I bought one of these recently off Bay, to replace another tent. I used it walking the Anglesey Coastal Footpath in September 2020. I had no issues with condensation as it was fairly breezy, so there was adequate ventilation on most nights. When it wasn't windy I opened the top of the outer door, but left it under the flap in case of rain. I also opened the inner vent and again there was no condensation. It performed magnificently, and faultlessly on a couple of nights when there was torrential rain during the evening. Not a drop of water came in. Cooking in the porch was easy and it never felt cramped. The porch easily contained by rucksack and boots, plus misc gear I left out. All in all a really good tent to own. I didn't even try unclipping the inner, mainly because of the video revue! So can't comment on that aspect. Thank you for your video I did find it helpful to choose to buy this tent.
Thanks for dropping by, but particularly for such detailed feedback - I'm sure folks will find that helpful. Really glad the tent worked out for you and hope you enjoy many more 'excellent adventures' in it ;-)
@@philip771 Hi, I did get it off E Bay. I paid £180. It was less than 12 months old and had never been used. It’s one of my best buys! I’d certainly have no doubts about recommending it.
@@stetomlinson3146 That is a great buy!! Thanks for coming back to me. Not much around at the mo but you've helped to keep me patient, to wait for the new stocks. All the best - hope you get some good walks and camping in this year.
Hello Ian ... thanks for your video .. It greatly contributed to my decision to buy this tent. I've spent several nights in the tent under various conditions (in mountains in Norway) along with my buddy who owns a classic dome style tent from big agnes (copper spur ul 2) .. I don't want to make this story long but I do not regret it !!! Every tent has some pros and cons .. I can compare now to the big agnes dome (copper spur) that was originally the other option when I was deciding which one to buy ... in short - this tent does everything that I need and compared to big agnes it's just true 3 season (vango says it's 4 season) reliable tent that is significantly more resilient and reliable in harsh conditions (like wind and a lot of rain or storm) than BA copper spur .. and all of that for 300g heavier package which is nothing .. The real problem with this tent are bundled pegs - they are just trash so I've replaced them with msr groundhogs early (after 2-3 nights) .. Also I've managed to add an extra pegging point on both sides exactly as you mention that !! This one little "hack" literally lifts the class of this tent pricelessly ..
Hi there. Good to hear the tent worked out for you ... apart from the pegs! You're right, they're not the greatest, but thanks for the MSR Groundhogs tip. I'm hoping to get out some more when the winter's passed. Cheers.
@@IanGuest I really recommend that hack with adding extra pegging point in the middle of sides - I've realized this myself after first use .. It cost me almost nothing (20 euros) and it has been done here by local outdoor equipment (clothing, tents, sleeping bags ..) service so it has been done by professionals - basically I've let them to put there only small piece of fabric with 2cm little tunnel where I can stretch out a standard 3mm paracord ..
@@RollrightKnights I've managed to sew a little eyelet in the middle of the sides and attach an elastic loop to it .. 5cm long .. very easy "hack" .. my wife needed less than 15 minutes to do it .. I can show you a photo later today in the evening ...
Bought my UL2 a year ago. Still haven't used it...bugger off pandemic! Looking forward to the increased space vs the Vango Banshee 2 and Wild Country Zephyros 2 I had after that.
Hi Tom, what a shame. Mine's not been used since this time last year either :-( Still, you can look forward to rattling around with space to spare in your palatial new dwelling, compared with the more modest capacity of your previous tents. Enjoy ... when you eventually get the chance.
This is the challenge without spending huge amounts of money - less weight = less material = less robust. I'd rather carry an extra kilo and know it's now going to blow over.
