I used the Vango Helium UL2 for my thru-hike of the GR11, which took me 51 days to complete. Over that time, it became my home and a bit of a companion. The Helium UL2 is light, packs small, and coped well with a lot of use. It’s sold as a two-person tent, but in reality, it’s perfect for one person and a full load of kit.
First Impressions
When I first got the tent, I was impressed by how simple it was to pitch. Being able to pitch the outer first is a massive plus when it’s raining. The first time you set it up, you need to connect the inner to the outer once the fly is standing. After that, it stays attached and goes up very quickly — ideal when you’re tired or it’s getting dark.
At around 1.3 kg and with a pack size of about 30 cm, it fits neatly inside a pack and doesn’t add much weight. For a double-skin tent, that’s excellent.
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Key Features
- Weight: Approx 1.32 kg with pegs and poles
- Pack size: 30 × 15 cm
- Pitch: Flysheet first or all-in-one
- Flysheet: ProTex 15D siliconised nylon
- Poles: Yunan SDC alloy
- TBS® Pro Tension Band System for stability
- Small porch for cooking and gear
- Price: £255
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In Use
I carried the Helium UL2 across the Pyrenees on the GR11, setting it up almost every night. It handled all sorts of weather — wind, rain, heat, and snow— without any major issues. Accept when I cut through the base of the tent when cutting tomatoes in the rain….. D’oh!
The outer-first design meant I could get the tent up quickly and stay dry, which was a big help in bad weather. Below are a series of images of the Helium UL2 in numerous wild camps from subtle camps in the woods to open camps in the mountains.
Inside, it feels spacious for one person. There’s enough headroom to sit up and plenty of space beside the sleeping mat for kit. Two people could fit if needed, but it would be tight.
The following year on a climbing trip in the Alps my Vango Helium UL2 sprung a leak. We were stuck in the valley during a spell of bad weather, and the tent started to let water in.
I assume the coating had degraded after several weeks of constant sun and daily pitching on the GR11. As a result the outer waterproofing began to fail, and water started getting in through the TBS Tension Band System. The taping around the TBS points doesn’t seem to hold up well after long UV exposure.
Pros
- Lightweight and compact
- Outer-first pitch (great in rain)
- Quick to pitch after first setup
- Stable in wind
- Plenty of room for one person and kit
Cons
- Being Ultralight the fabric is not the toughest so try not to overtighten
- Waterproof taping on the TBS failed over time
- £255 makes this tent pretty pricey, but still cheaper than similar specification ultralight tents
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Verdict
The Vango Helium UL2 served me really well for the 51 days on the GR11. It’s light, easy to live with, and simple to pitch. The only real let-down was the waterproofing after long, sunny use, which caused a leak later on. This can probably be avoided by re-waterproofing the tent professionally but in my case, I was unable to do this as I was hiking the GR11 and then touring Europe for several weeks after.
Even so, it’s a brilliant lightweight tent for solo backpackers. With stronger waterproofing and UV resistance, it would be close to perfect.
Be a better owner than I was a RE-WATERPROOF your gear. Look after it and it will look after you!!
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