lightweight gear
Vango Banshee 200 tent
![Vango Banshee 200 tent at Slapton Sands campsite](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/img_2823-1024x768.jpg)
Having used my new Vango Banshee 200 tent for a week I have made a few small alterations.
Pegs
I changed the supplied pegs out for:
- 9 18cm titanium wire pegs – to peg down the tent
- 4 18cm aluminium tri-stakes – for the four guylines
- 2 small MSR tri-stakes – for the door elastic guys to make it easier to fasten the doors down
![Vango Banshee 200 tent hacks pegs](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/img_2835-1024x768.jpg)
Footprint
I did not buy a footprint a 2m x 1m taro from the camping shop does (almost) the same job, for a fraction of the price. The bottom 40cm of the narrow foot of the tent ground sheet is exposed and needed wiping off.
Door strap
The strap across the door is only fitted to the porch side of the tent.
![Vango Banshee 200 tent hacks setting up door strap](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/img_2833-768x1024.jpg)
To make the tent easier to put up I tied the correct length of paracord to the tent straps on the door side of the tent.
![Vango Banshee 200 tent hacks setting up door strap paracord fix](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/img_2834-1024x716.jpg)
I can now pull the tent from the foot and get the tension between both sides balanced easier and more accurately.
![Vango Banshee 200 tent hacks setting up door strap paracord fix](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/img_2832-768x1024.jpg)
Size
This may be a two person tent according to the Duke of Edinburgh scheme specification and Go Outdoors – but it is not a “normal use” two adult tent. It is a generous one person tent.
![Vango Banshee 200 tent hacks realistic size](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/banshee.webp)
Vango Banshee 200 tent Read More »
More photos from my recent trip – Part One
Newcastle
![Newcastle Central Arcade](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/img_2136-768x1024.jpg)
Camping at Lauder Campsite
![Camping two lightweight tents](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/img_2154-1024x768.jpg)
Edinburgh
![Edinburgh, Ross Fountain](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/img_2158-1024x1024.jpg)
![Royal Scots Greys](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/img_2168-3-632x1024.jpg)
Culzean Castle
![Culzean Castle](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/img_2225-1024x1024.jpg)
![Culzean Castle](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/img_2228-2-768x1024.jpg)
At the campsite…
![Orange and black beetle](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/img_2221-3-1024x1024.jpg)
Near the campsite
![Sphere at Culzean Castle](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/img_2242-1-1-1024x768.jpg)
Isle of Arran and Holy Island in the mist
![Isle of Arran and Holy Island in the mist](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/img_2256-1024x626.jpg)
The Coast and Turnberry Castle
![The Coast and Turnberry Castle](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/img_2269-1024x634.jpg)
Dunure
![Dunure Harbour](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/img_2271-1024x768.jpg)
![Dunure Harbour](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/img_2275-1024x768.jpg)
![Dunure Castle](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/img_2280-1024x768.jpg)
The Electric Brae
We stopped here but did not try rolling the car up or down the hill!
![The Electric Brae](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/img_2285-768x1024.jpg)
Sunset at the campsite
![Sunset at Culzeana Castle Campsite](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/img_2292-1024x634.jpg)
Culzean Castle and Country Park
![Culzean Castle and Country Park green house](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/img_2299-1024x768.jpg)
![Culzean Castle and Country Park](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/img_2297-1024x768.jpg)
![Culzean Castle and Country Park meadow flowers](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/img_2305-1024x768.jpg)
![Culzean Castle and Country Park](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/img_2316-1024x768.jpg)
![Culzean Castle and Country Park hidden grotto](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/img_2311-1024x768.jpg)
![Culzean Castle and Country Park](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/img_2319-1024x1024.jpg)
Coast Path
![Culzean Castle and Country Park coast path](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/img_2329-768x1024.jpg)
![Culzean Castle and Country Park coast path](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/img_2335-1024x634.jpg)
![Culzean Castle and Country Park coast path](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/img_2341-1024x768.jpg)
![Culzean Castle and Country Park coast path](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/img_2338-1024x634.jpg)
![Culzean Castle and Country Park coast path](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/img_2343-1024x768.jpg)
![Culzean Castle and Country Park coast path](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/img_2344-1024x1024.jpg)
More photos from my recent trip – Part One Read More »
Now it’s raining
![Clostnature one man tent in the rain](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/img_2006-1024x768.jpg)
Before taking the new tent away I wanted to check it was waterproof. The tent was delivered just before the thunder storms on Sunday so I missed my chance then. Since then, of course, there has been sun and just a little rain.