I’ve got the naturehike monger 2 15D (only comes in dark blue),great colour,it fits all your requirements and is highly rated for its specs and space.great price as well. I use mine for bike touring,👍
Thanks for dropping by. The Mongar looks like a good tent - I'm quite taken with the style, especially the idea of 2 doors/vestibules for example. Unfortunately it's not (easily) available here in the UK, but I'm sure some viewers will have easier access. Some of the colours in the range are, how shall I put it, less stealthy! ;-)
You probably have a new tent by now, though just a thought, the rear guideline you could notch an old tent pole and space between the two guy lines that join together, this would hopefully help in keeping the ventilation area open as much as possible regardless on the length or position of the line
Sadly, circumstances last year meant I was unable to get away in this tent, but hoping 2023 will be more generous and I'll have the chance to try out this tip. Thanks Stephen 👍
Have spent about 90 nights in one of these inc in bad weather and they are solid for the money - one of the best value on the market imo. They could do with a bit more ventilation from the rear vent, the original design actually had a bigger vent but some of the original reviews came back saying that they were getting some rain through it and so it was made smaller - now too small! My poles have been fine I guess you were unlucky with yours. I cut the tape off across the door - there is no need for it imo and makes entry/exit much easier and can roll back the doors without it. I never used a second ground sheet and really dont think you need one as the floor is 70D so thick enough without - still no wear in mine. I never took the inner down and dont think it is necessary even when packed away soaking wet - the inner dries in no time when you re-pitch as the fabric is so thin - give it a go!
@@atmostonetour yeah you will get condensation like every tent, the more open the tent and more mesh then the less condensation, but the worse the weather protection, with an open tarp being the best/worst, but I think a more enclosed tent is a better compromise for northern European conditions especially outside of summer. I had a hilleberg anjan before this tent and it was no better/worse for condensation. Good site selection away from water etc is a good way of minimising this also.
Thanks Vin. Me too. 'Out of the box' videos have their place, but I'd much rather hear accounts after products have been in use for a while so the user can comment on what worked or didn't.
Bought one of these a while ago and after a windy 3 nights on Arran i where the side was getting battered by the wind i came up with the idea of purchasing 4 tarp clamps from Lomo which grip the bottom of the side material and with some old elastic from a previous tent it gets pegged down,Ive yet to try it in strong winds yet (Off to Scotland next week)but heres hoping,The other solution was to remove 5mm from each end of the poles thus getting the tent lower to the ground,But I'll give the clamps ago first ,£1.67 for 4 from Lomo,Cant fault that.
Hi Rick, What a great idea! Especially at that price - said the Yorkshireman born of a Scot! ;-) As of 03/09/2020, £2.00 www.lomo.co.uk/acatalog/tarp-clamps-4-pack.html and still a bargain. I'd be reticent about shortening the poles though. Having the sides even closer to the ground would likely reduce flow through of air and contribute to worse condensation. I suppose it's a trade-off between hunkering the tent down (needed in blowy conditions) and trying to minimise condensation when it's still and cooler. Hope you have great trip up in Scotland and if the clamps are needed and do the job, do please come back and let us know. Cheers.
Hi Rick. I used your idea and it worked fantastic! Transformed our F10 Erebus 3+ in a named storm end of Oct 2020. It seems to improve the structural strength too. It was comfortably dealing with 40+ mph gusts and serious rain. It stood up easily to 6 days of strong wind and heavy rain in total. No issues with the outer and inner touching. I got a good 3" gap consistently around the bedroom. Seemed to relieve pressure on the poles too. You can adjust the TBS system in conjunction with this setup. The other half is nervous of high wind in a tent but she was fine with this. I think using 2 clips on each long side and 2 each at back and front would make any tunnel bombproof. Good stuff!
Good follow up video, well thought out points. Have you considered tarp clips? To attach to the middle tent wall so you can peg it out from the central point. Just a thought. ATB Dan
Someone else mentioned these Dan so I'll definitely be looking to get hold of a handful before the next tour ... which will hopefully be not too long! Thanks for the heads-up :-)
Hi Ian, really useful video, Thanks. I just bought one but while I'm waiting I wondered if you knew the weight of the inner tent only? I'm wondering if i can use it fly only for bike packing? Thanks Andrew
Hi Andrew. Unfortunately the tent is currently up in the loft; not had the opportunity for any touring since I made the video :-( I also pack inner, fly & footprint connected to one another for quick pitching so it would be a pain to separate them for weighing. As far as using it 'fly only' though, that is definitely possible. Be aware though that the fly sides are well off the ground so it will be draughty.
