Does anyone have any experience of the Vango Omega 350 Tent? I'm considering buying one OR possibly the Vango TBS Equinox 350 Tent, but with the former looking better on paper but the latter being almost twice the price I don't know what the essential differences are. I'm guessing the Equinox is a more rugged affair but I like the idea of the Omega's extra head room, just worried that it's low price might mean it's not rugged enough for serious camping.
Not that I'm planning on going up Everest, just to the Lakes and Scotland in summer/spring/autumn but knowing Scottish weather as I do......
Help??!!
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I bought an Omega 350 a few weeks ago from a tent show. I wanted something which I could pitch quickly and easily on my own for when I go camping with my eldest son (8).
I've only actually pitched it in the garden. It's certainly waterproof as it was out there for a few days before the rain stopped and I could pack it back up. It's really easy to pitch with the inner tent and porch groundsheet pre-attached. Be aware that the porch groundsheet lays flat so leaving a gap between the groundsheet and the flysheet. Could be a bit drafty?
I'm really pleased with it as I think it will suit our needs - one adult and one child in spring or summer time. I'm not sure you'll get much feedback on it though as I believe it's a new model for this year.
The Equinox is designed for more demanding situations hence the price. For one it uses Vango's tension band system which makes it stand up to the wind better. The Omega doesn't have this.
Cheers for the info Steve.
I hope you don't mean that the inner tent is permanently attached to the fly sheet do you? I like being able to disassemble the thing from the inside out in case of bad weather. I assume this is the same as other Vango's where the inner toggles to the outer.
And how much of a gap does the groundsheet leave? AND (sorry about all the questions but you're the only one who seems to know) would there be sufficient room in the vestibule/porch/whatever to cook on a double stove, do you reckon?
Ta
Sorry for the delay in replying; I seem to have lost track of this thread.
To answer your questions:
1) the inner is permenantly attached to the outer. This tent is described as one of Vango's new 'speed pitch' tents so probably applies to all their tents described as such. Something to be aware of.
2) Not much of a gap at the bottom of the flysheet. There are tensioners on the flysheet at the bottom of each pole. I just pointed it out as I think Vango describe the groundsheet as 'bathtub or riser' and it isn't; it's a conventional flat groundsheet.
3) I wouldn't cook in the tent myself but definately room in the porch for a double stove.
Steve
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Cheers Steve, much appreciated.
Does the inner being permanently attached mean there'd be problems with damp do you reckon? I don't have the luxury of being able to unpack my tent and stretch it out to dry when I get home, being in a gardenless flat in London, and am concerned that any condensation still present between the inner and fly sheet when packing up are just going to sit in there growing god knows what in between uses.
Is the 'bedroom' ground sheet a bathtub type or is it all flat, like the porch groundsheet? It certainly appears so from the Vango brochure but you never can tell.
I wish I could go and check one out for myself but I'm struggling to find anyone who actually has one in stock at all, let alone one that I can see erected.
Sorry again for the questions but as I say....you're the expert :)
Thanks again.
Fad, as Stevie says the Equinox can be described as a serious bit of kit. I've read quite a few reviews from people using them in quite awful conditions and they have stood up to it. However, as you said, it's the headroom in the Omega that catches the eye, well that and the alloy poles and quick erect that raises it above the Vango Beta, the cheaper model. The Beta I think has a removal bedroom as its not listed a s quick erect, so I thinkit's the same as the Omega apart from the pole material. I haven't checked the groundsheet spec though. As I was looking at the Omega also, it's really reassuring that Stevie gives it the thumbs up for waterproof, cos I was a little worried about the 2000HH.
The inner can be removed on the equinox I believe, but I'm not sure the porch ground sheet is any different in style to the Omega. It depends how you are going to use it I suppose and whether you can live with on your knees...or semi bent over! If you can crawl about you could look at the Khyam Igloo or Mckinley/Biker which has a porch...these tents also have very good reports for there stability and water soundness in harsh conditions. Not much headroom though. It all depends on what you mean by serious camping. All mountain tents you will notice have much lower profiles...for obvious reasons..and are generally much lighter materials as it is asuumed that they will be carried by hikers, climbers etc. How are you getting about?
For me, If the Omega and Equinox had fully sewn in groundsheets and by fully SIG I mean zipped along the bottom of the door as well...they would be even better....cos I don't react well to mossie bites, something you may encounter in Scotland! The bedroom is secure in that respect however, cos that is sewn in.
I can't think of a tent in this size that has a proper FULL sig.
Wont be a problem drying it...just prop it over a few chairs in the living room and air it out...I'm sure the missus wont mind.
OUTWELL OREGON 3 1450 Ht not alloy poles but 3000mm HH,same shape as Omega
OUTWELL OREGON 4 1550 Ht, 3000 HH rest as above
Or even the SUNNCAMP EVOLUTION 300. Only 1300 Ht but semi geodesic shape and wind friendly profile, 300mmHH AND FULLY ZIPPED SIG including along ground sheet...Keep those mossies OUT! I have been in the larger EVO 400, which has 6 foot headroom in porch, and was quietly impressed. Very good remarks about the EVO 400 from people. None of these tents are mountain tents, but neither is the Omega.
All around £95-£110.
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Old post I know, but just to say that a SIG in a backpacking tent kind of stops it being a backpacking tent as it weighs so much more...the Sunncamps weight so much more than the Vangos etc. I'm looking at an Omega for festivals etc where the tent does have to be carried and put up by two, rather than my Wynnster Mallard 5 which is 15kg and my EasyCamp Torino 200 which is small, and still over 5kg!
i have the omega 350 tent and i love it, i got the 2009 version and the groundsheet in the porch area has been raised up onto the flysheet so there is no gaps now,its over 4kg i think feels a bit on the heavy side carrying for backpacking but shared between two it should be kool. not tried it out yet with bad weather so cant vouch for its watertightness.
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Topic: Vango Omega 350- Any good?
