Advantages: Quality
Disadvantages: Expensive

...This sleeping bag has served me well for a long time. I have had it for a few years now and it isn't even showing signs of wear. Vango has not disappointed. Although it is relatively expensive you are paying for quality. I have trekked with this in my pack and it has left plenty of room for all the other essentials, such as tent, clothes, food, etc... This sleeping bag is definately a great buy. My only problem with it is that it did not keep me warm in the winter, but this was to be expected as it is not advertised to be all that effective in conditions below -10 degrees. I would recommend this to any serious camper/hiker for the spring/summer months. It is easy to pack down and compress in the bag given, with compression straps. Ends up in at a very manageable size, although not the smallest you can get. The price reflects... Read review

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Advantages: Good Size, Brilliant Value, High Quality, Sturdy, Easy to Erect
Disadvantages: None that I can think of!

...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... Read review

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Advantages: Warm, Extreme
Disadvantages: Size

...The Vango Predator 450 is a flagship synthetic bag packed with features to make this one of the best bags proving plenty of bang, for your buck. "The Predator range of sleeping bags is designed for use at the extreme limit. Available in mummy or square. Predators will be used by experienced campers, mountaineers and expedition members who will only use the highest performance sleeping bag suitable for the most hostile environments. Highly compressible Dupont Thermolite Extra is used in conjunction with Thermolite Micro for the ultimate warmth to weight ratio." As stated this bag is for use in slightly more 'wild' conditions, where some down bags would provide to much heat and most synthetic bags wouldnt provide enough. Although this bag has the disadvantage with most synthetic bags, the size, it does hold most of the properties which... Read review

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Advantages: Lightweight, spacious, well made
Disadvantages: fiddly to put up

...It’s only an op about a tent……honestly! Who’s that fella Vango anyway………….?! I consider myself a hardened camper. My experiences range from a bivvy bag above the Boulder Ruckle in Swanage, to a budget Millets 2-pole tent on the Orkneys, from family holidays in Harlech under a vast canvas and steel construction to New Years Eve in a Vango Force Ten Mk5 in Langdale, as well as several seasons in the Swiss Alps, plus many, many other trips. I have camped in rain, wind, sleet, snow, sun and thunderstorms. I have pitched a tent halfway up a mountain, in tropical jungle, in a lay-by and on the beach. I have had my tents blown away, been soaked to the skin, eaten by midges, infested by ants (and once a hedgehog) and still come back for more. Right, we thought, it’s time to introduce the children to this fabulous pastime. Besides it... Read review

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Advantages: Good size, quite high, sturdy, easy to put up
Disadvantages: Large and quite heavy when packed

...We bought this tent at the beginning of the summer 2005 from Gaynor Sports in Ambleside. It was only ever intended for use by two of us (my wife and myself) and our dog, but we wanted a bit of room to get dressed in and store stuff and most importantly we wanted to be able to stand up it. The Vango Venture 500 was set up and was a winner as soon as we looked at it. Dimensions and Layout The tent measures approximately 12' X 8' and is about 5'10" high at the highest point. There is a large porch at the front which takes up about a third of the length of the tent, and the rest is taken up by the bedroom. The Porch The porch is a good enough size to set up a table and two chairs to eat if required, as we have done in the past, and it has two entrances, a large one to the front of the tent or a smaller one to the side... Read review

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Advantages: Stable, value for money, excellent customer services
Disadvantages: Too heavy for backpacking

...I received this tent for Christmas 2003 and it has done me proud. Although its name says 250 (which I assume means it fits 2 and a half poeple) it is comfy as a 2-man and I would not want to try it with an extra person. NOTE this review refers to the old and the current version of this tent. The reasons I wanted this tent were: You can pitch the flysheet first (in case of rain) It can cope with all sorts of weather Vango have a good reputation A brief description This is a long low tent. Half the length contains the sleeping compartment, which is very well esigned with a sewn in groundsheet (of which more later) and lots of pockets along the sides for all those things you don't want to lose. The door of the inner tent can be folded away. The other half of the tent is the porch area with lots of space to put all your stuff. This half... Read review

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Advantages: Sturdy & Roomy
Disadvantages: Not a backpackers tent!

...Simply put...a good buy! If you are looking for a mid range tent with ample room and that doesn't blow away in a slight wind then this is a great tent. Shape. The Vango 300 (there is also a 200 & 400) is decribed as a Geodesic design , basically it looks like two dome tents that have been merged together, so is quite an odd looking shape. But this means that internally there is a lot of space and has 2 entrances with porches on either side. This is excellent for changing your exit/entrance when windy or in driving rain. Size. 240x 285 cm 150 cm high Sleeps 3 (comfortably) Weight 9.2 kg (a little on the heavy side, not a backpackers tent!) Pitching Relatively easy if you have a pitched a dome tent before. It has 5 collapsable poles that are colour coded. The Inner tent is put up first. The only problem is with lining up... Read review

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Advantages: very spacious, steel frame
Disadvantages: large pack, heavy

...... Read review

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Advantages: Budget kit always in stock
Disadvantages: No high end gear - special orders cost £5 postage....

...should be avoided as well, their lack of load transfer to the hipbelt will leave the user with quite a sore back, spend a bit of extra money and go for a berghaus, vango, karrimor etc (well respected but more expensive brands!) Staff knowledge is where Millets stores often fall down - quite often you find very few enthusiasts working as staff - something noted on various www.outdoorsmagic.com discussion forums and this can lead to customers being given quite wrong advice.... having said that cotswolds are said to suffer from the same problem All in all, if you want a tent for camping in european campsites, are going to do some walking along lowland marked trails etc, you'll find everything you need in here and staff will advise you VERY well. Going on an expedition and want advice etc??????.............Forget it, go to Tiso (found them... Read review

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Advantages: Keep Warm! Go 5 season if u can......
Disadvantages: None if you don't buy cheap "wind tunnels"

...for although again there are products where you just pay for the name!! Gelert is a good one for those on a tight budget! Remember if in doubt as to what seasons your gonna use it in - go warmer; you can always undo the zip!! Also all you couples, remember when buying in pairs you have to but bags with zips on opposite sides otherwise when they're zipped together one of you ends up with a hood over your face!!! P.s. for those of you interested I use a 4 season hollowfill Vango bag (along with a therma-rest) - I haven't been cold in it yet! Top tip, If you want to wash your bag then they are better dried on cool ina big tumble dryer as it fluffs up the filling, otherwise you might get clumps where it's stuck together!... Read review

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