UKC

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for a generous but manageable tent for extended camping in yhe alps this summer. The two tents that appealed so far are the Vango Skye 500 and the Alpkit Axiom. Does anyone have any experience with these tents? Hoping for something that does well in 30'C heat and in a big, windy, summer storm!

Thanks in advance!

We bought an Alpkit Axiom for family camping trips. Never had any issues with it but I do suspect I could’ve got something of equal quality for much less money. That said, it certainly looks the part and often draws compliments. 

No experience of the Vango Skye. But have an Alpkit Axiom that was purchased for use as a comfortable "base camp" tent to use with my wife on extended trips. I wanted something that would provide some weather worthiness but still provide plenty of space and a comfortable living area.  With the addition of a footprint it has been exactly that and we are very pleased with it.

One thing to note about the skye is it is a tunnel tent, where the Axiom is semi geodesic, so both will have their pros and cons in that respect, but might not be immediately comparable eg internal space vs pitching ease etc.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts

Have you considered a polycotton tent? In my experience, very much more comfortable for extended stays in hot weather. The main downside, of course, is the initial cost. But my Robens is now about 20 years old and going strong.

Have an axiom that I really like - think it would be a sweat box at. 30def C though!

Yes it is, but I love my Axiom. Perfect Base camp tent, living area for sitting out the rain, with space for a table and two chairs, and I can stand up in the living area.

Do you think that being a sweatbox is true for the Axiom more than other tents, or about the same? Thanks!

I would say that on balance ours is no worse than any other tent I've had.

It has a large surface area, so absorbs quite a lot of heat. But it also ventilates well (we had two adults two children and a dog at -5°C and suffered no condensation), especially with the front open.

As long as you open up the front and the top vent it seems to shed the heat pretty efficiently.

I'll caveat this with the fact that we've never used it South of Cumbria, so there's a potential argument that we haven't encountered true sweatbox territory!

Probably as good as most nylon tents, poly cotton would be better. Also worth observing that it’s very light inside - great for me but my wife russ the fact we did not get a blackout tent of some kind. But with the door propped up at the front good lounging space.

One thing to note, is that whilst it is no worse than any other tent, and actually has okay ventilation. The main door does not have a mesh panel, so depending on how many flying friends are around, keeping the door open for ventilation isn't always the best option. However this has never been an issue for me using the Axiom.

This was a specific question I was pondering: does the sleeping compartment have one of those double-zip two-layer doors you can zip solid or zip so that it's just mesh? It looks from photos that it has a mesh door for the sleeping compartment, with a solid layer too?

Thanks in advance!

Yes the sleeping compartment is dual layer with a generous size mesh portion. Keeps the inner well ventilated but is possible in colder weather to close completely. 

It's the outer door that doesn't have any mesh.

Thanks for clarifying this