Vango Venture 500

Imperial Dave
Reviewed: 07 November 2010

Basecamp heaven

easy to put up
head high for comfort
sleeps a family of four well
nice porch for sitting and drinking coffee in
cheap when i bought it

heavy
not for backbacking in anyshape or form! :)
not for really nast weather as the poles are fibreglass

Great cheap, starter family tent for basecamping with. Bought mine for £50 4 years ago. The thing I like about this one is that its easy to put up and gives you a lot of head room and storage space in the generous porch. Have stayed in it for a very wet weekend with the kids but not too sure about it standing up to a howling storm. Reasonable number of guylines but fibre glass poles
I like it though :)

craig cheetham
Reviewed: 15 July 2008

RUBBISH

Cheap

Quality

One windy night last week a pole tore through its sleeve, the FOURTH time I've used this tent.You can't lift up the front flap without it filling with rain, it needs poles to create a shelter that other tents have. Some eyelets came off the first time I used it, doesn't affect using the tent but it sure doesn't instill confidence in the overall quality. In my opinion this tent is too tall to take the slightest wind, it sways and rocks like it's taking off. I wish I'd bought another one.

Howard Ryan
Reviewed: 10 October 2007

SPACIOUS AND SURPRISINGLY STRONG

My girlfriend and I use this as our ‘base camp’ tent when we’ve travelled to an area by car and as such it’s great value for the money with ‘bedroom’, ‘kit/drying room’ and very large porch area. The outer first design means that things won’t get too soggy if it’s bucketing down when you arrive (which it invariably seems to be). It also means that the outer can be used by its self if you just want to use the tent as a shelter. For its size it could be worse to put up in a wind and on a number of times we’ve happily sat through squalls that have flattened similar ‘big’ tents.

Getting the front end can be a bit of a pain.
If privacy was wanted a Vis-à-Vis design might be preferable

For what it is (NOT a lightweight backpacking/moutain tent) it's very practical and good value for money.

Baz Carter
Reviewed: 27 June 2006

WELL KNOW BRAND SHAME ABOUT THE QUALITY

erm cant think of any.

Poor quality control, poor quality workman/womanship. Unstable in mild breezes.

My first family tent now that the boy is growing up. Bought because the brand gave assurance of quality which was sadly lacking. Used one weekend in Dorset only. Stitching on the tensioning band across inner tent came apart, as did the stitching on one of the toggles that holds the inner tent this was whilst pitching the tent for the first time. To top this one of the pegging points bungees unraveled. Stability was an issue too. As the wife said, "what did you expect with a cheap tent?" Something that is fit for purpose from what was a trusted brand...

jonno
Reviewed: 26 June 2006

EASY TO PUT UP.

easy to put up

groundsheet dodgy around entrances

brilliant cheap entry tent ,if you fancy trying camping have a go with this.