Robens Voyager 2EX Tunnel Tent Review

[@chrisw1090]

Thank you for the review Andrew. It was as a result of this that I purchased the Voyager 2, having got a very good price of £119. It arrived and I checked the packet and then took it away for 6 days cycle camping on a fixed site without having erected it - something I don't usually do. I found erecting the tent very straightforward - although I would say that the instructions are the worst I have seen in comparison to both Eurohike and Naturehike. The tent isn't the lightest I have but that is because it isn't 20 denier and also doesn't rely on lots of mesh. It provides plenty of space one one person and kit within the tent with loads of room in the porch. I think this will become my 'Go to' tent. especially for the colder months. I have found that it is much easier pack down and carry by taking the poles separately. What I don't like in common with most manufacturers is the bag, why don't they provide an oversized bag in order to pack away and compress quickly?

[@thecampingbiker791]

@@chrisw1090 pleased it’s worked well for you, good point about splitting poles and tent.. could see that working for me. I often use an Exped ultralight waterproof bag that has a valve for taking the air out while squeezing down…so good I use on most tents! It’s a great winter tent and very capable in stormy high wind conditions.

[@MAURITS_METERSMAKER]

Hello Andrew 👋 Your reviews are always calm and detailed. I love watching them. Including the campsite reviews. Thanks for sharing a new one with us. Enjoy your new tent 👌

[@thecampingbiker791]

Hi Maurits, you are so kind with your comments and it is greatly appreciated…thank you 👍🏻

[@Rumcofan_Rider]

The Voyager 3 EX is high on my wish list, so thanks for the brilliant review

[@thecampingbiker791]

Very nice quality and look as tough as old boots 😆

[@Blubbux]

thank you alot for the review. I bought the voyager versa 4 and most of the stuff you showed applies to this tent as well.

[@thecampingbiker791]

Excellent tents, I’ve also bought a Robens Elk River1 for lightweight camping…maybe a bit of surprise backpacking camping next year!!

[@mosfear]

I bought a Voyager 3EX back in, I believe, 2010 when Robens were still shipping this model with red guy-lines and as yourself, I also bought the add-on porch sheet. After my first tour with the tent, I replaced all the guys with hi-vis guys with a reflective tracer in them as I found I was repeatedly tripping over the red ones (my bad, I guess). Overall, I found it to be a spacious tent for one person and it packed to a nice size for biking, but I moved to another tent after about 4 tours. The reasons being, 1/ the tent took longer than I was happy to spend putting it up and taking it down, mainly because of having to thread the poles through those long sleeves. Okay when it's dry, but no fun in the rain 2/ The tent is prone to a lot of condensation, although this factor is down to the individual and the prevailing humidity. 3/ Due to the positioning of the top of the door zip, it was difficult to prevent rain ingress when entering or leaving the tent. At one point, I even erected a tarp over the tent to prevent this, but it's not a good idea if there's even a hint of a wind if you expect to find the tarp in place the following morning. 4/ Overall, it's quite a low tent and at my age I wanted something a little higher. 5/ I couldn't establish a decent flow of air through the tent, so I found it stiflingly hot in warm weather. After several different tents, my favourite and I highly recommend it, was a Luxe Mega Horn II tipi style. Here's a link (a review I made of it): www.ukcampsite.co.uk/tents/p/Mega-Horn-II/3734 If you search around on KZbin, you'll even find a video of me putting it up for the first time. lol

[@thecampingbiker791]

Coincidentally I’ve been thinking of selling mine, particularly as I also like a quicker time for putting a tent up and have another Robens tent I much prefer (the Buck Creek2) Originally I bought the Voyager as my go to winter tent and it will clearly stand up to adverse conditions but because I normally move day by day the Voyager would be a pain! Anyhow not 100% sure yet but probably will sell.. Like the look of your Tipi and I’ll try to track the video down 👍🏻

[@mosfear]

@@thecampingbiker791 kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5eunGZ7l9V3pq8

[@twowheeledadventuresuk2739]

Another great review, thanks. I looked at these before I bought my Vango Omega 250, and the issue I have, in winter especially, is the long dark nights and relaxing in the tent, I have to have a chair with me. Now this and say something like the Vango F10 Xenon UL 2, looks like another great all-season tent but would probably be just too low for me to allow a chair in the vestibule. So do you just lay in bed at night and read a book or something ? I watched your review on the Elk 1 and what with this, it's got me thinking as I have my eye on the Naturehike Hiby which is much higher in the vestibule area and it's now seeming like a good option. Thanks again

[@thecampingbiker791]

Yes, the winter nights can be long, particularly when freezing hard, but no doubt like yourself i love it! I usually sit on my sleep mat inside tent, but funnily enough I’ve just bought a low profile Helinox Ground Chair, particularly with the Voyager 2EX in mind…. not sure if will work but next time out will tell! That Elk River is a cracking good tent, lightweight and small pack size for a quick overnighter or bit of winter backpacking.. but I’m just about to buy the matching Robens Odyssey Wing Tarp to allow for better winter use of it… Those F10s look great but I really do have to deal with my tent addiction 😂

