The Mirage 200 has been updated for 2016! Many things about the tent remain the same. Keep reading for our summary of the changes at the end!
With around twenty wild camps using the Vango Mirage I thought I would share with you a more In depth review of this two man tent from Vango.
Just under a year ago I purchased the Vango Mirage 200 as I felt somewhat cramped using my Wild Country Zephyros 2. After some careful consideration I went with the Mirage 200 as I felt it would allow me the space to keep all my necessary kit within the tent.
Since purchasing the Mirage I’ve wild camped in valleys, summits, forest and woodland trails and carried it on multi-day treks, in fact it’s the only tent I’ve used since.
When deciding which tent to purchase, one of my main needs was that I wanted a tent I could use on all terrains. It’s worth mentioning the Mirage can be erected free standing i.e. without needing pegs or by securing guylines around stones as below. The fact that the Mirage is freestanding with the poles inserted has in the past allowed me to pitch the tent in shelter before moving it to somewhere nearby. This has also proven useful when moving to more suitable ground, such as after the discovery of an uncomfortable slope.
Weight
When searching for my next pruchase I had a requirement that the tent must be under 3 kilograms; at 2.9 kilograms the mirage only just meets the requirement.
As far as I’m concerned the comfort and space I receive is worth carrying the extra weight, however ultralight enthusiasts may not be as impressed. While the Mirage 200 is designed to comfortably accommodate two men, I feel it would be a snug fit with limited space available in the porch for two sets of kit.
The Mirage 200 boasts a generous tent door, which can be stuffed into a side pocket within the tent if the door is opened. This is a brilliant feature if the weather is pleasant and you would like to let the breeze blow through your tent.. At 110 centimeters tall, the porch is easy to get in and out of and I have found no need to do any unnecessary stooping.
Feature Overview
As I previously mentioned the Mirage weighs in at 2.90 kilograms which is a little heavy for a tent in this range. The Mirage comes with a stuff sack and repair kit but I only used the stuff sack once after finding it nearly impossible to pack away.
I now use my own stuff sack to store my tent, which I can use to pack away the tent in a matter of seconds, which is very handy if the rain starts and you’re trying to pack away in a hurry.
Sadly I’ve found myself dumbfounded as to why Vango have supplied such weak, flimsy pegs with such a good tent. I have replaced all the pegs after my first camping trip left me with two broken pegs. I suspect this could be in an effort to bring the total weight under the 3 kilogram mark.
Pitching
The Vango Mirage pitches all-in-one with the outer waterproof flysheet connected by a series of toggles to the inner flysheet; this in turn creates enough space to allow air flow throughout the tent and keep any wet outer material from touching the inner tent.
I have found an real life pitching time be be around 10 minutes, or sometimes less if assisted by a friend. The Mirage has three poles, two which cross over in the centre, fitted via a sleeve and slip into receiving eyelets. The poles are powerlite branded and are marked as 7001-t6 alloys.
To date I’ve had no issue with any of the poles which appear strong yet light and well made. The third pole forms the arched front to the tent and this is via a sleeve and receiving eyelet, which braces the shape to form tension. I found the Mirage’s porch unsuitable for cooking but room enough to store a rucksack and pair of hiking boots.
The porch area does come with a ground sheet, which connects easily to the tent edges and pegs out at the front. Directly above the porch is a hooded canopy that serves to store the outer porch zipped doors, which can be opened fully, or either side.
Airflow and ventilation is by the front and rear mesh windows located within the inner tent. It’s worth noting that the back mesh panel opens to a movable tabbed outer mesh window, which can be adjusted with a Velcro tab to allow for more or less ventilation.
Materials
The main materials that make up the tent are as follows:
- The flysheet material is constructed of protex 5000HH HC polyester.
- The groundsheet is made of 68D polyester.
- The inner tent is made from 6000MM polyester inner and mesh panels.
- The Vango Mirage is constructed using fire-retarded material although I would strongly recommend not cooking in any tent.
Guylines
There are five guylines on the Mirage – One over the porch which the outer zipped doors can be attached to, one to each side and two to the rear. The guylines are bright orange with line-lok runners.
One improvement I would make is to use reflective guylines, which would be visible under torchlight.
