The Vango Banshee Pro is a bit of a legend in the outdoor world as it is the perfect balance between, pack size, weight, space and cost. For your money, you are getting a 2-man backpacking tent that has a total weight of 2.39kg and is perfect for those doing their Duke of Edinburgh, or those wanting a lightweight tent for 1 person with more room for their kit.
This 2-pole tunnel style tent is easy to pitch as the fly and inner can be pitched and packed down together. The floor is a durable 70 denier polyester fabric with a 6000mm hydrostatic head, which can be increased by the use of the Banshee Pro 200 Footprint. Not only will this help to keep moisture from potentially seeping up through the floor of the tent, it helps to prolong the life of your tent by protecting the floor from sharp objects, and acts as a ground sheet for the porch area.
The flysheet has been updated with an added ripstop weave, making it 13% stronger, and it has a Hydrostatic head of 5000mm, which is more than enough to keep the rain at bay. The pre-angled poles are effective against side winds and can be reinforced in adverse weather conditions (especially strong, changeable winds) with the use of Vango’s TBS II (Tension Band System). These attach to the poles and acts as extra anchor points.
The durable, lightweight pre-shaped alloy poles also create a larger internal living space and during the morning and before you bed down for the night you can use a walking pole to create a larger outdoor sheltered area, that is ideal for cooking and shade, by attaching it to the eyelet on the door and pegging it in place. The internal is made from a breathable polyester fabric so condensation can move to the tent outer for a more comfortable night’s sleep. When it comes to reducing condensation on the flysheet, vents on the end and doors aid airflow and depending on the weather conditions you can also use the webbing straps on the corners of the fly to raise or lower the edge to increase or decrease ventilation.
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Flysheet: 68D 190T Ripstop Polyester 5000mm - Strong, durable fabric, now with a ripstop weave providing 13% more strength. Waterproof to a hydrostatic head of 5000mm.
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Yunan Eco Alloy Poles - Extremely high-quality poles made with acid-free processing by Yunan. These poles provide excellent strength in high winds as well as being very light.
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Tunnel tent - Style provides the greatest space to weight ratio
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Flysheet and inner pitch together - Quick and easy to pitch and pack
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Pre-angled poles - Achieve greater internal space than with a standard curve. Provides effective bracing against side winds
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Patented Vango TBS II Tension Band System - increases tents performance in adverse conditions, especially in strong, changeable winds. When tensioned, the bands brace the pole at 3 points and prevent sideways movement. Adjust TBS® II to remove slack. Do not over tension, as this may deform the poles. Can be stowed away in calm weather
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Walking pole attachment eyelet in door - Prop up the door with a walking pole to create a sheltered porch
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70 denier, 6000mm lightweight polyester groundsheet - Waterproof, durable and reliable
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Breathable polyester inner - Allows condensation to pass through, for a comfortable night's sleep
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Twin flysheet doors - Allows easier access for two or more occupants, and/or additional storage
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Flysheet door vent - Open from the top to ventilate porch
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Inner pockets - Conveniently positioned pockets for organising essential items
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Fastpack tent bag - Oversized opening for easy packing and compression straps to control pack size
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Line-Lok guyline runners - Lock securely, simple to release and high performance in all conditions
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Multiple reflective points - On pegging points for visibility in low light
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Vivid reflective high strength guylines - Provides high visibility in low light
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Factory taped seams - All flysheet and groundsheet seams are factory taped, giving a watertight seal
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Weather tested beyond the European standard EN5912 by certified test centre
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Fire retardant fabrics - Exceeds European EN5912 safety standard
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Mesh Ceiling Storage Pocket - Convenient and easy to reach storage pocket on ceiling of tent
How to Care for Your Tent
We know that purchasing a tent is a big investment, that’s why we have such a wide range of options to suit different activities, weather conditions and people, allowing you to choose the perfect one for you. Taking care of your brand new tent can be the difference between heading out for an adventure in the mountains, or having to fork out for a hefty repair bill, or even worse, another replacement tent. Below are our best tips to care for your tent.
