ActiveOutdoorsCampingVango Beta 550XL CLR review: spacious tent for two for weekends under the starsIf you’re looking for a light two-season tent with plenty of headroom, stop right hereWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.(Image credit: Derek Adams)T3 VerdictDespite its slightly awkward two-tier pitching design, the Vango 550XL CLR is a commendable short-stint contender with acres of interior living and storage space, a darkened bedroom and ample head height for a very comfortable weekend under the stars.Reasons to buy+Excellent two-door design+Two metres of headroom+Huge living space+Large dark bedroom+Wind-defeating straps+Light and compact to carryReasons to avoid-Groundsheet not sewn in-Ventilation could be improvedWhy you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
ActiveOutdoorsCampingVango Beta 550XL CLR review: spacious tent for two for weekends under the starsIf you’re looking for a light two-season tent with plenty of headroom, stop right hereWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.(Image credit: Derek Adams)T3 VerdictDespite its slightly awkward two-tier pitching design, the Vango 550XL CLR is a commendable short-stint contender with acres of interior living and storage space, a darkened bedroom and ample head height for a very comfortable weekend under the stars.Reasons to buy+Excellent two-door design+Two metres of headroom+Huge living space+Large dark bedroom+Wind-defeating straps+Light and compact to carryReasons to avoid-Groundsheet not sewn in-Ventilation could be improvedWhy you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
If you’re looking for a light two-season tent with plenty of headroom, stop right here
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Derek Adams)T3 VerdictDespite its slightly awkward two-tier pitching design, the Vango 550XL CLR is a commendable short-stint contender with acres of interior living and storage space, a darkened bedroom and ample head height for a very comfortable weekend under the stars.Reasons to buy+Excellent two-door design+Two metres of headroom+Huge living space+Large dark bedroom+Wind-defeating straps+Light and compact to carryReasons to avoid-Groundsheet not sewn in-Ventilation could be improved
(Image credit: Derek Adams)
(Image credit: Derek Adams)
T3 VerdictDespite its slightly awkward two-tier pitching design, the Vango 550XL CLR is a commendable short-stint contender with acres of interior living and storage space, a darkened bedroom and ample head height for a very comfortable weekend under the stars.Reasons to buy+Excellent two-door design+Two metres of headroom+Huge living space+Large dark bedroom+Wind-defeating straps+Light and compact to carryReasons to avoid-Groundsheet not sewn in-Ventilation could be improved
T3 VerdictDespite its slightly awkward two-tier pitching design, the Vango 550XL CLR is a commendable short-stint contender with acres of interior living and storage space, a darkened bedroom and ample head height for a very comfortable weekend under the stars.
T3 Verdict
Despite its slightly awkward two-tier pitching design, the Vango 550XL CLR is a commendable short-stint contender with acres of interior living and storage space, a darkened bedroom and ample head height for a very comfortable weekend under the stars.
Reasons to buy+Excellent two-door design+Two metres of headroom+Huge living space+Large dark bedroom+Wind-defeating straps+Light and compact to carryReasons to avoid-Groundsheet not sewn in-Ventilation could be improved
Reasons to buy+Excellent two-door design+Two metres of headroom+Huge living space+Large dark bedroom+Wind-defeating straps+Light and compact to carry
Excellent two-door design
Two metres of headroom
Huge living space
Large dark bedroom
Wind-defeating straps
Light and compact to carry
Reasons to avoid-Groundsheet not sewn in-Ventilation could be improved
Groundsheet not sewn in
Ventilation could be improved
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
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Welcome to T3’s Vango Beta 550XL CLR review, a lightweight five-person, two-season tent with a huge living area, darkened bedroom, a hydrostatic head of 3,000, wind-defeating internal straps and some commendable green credentials. While the Vango Beta 550XL CLR won’t reach the top spot in our handy guide to thebest tents, it’s a worthwhile investment for a spacious and comfortable weekend with nature. Let’s pop inside for a closer look.
Vango Beta 550XL CLR review: price and availability
The Vango Beta 550XL CLR retails between £225 and £350 and is available from a number stores, includingVango,Amazon,OutdoorGearandOutdoor World. It’s smaller three-person sibling, the 350XL, is available fromArgos, priced at £230.
