We are having to take our Vango Icarus 500 back again (now on our second one!) because once again the sleeping pod had small holes in various places especially on joins where it attaches to the main tent.
Plus the porch we got had a split pole, as we were already at the campsite we had to use it!
Has anyone else had any problems? We have only used our tent and porch once! Quite honestly I thought the stitching quality was awful all over the tent and sleeping pod! Is it because I didn't go for an Outwell lol?!
We had similar problems with ours but the main thing is it just didnt sit right when pitched so winfields offered a refund. We decided to go for the tigris 600 which we`re now on our 2nd one due to bad stitching. Nod had chance to use the replacement yet but if its not 100% it`ll be going bad and thats the last vango i`ll be owning
Outwell had its quality gremlins last year, may be one or two have defected to Vango this year. Seriously, if your supplier has all its tents from a bad batch, a replacement could just have the same/similar faults.
For the money, I do think some people have very high expectations. OK - the flysheet and groundsheet need to be waterproof and poles in good condition initially, but a few loose threads that haven't be cut off and a wobbly seam here or there for a tent costing well under £200 IMHO is nothing to worry about.
I've had to do little alterations and improvements to most of my tents over the years - including the 4 we currently have - 2 Vango, 1 Coleman and 1 Kampa - although the Kampa is consistently the highest quality throughout, but you do tend to pay for the privilege. On our large Premium range Vango I am adding an extra toggle to the divider in the inner tent (I am not bothered about a bit of untidy overlocking on one of the seams on the inner tent even though I am a seamstress and could sort it - the seam is sound). For the Vango Kairos I have moved a toggle for the base of the door so it lines up better, for the Coleman I've had to darn the flymesh, create a condensation catcher for over the inner tent and am about to make curtains for the windows. For the Kampa, I have had to Tenacious tape some of the heat seamed tape on one seam, which hadn't adhered as well as it should.
As one retailer member of the forum has said in the past - there is no such thing as a perfectly made tent.
You wouldn't get much of a tent for the prices many of us are prepared to pay or can afford in the UK even if the people who made it got the UK minimum wage. Unfortunately for us, Chinese workers are starting to have similar quality of life expectations, which is putting pressure on manufacturers to trim where they can to keep prices within our expectations. I fear quality control may be one of the areas taking a hit here.
------------- Love our set-up and need no more tents or gear, so trying to stop looking!
Hi. I couldn't have said it better my self. Its like everything in life. You get what you pay for. I have a vango 2010 icarus 500. A few wobbly seams and some taped seams that could have been heated more but all in all im very pleased with it. My first tent and its in its second season. You do tend to hear of only bad ones but don't forget all the hundreds of good ones out there.
------------- HI DE HI.
Unity- March 29-31.
Warner Farm July 25-30.
Lots of weekend tripsat Unity.
Summer breeze festival-July
unity- august
I got my 2010 Icarus 500 and it was all perfectly fine except one small hole in the groundsheet. I was dissapointed and looked into the bother of having it investigated, but in the end put some Tenacious Tape under and over it. I have no other problems with quality control but I do think that you've been unlucky with a batch. I hope you get a tent you can use soon.
The Icarus is basically a great tent for the money and you will be hard pressed to find a better tent at that price. Unfortunately Vango seem to have had some quality issues this year and as always we tend to take notice of the few bad ones that slip through rather than the hundreds of good ones.
------------- Experience enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.
Everything has been said before, but since nobody ever listens we have to keep going back and saying it all over again and again and again
McNett Tenacious Tape is excellent for tent repairs - is a clear tape that can be used to repair rips and holes in flysheets, groundsheets, coats, bags, etc. Cut bigger than the hole, round the corners at bit and press/rub over to ensure good bubble free adhesion and you'll have an instant, almost invisible long term water-tight repair. Comes in a length or patches. Just enter it into Google and you'll find plenty of sources. We have some in the tent repair kit and in a drawer at home (as its surprising what can be repaired with it).
------------- Love our set-up and need no more tents or gear, so trying to stop looking!
Always worth having some tenacious tape handy it sticks like
------------- Experience enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.
Everything has been said before, but since nobody ever listens we have to keep going back and saying it all over again and again and again
We purchased a 2010 Icarus 500 in May as a 'weekend tent' and overall we are very impressed with it.
Our only problem has been when our camping table was placed near the front door, the wind blowing the tent against the table resulted in a hole appearing in the mesh door looking a little bit like a cigarette burn.
we're on our 2nd year with our Icarus 500 and can honestly say its a great tent. very easy to put up and take down. Will admit that one pole has split, but that could easily have been us being too rough rather than a quality issue...
Another happy Icarus 500 user here. 2nd season and for a tent that only cost £110 at the time, I'm more than happy with the weekends away that we've had it in, rain and shine.
I am not going to mention any brands but I would like to expand a little on what Speedcamp said above..
Tents are made to a quality and standard that we in the uk are happy to pay for. A nice simple 3 poled tent might sell for say £150 ish, this same tent with the same fabrics could cost £250 ish if it was to be made to the best possible standards with every tent check fully before packing etc.
Its the price we pay for wanting everything so cheap.
Talking of cheap, buy buy buy now as you will be in for yet another shock next season. Tent prices are going up.
Gary Cross
------------- Gary Cross - The masked camping guru.
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: anyone had probs with Vango Icarus 500?
. Seriously, if your supplier has all its tents from a bad batch, a replacement could just have the same/similar faults. 