[@craigburton2936]

Brow Farm, great site

[@thecampingbiker791]

Yes, very nice place

[@daviddemmers130]

Some crucial points that you missed too be honest is that this is a rather heavy tent with very low headroom even if designed for two people as you are sitting side by side and usually on top of your sleeping mat. And the setup definitely is not easy to do properly, as in your video you clearly can see it is not setup correctly (yellow arch) which will lead to the person sleeping on the left touching the outer-tent where because of the very poor ventilation options will lead to condensation soaking through. When setting up you are battling to get this tent square back to front & to have all arches on center. this problem is amplified by the non movable stakeout points as even if your tent is square back to front you can still curve it by lining up the arches in a straight line on the statically pegged side but being completely of on the other side as the poles all have a different radius. The tent is fine and i am happy that i got it on sale but it honestly is too heavy, finicky and even considering how huge its footprint is not much livable space for two.

[@thecampingbiker791]

Sorry missed your comments when posted but having used it a few times I can’t disagree with your thoughts and not sure I’ll keep mine…subsequently bought a Robens Buck Creek2 (now discontinued) but like it more for my type of camping which is usually moving day by day and very quick to put up and take down! Maybe not as robust as the Voyager but has still withstood some high winds in a winter camp I did! After a few uses I eventually got the Voyager figured out but as I’m typing this I’ve decided to part company for much of the same reasons! Thanks for commenting, it’s always good to get another viewpoint 👍🏻

[@newburybiker8852]

Nice looking tent Andrew. I do watch a lot of your videos and are just starting the camping on my bike this year. Im going to use my 20+ year old Teranova Supper Trisar, its in mint condition but doesn't have a lot of room in it realy (no porch area realy). I will post my videos up afterwards. Having watched your vidio with the wood burner in it I have purchased one with intent to use soon. Ride safely.

[@thecampingbiker791]

It is indeed, I’ve also bought another Robens but a lightweight one person quick erect tent which I’ll be testing this coming weekend. Excellent tents terranova, had one years ago…wish I hadn’t sold it now! Although I do use small tents I do prefer something with a bit more room, like the Voyager but actually my preference for most camping would be a dome tent, like my MSR Elixir2. I’ve subbed your channel and look forward to seeing the Trisar in action…all the best, Andrew

[@stephenwhelan9531]

A good clear honest review of this tent..I own one as well.

[@thecampingbiker791]

Thanks Steven…excellent quality and spec at reasonable price… I also bought a Robens Elk River1 at same time but haven’t tested it yet….hopefully out at the weekend for a first look 😃

[@stephenwhelan9531]

@@thecampingbiker791 I have also purchased a 2022 cb500x recently and enjoyed reading your review on it. You echo my thoughts on it as well.

[@thecampingbiker791]

@@stephenwhelan9531 happy days, is yours the newest version

[@stephenwhelan9531]

@The Camping Biker Yes..the twin discs and USD forks. It's a grand wee bike. I've just sold my T7 and replaced it with the 500X. I've put 6k km on it, and I'm happy with it so far. New Michelin Anakee adventure tyres being put on shortly for a trip to Europe.

[@thecampingbiker791]

@@stephenwhelan9531 they’re a nice evolution of the 500x and sounds like you’re enjoying it…very interested in why you moved from the Yamaha…I nearly bought one myself prior to the Honda but in the end it just felt a bit tall for me and what I wanted out of the bike. I did have the XSR700 at the time and the engine was a peach!

[@michaelpaulmurdoch2894]

Brilliant video. I am going to buy this tent for me and my son. Would you think the 3EX 3 man model would be better for us. It certainly looks big enough in video.

[@thecampingbiker791]

Very good tent and easily useable in the 2 man version but wouldn’t leave a lot of space between the mats, however with the vestibule you have lots of storage….difficult to say but if backpacking I’d be tempted to stick with 2 person… can’t go wrong either way 😊

[@Taffwildmanofthewoods]

Nice review Andy 👌 I did a review myself on this tent 3 weeks ago. It is a good tent, and a 4 season at best. Safe riding atb Taff 🤠👊

[@thecampingbiker791]

Cheers Taff, I’ll take a look at your review..excellent kit…also bought a Robens Elk River1, which I’ve not used yet, but hoping to next weekend 😃 👍🏻

[@thecampingbiker791]

Ps. Thought I’d already subbed your channel but hadn’t…I have now mate 👍🏻

[@Taffwildmanofthewoods]

@@thecampingbiker791 I uploaded a review yesterday on the Trekpeak 2. Cheers 👊

[@thecampingbiker791]

@@Taffwildmanofthewoods watched it last night 😆 👍🏻

[@Two_Wheel_Trips]

I do like that tent.