The Vango Beta 550XL CLR in the field, albeit with main guide ropes still to be attached(Image credit: Derek Adams)
The Vango Beta 550XL CLR in the field, albeit with main guide ropes still to be attached
The Vango Beta 550XL CLR in the field, albeit with main guide ropes still to be attached
(Image credit: Derek Adams)
Vango Beta 550XL CLR review: design
The Beta 550XL CLR is a three-pole, two-season tunnel tent with a flysheet that’s made from waste plastic. Vango calls it Sentinel Eco fabric, and while it feels very thin to the touch, the flysheet does sport a hydrostatic head of 3,000, which is good enough for heavy-ish rain but possibly not a full-blown storm. According to Vango, the Beta 550XL has been ‘fully wind and rain tested to standard EN ISO 5912’.
Personally, I think five people is really pushing it unless you want to sleep shoulder to shoulder and constantly trip over each other while getting ready for bed. Having set it up and measured the internal dimensions of the bedroom (an extremely spacious three metres in width), I would say that this tent is a perfect size for three but even better for two. This would allow for much more elbow room and loads more space to spend time inside and store individual belongings.
Aside from the ample 3m x 2.10m bedroom, the Beta 550XL also benefits from a huge 7.5m2 of lounging space that measures 3.15m in width and 2.5m in length. Obviously, the front section tapers considerably, but there’s still enough space in this living section to accommodate a table and four chairs, plus all your belongings. In fact, there’s enough room inside to swing the proverbial cat.
Head height is a major consideration when choosing a tent, and in this regard, the Beta 550XL truly excels with an amazing 2m of elevation – tall enough for a six-footer to walk around without having to stoop. Although the bedroom ceiling is 10cm lower, it still has enough height for you to get ready for bed without having to crouch.
Don’t panic, the groundsheet and bedroom compartment are yet to be installed(Image credit: Derek Adams)
Don’t panic, the groundsheet and bedroom compartment are yet to be installed
Don’t panic, the groundsheet and bedroom compartment are yet to be installed
(Image credit: Derek Adams)
Having already tested the exceptional Coleman Air Valdes with sewn-in groundsheet, I was a little alarmed to discover that this model’s waterproof PE groundsheet and bedroom compartment are separate entities, and the inner section needs to be attached to the flysheet after the flysheet has been pitched. Many tent manufacturers still use this configuration, and it’s true that it does make the groundsheet easier to wash separately.
However, it also makes it much more tiresome to pitch because you have to connect the groundsheet and the bedroom compartment to loads of hooks which is no fun if it’s scorchingly hot inside. In fact, I would recommend leaving the inner groundsheet and bedroom compartment attached to the flysheet when disassembling the tent. This will save a lot of bother when it comes time to pitch the tent again.
Thankfully, the flysheet itself has about six inches of groundsheet material sewn into its inner edges, and the main groundsheet lays above it, so rainwater runs under the groundsheet and not into the tent. I didn’t experience any such weather during my test, but it looks like a robust enough system to me.
However, this design may also instil a little apprehension if the heavens open and you’re pitched on a slight slope with water gushing down. But as I’ve already mentioned above, many tent manufacturers use this two-tier pitching method, and I’ve personally not had any issues with systems like this when camping in the past.
Vango’s Nightfall bedroom lessens the effect of morning light(Image credit: Derek Adams)
Vango’s Nightfall bedroom lessens the effect of morning light
Vango’s Nightfall bedroom lessens the effect of morning light
(Image credit: Derek Adams)
Personally, I prefer the Coleman system, which blocks out all light, including lightning, to some degree. That said, the deep purple glow this model provides is actually quite soothing, and it certainly works well enough at sunrise. The bedroom itself is one large sleeping space with no dividers. However, it does have zipped tunnel doors on either side – one large, the other small.
Most tents have a wide front entrance with either one or two side doors. This type of configuration is admittedly better for orientating the tent towards a nice view so you can open the front and enjoy the vista from the comfort of an airbed. However, it often means clambering over belongings because there is nowhere to store them out of the way. Hence, this model has a sealed front end with two triangular Diamond Clear Windows that can be covered with the provided clip-on covers for privacy.
