Hi guys,

I've been looking for a good quality but inexpensive tent for me and my girlfiriend. Its primary use is going to be for Glastonbury so this is why I don't want to spend too much. We will however be wanting to use it for some other short trips away over the summer, so we don't want something too cheap and nasty. We wanted something that has a double skin so we don't get soaked in condensation and something that packs down quite small.

This tent seems to fit the bill as it packs down to 60 X 17 X 17 cm and appears to have 2 skins. The price seems too good to be true at around £35! Is this a new product because I can't seem to find any substantial reviews?

I have also seen the Vango Delta 300 discussed quite frequently, would this be a much better tent? At around £50 it is a bit more, so what advantages does it have over the Alpha? Does it pack down as small?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 Cheers!

The Delta 300 seems to be out of production now, but looking about it seems to be a fair bit heavier than the Alpha you're looking at and the dimensions are similar.

I trust Vango to make solid basic products at fair prices, so on paper at least the Alpha looks like a good deal.  If you're sticking to formal campsites rather than carrying it into the back of beyond it should be fine, and at that sort of price you can't go too far wrong.

While it's easy to be sniffy about cheap tents the fact is they get used for a lot of camping very successfully.

Pete. 

Thanks for the reply! Yes the Delta 300 is discountinued but I have found a couple of places that seem to have some stock left.

To be honest though I think I will just go for the Alpha 300, as you mentioned Vango is a trustworthy brand and at £35 I can't see how I could go wrong!

Can anyone confirm that the Alpha 300 does have an inner skin? I just want to make sure, the specs just say breathable fabric inner, which I am taking to mean that it is Double skin.

 Cheers

 Sam

Yes the Alpha is double skinned.  It pitches inner first, with the flysheet over the top.

My family have a Delta 200 and two Delta 300+, and all serve pretty well over the summer.  One has survived a week in Switzerland, 5 days in the Peak District and 5 days in Wasdale over summer, plus a few other random weekend, so im sure something like the Alpha will be fine for your use.

I've got the Alpha 200 and I can say that it is a very good tent with a porch big enough to put two large rucksacks and boots in it's really small and light for the price.

There is an inner tent which houses the ground sheet for the tent and porch and then a FlySheet which pitches over the poles so that the inner tent does not wick the moisture from outside.

 I'd definitely reccommend this tent for the your purpose.

Oops! not paying attention. I really must get some sleep following my Wednesday night shift and before coming on here.