Hi Ian, Thanks for the videos. What is the weight ready to go? The website at Vango gives 2 weights, 1.9kg and 1.6kg - trail ready. Can you tell me what the weight is for the fly, inner, poles, pegs and the stuff sacks? Thanks
Hi there. Hmm, this response may not be as precise as you'd prefer because I keep the inner, fly and footprint assembled and ready to pitch (the weather's awful atm and I don't have enough space indoors to lay out and refold the tent). The total, ready to tour pack weight for my setup is 2247g, but that includes a few additional pegs, an additional dry bag and the footprint. The poles weigh 339g and their bag is 5g. The pegs (as delivered) are 162g and their bag is 4g, but with a minimum complement of pegs you could get that down to 97g. The patch kit is 42g. The inner + fly + footprint are near enough 1600g and with the footprint approx 200g (from searching t'Internet), that makes inner + fly 1400g. Hope that helps a little.
Hi Ian, I enjoyed the video as I am thinking about buying this tent. The carrying weight seems good for wild camping and the internal space is excellent. Take the inner down when you need a little more room for cooking etc. and it's even better, especially if you have the footprint. However, I am a little concerned about the problems that you experienced and in particular what seems to be a build quality and design issue. Did you get any feedback from Force 10? I'm also looking at the Tetri Backpacking Tent from Alpkit, I wondered if you had checked it out. A little heavier but should be OK. I'd be interested in your impressions of it or any others that are in the running. Lots of good tents out there but all must be outer first to put up in bad weather. Having said that maybe the outer could be placed over the inner when erecting the tent! Regards Terence
Hi Terence, thanks for your comments. I'm afraid that in the end I never contacted Vango; perhaps I still should? But I've replaced the pole section and am now ready to get out there as soon as conditions become more favourable. I think the build quality is generally quite good - apart from the pole(!), nothing else gave way. The design overall is sound, but those features I mentioned were somewhat disappointing. I wish I'd had worse weather to see whether the situation would have changed from inconvenient to downright unpleasant ... but I'm glad I didn't. Maybe the footprint I got was slightly smaller or the elastics were slightly shorter, or maybe the panel of fabric was slightly oversized? Condensation was definitely inconvenient, but from what I've read/seen elsewhere on t'Interwebs it would seem to be a problem for the majority of sil nylon tents, even the prestige brands. Even better ventilation than the Xenon won't help if there's no breeze. Before buying the Xenon I had a look at the Alpkit tents and one or two other brands that I could get to see in local stores. I've bought and am impressed with other Alpkit ... kit(!). I looked at, but chose not to go with either the Jaran or Ordos in the end. The Jaran is slightly heavier than the Xenon and I wasn't keen on the Ordos design. The Tetri is a little heavier and has a larger pack size than the Xenon - it's PU rather than nylon, but maybe that'll help reduce condensation. The current price of the Tetri is very attractive though - seems like a lot of tent for the money! I don't think I mentioned it in the vid, but my last two tents both have single entry points & single vestibules. I'm thinking now that having the option to use either of two entry points (like the Jaran has) might be a useful feature, even on a solo trip. There's also that the Xenon is not freestanding - this has never been a problem on any of the sites I tend to use, but could be depending on where you're headed. Good luck with the Tetri sir, or whatever you settle on. Let us know how things go :-)
I bought one of these recently off Bay, to replace another tent. I used it walking the Anglesey Coastal Footpath in September 2020. I had no issues with condensation as it was fairly breezy, so there was adequate ventilation on most nights. When it wasn't windy I opened the top of the outer door, but left it under the flap in case of rain. I also opened the inner vent and again there was no condensation. It performed magnificently, and faultlessly on a couple of nights when there was torrential rain during the evening. Not a drop of water came in. Cooking in the porch was easy and it never felt cramped. The porch easily contained by rucksack and boots, plus misc gear I left out. All in all a really good tent to own. I didn't even try unclipping the inner, mainly because of the video revue! So can't comment on that aspect. Thank you for your video I did find it helpful to choose to buy this tent.
Thanks for dropping by, but particularly for such detailed feedback - I'm sure folks will find that helpful.
