Vango Force Ten 60th Anniversary Collection: Tents and Sleep System Guide

Introduction

Vango has marked its 60th anniversary with a limited collection that looks backwards and forwards at the same time. The line-up pairs three tents, the Banshee 1, the Banshee 2 and the Force Ten Classic Mark 4, with a complete Force Ten sleep system built around the Ultra 5.5 mat, the Ultra 150 sleeping bag and the Ultra 200 backpack.

The tents are finished in burnt orange, a colour that ties the range back to Force Ten heritage, and the collection is described as designed and tested in Scotland. The name carries a little history of its own: Vango is an anagram of Govan, the Glasgow district where the brand is based.

What Defines This 60th Anniversary Collection

Production is deliberately limited. Around 125 Banshee 1 tents, 250 Banshee 2 tents and 150 Classic Mark 4 tents are being produced, and each one carries its own number on the label, so owners get a specific piece of the run rather than an anonymous mass-produced model.

Materials are the second thread running through the collection. The Banshee flysheets use a 10 denier ripstop nylon that is PFC free, silicone coated on the outside and PU coated on the inside. Seams are factory taped, so there is no seam sealing to do at home, and because the thread count is high, less silicone is needed to keep the fabric both light and strong.

The third thread is positioning. The stated intention is value for money rather than extreme RRPs, with the Force Ten range pitched as delivering what more expensive international brands deliver, so that the outdoors stays accessible to as many people as possible.

Vango Banshee 1

The Banshee is the model that opened up backpacking to a generation of Duke of Edinburgh participants and Scouts, and the anniversary version is a genuine rebuild rather than a recolour. The pole configuration has changed to an external pole clip design, which gives the tent a cleaner aerodynamic profile when the wind gets up, and even the pegs have been revised.

The one-person Banshee 1 comes in at roughly 1.2 kg, with compact pole sections that keep the packed length short. The stuff sack uses a full-length zip with cinch clips so the whole package can be compressed further, and waterproofing has not been sacrificed for the weight saving, with a 3,000 mm hydrostatic head on the flysheet and 6,000 mm on the groundsheet.

Vango Banshee 2

The two-person Banshee 2 lands at around 1.3 kg, compared with roughly 2.5 kg for the current Banshee 2 it sits alongside, which is close to half the weight. That difference is noticeable on the hill, both on the back and in the size of the pack.

Interior space is snug for two occupants but generous for a single camper, and the tent pitches inner first, so the flysheet can be removed entirely on a warm night or the clips adjusted for extra ventilation. The patented TBS tension system, part of the range for around two decades, is still fitted, letting you brace the structure with a tensioned triangle when the wind picks up. Hydrostatic head remains UK-ready at 3,000 mm on the flysheet and 6,000 mm on the groundsheet.

Force Ten Classic Mark 4

The Classic Mark 4 is the nostalgia piece of the collection. Its A-frame shape is the design that was taken to Everest base camp in the 1970s, and this version is a three-person tent built around a 100 per cent carbon pole frame. The change in materials brings a substantial weight reduction compared with the original construction while keeping the classic silhouette.

Inside, the tent is deliberately generous, with plenty of headroom and width. It pitches inner first, and the flysheet can be taken off or the clips adjusted for ventilation on warmer evenings. The pyramid and triangle geometry is what makes the structure so stable, which is why the shape has survived this long in a market full of more complicated designs.

Force Ten Ultra 5.5 Sleeping Mat

The Ultra 5.5 is a 5.5 R-value sleeping mat described as a four-season piece. It is designed to pair with the Ultra range sleeping bags as a complete Force Ten sleep system, the first the brand has put together in several years, and it is the mat that anchors the colder-weather half of that pairing.

Force Ten Ultra 150 Sleeping Bag

The Ultra 150 takes its name from its 150 g of down, and that down is rated at 1,000 fill power, a grade that is more commonly found in four-season jackets than in sleeping bags. The stated ratings are 7°C comfort and 2°C limit, which makes it a summer bag, but one that packs down to very little.

The shell is a 10D ripstop nylon, extremely soft and light, with a 500 tear strength thread count that keeps it robust in use. There is also ARC technology in the fabric, an advanced reflective coating that returns body heat to the sleeper rather than letting it escape.

Force Ten Ultra 200 Backpack

The Ultra 200 is a 35 litre pack in 200D ripstop nylon with a Dyneema cord running through it for extra strength. It uses a roll-top closure, and the seams are taped on the inside, which makes the pack fully waterproof, so no rain cover is needed. There is also a small drainage point at the base, which matters if you stash a wet flysheet or jacket in the front pocket.

The hip belt and frame are both removable, so the pack can be run frameless when you want to save weight, and an air mesh back system helps keep things cool on the move. A larger size is in development, and the full Force Ten sleep system will fit inside as a complete set.

Buying Advice: Which Piece Suits Which Trip

The right choice here comes down to how you travel rather than which item is objectively best. Solo backpackers who count grams will get the most from the Banshee 1, while two people who split the load between them will find the Banshee 2 a sensible balance of weight, weather protection and living space. The Classic Mark 4 is the opposite proposition: it trades lightness for room and structural stability, which suits base camp style trips, car-supported weekends and anyone who wants the classic shape with modern materials.

For overnight trips in colder months, the Ultra 5.5 mat and Ultra 150 bag are designed to be used as a set, with the mat providing the insulation underneath and the bag handling warmth on top. If you already carry wet kit or want a pack that can shrug off a full day of rain without an extra cover, the Ultra 200 backpack is the piece that ties the system together.

Conclusion

This anniversary collection works because each piece has a clear job. The Banshee 1 and Banshee 2 bring a familiar name up to date with lighter fabrics, external pole clips and factory-taped seams, the Classic Mark 4 keeps the heritage shape alive with a carbon frame and a roomy three-person interior, and the Force Ten sleep system gives the range a complete overnight kit. For campers who want UK-ready weather protection without moving to the most expensive end of the market, it is a line-up worth looking at closely.