OEX Fox 2 V2 10 Review: A Compact Two-Person Backpacking Tent

Introduction

The OEX Fox 2 V2 10 is the best-selling tent in the OEX range, and the numbers explain a good deal of that. It is a two-person tunnel tent with a stated weight of 2,080 g, a packed size of 41 cm by 16 cm by 16 cm, and a recommended retail price of £190 that regularly settles nearer £100 in the shops. It has been picked up for as little as £85 during seasonal sales, which puts it in an appealing spot for backpackers who want a shelter that can handle poor weather without spending a fortune.

On the trail, that combination shows up as a tent that is easy to carry and easy to live with. The tunnel shape keeps the profile low and the weight down, while two vestibules give you somewhere to stash a pack and somewhere separate to cook when the weather turns. The fabric and pole specification point to a tent designed for real conditions rather than fair-weather weekends.

Who This Tent Is For

The Fox 2 V2 10 is sold as a two-person tent, but the honest reading of its internal space is that it works best for one. At its longest point the inner measures 200 cm, and the widest point is 230 cm once the vestibules are included. That is comfortable for a single camper with gear, and workable for one adult plus a dog, or one adult and a child.

Two adults sharing it would be a squeeze. If your trips usually involve two full-size sleeping mats and two packs, this is probably not the tent to plan around. As a solo backpacking shelter, though, it is a generous one, with enough length to stretch out and enough width to keep kit close at hand.

Main Strengths: Weather Protection and Ventilation

Both the inner and the fly are made from 68D 185T fabric, and the waterproofing figures are strong for the price. The groundsheet is rated at 4,000 mm hydrostatic head and the flysheet at 5,000 mm, so the tent is built to keep water out rather than simply hold it off. The inner is fully seam sealed, and the fly sits low to the ground, a familiar trait across the OEX range that helps when rain is being driven sideways.

Ventilation is the other area where this tent performs well. There is a vent at the back and another at the front, so air can move through the tent from end to end. Inside, the doors use solid mesh and there are open mesh panels at the front, the back and along the sides. That gives a compact backpacking tent a reasonable chance of managing condensation, although some moisture build-up is still part of the deal at this size. Taken as a whole, this is a three-season-plus design that can be used across a wide range of conditions.

Inside the OEX Fox 2 V2 10

Inside, the layout is simple and practical. There are two pockets at the back of the inner for small items, and a lantern hook at the top so you can hang a light. The inner is 200 cm long at its longest point, which is enough for most sleepers, and the 230 cm maximum width includes both vestibules rather than just the sleeping area.

Headroom is modest. Sitting up at the tallest part of the tent, someone around 5 ft 8 will find their head only just touching the ceiling, and slouching slightly clears it. That is typical of a low-profile tunnel design and is the trade-off for the weather protection and the low weight.

The two vestibules are the standout feature. One can swallow a backpack while the other stays free for cooking or for getting boots on and off under cover, which makes the tent feel considerably larger than its footprint suggests.

Pitching and Packed Size

The tent packs down to 41 cm by 16 cm by 16 cm, a sensible shape for strapping to a pack or sliding into a rucksack side pocket. It pitches inner first, and the process is straightforward: roll out the inner with its built-in groundsheet, thread the smaller pole, then the main pole, and clip the inner taut.

The poles are 8.5 mm aluminium with pre-angled sections that guide the pole through the sleeve, and the ends are finished with aluminium tags. A small pole covers one end and a larger pole spans the main body. The sleeves can feel a little stiff on first use, but the pole runs through cleanly once it is lined up. The pegs are aluminium and pre-angled, supplied in two sizes for the front and rear, and there are plenty of them, so the tent can be pegged out properly rather than just enough to stand up.

Once the inner is standing, the fly goes over the top and clips on with small clips before being pegged out around the base. Tensioning the fly with the adjusters and adding the guy lines, including the two guy ropes at the rear, makes a noticeable difference to how stable the tent feels in wind.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The first consideration is the two-person label. The Fox 2 V2 10 can sleep two, but the space is tight, and most buyers will get more out of it as a solo shelter or as a tent for one adult and a child.

Condensation is the second. Ventilation is good for a tent this size, with front and rear vents plus mesh panels on the doors and sides, but a compact backpacking tent will still collect some moisture on a cold, still night. Pitching where air can move around the fly helps more than anything else.

Third, the pole sleeves can be a little stiff, so allow a moment for threading rather than forcing anything. Because the tent performs at its best when it is fully pegged out and tensioned, it is also worth taking the extra few minutes to use the pegs and guy lines properly instead of rushing the pitch.

Buying Advice

The Fox 2 V2 10 has a recommended retail price of £190, but it is rarely sold at that. Around £100 is a realistic street price, and seasonal sales have brought it down to roughly £85. It is worth checking the outdoor retailers that stock the OEX range, including Go Outdoors, Blacks, Millets and Ultimate Outdoors, and timing a purchase around a sale if you can.

For anyone comparing this tent with the Vango Banshee, the split usually comes down to ventilation against storm performance: the Fox 2 V2 10 breathes better, while the Banshee is likely to have the edge when the weather is at its worst. Whichever route you take, buying in a sale is the single biggest thing you can do to improve the value, and it is worth checking the tent in person if you can, particularly if you plan to share it.

Conclusion

The OEX Fox 2 V2 10 earns its place as a best-seller by getting the basics right: a low-profile tunnel design, a 2,080 g packed weight, two vestibules, and waterproofing ratings that hold up for the money. It is at its best as a solo backpacking tent, or as a roomy shelter for one adult with a dog or a child, and it is tight for two adults. Bought at the right time, it is one of the more convincing value options in its class.