Good Size, Brilliant Value, High Quality, Sturdy, Easy to Erect
Disadvantages:
None that I can think of !
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
I purchased my Vango Venture 500 towards the end of 2006. For the bargain price of £85.00 and I haven't looked back since! Numourus camping trips have bee happily spent in this tent and it will see many more!
The frame consists of 2 large poles crossing over to make the main dome, and a 3rd smaller pole creating a loop for the porch area. Once erect, with all pegs and guide ropes in place the tent is extremely strong and stable. We have camped in strong winds and strong rain and it has stood strong throughout.
As long as there are two of you, erecting the tent is a swift and easy process. Funnily enough you tend to erect it faster when its raining! And packing it back into the bag is an art the first time but you tend to remember how to do it from then onwards and it's easy enough. When packaged, the tent is relatively heavy, although not too bad for a tent its size! As long as any dirt is swept off and the tent is aired once back at home the condition is excellent.
There is plenty of room inside the tent, with the bedroom pod, and the porch. I'm 5'6 and find standing in the central parts of the tent easy. It feels very roomy and sleeps 4 comfortably, 5 at a squeeze. Once sealed up for the night it retains the warmth and has the two doors, bug net and main privacy door. Plenty of places to hang torches or lanterns also.
The ground sheet runs throughout the tent, and the main pod is attached to this so the main pod is sealed. The groundsheet in the porch clips up onto the sides of the inner tent so that rain cannot come in through the sides.
The porch also has fairly clear windows that have curtains for privacy.
All in all I cannot fault this tent, and would definitely recommend it to anyone.
Update: This review has been up for a while, and having had a good few camping trips since I felt the need to update.
Millets have released their 2008 summer catalogue, and this tent is now called the Vango Ventura 500. New technologies in fabric and tent design have been implemented to most of their tents, so this may be very worth looking into for the summer months. The price has stayed the same which I think is wonderful, such a bargain for what it is.
We took the tent out in the wetter months and despite getting very wet and muddy, it has proven extremely durable and perfectly waterproof. A thorough wipe down and a good airing has it back to tip top standard. Hope this aids any decisions!
