Comparing lightweight tents

The most important factor for backpacking or cycling holidays (where campers are planning to carry their tents with them) is the weight of the tent.  These days there are many lightweight tents to choose from, some of which are so light that they are almost unnoticeable in a rucksack on a long hike.  Below we've compared some of the more popular lightweight tents on the market today.

Force 10 Helium range (1.19-1.30kgs)

Read our review of the Force 10 Helium 100
Read our review of the Force 10 Helium 200

Force 10 Helium 100

Vango's ultra-lightweight brand Force 10 is a relative newcomer to the lightweight camping scene, but they have really made their mark over the last couple of years.  The Helium range is one of the best selling tents - coming in a 100 and 200 model, allegedly for one and two people respectively, but you'd have to be pretty comfortable with each other to share a 200 model.  The low-range tunnel design means that the Helium range hugs the ground even in very high winds (pitch with the 'blunt' end facing into the wind if blowing from a consistent direction), and with a 5000HH flysheet, this tent is seriously waterproof.   The 100 model is 1.19kgs and the 200 model is 1.3kgs, so if you can squeeze two people into the 200 model then it's a super-light option to share between two.

Force 10 Helium Carbon range (0.86-0.95kgs)

Force 10 Helium Carbon 100

Okay - so if you want something even lighter than the Helium model, what better than the new-for-2012 Helium Carbon range.  The pole is carbon-fibre, the flysheet is an incredibly light 15-dernier 3000HH, pegs are lighter, guy ropes are lighter, everything is lighter.  But, and it's a big but, the Helium Carbon range is nearly twice as expensive as the Helium range (around £350-400 vs. around £200), to shave around 350g from the weight.  If you really want to show off your titanium tent pegs and NASA-quality materials, and you have the cash, then this is one of the lightest tents on the market.  If you just want lightweight, then go for the Helium range and save a wedge of cash.

Force 10 Nitro Lite range (1.4-1.8kgs)

Force 10 Nitro Lite 200+ 

Slightly bigger than the Helium tents, the new Force 10 Nitro Lite range uses the same technology as the Helium Carbon, and as such comes with a similarly eye-watering price tag (RRP of £430-500).  The best feature of the Nitro-Lite range is the 200+ model, which comes with a porch extension.  At a squeeze, you can fit a bike or two in the porch overnight - making this the lightest cycling touring tent on the market.  A cheaper option that looks identical is the Vango Spirit range (see below), which uses heavier materials and keeps the price down a bit.

Vango Spirit range (3.1-3.4kgs)

Vango Spirit 200+

Time for a quick game of spot the difference, between the Spirit and the Force 10 Nitro Lite (above).  On the surface, nothing much - so much so that they both only come in same colour.   However, on closer inspection, the Spirit is made of heavier and cheaper stuff.  The flysheet is 5000HH on the Spirit, compared with 3000HH on the Nitro Lite.  The poles, pegs, inner and groundsheet are similarly slightly heavier and made with slightly cheaper materials.  By no means does that make this a bad tent - it's just nearly 2kgs heavier for about £140 cheaper.  A decent trade-off if ultra lightweight isn't all you care about.

Vango Banshee range (2.10-2.75kgs)

Read our review of the Vango Banshee 200 here
Read our review of the Vango Banshee 300 here

Vango Banshee 300

The Vango Banshee is one of the best selling quality tents in the UK today, and it's not hard to see why.  A reasonable price (RRP of £120-140), lightweight, roomy and easy to pitch, it's a great little tent for couples or small groups of friends on hiking holidays.  It's a little heavier than the super-light alternatives, but unless you are doing some serious hiking or mountain marathons, then this tent is more than light enough to carry.  The flysheet is 5000HH (i.e. as waterproof as it gets in retail tents), and the tunnel design is ultra-wind resistant.  A great tent.

Vango Tempest range (2.90-4.25kgs)

Read our review of the Vango Tempest 200 here
Read our review of the Vango Tempest 300 here
Read our review of the Vango Tempest 400 here

Vango Tempest 200

The Vango Tempest range is slightly larger than the Banshee, with a useable exterior vestibule which can be used to store bags giving more room in the tent itself.  The materials are the same as on the Banshee, but the extra size means the tents are slightly heavier.  An extra 800g on the 200 model means that the tent is starting to stretch the definition of lightweight.  However - there is a 400 model in the Tempest range, which is a good option for four people sharing one tent.  At £200 RRP and 4.25kgs, it's certainly lighter and cheaper than two two-person tents.

