Vango Apollo 500 Family Tent for 5 People with Large Porch Living Area, Waterproof - Ideal Weekend Camping Tent

Having camped in a lot of different tents over the years, and owned several myself, I had a shopping list of things I was looking for in my latest one: easy to put up (single-handed if needed), stable in up to moderate weather, a decent sized porch, a variety of doors (and not ones I need to crawl through), preferably a bit of head room and overall, reliably weatherproof. After reading the reviews, I still wasn't sure, but I'm glad I went for this tent.It went for its first spin in Cornwall last weekend and did brilliantly. The standard dome configuration is very easy to pitch, especially for novices, and I didn't even bother getting the instructions out to look. Two same length poles cross at the back to form the sleeping compartment, and a single, shorter pole (marked with blue ends) goes across the porch. It's quite a big tent, so I'd suggestly loosely pegging the back if there's any wind, whilst you pop the back poles up and in, and then shuffling the dome square and pegging properly, but it's generally easy to manage. We had 3 of us putting the tent up and even having never seen it before, we were done in just over 10 mins. The inner clips neatly in once the outer's pegged and job done.The "bathtub" description of the groundsheet in the porch worried me slightly, as did reviews of water coming in when the doors were open .... so I'd like to offer reassurance. Firstly, it rained quite a lot last weekend and quite heavily - the tent was completely waterproof, aside from a few tiny drips through the front zip where I hadn't properly velcro'd the outer flap down properly that covers the zip and the wind had flipped it up - to be fair it was raining hard and really windy, but just sticking the velcro down properly solved that. Like any tent, there will be some run-off from the roof after rain - I didn't think this tent was any worse than any other I've had for that, and whilst someone else's suggestion of a guiding "ridge" above the door to divert the water would be ace, a few drips aren't the end the world. Most of it can be avoided by just tapping the inside of the tent lightly before you exit to shake the excess water off, and unzipping the door gently and holding it outside the tent for a few seconds to let the run off shift.I was also concerned that if the porch groundsheet was a sealed bathtub then any water wouldn't be able to get out and it would quickly get muddy and wet in there. It's not actually completely sealed though - the outer walls have a little turn-under on the inside and the ground sheet overlaps that but isn't fixed, which allows any water to run out in the event of a leak or spillage. What the overlap does do though is make the porch remarkably draft free when you're sitting in it which is nice in not-so-great weather!I'm 5 ft 6 and whilst I can't stand straight, the tent is tall enough to let me walk around and tidy up / get changed with only a bit of a stoop which is much more comfortable than smaller tents. There's is definitely enough height to sit in a camp chair in the porch, and I think you could squeeze 3 chairs and a small camp table in the porch at a push.Overall - a great tent for couples or solos who want some space, or for 3-4 friends a bit more cosily. 5 is possible but a proper sardines affair. Great tent for the price!

For the price, this is a fantastic tent - really good value. It's meant for more people (I think 5), however we used it as a 3 person so had plenty of room. The porch entrance is a decent size with a couple of entrances and the tent itself is really simple and quick to put up. Fairly lightweight, although we didn't really carry it anywhere as it can be a little bulky and just pitched it next to the car. First outing was to Wales last year, where it absolutely hammered down with rain and wind for a few days. No problem at as the inside stayed completely dry with no leaks and kept the inside at a nice ambient temperature. Can't recollect any issues with condensation either. The only recommendation I would have would just be an inside roof loop/hanger for a light in the bedroom area, as we had to hook ours to above the door. Apart from that, I'd highly recommend!

i give one star off because im 6'4 . The living area is tiny, I cant stand up. At this cost its a good tent for a short break, easy to put up etc

Cracking tent for the price,easy to erect, quality Zips and sturdy construction, been out in heavy rain and was fully waterproof, only let down is the sloping doors (rain can drip in) but overcame this by adding a tarp over the front section, lost the use of the side door but was not a problem.

