Vaude Mark L 3P Backpacking Tent Review
The Vaude Mark L 3P backpacking tent is a far cry from what many might think a tent can be; lightweight, packable and it will protect you from the elements.
Think camping, and the first thing that springs to mind is a tent. In times gone by they were relatively simple, a waterproof outer layer enveloped an inner layer which keeps draughts out and prevented condensation build up. The whole assembly was supported with a scaffolding of flimsy poles that would invariably snap at the most inopportune of moments. The worst part of all was that this entire assembly would weigh as much as a small child and make lugging it anywhere close to remote was a feat unto itself.
Highs:
Quick to pitch
Copes well with wind
Lightweight
Excellent Ventilation
Lows:
No bathtub floor means potential for soggy kit inside
Cosy for 3 people
£430 | Buy from Absolute-Snow
Nowadays with our new range of modern technologies and fabrics, the double layer skinned design has been ditched in favour of space age fabrics and composite tent poles that even the most heavy handed camper would lose a fight with. This new theory of design has also allowed tents to go on a crash diet, with some only weighing a couple of kilos. The Mark L 3P from Vaude is one such example of this new breed of ultralightweight, weatherproof 3 season tent.
Weighing in at 3.3kg and sleeping 3, the Vaude has several unique features that really caught our attention. The first thing you’ll notice when pitching this tent is that inner is already attached to the outer meaning there’s no cumbersome process of wrestling the outer onto the fragile inner with when it’s blowing a gale or tipping it down. Instead, Vaude has used a silicon coated 3 ply nylon which brings a range of benefits. The primary is that the tent has exceptional waterproofness, rated to a 3000mm water column (more on this shortly), whilst still maintaining great breathability to ensure condensation build up inside the tent doesn’t soak everything, which would somewhat defeat the point of having a tent! Another benefit to this siliconized coating is that the material is more resistant to rips and tears than an untreated nylon which is always welcomed, as the last thing you need is a gaping hole in the side of your tent!
The degree to which something is considered waterproof is quantified by the water column test. This involves placing a piece of the fabric over a tube and water is added. When water drips through the fabric from the pressure of the water above it, it means that fabric has reached its limit of water resistance. For something to be considered waterproof, it must have resistance of at least 1500mm, more than 3000mm is suitable for extreme conditions. The Mark L 3P is rated to 3000mm which should tell you all you need to know about the conditions Vaude designed this tent to be used in.
One downside to this kind of construction is that condensation build up could become an issue, however the Mark L 3P is equipped with a ventilation hood which is protected from the elements, meaning cool air can circulate through the tent without bringing in whatever foul weather is lurking outside.
A more noticeable piece of design than the highly technical fabrics is the way this tent pitched. Typically, the poles would slide through the outer and be suspended above the inner ensuring the 2 layers did not touch and transfer moisture. Vaude throws this concept out the window and has replaced it with a much more straightforward and sturdy design. To pitch the Mark L 3P, the fabric is layed out flat on the ground and secured down using the included lightweight pegs. The first thing that struck us when first pitching this tent was the lack of anywhere obvious to insert the aluminium poles, however having read the instructions after 5 minutes of head scratching, it transpires that the poles are anchored into each corner of the inner/outer and then attached using a unique cord fixture to the poles. This means the whole tent was up in 5 minutes flat, one of the quickest and most straightforward tents I’ve ever pitched.
A bonus was that it was all manageable solo, unlike other tents which seem to require 3 hands and the ability to be in 2 places at once. A large part of this is down to the design of the poles, a continuous ‘H’ shaped pole assembly that supports the fabric. The inner/outer is then attached to the poles by way of a clever ‘bone and marrow’ system (Vaude’s words, not mine) which is a cord that loops around the poles to hold everything up with the added bonus of the inner/outer can move slightly independently of the poles which means it can fend off high winds and rain without impacting on the structural rigidity of the tent. Adjustable guy lines with reinforced attachment points are then used to stretch out the inner/outer to maximise the internal space.
Once inside, the isn’t the most spacious 3 person tent we’ve ever seen and it’s quite cosy when fully occupied, but the inclusion of 2 vestibules for kit and 2 entrances at either end makes the Mark L 3P feel perfectly comfortable. We probably wouldn’t want to spend extended periods with 2 other people in this tent, but for 2-night forays into the wilderness, it’s ideal. One complaint we did have however, is that the triangle shaped vestibules weren’t the ideal shape for storing kit; rucksacks invariably ended up leaning on the outer as the had to be piled up to fit. Although, doors at both ends did mean kit could be accessed from inside the tent which makes life a little more comfortable when the weather is foul. We would like to see a groundsheet included because if the ground is wet, then anything on the ground not in the tent will get wet too. We’d also like to see a bathtub style floor which is where the harder wearing and more waterproof material employed on the floor continues up the sides for a few inches to provide further weather protection from snow and rain hitting the tent side on.
The doors have a mesh panel that can be open with a zipper to allow for even more airflow, or if you find yourself in the Highlands in summer, keep the midges out! The whole door can be kept open with handy toggles to really get the air flowing. Further creature comforts include several pockets on the walls of the tent to store small items like a torch and maps. A feature that we did notice and appreciate was the use of a darker material for the sleeping end of the tent as opposed to a lighter material for the living area which made a bigger difference than we’d expect and a nice touch.
Overall, the Vaude Mark L 3P is a solid 3 season tent which sleeps 3 at a push and 2 in comfort. We wouldn’t recommend this tent for any winter adventures, simply due to the fact it’s a little too lightweight to withstand the worst of the winter weather and the lack of a bathtub floor could result in everything getting soaked if the rain or snow comes in sideways. We love the innovative design eschewing the traditional separate inner and outer in favour of a pre attached design and the ‘bone and marrow’ system to attach the outer to the poles is a huge time saver as well as its ability to deflect slightly in strong winds and rain. The twin entrances and vestibules make living in the tent very comfortable as there’s no scrambling over each other to get in and out or access kit. We would like to see the vestibules have some sort of floor to keep kit from getting wet but in dry conditions, the Vaude Mark L 3P is up there among the best tents we’ve seen in a long time.