Originally Posted by
Jonathan Hanson
I'm afraid Vango has gone toward mass-produced, lower-end models in the last few years. Nothing really wrong with them (except for the ones with fiberglass poles) but certainly nothing exceptional. Terra Nova is a better choice if you like European brands. Hilleberg is also superb. The article
here is a good primer for learning what to for and what to ask.
Yeah, it appears Vango currently produces a lot of backyard and festival tents. I found a
Vango Hydra 200 with impressive specs but not enough reviews to reach any definitive conclusion. I’m in the market for a spring-fall-early winter tent for
stealth camping and need a 3-4 pole, 2 person tent that will handle high wind and rain. The
Hilleberg Nammatj 2 checks all my boxes except cost. The
Terra Nova Trisar 2 architecture is practically the same as the Hydra. I understand lighter material comes at a cost premium and rationalize I won’t be backpacking with the tent so the extra weight is acceptable. The 3 tent weights I mentioned are very close with the Trisar coming in 10 ounces lighter. If the Nammatj wins, I’ll have to go with the GT variant or have buyers remorse. Decisions.