The Tent
The Vango Tigris range is a new tent range in their Family collection for the 2009 season and is a 4 Berth tent based on the classic Tunnel style. The range is available in three sizes, the 400 (4 berth), 500 (5 Berth) and the 800 (8 Berth) the tent range footprint increases with the more berths. Using Vango’s proven Protex polyester flysheet the tent has a HH rating of 3000mm which coupled with fiberglass poles ensures a very quick and easy to pitch tent. The tent has ample space for a small family tent with a two bedroom pod layout, both the bedroom doors fold back into a side pockets and the privacy divider can be removed if only a single sleeping pod is required. The tent also features Vango’s Tension Band System (TBS), if the wind picks up and the tent starts to flex in the wind by connecting the TBS bands inside the tent, this reduces this flex by connecting the sides to the top of the tent by the bands where the poles are located and indeed does vastly reduce flex. The tent has the benefit of two windows either side at the front to ensure the tent is nice and light, two doors also ensure good access and the front door doubles up as a canopy with the supplied porch poles. The tent would be ideal for a couple or a family with smaller children and is made to a very high specification (see below) and is designed to ensure comfort and durability and would be a good first family tent for those with a smaller family
 

Pitch Footprint, Size And Weight
Width: 280 cm, Length: 495 cm, Height: 200 cm
Packed Size : Tent 79 cm x 45 cm x 28 cm
Weight : Tent 16.4 kg

Erection / Pitching
The tent being a tunnel tent ensures a quick and easy pitch when erecting the tent and the tent has three different lengths of poles all of which are colour coded to ensure the right pole is used in the right pole sleeve. Once the tent is out of the bag we found it easier to loosely peg the four corners out first. Once this is done, snap the poles together and insert the main poles into the respective colour coded sleeves locate one side of the pole on the ring and pin system then bend the pole into shape and locate the other side. Repeat this with the other two pole’s, insert the smaller of the poles in the eyebrow porch over the side door. Although this is entirely possible to pitch by a single person we pitched with two people and this would reduce the total pitching time. Once all the poles are in shape we started pegging the guy ropes out and securing the remainder of the tent pegging points.

 The Cost
Expect to pay around £180 for this new 400 model, £225 for the 600 and £250 for the 800 model. Also available for the whole range are footprint, carpet and an extension

The Verdict

We found the tent would be as suggested a very good all round small family tent, being a three pole tunnel tent and without any practice the tent was up and pitched in under 20 minutes, with practice this could easily be reduced to just other 15 minutes. The tent is lovely and airy and affords plenty of space to retreat to if the weather takes a turn for the worse. What more can be said this tent has been well thought out made to a very good quality and features, would in our opinion be a good starter tent for a couple or a small family.

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.