Vango Banshee 200

Evening all,

I'm currently using a tarp and ex army bivi bag for some bivi trips on the bike.

While I enjoy using this combination, I keep thinking that a lightweight tent might be a more useful option as i'm hoping to use it for dual use.

Can the Vango Banshee 200 be pitched flysheet only?

At the minute my tarp weighs 300grms, and bivi is 950grms. The Banshee appears to weigh 2000grms all in and I figure close to half of that will be the inner?

If I was to get one, could I use it either as a full tent for longer trips, or just take the flysheet, and separate ground sheet for under the sleeping bag, and leave the tarp and bivi at home? In good weather I can leave the door open for the 'tarp experience' and if it rains, close the door for good weather protection without the need for a bivi (use it as a single wall tarp/tent)?

I currently struggle consistently setting up the tarp in a decent configuration even in good conditions, despite practising a fair bit (much to the amusement of the neighbours). I also don't get much in the way of headroom as I tend not to carry a separate pole (use the bike).

Does the above sound reasonable?

Am I right in thinking the weight of a Banshee 200 without the inner will tip the scales at just over 1000grms?

What pegs are with the Banshee?, they could weigh a fair bit too.

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Include a little history in your walks. Pecsaetan - Ancient Derbyshire, Staffordshire and South Yorkshire - http://pecsaetan.weebly.com/

Sounds a good idea. If it is a pitch outer first tent, then you should be able to pitch just the outer. If the pegs are too heavy, invest in some lighter ones to help keep the weight down.

I've already got some alloy pegs that i'd use if the supplied pegs are heavy, but that's a point I hadn't considered twiglegs, that the pegs might weigh a bit of the 2000grms.

Hopefully someone will be along to say that the pegs supplied are steel and weigh 500grms

Video here that says it can indeed be pitched fly only, couldn't make out the pegs though.

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Include a little history in your walks. Pecsaetan - Ancient Derbyshire, Staffordshire and South Yorkshire - http://pecsaetan.weebly.com/

Hmmm, well for probably 100-200grms more than my bivi bag alone, it looks promising (if I leave the inner at home and go for a polycryo groundsheet). Also means I can leave the tarp at home.

Should be easier to pitch than the tarp (as it aways pitches the same way), and offer more protection, still leaving the option of having the door open so allow me to be at one with nature

Well knowing OM i guess you'll shortly get some answers from actual owners, maybe even the offer to take some pics of any bits you're particularly interested in, and weight the fly and poles for you.

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Include a little history in your walks. Pecsaetan - Ancient Derbyshire, Staffordshire and South Yorkshire - http://pecsaetan.weebly.com/

Can anyone else add anything to my thoughts/this thread?

Be even better if you've got first hand experience of the Banshee 200!

The new model pitches outer first and seems very light, ideal for bivvying, mine came with fairly light pegs as well.

Hi Taz, just what I wanted to hear! I take it the TBS system connects to the outer flysheet rather than the inner tent, so even without the inner the TSB system will still work?

Yes the outer can be pitched on its own, the inner has little hooks to attach it to the outer.

Sorry, a bit late with this but had no internet....

I have the Banshee 200 and the individual weights are

pegs (16) 250grams

Inner 800 grams

fly sheet 900 grams

poles 200grams

bags 50 grams

Hope that helps

Thanks for the reply. I actually got a Banshee 200 a week or so ago. Not used it in anger yet, only pitched in the garden.

The only bad point about it that jumped out at me are the stupid little plastic clips that hold the groundsheet to the pegging points. You have to crawl around to clip them in (although if you intend to put the fly and inner up as 1, then this will only happen the first time you erect the tent), and they are nigh on impossible to unclip!

Other than that it seems like a good little tent, and should be exactly what i'm after.

Its a nice tent unless you're very tall!