Really glad the tent worked out for you and hope you enjoy many more 'excellent adventures' in it ;-)
That's a great reply and review, thank you. Looking at this myself. May I ask what you paid on eBay, presumably new?
@@philip771 Hi, I did get it off E Bay. I paid £180. It was less than 12 months old and had never been used. It’s one of my best buys! I’d certainly have no doubts about recommending it.
@@stetomlinson3146 That is a great buy!! Thanks for coming back to me. Not much around at the mo but you've helped to keep me patient, to wait for the new stocks. All the best - hope you get some good walks and camping in this year.
An extremely thorough and informative review - thank you
I absolutely adore your calm voice!
Hello Ian ... thanks for your video .. It greatly contributed to my decision to buy this tent. I've spent several nights in the tent under various conditions (in mountains in Norway) along with my buddy who owns a classic dome style tent from big agnes (copper spur ul 2) .. I don't want to make this story long but I do not regret it !!! Every tent has some pros and cons .. I can compare now to the big agnes dome (copper spur) that was originally the other option when I was deciding which one to buy ... in short - this tent does everything that I need and compared to big agnes it's just true 3 season (vango says it's 4 season) reliable tent that is significantly more resilient and reliable in harsh conditions (like wind and a lot of rain or storm) than BA copper spur .. and all of that for 300g heavier package which is nothing .. The real problem with this tent are bundled pegs - they are just trash so I've replaced them with msr groundhogs early (after 2-3 nights) .. Also I've managed to add an extra pegging point on both sides exactly as you mention that !! This one little "hack" literally lifts the class of this tent pricelessly ..
Hi there. Good to hear the tent worked out for you ... apart from the pegs! You're right, they're not the greatest, but thanks for the MSR Groundhogs tip. I'm hoping to get out some more when the winter's passed.
Cheers.
@@IanGuest I really recommend that hack with adding extra pegging point in the middle of sides - I've realized this myself after first use .. It cost me almost nothing (20 euros) and it has been done here by local outdoor equipment (clothing, tents, sleeping bags ..) service so it has been done by professionals - basically I've let them to put there only small piece of fabric with 2cm little tunnel where I can stretch out a standard 3mm paracord ..
Can you please tell me what you did to add an extra pegging point on the sides? Thanks in advance
@@RollrightKnights I've managed to sew a little eyelet in the middle of the sides and attach an elastic loop to it .. 5cm long .. very easy "hack" .. my wife needed less than 15 minutes to do it .. I can show you a photo later today in the evening ...
@@sigsegv111 I'd like to see how this is done aswell
Bought my UL2 a year ago. Still haven't used it...bugger off pandemic! Looking forward to the increased space vs the Vango Banshee 2 and Wild Country Zephyros 2 I had after that.
Hi Tom, what a shame. Mine's not been used since this time last year either :-(
Still, you can look forward to rattling around with space to spare in your palatial new dwelling, compared with the more modest capacity of your previous tents. Enjoy ... when you eventually get the chance.
This is the challenge without spending huge amounts of money - less weight = less material = less robust. I'd rather carry an extra kilo and know it's now going to blow over.
Just back from a few days away and it's still standing Stevie, although you make a good point. Cheers.
I’ve got the naturehike monger 2 15D (only comes in dark blue),great colour,it fits all your requirements and is highly rated for its specs and space.great price as well. I use mine for bike touring,👍
Thanks for dropping by. The Mongar looks like a good tent - I'm quite taken with the style, especially the idea of 2 doors/vestibules for example. Unfortunately it's not (easily) available here in the UK, but I'm sure some viewers will have easier access. Some of the colours in the range are, how shall I put it, less stealthy! ;-)
@@IanGuest thanks for the reply Ian,the 15d version is quite widely available now,got mine from “wood to water outdoors “👍
@@Captain-mp4ne Ahh, wasn't aware of that. Looks like a good source of outdoor gear. Thanks👍
Sound is ok. Just turn up the volume in the quiet sections.
