A light, compact and affordable one-to-two-person tent

Plusses: Light and compact, quick to pitch, warm for a three-season tent
Minuses: Cramped for two people; pegs, pole ferrules and internal pockets could be improved.

1450g / 2.08m2

Features: This transverse hoop-style tent has dual entrances and a vestibule at one side. The fly is silicon-reinforced nylon with two air vents, and the nylon inner has small areas of mesh to improve airflow. The fly and inner are pre-clipped to streamline pitching. The main pole is pre-bent to achieve additional inner space, and internal guy lines help tension the tent. For a lightweight tent, the 70D floor is highly waterproof and rated at 6000mm.

Pitching: The pre-clipped fly and inner speeds pitching and protects the inner in rainy conditions. On a regular surface the tent pitches and tensions evenly with eight pegs, leaving two spare. Pitching instructions are sewn into the tent bag. The critical peg points on the fly are all adjustable, which helps with correcting tension  and avoiding rocks and suchlike.

Comfort: It’s not a spacious tent. For two people, Vango recommends top and tailing and using narrow or tapered mats for best fit. There’s hardly room for two to dress at the same time without some elbow jostling. There is little headroom except at the apex, and tall people will brush their heads on the inner or simply find it too low. For a single, short person the space is generous and the comfort rating would be 4/5, but for two, it’s …

In use: This tent ventilates well and is warmer than some comparable three-season tents due to the minimal use of mesh. The dual entrances make it manageable for two people and allow airflow or light in calm conditions. The asymmetrical inner means only one side has vestibule space, and that’s not particularly generous: there is room to cook with a canister stove (just), but you’d struggle to have two packs and pairs of boots there and still cook safely. One person’s kit would fit just fine. The two phone-sized internal pockets can’t be reached when lying down. The tent pegs are basic and not very strong, so frequent users might need to upgrade them. The plastic ferrules on the poles are simply attached to the poles’ interior shock cord, rather than fixed, and have a tendency to detach from the end of the pole if care is not taken.

Value: Good value for a tent of such lightweight and compact specifications.

Verdict:The Helium UL2 is a great three-season tent suitable for short trips for two people, and would suit extended or frequent use for one person. It’s light and compact and is well made with good materials.