Vango Ultralite 200 Lightweight Tent

bonjour64
Reviewed: 28 January 2010

TOUGH BUT WET!

Sturdy against strong winds and rain, light weight, easy pitch, small footprint, small packing.

No porch, No mesh door cover which does not allow for venting or nice views when the bugs are about. Condensation is terrible due to single skin, poor venting. 2 person tent it is not, 1 person plus kit at a squeeze!

I used this tent for a 45 day plus trek across the pyrenees,I had no illusions that it was going to be comfortable but I wanted light weight. I got light weight, but there were elements of the design I would have exchanged for more weight. A small porch for cooking/storage of gear, a mesh on the door to help vent and also give me a view when the mozzies are about. It stood up against some terrible weather but the condensation levels were unacceptable. Sturdy but lacking features and comfort. It says it's a 2 person tent, but there was barely enough room for me and my kit, in fact most of the time my kit was out under the stars or the flap at the end of the tent, god knows how people fit in the ultralight 100!
It served a purpose but now its time to look for a 2 skin durable lightweight tent, they are out there now and so there is no need to go for the Ultralight 200 or 100 anymore.

Northo
Reviewed: 10 June 2009

STRICTLY FOR MOUNTAIN MARATHONS OR THE TRULY HARDCORE

Very light
Inexpensive
Stable

Condensation
Space

I thought long and hard about buying one of these - I eventually snapped a new one up for £60 on Ebay. I was attracted by the light weight (1.3 kg trail weight), but was put off by some reviews. On the plus side, it's pretty well designed, stable in highish winds (have used it in winds up to 30mph), and has enough room for two biggish blokes and some lightweight kit. The downside is definately the condensation, which builds up after 2-3 hours. I have used it in relatively cold (5C or less) still conditions, which is probably the worst scenario. The roof does get damp, with the occasional drip falling on your head, but I didn't find that all my gear or sleeping bag got wet. The real problem is when you get up in the morning and try to move around in the tent - then you will get wet as you brush against the sides, but this tent is strictly for short stays, so not really a problem. The other downside is that it has no mosquito netting over the door, so you can't leave the door open to vent the tent if the mossies are biting. It has a small external porch which you can cook in and store gear. The TBS system seems to work well, but you really need to peg the tent out right to get the most out of it.

Don't buy this tent if you want a comfy base camp style tent - it really is for lightweight events where weight is absolutely critical, and on that basis it is a good piece of kit for about half the price of the top performers at the same weight. Yes, you are not going to be in the lap of luxury, but you will stay warm and relatively dryish.

Eggy
Reviewed: 09 September 2008

THE MASOCHIST'S CHOICE

Weight, price, ease of pitching, stable in wind.

Condensation, space.

Been using it for a year and a half and can suffer it no longer. Woke up swimming in condensation several times and at least damp every other, even leaving the door open won't solve the problem. This tent has turned me into a bivi fan as you need one inside it to stop your bag getting soaked, and once you've gone that far, why bother with a tent anymore? Save harder and buy something that actually works.

travelwilliam1979@
Reviewed: 07 September 2008

ERM, THE DOOR

i have onr of these, brought in heist. i use to like it, only because its light.
wish i shopped around,
height in the middle is high. nice length,( thats all that is good).
2 man, i wouldnt try it, unless i had too.
still for now it does the job, used in a down pour all night, dry inside.
the door... i hate the door. no mesh
never go with vango again for anything,

the door, no mesh. the space inside,

performance, dry inside, height ok.
door way, crap. no mesh

could i sell it, maybe not, saw my ULTRALITE 200 for £75. says it all. what a drop in price in a year.

Tom Jones
Reviewed: 12 July 2008

NOT A TWO MAN TENT, BARELY EVEN A TENT.

very light

condensation is beyond bearable, not strong enough for anything serious

If you like waking up (assuming you were lucky enough to get to sleep) soaking wet with ice on your face, then this is the tent for you.
THIS IS NOT A TWO MAN TENT. The condensation is bad enough with one person. The manufactures advice.."just open the door a bit".
This tent is the bane of my existence.
If you are backpacking ALONE in TROPICAL climes, it could be an alright buy because it is the lightest budget tent you can buy, and the condensation is minimal when in warm weather.. but dont even attempt to do anything remotely serious in it.
Right, I feel a bit better now.