Vango Mirage range (2.90-3.65kgs)

Vango Mirage 200

The Vango Mirage range is a free-standing semi-geodesic structure, designed to be pitched on rocky or sandy ground or where there no guarantee of anchorage.   Everything else about this tent is comparable to the Banshee or the Tempest - one could argue that the geodesic design makes the tent even more stable in high winds, but the complex design means that pitching is less straightforward.  It's not expensive (£160 RRP for the 200 and £180 RRP for the 300), but it's hard to see why you'd need this over a Banshee or a Tempest unless you have a specific expedition in mind.

Vango Halo range (3.6-4.9kgs) 

Vango Halo 400

The Vango Halo range is popular kit for youth groups and Duke of Edinburgh expeditions, thanks to the two door structure that allows easy access to both sides of the tent.  The dome structure with split cross poles provides stability and the 5000HH flysheet gives superb waterproofing.  Both sides of the tent have vestibules for storing bags and other belongings, which makes the most of the space inside.  A popular tent, this is ideal for trips where both campers require a degree of independence.

Vango Omega range (4.25-6.00kgs)

Vango Omega 350

The Vango Omega is heavier version of the Force 10 Nitro Lite or the Vango Spirit, with a larger inner space and larger outer space.  Perfect for cycle/motorbike touring if you want to sacrifice a bit on weight for more space in the tent.  The materials are all excellent, and shared between two, three or four, these tents are not heavy.  The best bit, of course, is the price.  At an RRP of £180 for the 250 model, £210 for the 350 model and £240 for the 450 model, this tent is lots cheaper than either the Nitro Lite or the Spirit.

Coleman Pictor range (3.35-4.29kgs)

Read our review of the Coleman Pictor X2 here

Coleman Pictor X3

The Coleman Pictor is another budget option compared to the Force 10 Nitro Lite or the Vango Spirit.  Similar design, but with more weight, the Pictor range comes with all the usual added touches that make Coleman tents so popular.  Colour coded poles make it a breeze to pitch, and reflective strips on the guys help find the tent in torchlight.  The tent has now been discontinued, which means that you can sometimes find bargains of this great tent (see our reviews above for the best prices that we could find).


We will be adding more lightweight tents over the next few weeks, so be sure to revisit... 

Vango Alpha 300 review (2012 model)

 

Sleeps:  3
Weight:  4.05kg
Dimensions:  180x210cm
Pack size:  64x16x16cm
RRP:  £75

Read our guide to dome tents here!

Review:  The new Alpha from Vango has a funky new pointed pole at the front of the usual dome structure. As well as making the tent look cooler, it gives a little more headroom when entering the tent. On the inside, it is average width for a three person tent (180cm - giving 60cm per person), which some might find a little cramped.  For two people, this tent is huge and very reasonably priced. This tent isn't going to be the lightest or the best quality, but as an entry level dome tent with a 3000HH flysheet (i.e. really waterproof!) that can be thrown up in just a few minutes, you don't really need anything else unless you're planning on camping in very poor weather or need a lightweight option.

Best bits: High quality at a decent price, a great roomy option for two people
Worst bits: Heavier than more expensive alternatives, a bit cramped for three people

RRP: £75
Where to get it cheaper?:  £59 here

Vango Icarus 400 review

Sleeps: 4
Weight:  11.25kgs
Dimensions:  internal 210x240cm, external 210x260cm
Pack size:  65x30x26cm
RRP:  £220

Read our guide to Vango group tents here!

Review: The Vango Icarus is one of the best selling ranges of the new 2012 group tents from Vango, and it's not hard to see why.  With everything you need for a good group tent, but none of the unnecessary extras, the Icarus comes in at a decent price.  Moreover, the smaller models are usually sold at the same price as the Odyssey range, but the Icarus comes with an extra door to the front (letting you open it all up to let the air move through) and a sewn in groundsheet.

