Just looking to buy my first tent. I rather like the Terra Nova laser/competition or the Lightwave trek t1 xt. I think the t1 xt would be my favourite.
However, having looked at the vango range and oprices it appears that they represent good value for a first timer.
Has anyone had any particular good or bad issue with Vango tents? I am looking at either the Tempest or Spirit 200.

(I realise its all subjective but the thoughts of the buying/using public mean much more to me than manufacturers and to a lesser extent the shopkeeper who wants to sell you what he wants)

Thanks

I think vango tents are great value for money and really well made.

i currently have 2 ...a old model equinox 350 TBS that is used for car camping and a tempest 200 for backpacking etc.

i got both tents for much less than the RRP.

they are both easy to erect and dismantle...the tempest 200 is slightly easier as it has the pole sleeves on the outside whereas the polesleeve on the equinox are on the inside (they have moved to outside on newer models)

I have used both tents in really windy and wet conditions with no problems and would certainly buy both again...even at full price.

Thanks Moggy, your comments are valuable. I still wonder whether I should be paying even that much. I suppose its a question of balancing potential use and against cost and quality. No point spending £300 on something that will be used infrequently, or worse only once and then never again.
I suppose I am looking for middle ground here. I don't want cheap and nasty but paying more than is required could be just as wasteful.

It's an annoying and unavoidable fact that backpacking gear is VERY expensive partly because it's specialist, partly because quality gear uses very high quality and expensive materials and also because a lot of it is marketed for the yuppies of this world who can easily shrug off a few hundred pounds here or there.

What I did (and am still doing) and a lot of other people do is to buy a set of cheaper gear that just about does but is maybe heavy/old/not so good to find out what you do with it, whether you really enjoy backpacking etc. and then gradually replace each bit of your kit list with some proper gear. The other advantage of this method is that you learn which features you personnally like and don't like which is impossible to tell just from reading manufacturers specs.

I have a vango Spirit 200TBS which I tried to sell but couldn't and I have been rather scathing about it but I think that I may have been missguided in those views. The camping family tents that Vango does are, though without a doubt excellent.

I think Vango kit is a very good starting point and in many cases you won't need to upgrade as the improvements are marginal. I have the Vango cooking set that has been terrific and inexpensive - I have slept in their tents on several occasions (though never owned one) and my impression is that they are well designed and robust.

On the other hand, I did invest in a TN Quasar about 9 years ago and have never regretted the extra fork-out as it always feels comforting to know that I have a personal fallout shelter in the backpack!

In the end it comes down to personal budget - ignore the sales people and buy the best you can afford but not more than that!

Tom - You are dead right, I am making the transition from marathon running to walking (and hopefully 'backpacking'). Running can be expensive. I have some clothes/kit that I am using/wearing out. One such item is my rucksack. It is a Berghaus vercors 35. Perfectly adequate as an event bag for races (storage) etc. It seems too big for a day sack but will probably be a little inadeqaute for a night out. However I am not prepared to replace it until it has worn out.
A tent will be a new purchase and I really only want to buy one.
John - The big debate; Does one buy a once in a lifetime expensive purchase or does one upgrade? We all face that at sometime and I suppose budget and intended use dictate. However I am grateful to you all for your comments, as I've said before users comments are much more valuable than a salesmans'

I've still got an old Vango Hydra which we sometimes use for car/campsite camping as it big and heavy. It's a great tent though, can't fault it at all.
A lot of the recent Vango and F10 tent designs are great and very underrated.
Worth a look.

I've got a Vango TBS Micro 200 and it's a very good tent for the cash - reasonably light (2.5kg on my scales), decent porch area and the TBS system means it's stable even in bad weather. I don't use it much though as it's a little small for a 2-man and a bit heavy for a 1-man, however if the conditions are likely to be bad I'll use it as it's the only one of my tents that pitches fly-first and also has the best porch area.

go vango and then go on from there resididing it to car camping only. it was my 1st step in to quality gear at an affordable price.

100% reccomend it, and i'm now onto £500 2 man tents, great starting block and yes i still own and use Vango kit namely tentage and more importantly I trust it (with my life as i have twice this last winter to keep me dry and safe from a very determined mother nature)

Drew

Cruxter man - Is it a green tent???

Don't be bloody stupid !!!!!! ;0)

Ahh.........
Still, they would always find you if you got lost!

Nice colour hat though.

Cruxster, what is the tent in that picture? I like the look of it . . . a lot

It's a Vango force 10 Mk III Extreme, very very rare tent in the Vango stable.

I do believe it was made for a Vango/AMG sponsored K2 expedition with only 1000 2 man and 1000 3 man versions made available for retail.

And for info walkingboy, i have to buy Red, Blue, Yellow or Orange tents so i don't lose them as i am colour blind and struggle big time with Green tents, this one i do believe, is still pitched somewhere on Snowdon at about 2650ft.

Drew ;0)

..... and its orange!

oops sorry Cruxster, don't mean to offend.

roflmao !!

Cruxster - The jokes cease now my friend.

Thing is It's no joke, Although the tent is not sat all alone on snowdon relocating it was a close thing and took me nearly 40mins in bad weather and several attempts at unzipping boulders which i had mistaken for my little ripstop retreat after an evening accent on the Mnt' Bright tents are now my chosen tentage as i can see them from 1000m or the Glow!!!

But seriously, the Vango range is excellent VFM and well capable of weathering all but the most serious storms and with the lifetime G'tee you can't go far wrong if things do go wrong in the field.

;0)

sorry cruxter i thought you were joking about being colour blind.

We just bought the TN Ultra Quasar, for £340 from cheaptents sounds like a naff site but we took the trouble to go to the shop and its a good outfit.Tent is good quality and quite roomy if you havent been stretched.