SKYE’S THE LIMIT

Camping reader Louise Wilson and family road test the Vango Skye V600.

VANGO SKYE V600

As a family we love being outdoors. Camping to us means no computer games or television - a time to relax, spend some quality time together and get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. We started camping with a small tent, but soon it was obvious we needed a larger one, so now we have a wide variety, from 2/3 berth to 5/6 berth. We like to be able to pitch as quickly as possible so there is more time to chill and explore. We found the Vango Skye V600 that we tested really did hit all the right notes; we had lots of space, and it was fairly easy to pitch once we had read the instructions.

Our first set up of the Skye was at Truck Fest at Detling in Kent Once erected and the inners put in, it was easy to see the large living space. This was great as we seemed to be a hub for others, as we had brought our new puppy with us! The three sleeping compartments were at the back. The four-berth bedroom has a zipped divider down the middle and each side could be accessed via its own entrance door. There’s also a separate two-berth inner. This really worked for us as my daughter Kira had one side with one dog, while my partner Alan and I had the middle section and my son Kyle and the puppy had the other side.

The front of the tent has a sloped main entrance door, featuring a small sun canopy. The multiple windows at the front not only give a great view out but also let plenty of daylight in. I had not researched this tent at all before we tested it, so I was really surprise by how easy it was to erect via colour coded poles. The fact that Alan at 6ft 4ins could stand upright was also impressive. We liked the side awning as we could use it as storage or use it as the kitchen area. It would be fine as a six-berth if you sleep on self-inflating mattresses or double air beds in each pod, but I think you would struggle with camp beds. We loved the sun canopy as we cooked under it and were able to shelter from a little drizzle. On the whole this is a great family tent with lots of space.
 
DESCRIPTION
The Vango Skye V600 is a six-berth tent with a 4+2 inner bedroom arrangement. The four-berth bedroom has a zipped divider and each side can be access via its own entrance door. There’s also a separate two-berth inner. The inners feature the new “lights out” fabric treatment that filters out sunlight. The tent also features the new Vista front (hence the “V” in the title) with multiple windows, giving a great view out and also letting plenty of daylight in. Each of these windows has an internal privacy cover so that you can regulate the amount of daylight/privacy that you require. The living space measures 330 x 440cm providing plenty of space for furniture etc. It has a fully sewn-in groundsheet, which prevents draughts, moisture and any unwanted creatures entering. The tent has two entrance doors – a side door that can be rolled to one side and secured, plus a large front door. Both of these doorways feature a secondary mesh backing so that air can flow through the tent while preventing insects from entering. The frame is a combination of steel and fibreglass. Finally, there’s the pre-attached sun canopy to the front of the tent, which provides its distinctive look.
 
OUT AND ABOUT
As mentioned already our first outing with the Vango Skye V600 was at a truck show in Kent. We arrived on site to a low hanging mist so wanted to put up the tent as fast as possible, and after reading and following the instructions we pitched it in about 30 minutes with only one small error. The pods were easy to put in and we used it as three separate sleeping areas. As we were traveling light on this occasion we were able to see just how much space there was and what would go where had we brought it with us. Our next outing was a local campsite near home. This time it was even easier to put up as we tightened the elastic through the poles. Again we used all three sleeping pods and there was loads of space, even with our large puppy - now eight months old - and smaller dog. We cooked under the canopy, which really nice, but as it was very cold we used the indoor space a lot in the evening, playing board games. Even as a family of five with two dogs we were not cramped, although the large living area did get rather cold.
 
WHAT COULD BE IMPROVED?
I have to say there is not much about this tent we didn’t like. One concern was that in high winds the sun canopy could rip off from the main tent. I understand that the canopy can be rolled-up and secured to the front of the tent when not in use, but at only 5ft myself I did find it hard to reach to do that. The pods do sleep two persons, but two camp beds will not fit in each. I have yet to try double camp beds, but it looks like they will fit but with no surrounding space.
 
WHAT WE LIKED
Well where do I start? The height of the tent is a big plus as my partner could stand up with a gap between him and the roof. The windows make the tent very light and are perfect for those families that want to keep an eye on their kids. We also like the side canopy, which can be used as a kitchen or storage area, leaving the main tent purely as a living area. In all it’s a great family tent for a long holiday, not just a weekend break.