You probably have a new tent by now, though just a thought, the rear guideline you could notch an old tent pole and space between the two guy lines that join together, this would hopefully help in keeping the ventilation area open as much as possible regardless on the length or position of the line
Sadly, circumstances last year meant I was unable to get away in this tent, but hoping 2023 will be more generous and I'll have the chance to try out this tip. Thanks Stephen 👍
Have spent about 90 nights in one of these inc in bad weather and they are solid for the money - one of the best value on the market imo. They could do with a bit more ventilation from the rear vent, the original design actually had a bigger vent but some of the original reviews came back saying that they were getting some rain through it and so it was made smaller - now too small!
My poles have been fine I guess you were unlucky with yours.
I cut the tape off across the door - there is no need for it imo and makes entry/exit much easier and can roll back the doors without it.
I never used a second ground sheet and really dont think you need one as the floor is 70D so thick enough without - still no wear in mine.
I never took the inner down and dont think it is necessary even when packed away soaking wet - the inner dries in no time when you re-pitch as the fabric is so thin - give it a go!
Cheers Paul, that's saved me 18 minutes.
Thanks for the insight, looking for a tent right now :) Do you get any condensation with this one? If, is it notable or acceptable?
@@atmostonetour yeah you will get condensation like every tent, the more open the tent and more mesh then the less condensation, but the worse the weather protection, with an open tarp being the best/worst, but I think a more enclosed tent is a better compromise for northern European conditions especially outside of summer. I had a hilleberg anjan before this tent and it was no better/worse for condensation. Good site selection away from water etc is a good way of minimising this also.
Great update - I wish more people did these.
Thanks Vin. Me too.
'Out of the box' videos have their place, but I'd much rather hear accounts after products have been in use for a while so the user can comment on what worked or didn't.
Bought one of these a while ago and after a windy 3 nights on Arran i where the side was getting battered by the wind i came up with the idea of purchasing 4 tarp clamps from Lomo which grip the bottom of the side material and with some old elastic from a previous tent it gets pegged down,Ive yet to try it in strong winds yet (Off to Scotland next week)but heres hoping,The other solution was to remove 5mm from each end of the poles thus getting the tent lower to the ground,But I'll give the clamps ago first ,£1.67 for 4 from Lomo,Cant fault that.
Hi Rick,
What a great idea! Especially at that price - said the Yorkshireman born of a Scot! ;-)
As of 03/09/2020, £2.00 www.lomo.co.uk/acatalog/tarp-clamps-4-pack.html and still a bargain.
I'd be reticent about shortening the poles though. Having the sides even closer to the ground would likely reduce flow through of air and contribute to worse condensation. I suppose it's a trade-off between hunkering the tent down (needed in blowy conditions) and trying to minimise condensation when it's still and cooler.
Hope you have great trip up in Scotland and if the clamps are needed and do the job, do please come back and let us know.
Cheers.
Hi Rick. I used your idea and it worked fantastic! Transformed our F10 Erebus 3+ in a named storm end of Oct 2020. It seems to improve the structural strength too. It was comfortably dealing with 40+ mph gusts and serious rain. It stood up easily to 6 days of strong wind and heavy rain in total. No issues with the outer and inner touching. I got a good 3" gap consistently around the bedroom. Seemed to relieve pressure on the poles too. You can adjust the TBS system in conjunction with this setup. The other half is nervous of high wind in a tent but she was fine with this. I think using 2 clips on each long side and 2 each at back and front would make any tunnel bombproof. Good stuff!
Good review video.. good information.
Good follow up video, well thought out points.
Have you considered tarp clips? To attach to the middle tent wall so you can peg it out from the central point. Just a thought.
ATB
Dan
Someone else mentioned these Dan so I'll definitely be looking to get hold of a handful before the next tour ... which will hopefully be not too long!
Thanks for the heads-up :-)
Hi Ian, really useful video, Thanks. I just bought one but while I'm waiting I wondered if you knew the weight of the inner tent only? I'm wondering if i can use it fly only for bike packing? Thanks Andrew
Hi Andrew. Unfortunately the tent is currently up in the loft; not had the opportunity for any touring since I made the video :-( I also pack inner, fly & footprint connected to one another for quick pitching so it would be a pain to separate them for weighing. As far as using it 'fly only' though, that is definitely possible. Be aware though that the fly sides are well off the ground so it will be draughty.