Dimensions
| Inner Tent | Outer Tent | Height |
|---|---|---|
| Length 225cm | Length 320cm | 110cm at front (porch) |
| Width 120cm | Width 140cm | 100cm at rear |
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easy Pitching | Weak pegs |
| Good build quality | Needs more reflective markings |
| Spacious | |
| Semi-Geodesic / free standing structure |
2016 Update Summary
Ed has used the 2016 version of the tent since its release. The following summarises the differences between the above and the new 2016 version:
The changes made in the 2016 edition of the Vango Mirage 200 have been minor refinements.
The geodesic shape of the tent, the number of poles, pegs, and guy lines remain unchanged.
The fabric has not changed in a technical sense, although now has an embossed hexagonal pattern, which is purely aesthetic in nature. The pole sleeves are now slate grey rather than black – another cosmetic change.
The cramped stuff sack has been replaced with a new rapid stuff sack which opens wide at the top, allowing the tent to be stuffed much more quickly.
The door has been changed. The 2016 version no longer has the stuff pouch at the top to stow the door, instead opting for toggles to ‘roll and stow’ the door. The guy which was attached to the outer of this pouch is now attached to a small tab above the main door.
The door previously pegged down at the middle only, whereas there are now two widely spaced pegging loops. This gives more height in the porch at the sides and generally keeps the porch fabric more taut.
Both versions of this tent make for a stable, spacious and easily pitched shelter. The main deciding factor between the 2015 and 2016 versions are whether you prefer a stuff pouch for your door or a porch which is taller at the sides.
Purchase Links
Both the 2016 and 2015 editions of this tent are frequently available used and new on eBay.
Nice review,
How is the length of the innertent? it says 225 cm. Is this realistic? Is this the tent Tall People have been waiting for?
One other question, Is this the first model of the Mirage? With just one peg at the front, in stead of 2 as the later model has? I think the later models also comes in a lighter green..?
And , how has it been performing in general ?
Thanks
Hi Peter,
While we haven’t measured out the inner, I’d imagine that length is roughly accurate. I’m 5ft10 and there’s an ocean of space at the bottom of the tent for me. Next time we’re out we’ll get that measured up and let you know with a definitive answer.
John has reviewed the original mirage with the darker fabric. I own the 2015 edition with the lighter green. Both are still going strong, no leaks, tears etc.
The new version has a larger porch, while it loses the handy stuff bag built into the inside of the porch door. When I wish to stash my doors I have to roll them up and tie them back with toggles, whereas John’s older version is much handier in that respect – he just stuffs it all into the top pouch.
I’m heading away later this month on a trip where I plan to use the 2015 mirage, I’ll be sure to get a few shots for you.
In the meantime, both tents were used side by side on the following trip earlier this year if you want to compare them both in an aesthetic sense:
Corragh Summit Camp
You could do a lot worse than this tent, while it is slightly heavier than the more expensive tents out there, I’ve found it to be robust and unbelievably easy to pitch. On a calm day you could throw this thing up in two minutes. I’ve found at the end of a long day simple pitching is a definite plus!
If you need anything else let us know and do let us know what you decided to go with. Always love hearing about other people’s choices.
Ed
I’m 6ft6 and use a big agnes 198cm sleeping pad and have no problems length wise , can sit up at the arch end without stooping.
Its 3 kg but worth the extra weight and on a recent trip to Scotland with 50mph+ winds it was rock solid not at all flappy like the Hubba Hubbas / Wild Countrys and Naturehikes that where predominant at my camp site.
.
Thanks for the reply.
I am not obsessed with weight either. I guess leighter tents tend to get flimsy, or mesh only.
The 225 cm inner sounds good, Most tents are too short, even if you re ‘only’ 5″10 like me.
Freestanding is almost a must for me, I used my tent for longer bycicle trips, wildcamping most of the time, so a discreet colour is a must too. I had a Vango Storm 200 , a great tent, but too big for solo trips, but I found the Vango green a great colour.
The ‘all in one’ is good too I guess.
I had a coleman tent as well, that had the poles’ slleves blanked off on one side, so you did not have to walked around the tent to put the pole ends in grommets. A nice detail that made pitching easier. I had a look on the web at the Fjord Nansen Lima 2 , it is a simple dome, side entrance and gren, simple and efficient I suppose, but I think the Vango Mirage is even sturdier,
Thanks for your reviews, always good to read other peoples opinion.
I’ve just spoken to John who originally reviewed the tent. He measured it up and it is indeed 225.
