Vango is a well-known manufacture of camping equipment. They specialize in camping tents and have a brilliant range of products. This includes small single-man tents like the Vango Soul 100, up to huge 5-man tents like the Skye 500. One of their best-selling and popular tents, however, is the Vango Banshee 300. In this Vango Banshee 300 review, we break down this durable camping tent and see what it has to offer for the would-be camper!
Vango Banshee 300 Overview
The Vango Banshee 300 is one of their most popular tents and is actually recommended by the DofE. It is a 3-person tent that has a great combination of durability, ease of use, and lightweight design. It is made from premium materials such as 70D 6000mm HH polyester, and fire-retardant fabrics. This means that it is fully waterproof and easy to clean. It should also easily withstand the wear and tear of frequent use in different camping conditions.
This tent is also lightweight and easy to carry for wild camping trips. In addition, if you need to set up in a flash, you should be able to pitch the Vango Banshee 300 in 7 minutes or less. This is ideal if you suddenly experience bad weather conditions.
Although this is a great tent, it could have a few small drawbacks to consider. For example, it is listed as a three-person tent. However, in reality, it doesn’t leave much room for three people to comfortably sit up for long periods. It is actually better suited for two people to allow for greater comfort. Also, it is certainly not one of the cheapest tents available. However, the payoff is that it is of premium quality and will last for a long time.
Pros
- Easy to set up and pitch in less than 10 minutes.
- Two side entrances for easy access.
- The inside has breathable material to help prevent condensation.
- Lightweight at just 2.82kg / 6.21lbs.
- Made from durable polyester.
Cons
- It may not be the cheapest of tents available.
- The footprint must be brought separately.
- It May not give the most room for 3 people.
Vango Banshee 300 Review – Features and Utility
We have broken this Vango Banshee 300 review into separate sections so you can easily assess its utility. This includes its general specs, durability, ease of use, comfort, and price.
General Specifications
First, let’s look at the general specifications of the Vango Banshee 300. It is important to understand the specs so you know exactly what to expect, and what the tent offers. The following are important specs of the Vango Banshee 300:
- Size (Pitched): 280x215x105cm.
- Size (Packed): 48x19cm.
- Weight: 2.8kg / 6.21lbs.
- Capacity: 3 people.
- Pitching time: 7 minutes.
- Poles: Pre-angled and made from durable alloys.
- Entrances: 2 – 1 on each side.
- Flysheet and inner section pitch together.
As you can see, it is relatively lightweight at 2.8kg. It can also be easily packed into its carry case. This makes it ideal for wild camping trips where you have a long trek to your campsite. The tent is also listed as a three-person tent. Three people can comfortably sleep in it, however, as you will see below, it may not be truly suitable for this purpose.
In terms of materials, everything is high quality. For example, the poles are the Vango PowerLite 7001-T6 alloy design. These are durable but flexible for pitching and are also color coded. The groundsheet is also made from 70D 6000mm HH polyester which is fully waterproof. Also, the exterior flysheet is made from 70D 3000mm HH polyester. This means that the tent should never leak or get damp inside.
Durability
One of the best aspects of this Vango Banshee 300 review is its durability. Vango only uses premium materials in their tents. The different parts of the Banshee 300 are all robust and durable. For example, the poles are made from hard-wearing alloys that give a great balance of support and flexibility.
This tent is essentially designed to withstand tough weather conditions such as high winds and rainfall. For high winds, the frame poles and support lines are tough and will keep the tent secure. Alternatively, for rainfall, the various waterproof polyester fabrics will keep water and condensation out.
The flysheet also features weaved ripstop fabric which is incredibly strong and resistant. Overall, we can’t fault the durability of the Vango Banshee 300 at all.
Ease of use
As with other Vango tents, the Vango Banshee 300 is easy to pitch. It has an all-in-one design which means that the inner tent and flysheet are connected. As a result, you do not have to spend time first erecting the inner tent, and then trying to attach the flysheet. This makes it incredibly convenient to pitch.