On the negative side, it is a fraction smaller than some of the other group tents, around 10-20cms narrower - so if you are a group of bigger campers, perhaps consider either a different model or buying a slightly bigger tent in the range (i.e. a 500 tent for four people) to give you ample amounts of space.  Also, the Icarus can be fitted with a front canopy extension to extend the porch space, but this is around £130-150 depending on the size of the tent.  If you're thinking of using this all the time, you may be better buying the Vango Tigris XL, which is essentially the same tent but with a built in front canopy extension, but it is cheaper than buying the two bits separately.

Best bits:  Affordable, two doors to either side of the front porch (compared to just one on similar the Vango Odyssey), sewn in groundsheet, high quality materials
Worst bits:  A bit smaller than other group tents, external area can be extended with add-on canopies, but you might be better buying a larger tent with the canopy built-in

RRP: £220
Where to get it cheaper?: £199 here

Vango Odyssey 500 review

Sleeps: 5
Weight: 12.7kg
Dimensions:  internal 300x210cm, external space 285x320cms
Pack Size:  68x34x28cm
RRP:  £250

Read our guide to Vango group tents here!

Review:  You might say the Vango Odyssey is the 'entry-level' group tent from Vango.  It is a fairly standard inner tent in which campers sleep 'lengthways' along the tent and a decent sized external space.  The flysheet is 3000HH, which is a minimum standard across the Vango range these days - so waterproofing should not be a problem.  However, the size of group tents means that they do not handle high winds as well as their smaller geodesic cousins.  As a result, you should expect that tents like the Odyssey are only really suitable for Spring or Summer camping, and even then one should be cautious in very high winds.  However, at a RRP of just £250 it is considerably cheaper than most of the group tents by Vango, and for four people it could well be the best option.

Best bits:  Affordable group tent with high quality materials from Vango
Worst bits:  There are more 'bespoke' models on the market which might better suit your needs.

RRP: £250
Where to get it cheaper?: £250 - here

Vango Odyssey 400 review

Sleeps: 4
Weight: 11.5kg
Dimensions:  internal 250x210cm, external space 285x270cms
Pack Size:  66x28x27cm
RRP:  £250

Read our guide to Vango group tents here!

Review:  You might say the Vango Odyssey is the 'entry-level' group tent from Vango.  It is a fairly standard inner tent in which campers sleep 'lengthways' along the tent and a decent sized external space.  The flysheet is 3000HH, which is a minimum standard across the Vango range these days - so waterproofing should not be a problem.  However, the size of group tents means that they do not handle high winds as well as their smaller geodesic cousins.  As a result, you should expect that tents like the Odyssey are only really suitable for Spring or Summer camping, and even then one should be cautious in very high winds.  However, at a RRP of just £200 it is considerably cheaper than most of the group tents by Vango, and for four people it could well be the best option.

Best bits:  Affordable group tent with high quality materials from Vango
Worst bits:  There are more 'bespoke' models on the market which might better suit your needs.

RRP: £250
Where to get it cheaper?: £199 here

Comparing Vango group tents

Vango are, without question, one of the best group tent manufacturers in business in the UK today. However, their range of bigger tents can be bewildering, with around 35 different designs available in the 2012 collection.  In this post we've focused on the 'family' style tents, with internal and external space under a larger flysheet.

Since buying a group tent can be an expensive purchase, it's important to understand the differences between the models - which isn't intuitive! Just look how similar all the tents below are on first glance. You don't want to be spending £200, £300 or even £500 on a less than perfect tent.


Vango Odyssey

Vango Odyssey 400

Read our review of the Vango Odyssey 400
Read our review of the Vango Odyssey 500


The best place to start is the Vango Odyssey range - which you might say is the 'entry-level' group tent from Vango.  It is a fairly standard inner tent in which campers sleep 'lengthways' along the tent and a decent sized external space.  The flysheet is 3000HH, which is a minimum standard across the Vango range these days - so waterproofing should not be a problem.  However, the size of group tents means that they do not handle high winds as well as their smaller geodesic cousins.  As a result, you should expect that tents like the Odyssey are only really suitable for Spring or Summer camping, and even then one should be cautious in very high winds.

The Odyssey comes in two models, the 400 and the 500, which sleep four people and five people respectively.   For both models, you can buy an additional side canopy or an end canopy to extend the size of the external space.  The 400 retails at an RRP of £200 and the 500 at £250, but as you should know by now, you can find discounts to these prices at most retailers.