Footprint
Before even leaving the shop (or online basket) with your tent, consider a footprint. A footprint is a large water-resistant piece of material which sits underneath your tent to protect it from sharp rocks and wet ground; if this footprint gets damaged, it’s easy to replace and doesn’t cost a fortune; if your tent groundsheet gets damaged, you’ll have to spend at least twice the amount for a repair or replacement.
Don’t Abuse the Poles
The chances are your poles are made from individual aluminium sections connected by elastic; when you come to remove the poles from the tent, don’t pull them out. The best way to remove poles from their sleeve is to place the pole end against your hip and pull the fabric towards you. If you simply attempt to pull the pole out, they’ll disconnect inside, the elastic will stretch and then spring back, potentially trapping the fabric of your tent between the pole sections.
You might also be tempted to flick the poles out so that the elastic snaps them into place in a quickfire fashion. However, this is far from ideal, as if the poles don’t align when they meet, you can easily damage or weaken the end of the pole, leading to future failure which is usually on the wettest and windiest nights!
Collapse Poles From the Centre
When your poles are safely removed from the sleeve, collapse them from the centre to avoid stretching the elastic.
Stuff, Don’t Fold
You were probably told when you were in the Scouts or doing the Duke of Edinburgh Award that the best way to pack your tent away is to neatly fold it into a rectangle, the width of your storage bag, roll it around the poles and pegs and then put it all in the stuffsack. However, whilst very neat and tidy, this method of packing can create permanent creases in the fabric, weaken the waterproofing and eventually split the fabric of your tent. The best solution is to simply stuff the tent fabric into the storage bag, just like you would a sleeping bag, and pack the poles separately. Make sure to leave and end or corner at the top, so that you can easily peg it out if your next campsite is windy. The poles normally have their own stuffsack so they can be packed separately, strapped to the outside of your pack or stored inside, allowing the tent fabric to be compressed for efficient packing.
Store it Dry
Let’s assume you’ve been out with your tent and the weather has been a little on the damp side. You’ve packed your tent away when wet and now you’re back home in the warm and dry with a nice of cup of tea reflecting on your latest adventure. But what about your poor soggy tent? The worst thing you can do is to leave it packed away wet, mildew will grow and eventually rot the tent, rendering it useless. As soon as you’ve finished that cup of tea, wipe off any excess dirt and moisture with a towel, then hang the tent somewhere where it can fully air out; a nice warm spare room or a garage is perfect. Alternatively, when it stops raining, pitch the tent outside in the sunshine to dry off. Let it air for at least 24 hours and once you are sure that it is bone dry it can be packed away for storage. Note - don’t tumble dry or hang the tent over a radiator or other direct heat source.
Don’t Store in the Stuffsack
Like your sleeping bag, it’s best not to store your sleeping bag in its stuffsack unless it has to be compressed for an activity. Leave it in a large duffel bag or supermarket ‘bag for life’ in a cool, well ventilated area so it can breathe.
Avoid Tree Sap
If you’ve ever had sap on your hands, you’ll know how horrible and sticky the stuff is; it’s even harder to remove from your tent flysheet. Pitch away from trees if possible.
Don’t Leave in the Sun
The majority of tents we stock are made from nylon. Nylon is incredibly tough, lightweight and easy to care for, however it will naturally degrade if left out in harsh sunlight for extended periods of time. Try to pitch your tent in the shade or strike the tent (pack it away) during the day. Polyester tents don’t suffer from this quite as badly, but it’s still a good habit to get into.
Leave Sharp Objects Outside
Boots, cooking equipment and other sharp/abrasive objects can all be stored in the vestibule, where there is less chance of it ripping a hole in your fly or groundsheet. You may not want to pop your pet in there, but at least carry a small blanket to avoid their claws damaging your groundsheet.