I guess Im quite off topic but does anybody know a good website to watch new series online?
@Jaxson Kareem flixportal :D
@Darian Cairo Thank you, signed up and it seems like a nice service =) Appreciate it!!
@Jaxson Kareem Glad I could help =)
Hi Ian, Thanks for the videos.
What is the weight ready to go? The website at Vango gives 2 weights, 1.9kg and 1.6kg - trail ready.
Can you tell me what the weight is for the fly, inner, poles, pegs and the stuff sacks?
Thanks
Hi there.
Hmm, this response may not be as precise as you'd prefer because I keep the inner, fly and footprint assembled and ready to pitch (the weather's awful atm and I don't have enough space indoors to lay out and refold the tent). The total, ready to tour pack weight for my setup is 2247g, but that includes a few additional pegs, an additional dry bag and the footprint. The poles weigh 339g and their bag is 5g. The pegs (as delivered) are 162g and their bag is 4g, but with a minimum complement of pegs you could get that down to 97g. The patch kit is 42g.
The inner + fly + footprint are near enough 1600g and with the footprint approx 200g (from searching t'Internet), that makes inner + fly 1400g.
Hope that helps a little.
Hi Ian, I enjoyed the video as I am thinking about buying this tent. The carrying weight seems good for wild camping and the internal space is excellent. Take the inner down when you need a little more room for cooking etc. and it's even better, especially if you have the footprint. However, I am a little concerned about the problems that you experienced and in particular what seems to be a build quality and design issue. Did you get any feedback from Force 10? I'm also looking at the Tetri Backpacking Tent from Alpkit, I wondered if you had checked it out. A little heavier but should be OK. I'd be interested in your impressions of it or any others that are in the running. Lots of good tents out there but all must be outer first to put up in bad weather. Having said that maybe the outer could be placed over the inner when erecting the tent! Regards Terence
Hi Terence, thanks for your comments.
I'm afraid that in the end I never contacted Vango; perhaps I still should? But I've replaced the pole section and am now ready to get out there as soon as conditions become more favourable.
I think the build quality is generally quite good - apart from the pole(!), nothing else gave way. The design overall is sound, but those features I mentioned were somewhat disappointing. I wish I'd had worse weather to see whether the situation would have changed from inconvenient to downright unpleasant ... but I'm glad I didn't. Maybe the footprint I got was slightly smaller or the elastics were slightly shorter, or maybe the panel of fabric was slightly oversized?
Condensation was definitely inconvenient, but from what I've read/seen elsewhere on t'Interwebs it would seem to be a problem for the majority of sil nylon tents, even the prestige brands. Even better ventilation than the Xenon won't help if there's no breeze.
Before buying the Xenon I had a look at the Alpkit tents and one or two other brands that I could get to see in local stores. I've bought and am impressed with other Alpkit ... kit(!). I looked at, but chose not to go with either the Jaran or Ordos in the end. The Jaran is slightly heavier than the Xenon and I wasn't keen on the Ordos design. The Tetri is a little heavier and has a larger pack size than the Xenon - it's PU rather than nylon, but maybe that'll help reduce condensation. The current price of the Tetri is very attractive though - seems like a lot of tent for the money!
I don't think I mentioned it in the vid, but my last two tents both have single entry points & single vestibules. I'm thinking now that having the option to use either of two entry points (like the Jaran has) might be a useful feature, even on a solo trip. There's also that the Xenon is not freestanding - this has never been a problem on any of the sites I tend to use, but could be depending on where you're headed.
Good luck with the Tetri sir, or whatever you settle on. Let us know how things go :-)
@@IanGuest Thank you Ian.
Hello Ian - I've tried to watch your videos, but the sound is so poor I can't watch them all. Sorry.
Sorry about that Matt.
@@IanGuest no need to apologise, I meant it as feedback. I hope you can resolve it.
Bad sound mate , too windy ! Could hardly make you out !,
좋은 텐트인데 피칭을 잘못하고 리뷰하는 영상으로 공부 좀 하고 리뷰하길