Vango Storm Shelter - First Look

Vango Storm Shelter 200 - First Look

Price: £25.00 (two man, see below for other prices)

Weight: 517 grammes (two-person)

Features: Hytex Dura seamed, taped fabric, drawcord at hem, waterproof seats, mesh vent, bright orange with reflective stripes, integral storage bag. Available as: 100 - 1-person (£20), 200 - 2-person (£25), 400 - 4-person (£30), 800 - 8-person £40 (claimed weights: 500 / 600 / 700 / 900 grammes respectively)

Think warm, think snug, think lunch on a foul day in winter in blissful comfort - think Storm Shelter. So what is it? Effectively it's a flippin' great big, waterproof, taped, rip-stop nylon, jaffa orange bag complete with clear window and closeable mesh vent that you pull over yourself and your companions and hide from the elements.

The bottom is undercut with a waterproof seating area and a corded hem. Best option is to sit on your pack for insulation while your bodyweight keeps the shelter anchored. Its primary use is as an emergency individual or group shelter, where it scores over the traditional plastic emergency bag in a number of areas.

There could be anything happening in there...

You can get the whole group inside, which is good for morale, the more bodies there are in the small space, the warmer it gets and once you do the maths, you realise that it's actually pretty light per person and the bigger the group, the lighter it is. For two people it's effectively just 250 grammes each, for eight people, just over 100 grammes per person, plus our two-man Shelter weighed around 70 grammes less than claimed.

It's also a hell of a lot more comfortable than a placcy bag and, we reckon, stronger as well. It also stows pretty small. Ours stuffs neatly into its own vent to create an 18cm x 13cm cylinder, which is manageable.

Inside, it's not the Hilton, but once you've settled down on your pack, snugged the hem under and adjusted the drawcorded vent for comfort, it's surprisingly good and the nastier it is outside, the better it feels.

Anyone for lunch?

It's not just for emergencies though; it's brilliant for lunch when the weather's foul - quick to deploy and rapid warming - and you could also use it for navigation stops at a pinch. Disadvantages? Despite the transparent window panel, it can feel a bit claustrophic inside the big jaffa - though I'd rather be in a storm shelter than a plastic sack thanks - and if you're a real weight zealot, it's a tad heavy compared to a vacuum-packed space bag.

Verdict: Brilliant winter kit, we'd go so far as to say that no group out on winter hills should be without one of these. It's not just a potential lifesaver, it boosts morale and makes winter lunch stops bearable and it can be deployed in seconds. The good news is that from next week, we'll be giving away one Vango Storm Shelter per month for the best contribution to the product review system. Just watch this space.

Vango web site

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