Vango Banshee 200 Tent
Product Review & Walking Gear Test

	Banshee 200 Tent Vital Statistics: Colours: Pine Sizes: 2 person Weight: 2.10Kgms SRP: £120.00

Banshee 200 Tent

Vital Statistics:

Colours:
Pine

Sizes:
2 person

Weight:
2.10Kgms

SRP:
£120.00

Features to Note:

Pack size 44x13cms
All in one pitching
TBS® II Tension Band System
Flysheet: Protex® 5000HH HC polyester 68D
Goundsheet: Polyester, 6,000mm
Polyester Inner Tent
Poles: PowerLite® 7001-T6 alloy, colour coded poles
Fire retardant fabrics
Flysheet vents with mesh covering
Walking pole attachment eyelet in door
Part mesh inner door
Compression stuffsac
Recommended for use on Duke of Edinburgh scheme expeditions

In-use Test:

The Banshee 200 is from Vango's Expedition range and is nominally a 2 person tent and with a flysheet/groundsheet spec that should make it fine for up to and including 3 season use. It also features a newer, more flexible version of Vango's Tension Band System (TBS). TBS provides additional stability for tunnel tents in side-winds by effectively providing an internal bracing system for each pole. The newer TBS II system combines the webbing of TBS with the external guying system of the tent.

So far (a rainy night in the Peak District with some moderate wind), I've been impressed with it. It's certainly light weight and extremely easy to pitch (ca 5 minutes first time). Once up, it felt very stable and secure. I made sure the flysheet was as taught as possible and didn't have any issues with the rain or the wind. It's well ventilated - there are 2 small vents at each end plus the flysheet door can function as a vent if necessary. Overall I was pretty comfortable.

On my own inside, there was enough space for me lying down (I'm 5'10'') plus my backpack. However, I could only just about sit up and there's not much room to do anything other than lying down/sleeping. Even delving for stuff in your backpack is a bit of a challenge. There is, however, a small covered porch area that can be used for cooking - albeit with care as this is a pretty small area.

This is described as a 2 person tent - and yes two people can sleep in it but you'd have to use your backpacks as make-shift pillows. So practically speaking, I view this as a (comfortable) one person tent.

The quality of the overall finish seems good.

Buying Advice:

Vango's Banshee 200 is a well-made, reliable backpacking tent - best for single occupancy - unless two of you are traveling extremely lightly!

What do you think?

Have you got a Vango Banshee 200 Tent?

We would love to hear what you thought of it - good, bad or indifferent. Perhaps you simply disagree with the verdict above - or feel an important feature has been negelected.

Let us know by clicking this link - What I think of Vango Banshee 200 Tent - so we can publish your important views below.

• Good design and excellent flysheet. Groundsheet is a bit thin and some reservations about quality if poles. Vango should up their game a little here but still hard to beat at the price.

Mark Fielding, Nottingham