Just been to Winfields near Redditch to see the new Vango Airbeam tents, and have to say I am impressed! The poles are much bigger than I realised they would be but seem just as sturdy as any other type, and in fact the tents (the smaller Velocity and the larger Infinity) seemed to be doing pretty well in today's horrible windy, rainy weather. (That said, I imagine they have probably taken care to pitch them as well as possible, where it sometimes feels like they haven't taken quite so much care over some of the other tents!)
Inside, the Infinity felt very spacious (it's very tall!) and nicely made - and dark! The only thing I just don't understand about these tents is the lack of windows - it would be fine in good weather when you can have both doors open, but in poor weather it's very gloomy inside with just one not very large window (there may have been one window on each side, but even if there was, it was still very dark inside the tent).
All in all a stylish, well-made, sturdy tent, which might have tempted me if only it had more windows! it will certainly be interesting to see what developments happen over time as people buy and use them.
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Hi BeakerUK.
I got to see the Vango Airbeam at Winfields Haslingden a couple of weeks back, but having also seen the Karsten inflateable tents, at a display in Cheshire last year, I have to say that the Vango's are toys in comparison.
Of course I am not comparing like with like, as the Karsten tents would set you back the thick end of £5k!.
So at around £650 for the Vango, you are still getting a decent tent for your money, but it's not in the same league as a Karsten, not by a long chalk.
I'd love to see a Karsten! Sadly no way I'd ever be able to afford one, though, so Vango might be my best bet in my ongoing search for the easiest-to-pitch tent - and even that won't be happening for a fair old while. Fun to look at in the meantime, though :-D
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I also saw the Infinity 600 at Winfields (Rossendale though), and was similarly impressed. It looks incredibly well made, and unlike most other Vango tents historically, its fully sealed, no little flap which the insects can crawl through.
Previously i'd always written off Vangos because of the flaps at the doors. I had a Vale 700 which all but ruined a fenland trip because it was full of flies.
My Evo 400 is my most used tent, but its a bit slow to put up, i use it either with my other half or by myself, so i think an Infinity 400 may save me a lot of time and effort. Expensive though, and i cant see one up yet.
Very tempted to put a deposit down.
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Outwell Carolina L
Sunncamp Evolution 400
Khyam Igloo
I have a little Peridot ambience for which I paid £30 and it is fairly good but only garden camped in it just in case it wasn't!
I would like to see these ones as I do think they are really costly and I wonder how much different (other than size obviously) they are from the existing periodots?
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Dec/Jan -Cornwall nr Padstow (cottage)
Feb - our garden (tent)
March - Llangollen (cottage)
March -Town Farm, Bucks.
April - garden..again..need to get out more...
May - Acoustic Festival of Britain Uttoxeter
Having been to Winfields Haslingden/Rossendale recently and had a good poke around the tent display as I always do, I hadn't even twigged that there were inflatable tents hiding amongst the regulars. I shall have to take a closer look next time I'm there...
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We went to Winfields at Haslingden yesterday - they had one of the Airbeam tents up inside the store, and then more in their outdoor display. Look very nice, but didn't spend much time studying them, totally out of our price range at the moment :-)
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Went to see the Vango Airbeam tents
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