Vango Icarus

Vango Icarus 500

Read our review of the Vango Icarus 400
Read our review of the Vango Icarus 500
Read our review of the Vango Icarus 600

One step up from the Odyssey is the Icarus range.  This is one of Vango's best selling models, with the range covering a 300, 400, 500, 600, 800 and 1000 editions, sleeping 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10 people respectively.  On first glance, the tent looks very similar to the Odyssey.  The materials are largely the same, but the Icarus comes with a sewn-in groundsheet (whereas you have to buy a separate one for the Odyssey).  Also, the Icarus comes with two doors on the external area (one on each side), whereas the Odyssey only has one.   RRPs are slightly higher than the Odyssey for these extras (£20 more for the 400 model, £10 more for the 500 model), so you have to ask whether you need them.  Sometimes it is nice to have no groundsheet in the porch, as so you can sit out of the rain without taking off your boots!

You can buy a front extension for the Icarus, but if you are thinking of using this every time you might be better suited with the Tigris (further below) which is pretty much identical but with built-in longer porch for a cheaper price than buying the tent and the extension separately.


Vango Calisto

Vango Calisto 500

Read our review of the Vango Calisto 400
Read our review of the Vango Calisto 500

The Vango Calisto is a more family oriented tent when compared to the Odyssey or the Icarus.  The tent stands higher from the ground than the two above, thanks to straight steel poles on the sides of the tent (as opposed to curved poles on the tents above).  This gives over two metres of headroom in the middle of the tent, more than enough for all but the very tallest of campers.  The porch area is a little smaller than with the tents above, but the internal space comes with a few nice touches to make a camping holiday a bit nicer - a pellet with pockets for storage, hanging storage, privacy windows and low level vents all add to the luxury in this model.  Easy to pitch and to strike, the Calisto makes an excellent choice for young families.

The Calisto comes in a 400, 500 and 600 model at an RRP of £280, £330 and £380 respectively, so you do pay a little extra for the little luxuries.   As with the Odyssey, you can buy a front canopy extension to make the external space much bigger.


Vango Diablo

Vango Diablo 400 plan

A new model for 2012, the Diablo is one of our favourite tents on Top Tents.  Imagine you took the Calisto (above), and split the sleeping area into two completely separate units!  You end up with a triangular tent structure, perfect for kids and adults, or for two couples sharing a larger tent.  A photo doesn't really do the design justice, so we have shown the diagram of the layout of the tent to the right.  The tent comes with all the luxury additions that you get in the Calisto, but the additional material and design means it is more expensive.  The 400 model is £425 and the 600 model is £475, which isn't cheap, but it certainly is cool.








Vango Tigris (XL)

Vango Tigris 400XL

The Tigris model (now with the suffix 'XL' in 2012) is essentially the Icarus model with a built-in longer porch (although that doesn't mean you can't still buy another extension to turn it into a mega-porch!).  Also, the flysheet material is 4000HH as opposed to 3000HH in the tents above.  This adds slightly to the weatherproofing, so if you're looking for a tent with an integrated bigger porch and high quality materials then the Tigris XL range is a great choice.

The Tigris comes in a 400XL, 600XL and 800XL models, at an RRP of £350, £450 and £500 respectively.


Vango Samara

Vango Samara 400

Read our review of the Vango Samara 400
Read our review of the Vango Samara 600

The Samara is a cross between the Calisto and the Tigris, with better luxury spec internal design and greater standing height thanks to the vertical poles on the sides of the tent (like the Calisto), plus an integrated longer front porch (like the Tigris).  If you're looking for a family tent with a little more luxury, but with a big porch and no need to faff with extensions, then the Vango Samara is definitely the one for you.

Like the Tigris, the Samara comes in a  400, 600 and 800 model, costing an RRP of £380, £500, and £550 respectively.


Vango Kasari

Vango Kasari 600

For larger groups, the Vango Kasari comes in 600 and 800 models for six and eight people respectively.  The tent is a cross shaped structure, with a door on one end and three distinct sleeping pods.  This tent comes with all the luxuries that you get with the Calisto or the Tigris, and is perfect for larger families or groups of friends who all want their own space.  As with other models, the Kasari can be extended with the use of a front canopy.

