Review of Vango Ultralite 200 Tents
Ever wondered how it would feel like to bring a house a
long on a camping trip? Some tents
can make you feel that way and the Vango Diablo 900 is one of them.
There are trips where you want to
feel like Tarzan and on the other hand, there are times when utter
relaxation is the key. The 900 is
definitely for the latter. It’s a
tough, no-nonsense tent that’ll fit your family and then some.
Vango has a reputation for making lightweight tents,
but this one sure is a heavyweight. At
20 kilos, one really doesn’t see this being brought along on a leisurely
hike. That was never the intention
of this piece of equipment, though, as the Diablo is one of those heavy duty
shelters you bring along on a drive to camp.
That’s preferable anyway for a worry free trip, nothing too rough.
To make for a smooth trip, the
waterproof fabric really does its job against inclement weather conditions.
Its touted Powerflex poles actually
feel like they can handle considerable punishment as well.
Fire retardant fabrics also make
this one potent shield against the elements; although you really shouldn’t
go out of your way to test these features. Even
insects will have a hard time getting through its thick ground sheet, not to
mention rain water.
At the end of the day though, all around camping
comfort is this tent’s specialty. Some
trusty ergonomics make the Diablo 900 true to its word, as it is definitely
spacious. Eight people can be
comfortable inside the tent with some room to spare.
It’s also got great ventilation, as
mesh vents and doors are part of the grand design.
That’s also another thing to keep
the bugs out, no supper for them in this trip.
Add that to breathable material, and
you’ve got the makings of a sweet dream.
There’s a little flaw however, to a tent this size.
It’s one heroic task trying to set
up this behemoth. It even comes with
an instructional DVD to help explain the how-to’s of the operation.
At least two of you are needed to
pitch the Diablo 900, and even then it could take more than 45 minutes the
first time. Practice is definitely a
must. After a few rounds, you can cut set-up time to around 25 minutes.
Still, that’s time one would rather
spend sipping Mojitos on the lawn chair. Once
the tent is up however, it’s smooth goings the rest of the way… until it’s
time to dismantle. A better saddle
bag should be purchased to easily pack this demon.
It would really be a bad idea to bring this tent along,
if there are only going to be two of you. There’s
a reason this tent can hold nine, and one should really maximize its
potential. Near the $500 range, it’s
affordable for the grit and space that it so confidently exudes.
The Vango Diablo 900 is all kinds of
proof, and that’s something to put you’re mind at ease in the great
outdoors. Despite difficult
pitching, having great defense in the wild is worth it.
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