Storm-pitching a Vaude Mark II Light

Havent got a tent Jermey but did have a lot of problems with my Vaude
Rucksack. Despite some nice design features, parts of it basically fell to
bits after use on TGO challenge one year. Considering that I had paid about
£70-100, I wasnt very happy but just resolved never to buy anything else
from them as they werent very helpful in resolving the problems.

Someone else who had similiar issues went through a couple of them before
getting one that didnt break.

I suspect they just dont quality check them very well.

Rob

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

I bought one of these tents back in May. It was sold to me as being
suitable for all-year use. So far it's been back to the retailer FOUR
times with bent poles following storm damage. On all occasions the tent
was pitched on a roadside campsite in Snowdonia.

It seems to me that despite its big metal frame, the tent has very
little inherent strength, making correct guying essential.
Unfortunately the tent isn't packaged for winter use; the 10 pegs and
two stringy guys you get would have problems holding it in a strong
breeze and the instructions give no guidance on storm pitching. Vaude's
website is likewise devoid of detail, altho' it does quote a magazine
article praising the tent's "storm stability" -- wonder if they've ever
tried it at Gwern Gof Uchof on a January night.

This is a nice tent, and I think most users would be entirely happy
with it. It's spacious, easy to put up, has two entrances/porches, and
is obviously well made.

My only other experience with tents is a little Sierra Designs LIght
Year CD, which by virtue of being tiny and bendy can ride out a storm
without problem.

So anyway, I wonder if anyone else is successfully using the Vaude in
severe storms and if so how they go about pitching it.

Jeremy

"Rob Devereux" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Havent got a tent Jermey but did have a lot of problems with my Vaude
Rucksack. Despite some nice design features, parts of it basically fell
to
bits after use on TGO challenge one year. Considering that I had paid
about
£70-100, I wasnt very happy but just resolved never to buy anything else
from them as they werent very helpful in resolving the problems.

Someone else who had similiar issues went through a couple of them before
getting one that didnt break.

I suspect they just dont quality check them very well.

Perhaps they've gotten better. I got a Vaude rucksack for Christmas, and
when I broke a clip, I rang Vaude UK, who said if it comes back via the
retailer, it'll go to germany and come back fixed. Not sent it yet mind...

Rob Devereux said:

I suspect they just dont quality check them very well.

I suspect you just got very unlucky. Vau De have a good reputation for
the most part and I've never previously come across anyone having
trouble with their stuff. /Everyone/ drops the ball at some point
("Trust is Earned" company Berghaus lost a fair chunk of trust with
Lasers falling off their frames in the 80s, for example, I personally
knew of 3 falling to bits, yet Al Himkes and Chris Bonnington seemed to
get up 8000m peaks okay with their stuff).

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

In article <[email hidden]>, Peter Clinch
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

I personally knew of 3 falling to bits, yet Al Himkes and Chris
Bonnington seemed to get up 8000m peaks okay with their stuff).

P'raps the ones you knew of didn't go high enough. :-)
--
Bill Grey
http://www.billboy.co.uk

[email hidden] wrote

Quoted message said:

I bought one of these tents back in May. It was sold to me as being
suitable for all-year use. So far it's been back to the retailer FOUR
times with bent poles following storm damage.

It seems to me that despite its big metal frame, the tent has very
little inherent strength, making correct guying essential.
Unfortunately the tent isn't packaged for winter use; the 10 pegs and
two stringy guys you get would have problems holding it in a strong
breeze and the instructions give no guidance on storm pitching.

Hi Jeremy,

I have one of these tents, though the extra-long standard weight version
rather than the light weight one. I'm guessing that the difference between
them is in the weight of fabric rather than the poles, but I could be wrong;
even if I am, it shouldn't make too much difference.

I have been very happy with mine, it's stood up to what passes for normal
use with me very well, though as it's a heavy tent, normal in this case
means out of the back of the car rather than being carried anywhere, and
hence it's been used primarily on valley campsites. I second the comments
about it being an easy tent to live in and despite the bizarre exoskeleton,
it's quick and easy to put up. You can add additional guys, though I admit
the instructions aren't as helpful as they could be about how to do this.
When the tent's pitched, if you look down each corner seam about half-way
down you'll see a grey webbing loop. Take this and wrap it round the pole -
tie it if you can - and attach an additional guy to it, and you'll get a lot
more stability when the wind gets up. The point in wrapping the webbing
round the pole is to make sure that any strain is transmitted from the guy
to the poles and not the fabric of the tent.

And if you haven't already, throw away the nasty sharp pegs that are
supplied with the tent and get some that are kinder to your hands!

T.