VauDe Taurus 2

From Guides

Part of VauDe's mountain range of tents and the larger version of the Taurus 1. It can comfortably accomodate 2 people, or 3 at a push. Waighing up to 2.8kg.

by Ant

Having only just purchased this tent I cannot give a full review at this time. Initial impressions it appears to be well constructed, as I write this review it is currently pitched in the garden. It was difficult to erect, but I put this down to not being familiar to the pole configeration and strong winds, now it is fully pegged out it appears much more stable.

The tent tapers to the back it is not possible for me to sit up fully in the inner tent, and the porch is rather small. However, the front of the inner tent can be taken down as the tent is of the flysheet pitch first type to allow more room in the porch. The door is versitile, as it can be opened in 6 different ways (looking towards the door from the outside): half left, half right, full left, full right, bottom to top, top to bottom.

The tent is desined for 2 people with enough room for a third at a push, although it would be a bit cramped. The 'washing line' could prove usful on long trips when used at a basecamp especially when its pooring with rain.

Being of the Semi-geodistic design once up it is very stable and does not need any pegs, although, it is wise to use a min 4 pegs, 2 in the front and 2 in the back corners to hold the internal poles up although one person could get away with 3, 2 in the front and one at the very back ancor point.

Having spent the night in the tent, with strong wind and constant rain I could not find any problems.. Infact, the only problem I could find was that I had a tendancy to hit my head on the end of the ridgepole above the door when going into the tent. but, I wouldn't discribe that as a flaw at all, rather a lack of observation on my part. Temp last night was around 10 degees C inside the tent, and I was quite comfortable wearing trousers, a t-shirt and jumper inside my 3 season bag. The only downside I had was, not having any fresh batteries for the torch, not being able to find the one remaining glowstick and not an entirly comfortable night sleep, although I put this down to not sleeping out often so not being used to sleeping on the Self inflating mat.

When striking, it is best to leave the 4 corner pegs in place in windy conditions. and to drop the crosspole first this causes the entire tent to fall to the gound and makes the removal of the ridgepole easier, although it still takes a bit of force. I tried stuffing it into the bag, with the inner and outer attached toether, but it proved too bulky a method. I found that seperating the inner and outer rolling one then rolling that inside the other allows the tent to pack down a lot smaller than stuffing when using one bag. I don't know If it will pack down as well as I have right now using the same method when the inner and outer are attached, that is a test for a dry day.

Packing. You can pack it rolled just as it was when you bought it with the inner and outer attached and wrapped with the poles. Alternitivly you can pack the inner and outer attached and the poles seperatly. My prefered method, is to seperate the inner and outer into seperate stuff sacks, and folded to the lengh of the poles that are built into the outer. The outer cannot be stuffed because of these poles so has to be rolled up, the inner can be stuffed but my method is to roll it too and then sqash it down once inside the stuff sack. Using a seperate stuff sacks (with roll down closure) for the inner and outer allows the tent to be packed small.

Update of review Having used this tent a few times, including on a wildcamp it is clearly a good tent. at close to 3kg though it's defently best used with 2 people however if the user can reduce the overall pack weight from other areas it can be used by one person on a multi-day trip without issue.