Tents of this size don't come cheap - the 600 model has an RRP of £525 and the 800 model is £575.


Vango Astoria

Vango Astoria 600

New for 2012, the Astoria takes the design of the Samara and adds another sleeping vestibule at the front end.  In the 600 model you have two ends that both accommodate three people each, whereas the 800 has two ends that accommodate four people each.  Like the Kasari or the Diablo, this tent is suitable for people who might want their own space, or families who want somewhere to let the kids adventure on their own!  The Astoria is made of the same stuff as the Samara, so it's top spec, and you do pay for it.  The 600 model has an RRP of £550 and the 800 clocks in at £600.

Vango Alpha 250 (2012 model)

Sleeps:  2
Weight:  3.6kgs
Dimensions:  150x210cm
Pack size:  58x16x16cm
RRP:  £65

Read our guide to dome tents here!

Review:  The new Alpha 250 from Vango has a funky new pointed pole at the front of the usual dome structure.  As well as making the tent look cooler, it gives a little more headroom when entering the tent.  On the inside, there is plenty of room for two people - 150cm of width is better than most of the two person tents on the market.  The Alpha range previously had a 200 model and a 250 model - at practically the same price.  Fortunately, Vango has seen the error of their ways and scrapped the poky 200 model in the 2012 range.  This tent isn't going to be the lightest or the best quality, but as an entry level dome tent with a 3000HH flysheet (i.e. really waterproof!) that can be thrown up in just a few minutes, you don't really need anything else unless you're planning on camping in very poor weather or need a lightweight option.

Best bits:  High quality at a decent price, roomier than most two-person tents
Worst bits:  Heavier than more expensive alternatives

RRP:  £65
Where to get it cheaper?: £55 - click here

Comparing dome tents

The most popular backpacking small tent in the UK today is the dome tent.  Usually characterised by two crossing poles to form a rough hemisphere, dome tents are generally stable and easy to pitch.  Cheaper models tend to suffer in high winds, but more expensive models have a 'geodesic' design to keep the tent stable in all conditions.

There are many cheap dome tents on the market today, particularly aimed at festival goers and infrequent campers.  If you're thinking of a buying a cheap dome tent, there are a few things to look out for:

1. Is the groundsheet attached to the tent?  If not, and you are pitched on anything other then perfectly level ground, you risk rain water running into the tent.
2. How strong is the flysheet?  Flysheets are given a rating called 'hydrostatic head', often abbreviated to HH.  If the flysheet is 1000HH or lower, the fabric may let in water or tear easily in high winds
3. Does it easily pitch as both inner and flysheet?  If you need to pitch the inner first every time, this may be tricky if you are trying to pitch in the middle of a rainstorm.

Lichfield Apache

Lichfield Apache

After trying many cheap tents, our favourite at the budget end of the market is the Lichfield Apache (left).  This has 2000HH flysheet, which is more than adequate for spring and summer camping in the UK, is easy to pitch and has everything you need in a budget tent (plus it looks great too).  It comes as a two person and a three person - and our advice is to get the three person even if it is just two of you, it is MUCH bigger (180cm wide vs 120cm wide) for only a few extra pounds.  The best prices we could find were around £30 for the two person (see here) and around £35 for the three person (see here).

Vango Alpha
Read our review of the Vango Alpha 250
Read our review of the Vango Alpha 300

Vango Alpha

Moving up the price spectrum, the best cheap tent from Vango is the Vango Alpha range.  Updated in 2012 to include a bigger U-shaped front door, and a funky V-shaped front pole, the Vango Alpha takes the standard dome tent and gives it a little more quality.  Most noticeable is the strength of the flysheet (now at 3000HH) and the quality of the materials (the poles, zips and pegs are all much better than the cheaper models by other manufacturers).  The range comes in three sizes, the 250, 300 and 400, which are two-person, three-person, and four-person respectively.   It is good to see that Vango has dispensed with the old 200 model, which was too small for two-people.  The 250 is adds extra width without bumping up the price.  Note that you can still pick up the 2011 model for cheaper than the new 2012, and all you are really missing is the V-shaped front pole (it is U shaped on the older model).




