quality. Now comes to packing away........ Tent deflates in no time however packing away isn't easy (on my own) didn't use the pump to deflate as Id read somewhere on this site that pump deflating could skew tubes. The tent is heavy so took a lot of work to get the air out and fold (hmmm). Managed to get tent back in bag but took a while., began thinking about how hard this would be if the tent was wet.

So in conclusion, lovely tent, easy to erect, could probably be all sorted and relaxing with a bottle of beer within half an hour of arriving at campsite and that's a 40 (odd) year old female with 2 young children. When if comes to packing away........well, perhaps with more practice I'll get quicker! Or, I'll hire a Van and throw it in the back.

It never occurred to me that it may be a challenge to take down and pack up.......any tips would be appreciated.

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Legnum Nick

29/4/2016 at 6:56am
Location: Worcestershire
Outfit: Khyam RigiPod XL.

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We tried ours in the garden at the weekend. There were two of us taking it down which maybe helped.
We turned the little oval valves through 90 degrees and then when the tent had collapsed we folded the front of the tent on to the main living area. Then we folded from the side furthest from the valves, squashing as much air out as we could on each fold. Finally we rolled it up when the strip was narrow enough to get into the bag.
We also left all the doors open as we were told that can trap air in the tent too.
Our went back in the bag first time, however I do agree it is a heavy tent!

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