Since there are no doors in the way, this type of configuration is great for storing belongings in the area where the front tapers down and where you’re never going to be walking. Having two entrances also increases ventilation when the heat is on. On the downside, it may mean orientating the Beta 550 side-on so you can see the view from either of the two side entrances. On the plus side, both entrances are nice and wide, with just a short three-inch lip of groundsheet fabric to step over. Sadly, only one entrance is fitted with insect mesh.
That’s the basic design elements out of the way; let’s take a look at some of the Beta 550XL’s special features.
Vango’s removable TBSII Tension Band System (arrowed) helps stabilise the tent in strong winds(Image credit: Derek Adams)
Vango’s removable TBSII Tension Band System (arrowed) helps stabilise the tent in strong winds
Vango’s removable TBSII Tension Band System (arrowed) helps stabilise the tent in strong winds
(Image credit: Derek Adams)
Vango Beta 550XL CLR review: features
The Vango Beta 550XL comes with several lantern hanging points in the bedroom and living area and plenty of storage pockets for torches, maps, water bottles, etc.
(Image credit: Derek Adams)
(Image credit: Derek Adams)
Vango Beta 550XL CLR review: pitching method
As alluded to above, this model requires pitching the outer fly sheet first and then the inner groundsheet and bedroom compartment. Despite this, I found it was really easy to put up though I did require a second pair of hands when it came to installing the colour-coded PowerFlex fibreglass poles.
Like all pole tents, it involves sliding each pole through a sleeve and into a connector and then bending the free end of the pole so it slides over the connector on the other side. Fear not if you think the pole is about to break as you add the extra force required because these poles are designed to bend a lot in order to create a rigid structure.
Once the outer flysheet is pitched and partially pegged down, it’s time to drag in the inner section and start rummaging about on your knees to fix the inner groundsheet to the main flysheet and then stretch to all edges of the ceiling to attach the bedroom compartment. I found this a real faff and decided to leave the whole inner section in situ to make pitching at least 20% quicker next time. In all, I guess it took two of us about 20 minutes to fully complete the assembly with all guy ropes in position.
The Beta 550XL CLR oversized bag is just the ticket for inexperienced tent packers(Image credit: Derek Adams)
The Beta 550XL CLR oversized bag is just the ticket for inexperienced tent packers
The Beta 550XL CLR oversized bag is just the ticket for inexperienced tent packers
(Image credit: Derek Adams)
This brings me to the worst thing about camping – packing it all away. You know the scenario… You’re either rushed to get out of the campsite in time for checkout, or there’s rain on the horizon, and you need to get the tent down quickly and fold it up into a neat package small enough for the bag it arrived in.
You’ll be lucky fitting four in this tent without an argument occuring(Image credit: Vango)
You’ll be lucky fitting four in this tent without an argument occuring
You’ll be lucky fitting four in this tent without an argument occuring
(Image credit: Vango)
Vango Beta 550XL CLR review: performance
As I’ve already pointed out, I managed to avoid inclement weather during my test though I do feel very confident about the Beta 550XL’s 3,000 HH waterproof rating, which is a lot better than most cheaper weekend tents.
I personally didn’t miss the lack of view from the front because I’ve never lain in bed in the morning with the front open. I did, however, appreciate the amazing head height, overall interior space and the bonus of having the extra storage space at the front to keep stuff out of the way of our feet. I also loved the low thresholds on both doors and the bedroom because I’m forever tripping over them when entering and exiting.
Finally, a shout-out to the designers for fitting those handy stabilisation straps. It was quite windy on our first night, and these straps made a big difference to the rigidity of the outer shell. As a result, we got a good night’s sleep with very little buffeting.
(Image credit: Vango)
(Image credit: Vango)
Vango Beta 550XL CLR review: verdict
If you’re looking for a well-designed and exceedingly spacious weekend tent for two or three, the Vango Beta 550XL CLR is a top choice, despite the rigmarole of fitting the inner groundsheet and bedroom compartment separately.
At just 10.4kg in weight, you can carry this tent a fair distance without your arm falling off, and you willreallyappreciate the oversized bag that makes it very easy to repack. But above all, it’s the spaciousness within and the generous two-metre headroom that make this model a veritable shoo-in for any short two-season camping adventure.
Vango Beta 550XL CLR: Price Comparison
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