I love this tent. I can put it up on my own. It's robust, well made and looks good. It's highly waterproof with a high HH value. Billed as a 5 man, I would say its a very spacious two man. All the zip closures are easy to use. I've used it at a festival and for leisure camping. It doesn't take long to put up and the carry bag is large enough that packing away is easy. It's not massively tall, I'm 1.7m and I have to stoop slightly in the tent but that is the only slight downside. I expect it to last for years because its well made. Can't wait for my next trip.

Great Tent, very impressed. Only 3 poles so really easy to put up. Says 10 minutes on the instructions but including the inner tent it took about 30 minutes. Would sleep 4 adults easily and decent size living space. Due to the black colour the inner tent stays quite dark in a morning which aids sleep. Draw string packing bag makes putting away easy.

Purchased this tent after many hours of searching. The first one I ordered came and unfortunately I had to return as there was a clip missing that secures the flysheet to one of the poles. It had not been sewn in place and there was some damage to the water proof membrane near the door. Could have been unlucky or Quality Control in Bangladesh where these are made is not high priority. So if you are thinking of getting one and no reason why you shouldn't, as with any tent, put it up before your holiday or event and check it thoroughly.Amazons returns process is almost flawless and the replacement arrived before the returned one had been collected (very impressed). Not impressed however with companies (AMAZON) that continue to use 4th rate courier services for returns (yes EVRI or HERMES or whatever you are going to change to next I MEAN YOU - The worst of the worst). Back to the tent. I purchased this to use for a festival that I am going to and the tents that I currently have are too big (more for camping holidays). At 52 years old with dodgy knees and a bad back I wanted something that was big enough for one, easy to put up and not the type that you have to crawl into on hands and knees like a commando.I must say that this fits the bill very nicely.It's not a blackout tent and does not claim to be but is slightly darker inside which is nice. The bedroom is large enough for my XL fishing camp bed, a table and still plenty of floor space in the bedroom for stuff!Although it is listed as a 5 person tent, 2 adults would be comfortable with maybe a couple of little kids.Likes: Colour, Size, layout, Easy to put up and take down with a nice big bag.Dislikes: The poles could have done with something on the ends to make sliding into the tent gulley's easier. The skirt bit of the tent below the front door could have done with at pegging point (I might add one). Fly screens on the doors would have been nice but there is one on the bedroom door.Not gone to the festival yet as its later this month and only put it up in the garden so I will update this review once I have been.

I brought this tent in may,but only came solo camping today, instructions are easy to follow,tent pegs are a bit flimsy but I'd already got heavy duty tent pegs so used them instead. It's easy to put up by yourself,I done it in less then 45 mins....I can't fault this tent at all,it's a great size,could easily sleep 4 adults & at this price I'd highly recommend it.

amplia muy rapida de montar y buena resistencia al agua y al viento , piquetas un poco debiles por lo demas todo muy bien, la recomiendo

Ottima tenda a igloo con ampia veranda, molto spaziosa, rapida e facile da montare.

Très déçue de mon achat. Par forte chaleur, la tente ne retiens pas du tout les uv. Donc une chaleur étouffante. De plus il n y a aucune aération pour faire rentrer l air. Nous ne pourrons désormais plus l utiliser l été.De plus elle est bien annonce waterproof, et bien l anon plus ... L humidité delà nuit a mouille le matelas qui touchait le tissue a l intérieur, donc la toile extérieur n est pas efficace non plus