Now it is getting wet.
New tent
Now I want it to rain – to test it is waterproof.
![New tent Amazon Clostnature one man tent](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/img_2002-1024x768.jpg)
The new tent is a Lost Nature one man tent from an Amazon shop – where they named it “Clostnature”, because of the logo printed on the tent!
Not as hi-tech as my MSR but as the seam sealing tape has failed completely on that – and MSR could not help – the new tent is waterproof which makes it far more useful.
Including the footprint I got change out of £90.
![New tent Amazon Clostnature one man tent inner.](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/img_1996-1024x768.jpg)
With care and using my Alpkit Kraku stove, a titanium mug and just enough flame I can brew an early morning coffee or boil water for a dehydrated meal in the rain.
![Alpkit Kraku stove, a titanium mug and homemade lid - lightweight cook set.](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/img_1999-768x1024.jpg)
More photos from my recent trip to Staffordshire
Wychnor Park Country Club
![Staffordshire](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/img_7163-768x1024.jpg)
![grey squirrel](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/img_7160.jpg)
![Wychnor Park Country Club](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/img_7168-1024x576.jpg)
![Staffordshire](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/img_7162-1024x768.jpg)
![Grey squirrel](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/img_7179-1024x1024.jpg)
![Grey squirrel](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/img_7177-1024x1024.jpg)
![](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/67914086662__38c87e4e-a28d-49de-b6f4-27806094a3cf.fullsizerender-1024x768.jpg)
![Sunset from the balcony](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/img_7213-1024x768.jpg)
![Staffordshire countryside](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/img_7265-768x1024.jpg)
![Sundial](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/img_7276-1024x1024.jpg)
![Wychnor Park Country Club](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/img_7272-1024x768.jpg)
National Forest Way
![Footpath through the trees](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/img_7194-1024x768.jpg)
![](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/img_7186-631x1024.jpg)
![Bridge over a stream in the wood](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/img_7191-768x1024.jpg)
![Lightweight cookset coffee break](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/img_7200-984x1024.jpg)
![Lightweight cookset](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/img_7197-1024x768.jpg)
![Lightweight cookset](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/img_7202-1024x768.jpg)
![River Trent](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/img_7208-1024x635.jpg)
The Wychnor Flitch
![](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/img_7261-768x1024.jpg)
![](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/img_7263-scaled.jpg)
Swarbourne Meadows
![](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/img_7243-768x1024.jpg)
![](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/img_7250-1024x768.jpg)
More photos from my recent trip to Staffordshire Read More »
National Forest Way to the River Trent
The National Forest Way passes by Wychnor Park Country Club – so before it got too hot this morning I walked out to the River Trent along the path.
![Wychnor Park from the path](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/img_7184-1024x576.jpg)
![Spicky plant](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/img_7187-1024x1024.jpg)
![Seed pods](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/img_7188-1021x1024.jpg)
![Bridge over a stream in the woods](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/img_7192-768x1024.jpg)
![](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/img_7195-1024x635.jpg)
Along the way, I found a suitable spot for to brew a coffee, out in the countryside but definitely in the shade – my bush hat can only keep so much sun off me.
![Coffee stop in the shadow of a trer](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/img_7196-1024x836.jpg)
![Lightweight walking kit including a stool](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/img_7198-1024x721.jpg)
![Alpkit Kraku stove, MSR titanium mug, Alpkit titanium spoon](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/img_7201-1024x768.jpg)
River Trent
![River Trent](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/img_7206-1024x576.jpg)
![River Trent](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/img_7209-1024x823.jpg)
The early squirrel
This squirrel came for breakfast.
![Grey squirrel on the balcony](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/img_7178-1024x1024.jpg)
![Grey squirrel on the tablr](https://www.clivecatton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/img_7176-1024x1024.jpg)
National Forest Way to the River Trent Read More »