Vango Ultralite 200 Tent
Product Review & Walking Gear Test

	Ultralite 200 Tent Vital Statistics: Guarantee: Life Time warranty Colours: Pine/Black, Viv-blue/black Weight: 1300 gms SRP: £160.00

Ultralite 200 Tent

Vital Statistics:

Guarantee:
Life Time warranty

Colours:
Pine/Black, Viv-blue/black

Weight:
1300 gms

SRP:
£160.00

Vango says:"The perfect choice for mountain marathons and lightweight adventures, the ultimate balance between weight and stability. A myriad of features and design techniques will allow you to go higher, wilder, faster, further and fit more into your weekend than you previously thought possible."

Features to Note:

Capacity: 2 people
Design: semi-geodesic
Pack Size: 49 x 10cms
Claimed Pitching time: 10mins
Poles: alloy + tension band system
Body: Protex SPU SL3000 fabric, hydrostatic head 3000mm
Groundsheet: HD nylon 5000, hydrostatic head 5000mm
Ventilation: variable 'airflow' system
Taped seams
Fired retardant
Guying Fillet (additional covered space at 'foot' of tent, accessible from inside; also acts as protection for the large vent)

In-use Test:

I found the Vango Ultralite 200 Tent really easy to pitch - even first time it took me just over 5 minutes - and this will get quicker with a bit of practice. It can accommodate 2 - albeit rather snugly - but you'd struggle to have any gear (rucksacs, boots and/or wet waterproofs) inside as well.

There is no porch so this may be a bit of a nuisance in really wet weather or when the midges are biting. It was much more comfortable for a single person which was how it was tested and at just 1.3g it is easily light enough for everyone in your party to carry their own tent.

The main door is a good size and the guying fillet provided a little extra covered storage - which was particularly useful for my boots.

I had a relatively comfortable night - the variable airflow system/guying fillet meant that there wasn't a build up of condensation. The meshed variable airflow system also helped keep the bugs at bay. However - there is no other meshing to protect against bugs so when the main door is open you are at the mercy.

It stood-up well to wind and rain and the internal tension band system ensured stability in high winds. The Protex SPU 3000 is a very strong, light-weight and waterproof fabric plus there's a bathtub groundsheet to prevent water seepage.

The small bags that carry the poles and the pegs had elasticated tops to help keep everything secure.

It really does have an amazingly small pack size and weight - almost small enough to leave in the bottom of your backpack 'just in case' you decide that the evening is so glorious you fancy watching the following dawn alone and at peace with the world.

Buying Advice:

The Vango Ultralite 200 is a great buy if you want a really light-weight, stable tent for the occasional night under 'canvas' or regular camping on a long distance trail.

You will need to manage with little in the way of storage or cooking areas area - but something this lightweight cannot do everything. Recommended.

What do you think?

Have you got a Vango Ultralite 200 Tent?

We would love to hear what you thought of it - good, bad or indifferent. Perhaps you simply disagree with the verdict above - or feel an important feature has been negelected.

Let us know by clicking this link - What I think of Vango Ultralite 200 Tent - so we can publish your important views below.

• Much better than a Bibby bag with plenty of headroom to sit up in but really only a one person tent if you want some internal space for gear. Condensation an issue, and you can't open the door when it's raining without getting a lot of damp inside.

Rik Rutter-dacosta, Chesham

• As you say they certainly don't come much more light & compact than this one. Although to call it a two man tent is a little extreme & would certainly be quite a squeeze if you needed to get any gear in as well. Nice quick & easy pitching-even in breezy conditions. I've tried placing it sideways in the bottom compartment of my berghaus 65-10 Bioflex, but even with the posts removed & stored vertically inside the main sack it is still just a little too long to fit in.

Steven Gill