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
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| 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)
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| 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)
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| 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)
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| 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)
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| 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)
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| 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)
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| 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)
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| 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)
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| 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
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| 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...