Vango Sigma

Vango Sigma

Moving up the price range further, the Vango Sigma is an improved version of the Vango Alpha.  Notice how the frontmost pole crosses the supporting poles near the base.  This is the key to geodesic tent design - crossing poles lead to tension in the fabric in different directions, leading to a more stable tent.  The Sigma also has tension straps running under tent, holding the two sides taut - again adding to stability.  The materials are similar to the Alpha, a 3000HH flysheet, decent poles, zips and pegs.  The Sigma is currently only made as a three person tent (the 300 model), but there this also a 300+ model which has a door at each end.  Unless this is specifically the functionality you are looking for, we recommend saving a few pennies and just getting the 300.  The best price we could find for the 300 was £95 (see here).

Coleman Phad
Read our review of the Coleman Phad X2

Coleman Phad

The Coleman Phad range of tents takes the idea of crossing poles further, with the front pole forming a more structural role within the main body of the tent, and the crossing poles providing the front door.  This tent is made with an impressive 4000HH on the flysheet, and the semi-geodesic structure and 14 anchor points provide excellent wind resistance.  The tent comes as a two-person and a three-person (called the X2 and X3 respectively), but here the price is starting to get up.  The RRPs on these tents is pushing £200, but we've found the X2 for just over £100 here, and the X3 for about £120 here, which makes it competitive with the Vango Sigma.

Coleman Phact

Coleman Phact

Now we get to the real geodesic designs.  These tents are so well designed that they should hold their structure perfectly without the need for guy ropes, and they hug the ground to produce the least wind-resistant profile.  Unfortunately, all this design know-how is not cheap, but the Coleman Phact range is arguably the best 'budget' geodesic tent on the market today.  With a 4000HH flysheet and just four crossing poles, the Phact is both weather-resistant and easy to erect.  But the best news of all is that retailers have been heavily discounting this range of tents recently, and so it's possible to pick up a Coleman Phact X2 for about £75 (see here), and the bigger Coleman Phact X3 for around £90 (see here) - Bargain!

Vango Hurricane
Read our review of the Vango Hurricane 200

Vango Hurricane

If you're looking for a serious dome tent that will face anything the elements can throw at it, then the Vango Hurricane is one of the best tents on the market.  We're now up to a 5000HH flysheet, which is pretty much the toughest in the business.  The design is not indiffernet to the Coleman Phact, but the quality throughout is even higher.  The sleeves for the poles have been designed to sit flat to the tent to minimise wind resistance, all doors and zips are designed to funnel the rain away from the openings, and there are more tension bands beneath the tent to keep the whole structure taut.  All this quality does not come cheap.  The best prices we can find are just over £200 for the two person model (see here), and around £340 for the three person (see here).

Force Ten Vortex

Force Ten Vortex

How do you top the Vango Hurricane?  The Force Ten Vortex, that's how.  Designed for mountain use, the Vortex takes the design of the Hurricane and both lightens it and strengthens it.  The flysheet fabric remains 5000HH strong, but has a weight of just 40D (compared to 70D on the Hurricane), meaning that the whole tent weighs less.  There are tougher guy ropes and an extra crossing point to the poles half way along each side.  This is the real mountain man's tent, but it again, there's a step up in price.  The best prices we can find are £270 for the two person model (see here) and £425 for the three person model (see here).

Vango Force 10 Nitro 200

 
Sleeps:  2
Weight:  1.9kgs
Dimensions:  210x135cm, with external storage space of 110x135cm
Pack size:  40x18x18cm
RRP: £330

Review:  In mid-February 2012 Vango are launching the new model of the Force 10 Nitro 200, called the 'Nitro Lite 200'.  They have shaved a few grams off this 2011 model of the Nitro 200, but at a scary £430 RRP.  If you're looking for a light two-person tents with an end entrance (unlike the side entrance of the Force 10 Helium) and decent external storage space, then the 2011 model of the Force 10 Nitro 200 is a good choice if you can find it at the right price.  Even with heavy discounting, this tent is more expensive than similar sized two person tents, so it's only really aimed at those who need very lightweight characteristics and good quality materials.

Best bits:  Lightweight without feeling like a can of sardines, external storage space
Worst bits:  Expensive unless you need the quality
Alternatives:  The Force 10 Helium 200 is a similar size inside and even lighter.  The Coleman Phad X2 is a cheaper option for a similar sized tent.

RRP:  £330
Where to get it cheaper:  Click here: £193