Vango states that you can pitch this tent in 7 minutes. This is certainly achievable and made all the easier by the all-in-one design. Over time, we are confident that you can reduce this time and pitch it faster with experience.
The Vango Banshee 300 is also convenient to pack away in its storage bag. This is due to the oversized opening of the bag, and the compression straps. You should not struggle to pack the tent away or spend time trying to squeeze it into the bag.
Comfort
The Vango Banshee 300 is listed as a 3-person tent. With overall dimensions of 280x215x105cm when pitched, it certainly has enough room for three people to sleep side by side. Moreover, due to the longer design of the tent, three people should have ample space to stretch out and lie down comfortably.
However, it has a limited height (which helps with wind resistance). As a result, it may not be the most comfortable for three people to spend longer periods in. This is mainly because when sat up, you won’t have much room from the tent roof. Also, with three people inside, it does not leave too much room for your equipment and luggage.
As a result, we feel this tent is better suited and offers more comfort as a 2-person tent. Two people can comfortably sit in the tent and still have room for their belongings. Aside from the size, the tent offers great access via its two side entrances. Also, the breathable fabric inside means that the airflow is regulated, and you will experience no condensation.
Price
In terms of price, the Vango Banshee 300 is not one of the cheapest tents available. There are definitely cheaper models available, however, this will often come with a reduction in quality and utility. For the quality and utility that it provides, we feel that the Banshee is accordingly priced. It is essentially a premium wild camping tent.
Other Similar Tents to the Vango Banshee 300
Whilst the Vango Banshee 300 is one of the best wild camping tents available, there are other options. You can check out our full guide on the best tents for wild camping, but here are some other 3-person tents to compare:
Forceatt Camping Tent 2-3 Person
The Forceatt Camping Tent is a highly rated product on Amazon and comes in both 2-person and 3-person variants. The 3-person variant has a similar size to the Vango Banshee 300 and is actually slightly lighter at 2.5kg.
It includes some great features like durable aluminium poles, and robust waterproof PU3000mm polyester fabric. The frame structure of the tent also means that it provides slightly more height inside. Although, for three people, you may still experience the same issues as the Vango Banshee 300.
Lumland Outdoor Waterproof Pop-Up Tent
The Lumland Outdoor Waterproof Pop-Up Tent has a more traditional design that offers greater height inside. It should certainly be more spacious and comfortable for three people to sit upright inside. However, this higher design may also mean that it is hit harder by strong winds.
The outer dimensions are 210x195x120cm, and it weighs 4kg when packed. This means that it may not be as convenient to carry as the Vango Banshee 300. Like the Banshee 300, it is easy to erect and the groundsheet is sewn in. The outer and inner tents are also connected which adds to the easy pitching. If you want something slightly larger than the Vango Banshee 300 and don’t mind the extra weight, this could be a good choice.
Coleman Cobra 3
The Coleman Cobra 3 has a similar shape and design to the Vango Banshee 300. However, it only features one side entrance in contrast to the Banshee’s two entrances. In terms of overall weight and dimensions, it is quite similar to. It weighs 2.9kg compared to the Banshee’s 2.8kg and has overall dimensions of 313x310x105cm.
This tent has a host of useful features like breathable fabric on the interior to regulate air circulation. It is also made from durable PU-coated 3000mm polyester which is waterproof. For ease of use, you should be able to pitch this tent in just a few minutes. The quality appears to be similar to the Vango Banshee 300, and Coleman is another popular hiking and camping equipment brand.
Is the Vango Banshee 300 The Right Tent for You?
When choosing a tent, you must consider your circumstance. What will you use the tent for? Will you use it on designated campsites? Or perhaps you need a tent for wild camping adventures? For general camping, the Vango Banshee 300 could be considered too expensive. There are cheaper general camping tents available that offer more space.
However, for wild camping, the Vango Banshee 300 is one of the best options available. It places utility first and is easy to pitch in difficult weather conditions. The durable materials and excellent design also mean that it will keep you sheltered and warm when you are camping off-grid. For three people, this tent is ideal for an odd overnight trip. However, we feel that it really excels as a comfortable two-person wild camping tent.