Update 2017: die Zeltstangen haben leider nicht lange durchgehalten. Amazon hat uns dann nach langer Warterei ein neues Zelt zugeschickt, leider mussten wir entdecken, dass die Neuauflage deutlich, und damit meine ich wirklich deutlich verschlechtert ist zu unserem alten Zelt. Die Zeltstangen sind immer noch die gleiche Beläge Qualität, und werden wahrscheinlich auch bald es Zeitliche segnen. Dafür sind viele tolle Details verschlechtert oder rausgenommen worden. So sind z.b. zeltschnüre nicht mehr im Signal orange sondern im einfachen schwarz. Sehr sehr schade, es ist uns absolut unklar wie man gute Details wegnehmen kann dafür kein einziges der Probleme angehen kann. Nur noch drei Sterne!Für unseren ersten Campingurlaub mit Kleinkind und Patenkind musste ein größeres Zelt her. Eigentlich ist mein Mann überzeugt davon, dass man unter € 200 kein tolerierbares, und unter € 300 kein gutes Zelt bekommt, daher war dies ein großes Experiment. Gekauft habe ich es nur, weil ich auf diversen UK-Seiten gute Bewertungen und einige Videos gesehen habe. Es kam per UPS aus England, auch recht schnell, UPS ist bei uns halt immer so ein Problemfall, aber dafür kann Amazon nichts.Das Zelt dann gleich am Wochenende im Garten aufgebaut, den Großteil alleine (nur mit Kleinkind"hilfe") gemacht. Nach etwa 25 Minuten stand es größtenteils, der Göttergatte kam gerade recht zum Heringe stecken. Anschließend gleich eine Runde Probegelegen, und der erste Eindruck war schon mal sehr gut. Letztendlich stand es dann eine Woche im Garten..erst um den Regen abzuwarten um die Dichtheit zu testen, dann um zu warten bis es trocken ist.Fazit nach dem "Trockenlauf": Geräumig, sauwarm, innen immer trocken geblieben, wenig Lüftungsmöglichkeiten, erstmal alles gut. Hinten am Fenster schimmerte ein Loch, das wir dann flicken wollten, doch als wir genauer hinsahen war es schon mit irgendeinem klaren Lack/Harz/wasauchimmer versiegelt. Da hat die Qualitycontrol gegriffen, toll!Dann letzte Woche der echte Probelauf: Mit 2 Erwachsenen und besagtem Kleinkind im Wildgehege "Mitsommar" feiern. Das Zelt ging erstaunlicherweise wieder in die ursprüngliche Hülle, mit 2 Erwachsenen war es in etwa 15 Minuten aufgebaut. Ich glaube das geht noch schneller mit etwas Übung und ohne helfendem Kleinkind. Toll gefallen so Details wie die blaue Markierung für die Vorzeltstange, und die Klettverschlüsse, um die Leinen zu sichern. Was uns fehlt ist eine Grafik in welche Richtung die zwei Vorzeltleinen abgespannt werden sollen, ob nach vorne oder seitlich ist nicht erkenntlich, und selbst meinem Vielcampenden Mann nicht klar ersichtlicht. Mit uns 3 und Taschen war noch immer reichlich Platz im Zelt, den Kinderwagen konnten wir in den Vorraum direkt reinfahren. Nachts kühlte es zum Glück ab, aber für den Hochsommer würde ich doch lieber unser deutlich kleineres altes Zelt nehmen. Den Regenguss hielt es auch gut aus. Abbauen dauerte zu zweit wieder gut 10 Minuten.Pros:-Absolut durchdachtes Zelt, viele geniale Details (helle Schnüre, Farbmarkierungen, Lasche über den Reißverschlüssen, viele Taschen innen)-Gewicht! 9 Kilo, ein leichteres Zelt in der Größe muss man erst mal finden-Günstig! €141, wow-Viel Platz-Gut verarbeitetCons:-Innenzelt hat nur einen einfachen Reißverschluß, das ist tierisch nervig.-Warm, fast schon stickig wenns tagsüber so richtig heiß ist, wenig Lüftungsmöglichkeit

The Apollo 500 tent seems well-made and durable over time but...time will tell. I've only set this tent up to see how it's done and get a feel for it and the size. The stitching is uniform and there are few, if any spots where it may have strayed from the seams. The size is excellent, in my opinion for 3 individuals with some gear or two adults and a dog. I wouldn't attempt putting 5 people in it unless you were REALLY friendly. I got this tent for my wife and I and sometimes, our large dog. The vestibule is quite large enough to put up a couple of chairs and a small table if you have to wait out the rain or the bugs are too thick. I do however, suggest you get an 8'x10' tarp to use as a footprint to extend the life of the tent. The color is black, so keep that in mind when setting it up. In the sun it can get quite warm. This color though, helps when you want to sleep in a bit later in the AM. Overall, I would make this purchase again IF... it stands the test of time.