UKC

Gday all.
I used to own a Vango Hydra that I bought in 1996 which survived many a night when all surrounding tents imploded. Tough, but heavy. Untill a pole broke in 2005....riiiiiiiiip.....

Im currently looking at buying a 4 season, lightweight tent and the Vango Vapour and Helium tents have caught my eye as possible options. The Helium 200 mainly though as of its loooow weight.
The main question is how are they for 4 season use? Rain, snow shedding and wind stability.
Vestibul able to be used for cooking?

So....whats your findings of these tents?

In reply to Earthling:

Is price an issue or Durability?

Hilleberg Akto is a 1 person, 1 pole, 4 season tent that you can cook in.

In reply to keithlackie:
Ive looked at the Atko, however its weight at 1720grams is tooo heavy.

Price is not an issue.

What Im looking for is a single man tent(two man if less then 1.6kg and fits all below):
1. Light weight.
2. Durability/4Seasoness
3. Height for sitting in
4. Vestibul available for cooking
5. Roominess

Ive looked at all the usual tents and at the moment Henrys new Scarp 1
http://www.tarptent.com/scarp1.html
and the Stephenson's Warmlite 2R, ID Mega Sola, Hilleberg Soulo and Lunar Solo were all favourites. However someone put me onto the Vango light weight range.
The Vango Vapour 200 at 1100grams fits Number 1. Im just wondering about the rest thats all.

Vango Vapor 200:
http://www.vango.co.uk/products/f10tentsinfo.aspx?productid=2&modelid=3

In reply to Earthling: Why not the Warmilte 2R - price not being an issue? Just curious

b

In reply to ben b:
No vestibul really sucks. I will cook in a safe sized vestibul with no floor, but never inside the tent. With a Warmlite, if its raining, you cook inside........burn scars are not good.

In reply to Earthling: Lightwave T0 ultra? Never used it or seen it, just throwing in random ideas!

In reply to Alasdair Fulton:
Thanks for the suggestion.
It is a nice, strong tent from the reviews. Vestibul is waaaaay tooo small to cook in though, but supposedly you can pullback the inner tent to make more room...but where do you put yourself then? As the length doesnt allow much before hitting the end...the xt version weighs 2330 grams, so not in the ballpark. Will keep searching....

Anybody with a review on the Vapour or Helium from Vango?

In reply to Earthling:
Someone must have bought one of these tents suuuuurely...........

In reply to Earthling:

is the vapour the single skin one? I find in still and wet conditions it's impossible to avoid condensation on the inside of a small tent, and as light normally means small too it means you and your stuff will get damp.

looked seriously at the helium as a 2 man backpacking tent but was a bit unconvinced by the headroom in it and lack of reviews.

In reply to Earthling:
I tried out the Helium, but it was TINY (I am 5 foot 10).
I was unable to sit up in it.

If you want a winter tent that is really light, what about one of the Go-Lite single skin floorless tents? Bags of room for little weight, and you can dig "furniture" in the floor. I have the old Hex (now Shangri-la 3) and it is a fine tent. Oodles of space and weighs less than a kilo. You need to use care, though.

If you want a tent with an inner and with a vestibule big enough for cooking, what about the Lightwave T0 xt?

Or a really strong relatively light easy to erect tent: one of the Hillebergs (they will all do the job).

In reply to Earthling:

The Akto is 1,500g (not 1,720). And that's both what Hilleberg quote and what mine weighs...


Sounds like an Akto to me (unless the two man thing matters). Ticks all those boxes (and there *are* trade-offs between extreme light weight and durability) and is also one of the quickest tents to pitch and strike you'll ever see. Didn't build up its reputation through being a poor choice!

In reply to Earthling: my flat mate has a helium, and used it for 6 weeks solid. its light and strong and on a push ( you have to get friendly, will take 2) the whole thing will fit in an xs eped dry bag!!!

In reply to almost sane:
Which model of the helium did you try? The 1 person (100) or the 2 person (200) model?
Tarps are good, but Im not ready for them yet in wet windy cold consditions....I still looove the tub floor.
the lightwave t0xt is toooo heavy unfortunately, but looks nice.
Hilleberg may be the go if something else doesnt pop up.
Thanks for your reply

In reply to Matt Schwarz:
Goodo! Someone has got one! Where were they using it and what conditions did it put up with? Was theirs the 100 or 200 model?


Petestack the Atko is an option, but if I can find something lighter and still strong, I would be crazy to say no, yes?

In reply to Earthling: Get the scarp 1!( I've actualy never used or even seen one in the flesh but I've been drooling over them since I first saw them online, so you can be my guinea pig :P ) I was actually going to post the link until I saw that you had already seen it, they seem like a souped up akto with two doors, less weight and the option of extra poles-what's not to like!I can see myself getting one if my money tree ever starts to grow, otherwise I'd be looking at an akto or a laser comp, I realise that this post is of no help but there ya go.

In reply to Earthling:

Dunno. It's difficult to believe that anything (much?) lighter's still going to be (as) strong, but I'd still say the Akto's a fantastic option for one. (Doubt you'd fit two in, even for occasional use, but no doubt someone will shortly say they have!)

In reply to Earthling:
The Vango Vapour is single skin.

They have them going really cheap the now at Leckies in Falkirk (or at least the Vango Ultralight 100, which is almost the same). I think they were £35. Which makes it worth taking a punt on. If you are near Fakirk.

In reply to almost sane:
Thanks. Im in Australia...definetly not near Falkirk...


petestack, you doubt lighter will be stronger.........Humans have continuosly invented stronger, lighter options. It started with weaving baskets and clothes, then with metals, alloys creating lighter armour, yesterday carbon fibre and silnylon, today....?


Anybody else that has bought and has a review of Vango Vapour or Helium tents?

In reply to Earthling:

No, I don't. I said, 'It's difficult to believe that anything (much?) lighter's still going to be (as) strong', which isn't the same thing. So of course you can have light and strong, but there are still going to be trade-offs if you keep pushing the limits!