Vango Columbia 600
(Sleeping Capacity 6 persons)

The Tent
The Vango Columbia range is a new tent range in their Family Premium collection for the 2009 season and is a 6 Berth tent based on the classic Tunnel style. The range is available in two sizes, the 400  (4 berth) and the 600 (6 Berth). Using Vango’s proven Protex polyester flysheet the tent has a HH rating of 5000mm which coupled with Vango’s Power Plus steel poles ensures a very sturdy design whilst still remaining quite easy to pitch. The tent has ample space as a family tent with a three bedroom pod layout. In two of the pods the divider can be removed to allow a larger bedroom in a two pod layout. The tent also features Vango’s Tension Band System (TBS), if the winds pick up and the tent starts to flex, by securing the TBS bands inside the tent vastly reduces this flexing. The tents front entrance is unique, in that you have the ability to unzip both the door and window together and roll them up to open up the entire front of the tent which is great on a very hot day. The tent also incorporates Vango’s Air Flow Vent system to ensure adequate ventilation at all times, this is a system of small vents incorporated between the lower skirts of the flysheet and the sewn in groundsheet, the vents are well covered to stop water egress but provide a good level of ventilation. The tent would be ideal as a family tent and is made to a very high specification (see below) being designed to ensure comfort and durability at a very reasonable price point.

Pitch Footprint, Size And Weight
Width: 445 cm, Length: 590 cm, Height: 220 cm
Packed Size : Tent 75 cm x 48 cm x 37 cm , Poles 69 cm x 27 cm x 11cm
Weight : Tent 21.4 kg , Poles 11.2 kg

Erection / Pitching
The tent being a tunnel tent ensures a quick and easy pitch with all the main poles being identical which makes the pitching relative easy. Once the tent is out of the bag we found it easier to loosely peg the four corners first. Once this is done you will need to get as much air into the tent, this can be done by unzipping the front door, getting inside the tent and lifting the material. Snap the poles together and lay in place along either side of the tent ready for pitching. Insert the first roof bar starting from the front, insert the side legs and locate in the ring and pin system, you will find this is best done with two people, one either side although it is possible to erect on ones own. Peg out the front two guy ropes (either side of the front door) then work your way to the back of the tent locating the next roof bar and then inserting the side legs on the roof bar and then locating on the ring and pins and so on. Once this is complete, starting from the back to the front, peg the flysheet and guy ropes down making sure the poles are square and in alignment with each other. When working to the front during the pegging operation, insert the side porch pole prior to pegging the porch in position. Finally attach the inner tent on the attached hanging points on the flysheet. 

The Cost
Expect to pay around £330 for this new 400 model and £365 for the 600 model as tested. Also available are footprint, carpet and an extension

The Verdict
Vango are a very well known and established maker in the camping field and this new tent for the 2009 season is sure to be a big seller with family’s. It’s not the quickest tent to pitch (around 40 - 45mins) but with practice this can be reduced to around the 35mins mark. The 600 would suit a family that requires a good size tent with three separate bedroom pods and not the usual two pods as with other makes on the market. The tent is very well made with some great features at a very good price.

Information and Links
For further information on Vango Tents check out our Vango Pages
Or visit Vango at their website Vango

Reviewed by Rickit (03/2009)
Note We recommend with all tents that you see them fully erected and satisfy yourself that the product is right for you prior to making a purchase.