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Just bought a Vango Milano 350. The fibre poles that go through the flysheet are very very tight. In fact I took the first one back to the shop and had a replacement but this is the same. The only way I could get the pins into the pole ends was to hold the pins with pliers whilst bending the pole, they eventually went in. Surely they should not be this tight? I have left the tent erected for a while and tried to ease the fabric where the poles fit by spraying water on them.

This tent will be used by my daughter who is quite capable of solo pitching but there is no way she would be able to get these poles into the pins even with pliers.

So, should they be this tight? have I done the right thing by pitching it anyway? what can I do to make things easier?

I did ring Vango but they said release the adjusters. There are no adjusters and all straps were loose.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Have to say the first few times we used our tents, the pins were very tight - OH had to do it as I just didn't have the strength to bend the poles enough to get the pins in.

Once the tent had been used a couple of times I was able to do it myself.

Pegging the tent corners first can make it a nighmare getting the poles on the pins until you are used to it, as there is less flexibility for the flysheet to move around. Unless windy, its better to peg after the poles are constructed. Its also usually best to insert the pins whilst the tent is on the ground. You also need to pull the pole sleeve round towards to as you insert the pin, making sure its not snagged. You'll also find that there is a way of holding the pin that makes it more parallel with the pole and easier to go in without trapping your fingers.

With our Coleman Rock Springs, the pins were trapped intentionally on the flysheet side of the ring within a fabric sleeve. This placed far too much pressure on the flysheet (an acknowledged problem with that tent) - solved it by unthreading the split ring and freeing the pin - added a few extra cm per pole. I don't think that Vango do likewise, but make sure the pin is the furthest side of the split ring from the flysheet, which will help too.

Well I spoke to Vango. Looks like something wrong with the tent/poles. So took it back to shop and bought a vango beta instead. Everything is fine with this model.

Thanks for all the replies.