Review of Vaude Mark III Tents
Weight is an important consideration for hikers, as it
can determine how far a trek will last until you camp.
Durability shouldn’t be sacrificed
for extreme lightness, though, like some tents out there.
Taking this into consideration, the
Mark III just went straight for the durability part.
German tent experts Vaude really made
this four season tent to stand some of the harshest weather out there.
Is this its only draw for camping
enthusiasts? Far from it; let’s find
out what this Vaude offering can do for your next outdoor adventure.
So, what makes the Mark III one of the most durable
tents out there? One factor is its PU
coated polyester Flysheet and Polyamid inner.
With a 5000 mm hydrostatic head rating, this impressive product can
withstand all kinds of crazy wind and rain. Its
10,000 HH ground sheet also aids in this respect.
What really helps, though, is the
Mark III’s aerodynamic design, which lets even the strongest winds just
woosh on by without uprooting the whole tent.
But if the climate gets to be a little too much, Vaude included a
set of storm anchoring points to make sure your home in the wild won’t go
anywhere. Despite its resistance to
the wind however, it can be surprisingly well ventilated, especially through
the vestibules.
Speaking of vestibules, this tent has two!
Sometimes setups like that can only
be found in much bigger tents, but Vaude included this in the Mark III
design for more space and comfort. Brought
a lot of gear? No problem.
Just park your bags and boots by the
vestibules. This makes it really easy
to just relax and stretch out inside the tent, without having to worry about
banging your head on your tiny frying pan. The
space inside this tent is actually so impressive, that Vaude should be
remembered for its high headroom. A
lot of their tents have this quality in fact, that it might be Vaude’s
trademark.
What will really convince you to buy this tent however,
is that it is one of the easiest to pitch. External
shock-corded poles ensure that you aren't going to have to worry about the
tent when setting up camp. Ofcourse,
it would be a shame if the exact opposite where true when dismantling the
tent. Vaude put on its thinking cap
though, as the Mark III won’t give you problems in that regard as well.
As good as this tent is, it still has a few problems
that a buyer would need to consider. At
4.10 kilos, it’s not exactly the lightest tent you can buy.
Also, be wary of the three person
rating. That’s the absolute limit and
should not be consistently followed. It
is also advisable to purchase a floor protector for the groundsheet.
It may be near water proof, but it
can still be punctured.
If you don’t mind carrying an extra 4 kilos in your
pack, or if you prefer driving to camp, then the Vaude Mark III is an
excellent purchase. It may be a tad expensive at around $300, but that’s the
price you pay for safety and comfort in the wilderness.
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