Vango Voyager 400 Tunnel Tent-River, 4 Persons [Amazon Exclusive]

Product Information

The two side panels include a mesh door that is split 60/40, in case you only want to open it a little to gain entry. The three front panels include doors with mesh and zip curtains, and there are skylights near the roof. Fully sewn-in groundsheet in sleeping area with attached flat groundsheet in porch for easy cleaning

For something a little more rugged and wet weather capable, consider the Vango Voyager 400 Tunnel Tent. It is constructed from superior waterproof materials and rated to 4000mm. Factory taped seams add to the overall waterproof rating of this tent. Everyone likes a bargain, and boasting a 55-year legacy of making a host of great value offerings for Duke of Edinburgh participants across the country and beyond, it’s perhaps no surprise that Scottish brand Vango strikes a good balance between cost and features. Waterproof PE groundsheet - Robust and hardwearing fabric to stand up to the rigours of the most active campers King Pole Doors - Integrated eyelets allow optional king poles to prop open doors to create a canopy Hook the elastic holding pole sections at the end nearest the broken section and pull out so knot can be undone (or if necessary cut off)

Manual

Tents have come a long way since founder of the Caravan and Camping Club Thomas Hiram Holding stitched his own silk A-frame number (so-called because of the shape it forms when pitched) in the late 1800s and literally wrote the book about the joys of camping. This makes it a great option if you’re touring on bikes (you can store them safely in with you) or kids in trailers, or dogs. It also works well in bad weather as you have an area you can comfortably get organised and dressed in without having to get wet. The designers have made use of this hybrid nature to give the 400 its hexagonal shape, yet its depth is still only 300cm. Five of those six sides can include a removable panel, so on a hot day, it would be easy to turn your awning into a sun canopy.

The waterproofing is good (3000mm) and there are mesh panels for ventilation, though how well you pitch it can affect this. The groundsheet is made from a durable fabric and extends to inside the porch, which an adequate size, but you’d struggle to fit in everything if four adults brought along large bags.Lights out inner tent -darker fabric reduces the amount of early morning light. Integrated eyelets allow optional king poles to prop open doors to create a canopy Which is the best tent? It’s a big question. In the same way that there is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing, I truly believe that there’s never a bad time to camp, only unsuitable tents. And I should know; I’ve slept in most of them.

Entry for this ‘light’ version is through either the single front door or the hatch in the middle, underneath – which is perfect in a rainstorm as no water can get in when you open it. The tent structure, insect mesh and waterproof flysheet are a breeze to erect using the supplied lightweight aluminium poles.Once fully inflated it’s very durable and extremely waterproof, with a 6,000mm hydrostatic head rating. It has some welcome well-thought-out features too, such as the small roof above the side door – great to stop you getting soaked while unzipping it. I like the darkened lining in the bedrooms to help stop kids waking up with at the first sign of sunrise, and the wheeled carry bag. In fact I fail to see how you could manoeuvre it otherwise. That didn’t seem to affect its stability, but you could possibly lessen this effect on the inside by attaching a roof lining (an optional extra). There is also an annexe, that can be used for storage or sleeping space, or as somewhere to leave a bike – it has its own door. They recommend four people do this job, which is asking a bit much for a two-person tent. The two of us managed, with a bit of pre-planning and using my garden bench first as a practice run (highly recommended). Can it go on my car? Was the first question I asked when rooftop tents began appearing on the market a few years ago for the same price as a top of the range family model. After much research, ­‘no’ has definitely been the resounding answer - although, in all fairness, I do drive a three-door VW Fox.