Vango Banshee 200 VS Urban Escape Trek 2 - Choose my Tent!

[wiggydiggy]

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/banshee-200-p183908

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_836731_langId_-1_categoryId_236902

Right then

On a £100 budget for new tent for some short (3-7 nights) UK tours. I've whittled it down to these two and purely on price I'd prefer the Escape, but is there any good reason not to get that one and buy the Banshee instead?

AFAIK the only major difference other than the shape is the Escape is 2.25kg and the Banshee 1.85kg?

Any chance of you views please

 

[oldfatfool]

Both tents will have some issue in heavy rain as there is no porch so with the wind blowing in the wrong direction rain is direct into sleeping compartment.

Having said that I have bought a banshee myself for an upcoming tour, I did look at the Tempest but decided on the Banshee on basis of £ and pounds. I chose Vango on the basis that their kit as always proved reliable and as good longevity over many years as a scout leader.

 

[VamP]

I prioritise ease of pitching over weight, so on that basis I suggest this. Incredibly easy to pitch, and cheap as chips. You could think of it as being practically disposable.

Of the two you're looking at I'd go with Escape. I don't think anything about the Banshee justifies the extra cost, unless weight is a big issue.

 

[oldfatfool]

You could think of it as being practically disposable.

Which you would be doing after the first time it rains (or indeed is mildly damp)

 

[VamP]

Which you would be doing after the first time it rains (or indeed is mildly damp)

Seriously? Why?


2000mm HC is more than we used to get 20 years ago on the best quality tensts. Taped seams too.

Vango is no better than Coleman these days - and I bet you I could have the Coleman up in half the time of the Vango.

Disclaimer: I have no direct experience of the Weekend, but it looks like a direct copy of my little two man Salewa Micra, which is the best tent I have had in 30 odd years of wilderness camping. That, however, would set the OP back about £200.

 

[oldfatfool]

Seriously? Why?


2000mm HC is more than we used to get 20 years ago on the best quality tensts. Taped seams too.

Vango is no better than Coleman these days - and I bet you I could have the Coleman up in half the time of the Vango.

Disclaimer: I have no direct experience of the Weekend, but it looks like a direct copy of my little two man Salewa Micra, which is the best tent I have had in 30 odd years of wilderness camping. That, however, would set the OP back about £200.

That's a bit like saying karimor cycling shorts are a direct copy of Assos so they must be good.

I was using my force 10 Vango 20 years ago and it is still as good today (at over 10kg its a bit heavy though)

Back to the Coleman, the ground sheet looks particularly poor, I'll go out on a limb and say the poles will also be inadequate. If I had to guess I would expect the pegging points to rip from the body with frequent erection. Garden / festival tent, Yes, repetative touring tent, No

As for pitching time, I'll go out on a limb and say I could have the Banshee up before you had finished threading the poles on the coleman, admittedly it may take longer to peg out.

Like I said imho Vango are a good quality option £ for £, I have seen and had to cope with too many wet kids with cheap tents with high and low specs. They are cheap for a reason.

 

[Mark Grant]

Decatlon Ultralight pro
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/t2-ultralight-pro-tent-id_6539976.html

 

[wiggydiggy]

Cheers for the opinions, I do understand on my budget I'm not going to get 'mountain class' quality so for the £££ I was trying to see why I should get the Banshee.

I'll grab the Escape tomorrow, and start saving for a 'proper' tent

Thanks all

 

[VamP]

That's a bit like saying karimor cycling shorts are a direct copy of Assos so they must be good.

I was using my force 10 Vango 20 years ago and it is still as good today (at over 10kg its a bit heavy though)

Back to the Coleman, the ground sheet looks particularly poor, I'll go out on a limb and say the poles will also be inadequate. If I had to guess I would expect the pegging points to rip from the body with frequent erection. Garden / festival tent, Yes, repetative touring tent, No

As for pitching time, I'll go out on a limb and say I could have the Banshee up before you had finished threading the poles on the coleman, admittedly it may take longer to peg out.

Like I said imho Vango are a good quality option £ for £, I have seen and had to cope with too many wet kids with cheap tents with high and low specs. They are cheap for a reason.

See I think you're banking on Vango past reputation a tad too much. I have a modern Vango, and feels just like a Coleman my parents have - cheap. Any tent under £200 is cheap by definition. I doubt there's significant quality difference between the Banshee and the Weekend.

There's no pole threading on the Micra (and by extension I reckon the Weekend too) that's what makes it so quick to erect.

 

[wiggydiggy]

Hey All,

I had some unexpected news at work today and they owe me some £££ So my budget just potentially doubled (I'm really glad I didnt buy the Banshee yesterday!)

I'll add further comments to one of the other ongoing '2 man tent' threads...

This can be closed as I'll be buying a different tent now.

Cheers for all the help!

 

[oldfatfool]

See I think you're banking on Vango past reputation a tad too much.

Possibly, only time will tell, but experience is all I have to go on

Any tent that uses Nylon as opposed to finest cotton and rods rather than 3/4" ally poles feels cheap to me but then I am old