I find the freestanding aspect quite useful too, being able to move the tent a few feet after finding an unexpected tree root is pure convenience.
Excellent,
thanks for checking the length of the inner, So 225 cm. Quite an argument to keep this tent on my list. Hope I still can get the older, darker, version of this model!
2 minutes pitching is hard to beat, it also makes it easier to dry the tent in the afternoon, in case it is still wet when taking it down in the morning. ( that is the only thing I think is better when it comes to ‘all in one’ or ‘ inner first ‘ pitching.
Thanks ,
Sorry for the late reply Pekka.Ed has more than covered all your questions anyway.I’d just like to add that i too prefer the older Mirage 200 model that i have.It may have a smaller porch,but it has the ability to store the outer door within the pegged out hood.As mentioned in the review i’ve used no other tent since I bought the Mirage 200.Having used the Mirage in all seasons and weather i can firmly say its an awesome tent.
Thanks for all the comments.
I have one last question:
The older model, the darker version: The 2 zippers at the entrance, can they be opened from the top, so that you can have a small opening Under the triangular guy line flap, for extra ventilation?
Thanks,
Yes Pekka, the zips on the door of both models are two way zips.
Excellent review John. I am looking for something to replace my Coleman Cobra 3 tent for solo use and this will be on my short list. Ideally would love something that’s nearer 2kg, my Cobra 3 is 2.9kg. But if I cant find something that ticks all the boxes I will definitely consider the Mirage 200.
Granted,it’s a wee bit heavy,but it really is an awesome tent.
Yeah the weight is definitely a consideration with the Mirage for sure.
My favourite thing about it is that you can literally pitch it blindfolded. Some of the lighter tents can be a little more complicated to pitch. I had a Laser Comp for example (the cloth coffin) and I sold it in preference for the Mirage.
.
But, what is it like to sit up in the Mirage ?
I had a TNF Tadpole, nice, but I found it quite low, especially since the highest part of the tent is the entrance…So going from sleeping position to sitting up position was not possible,
Hi Pekka sorry for the delay in responding, I missed the notification email for this.
I can sit up in the Mirage just fine when my head is at the arch. Though I’m only 5ft 9 inches. It is quite a tall arch at the front though so should be fine for most people.
I have the 2015 (lighter green) Mirage 200. Spot on review guys, your images and text composure are about as good as it gets. I own and use three tents. Bought Vango’s Mirage for the same reasons iterated in this review. For single man use, undeniably on the heavy side, but acceptable – just. Overall, given the roominess, price point and for the quality and features you highlight, otherwise outstanding.
My other tents (both ALPS) each weigh in under 2KG, and although superb quality, are not freestanding, and being lightweight single man sized, nowhere near as roomy. The Mirage is luxury accommodation for one person in comparison. Funnily enough, replacement of all the pegs on my Mirage with lightweight alloy stakes was the first thing I did too.
You really nailed the summary. Cheap enough to replace the pegs with alloy tri-stakes. Orange guys on mine were sacrificed to the camo God (personal pref). Fitting it back into the supplied stuff sack is an utter ordeal! I understand Vango have altered the stuff sack design in the 2016 edition which resolves this complaint. Well done. Enjoyed reading the review. Very honest and accurate, helpful to anyone considering buying this tent.
Thanks for the kind words Keiron. John has spent a lot of time in this tent and has really got to know it well. He has made a few small mods to the tent to improve it, I’m sure he’d be happy to write them up as an interesting aside.
I will add an update to this article shortly as I have been using the 2016 edition of this tent off and on for the last year or so.
The new stuff sack is amazing, really cutting down on the amount of faffing around needed when packing down in the rain.
The new porch is larger, but the door has lost its ability to be stuffed up into a net at the top, instead opting for a “roll and stow” approach.
The 2016 version also has the new embossed “technical look” fabric, but that’s not something I really care about either way.
Glad you John and I all agree on the pegs. I went for the lightweight option with alpkit ti-pins and four good strong stakes. It’s definitely a weaker point in an otherwise excellent tent for the money.
[…] a few insanely windy nights in my trusty Mirage 200, I was eager to test the water with something a little more stable. With a fully geodesic design […]
Hi, thanks for the review. Looks good.
I personally would really prefer the bigger vestibule since I often have to cook inside the tent in the mountains when it rains and the wind is blowing.
