Vango Cairngorm 200 Review

Vango is a big name in the camping industry thanks to its wide range of high-quality products. Founded way back in 1966, it’s had plenty of time to figure out exactly what you need when you’re out in the wilderness.

Here, we’ve reviewed the Vango Cairngorm 200, one of Vango’s more affordable backpacking tents. This two-person tent offers great weather resistance and some thoughtful design features, yet it won’t break your back when you’re carrying it around. But is there a catch? Read on to find out more!

Materials and Durability

Weight is a crucial element of any backpacking tent, yet durable lightweight materials can get extremely expensive. Vango has managed to keep down the weight and the price of the Cairngorm 200, but has this come at the cost of durability?

The flysheet is constructed from Vango’s Protex® RS… but what does this actually mean? This is a 70D polyester fabric used throughout Vango’s Trek Pro collection thanks to its lightweight. Although it’s not quite as durable as nylon, the high denier means it’s definitely strong enough to withstand abrasions.

Furthermore, this fabric is now constructed with a ripstop weave which, Vango claims, provides 13% more strength. The groundsheet is also constructed from 70D polyester, which naturally repels water.

This tent features Yunan Eco Alloy Poles, which are constructed from super light yet incredibly sturdy aluminum. What’s more, these poles are designed to bend a little under stress yet not lose their shape permanently, so they should definitely last you a while.

Overall, Vango has done a great job of balancing weight, price, and durability, resulting in a tent that won’t let you down or weigh you down either. Sure, there are lighter and more durable fabrics out there if you want to go all technical, but you’ll have to shell out a lot more for them.

Weather Resistance

The Cairngorm 200 was designed to cater for backpacking adventures in bad weather – but how well will it really perform once you’re out there in the wilderness?

Water Resistance

So we mentioned that the polyester rainfly is super sturdy, but what we didn’t tell you is that it also has a 5,000 mm hydrostatic head (HH) rating. The lowest HH rating generally considered as waterproof is 1,000 mm so, although you can get ratings as high as 10,000 mm, a tent with a 5,000 mm rating can certainly definitely handle a serious downpour. In fact, this is Vango’s highest waterproof rating in the technical ranges, so they clearly haven’t skimped on this tent.

Plus, the waterproofing of the groundsheet floor is even higher (at 6,000 mm HH), and its bathtub design also prevents water from entering at the ground level.

On top of that, all the seams on the flysheet and groundsheet are factory taped, which means you won’t get any pesky drips coming through these potential weak spots. Finally, there are even small structures above the doors that stop rain from dripping inside the tent when the doors are open.

Wind Resistance

But what about wind? You’ll never get a good night’s sleep with a collapsed wall billowing in your face. Tunnel-shaped tents like the Cairngorm 200 offer a decent amount of interior space, but they aren’t known for their fantastic wind performance; however, Vango has taken measures to ensure that this tent can stand tall even in blustery conditions.

We already mentioned the flexibility of the Yunan poles, which means they won’t snap on you when things get choppy, but the best defense this tent has against the wind is its TBS®II Tension Band System. This is essentially a series of straps on the interior of the tent (from the center pole to the sides) that can be tensioned to eliminate slack in strong winds. On top of that, there are various pegs and guy lines for added stability.

Overall, this makes for a tunnel tent that’s surprisingly well-equipped to deal with windy conditions (although we still recommend opting for a sheltered spot in particularly harsh winds).

Ventilation

As well as keeping bad weather out, a good tent needs to be able to get rid of condensation. Fortunately, the breathable polyester inner, dual triangular mesh vents, and vent in one of the doors ensure a steady flow of air throughout the tent to stop you from overheating.

Convenience

As well as being light enough and small enough to carry around on your back, a good backpacking tent should be nice and simple to set up – after all, the last thing you need after a day on the trail is to spend hours puzzling over your tent (especially if the weather is bad). So, will the Cairngorm 200 be your best friend or your worst nightmare on a backpacking trip?

Portability

Despite its great weather resistance and durability, the use of lightweight aluminum poles and lightweight polyester has helped to keep the weight of this 2-person tent at just 4.5 lbs. Although not as light as super technical high-end tents, this is definitely manageable for backpacking trips, especially if you split it between the two of you.

It’s not impossible to carry solo though, and some strong backpackers out there might opt for this option so that they can really spread out at the end of a long day. The packed size of around 17.7 x 4.7 inches is pretty good for a two-person tent too.

Convenience

Although you’ll have to attach the inner to the flysheet the first time you use this tent, they can be left connected and pitched together on subsequent trips, majorly reducing set-up time. The Line-Lok guy runners are super simple to release, helping to speed up your dismantling too. We also love the included fast-pack tent bag, that has a wide opening that lets you stuff your tent in without any precise folding, then simply tighten the compression straps to cut down on bulk – perfect if you’re in a hurry.

Livability

Portability often comes at the cost of homey touches found in heavier tents designed for vehicle-based camping, but no tent should feel like an empty shoebox on the inside. So, does the Cairngorm 200 manage to make a tent feel like home despite its lightweight?

Firstly, using just two poles and a tunnel-shaped design, the weight has been kept low while the interior height has been maintained at both ends of the tunnel. The length of this tent is also perfectly manageable. However, the width is a little on the narrow side, so make sure you’re prepared to get cozy with your fellow camper (and probably go head to toe).

Despite dual doors, this tent features just one porch. Although it has plenty of room for one person’s gear, if you want to fit two people’s gear in there you’ll have to pack very minimally. The fact that there’s a pole attachment in one of the doors means you can convert it into a porch, which does help to create more space, but the lack of two permanent porches remains a drawback.

Other features that make this tent feel super homey include O-shaped doors that you can open single-handedly, inner pockets for your valuables, webbing loops, partial mesh on the inner door for bug protection, and the reflective guylines to stop you stumbling in the darkness.

Value For Money

So, all things considered, is the Cairngorm 200 worth it? Absolutely! It’s managed to maintain a fairly lightweight yet it’s also durable, cozy, and offers fantastic weather resistance – all at a great price.

Rating

With an overall score of 90, the Cairngorm 200 has performed well against our rating system.

We’d really like to see another porch, and it could shed a few more ounces, but otherwise, we have very little to complain about!

Verdict

So, what do we think of the Cairngorm 200 overall? If you’re fairly new to the world of backpacking camping and don’t want to jump in at the deep end with super expensive gear, this tent is a great shout – you’ll get great weather resistance, it’ll last you a while, and you won’t break your back carrying it around either.