VANGO NEVIS 200
This is a classic lightweight backpacking tent, and is the sort of thing that Vango does so well. Not only does the Nevis 200 tick all the boxes in terms of weight (just over 2kg), waterproofing (3,000mm hydrostatic head) and size (sleeping area is 185cm long by 120cm wide), but it comes in at a brilliant price. The RRP is a reasonable £140, but start searching around the internet and you’ll find it for around £100, which is excellent value.
The tent has a single main pole, which forms an arch towards the front, while two short, upright poles create the rigidity at the front and rear. Both the aluminium poles are strong but flexible. The flysheet and inner go up together, and after a practice run in the garden, I found pitching straightforward and really easy.
Access is via one of the two side doors, both of which have large storage porches before you enter the inner tent. The vestibules provide somewhere to store your gear and are a sheltered space for cooking and eating.
The inner is designed for two, but in reality the Nevis 200 is best suited for one, providing plenty of space for the solo camper to move around. The ventilation panels inside are designed to cut down on condensation.
The Nevis 200 uses Vango’s TBS II Tension Band System, to give it more rigidity in strong winds. The bands can be unclipped and stashed away in good weather.
It’s not a spectacular tent, but it does exactly what is says on the tin, and for those of us whose lightweight camping is at the lower end of the scale, it’s absolutely perfect.