Is the new porch OK to cook in?
Also would you think this tent is OK for storm conditions and heavy rain that comes down at an angle?
It looks quite similar to the shape and design of the North Face Tadpole but I assume the MUCH heavier weight would account for tougher materials?
Thanks for all the info!
I’ve cooked before in the porch Gerhard and it’s never been an issue at all. I usually use the MSR reactor and keep the porch fully rolled up. With liquid fuel stoves like the Omnilite or XGK I’m always very careful to do extremely small primes (even if I have to do multiple) to avoid a big flare which might scorch the flysheet.
The porch is highest at the middle and that tents to be where I would site the stove.
Of course manufacturers rightly recommend you don’t cook in it at all for safety reasons 🙂
Thanks Ed 🙂
Yea I know but you always end up fighting out the storm on top of a mountain in your tent… and this has become something that I regard as important in the design.
Cool but sounds good! Thanks for the feedback!
Hi and Thanks for the review and replies to comments which fine tune the details. I just bought this tent model 2016, got it at a Very competitive price tag.
Have you faced any issue with condensation ?
Do you still like this tent ?
Thanks
Thomas
Hi Thomas,
I still think its a great tent. Condensation has never been much of an issue for me. If cooking in the porch I tend to roll the door up. These days I’m using a Zenith 100 as it’s lighter, but it doesn’t have the free standing structure or roominess of the Mirage. I think it strikes a great balance between the “cloth coffin” solo tents and ballroom beasts like the Nemesis or F10 Vortex.
Thanks a lot Ed. I am yet to receive the mirage but I am sure that your review is spot on.
It took me a bit of time to find a light freestanding tent with decent porch only on one end with a fixed part and two doors, good build quality and affordable price.
In some aspects she is resembling the MHW Trango 3.1. Of course the Trango is more sturdy etc but the use is different.
I wished to find a tipi with a porch but seems rather rare on the market.
Thanks again for your website, only useful and inspiring stuff.
Thank you so much for posting this review.
The two-man (I count myself as one and a half) tent market is frankly, bewildering to a newbie.
After looking at several tents, listening to a few sales people, reading many a review and watching too many youtube videos, not wanting to spend mega-bucks on a new hobby, this review sealed the deal.
It is yet to go up in anger, which will happen in Bonnie in a couple of months, but I am now the owner of a shiny new Mirage 200, together with a set of replacement pegs.
Thanks again.
Hi lovely tent how much does the porch ground sheet weigh im looking at buying one but reducing the weight ..thanks g
I’m looking for a solo tent for bike touring and I know mosquitoes at night will be a concern. Any netting across the front doorway?
If by “front doorway” you mean the inner (orange part) crawl entrance, then yes, kind of – see elaboration below. There is no netting on the tent fly outer door section (green part) covering the porch/vestibule. It is only intended for gear, boots or equipment stowage with a rain/wind weather flap/door.
Have a look at the images. Where you see what appears to be a window in the front door of the orange inner. That is insect netted. The caveat being that entire inner crawl entrance door including its non-netted section needs to be zipped closed to function as an insect screen. Closed, the tent inner is mosquito proof, but also becomes (relatively) poorly ventilated with no through airflow for hotter (as in tropical or sub-tropical) climates rendering a hot tent from late spring through early autumn. I have three tents and use this one seasonally.
IME the Mirage series is a moderate to colder, windier, rainier, weathers in cooler climates tent. Fine in the UK and Europe most of the year round. if it suited, it’d wouldn’t be either expensive nor difficult to rig the front vestibule with netting to mosquito proof it, much like rigging a mosquito net over a bed at home. Adhesive backed velcro would inexpensively and effectively retain it in situ/form.
Yes it has mesh on the inner part that kept Scottish midgies out so will keep mossies at bay as well.
If you mean actually over the outer door than no , in fact don’t know of any tent that has mesh on the flywheet doors.
Thanks for the review. I’ve recently purchased the Mirage 200. How do you (and others) pack it in your Backpack? I’m trying to work out best method.
Thanks,
Sean.
Normally take the poles and pegs out of the main bag then stuff it sideways at the bottom of my rucksack , Great if you I have a rucksack where the bottom zips opens then you can get at it straight away and when packing away I put everything in my rucksack inside the tent if it’s raining then quickly take the tent down , stuff it in the storage bag and slide it in the bottom compartment .