[@thecampingbiker791]

Me too 😆

[@potskifilms]

Thanks for the review Andrew. Yes, that looks a very nice tent, that after checking the price seem more than reasonable considering the quality. I may be tempted by the 3 person version in the future to replace our Redverz for when my wife joins me. As regards a seat that may fit inside, I use Mayfly Alite which sits low to the ground and is imo exceptionally comfy. Atb Wayne

[@thecampingbiker791]

Thanks Wayne, very good tent, bit tight for 2 people so 3 person would be ideal for you. Interesting info on the lower chair, I’ve taken a brief look and I’ll have a good look later, cheers Andrew

[@thecampingbiker791]

Been reviewing the chair but can’t seem to get it in the UK at the moment…bit of a shame as decided to buy one…I’ll just have to wait, but my patience is going to be tested 😂

[@potskifilms]

@@thecampingbiker791 Hi Andrew, I did reply yesterday with another suggestion, but can't see it now? Anyway, I was tryng to tell you that Amazon uk have got this one - EASDRIL Ultralight Folding Camping Chair - 790g Low Profile Foldable Camp Chair with Carry Bag which looks similar to the Mayfly and is cheaper too; might be worth a look.. Atb Wayne

[@thecampingbiker791]

@@potskifilms cheers Wayne, I’ll take a look 👍🏻

[@p435jvc]

Think your guy ropes are supposed to be attached to both loops not just the bottom one. Good review of the tent.

[@thecampingbiker791]

Thanks Ian, I realised that after publishing, had to watch a Robens video to check 😂 Much better for it 👍🏻

[@katywilliams3748]

Greetings Andrew , looks an excellent buy . I really need a decent tent for the ABR Festival, 2 man but with maybe a little more headroom me being 6 feet 1 inch . Was it expensive ? I know Robens are a quality tent . Best wishes Niall

[@thecampingbiker791]

Hi Niall, excellent quality and it will be brilliant for my winter camping! Headroom in this one not great for taller people…a dome tent would have more headroom, Decathlon do a 3 person version with 119cm internal headroom and at £149.99! I bought the Voyager 2EX and an Elk River1 during winter and only paid £213 for the Voyager, at the moment cheapest I can find is £279 and that’s from same company. Regards Andrew www.wowcamping.co.uk/productDetail/robens-voyager-2ex-tent/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIj_G8rf_l_gIVBuxRCh3dxQEiEAQYASABEgJzSfD_BwE www.decathlon.co.uk/p/dome-trekking-tent-3-person-mt500/_/R-p-311272?mc=8556125

[@jimbossimrigs7961]

How do you compare this to the Naturehike Opalus? - Are you still using the Opalus?

[@thecampingbiker791]

Sorry, I forgot to reply..I’m getting to a point where unless I do something straight away it just leaves my head 😂 I don’t have the Opalus anymore, sold it but not because didn’t like it just that I buy lots of tents to review/test and have to move some on occasionally… might let the Robens go at some point as I do prefer dome tents really! So, the Opalus is a very light and roomy tent that has an interesting and useful feature of the roll up fly on one end and for summer has a lot more mesh for air circulation and it’s quicker to erect. The Robens is a much better build quality, top notch really, and built to withstand stormy weather, tunnel tested for high wind conditions, and is more suited for all year round camping with solid inner fabric and fly coming down to ground to cut out the wind, it’s more compact inside (even compared to the Opalus2) and a bit heavier, but in truth it’s in a different league to the Naturehike. In summary, the Naturehike is a good tent suited better to warmer weather and the Robens is a top quality tent better for colder conditions (like UK 😂) and if I had to choose between them I’d have the Robens!

[@chrisw1090]

Hi Jim, I hope you don't mind me replying. I have both the Opalus 3 and the Voyager 2. Whilst the Opalus 3 is far bigger and has two doors and better head height it is mostly mesh. The Opalus 3 packs down to about the same size as the Voyager and is about the same weight which are all positives. However, I find that the Opalus suffers from ventilation issues and gets masses of condensation on the flysheet, it can take ages to dry it out to pack it away. I have found the Voyager 2 much less prone to condensation, there is a good deal less mesh and I suspect the tent will be a lot warmer in colder seasons.

[@barriewatson]

I have the three man version had it now two years and l must say a fantastic tent for all weather, s mostly use with my partner and for two it's a Palace for one thing in bad weather you have room, a massive vestibule were you can cook and use a low seat to read a book, l did get a floor mat for the vestibule this did not come with the tent , you will have meny years of service from this tent , its a pity the name is not well known in the UK.

[@thecampingbiker791]

Yes, seems a brilliant tent and will become my go to winter tent…looking forward to the freezing cold rainy windy weather with this one 😂 coincidentally I’ve just bought a low profile Helinox Ground Chair which I’ve got with me on a little camping trip but not that tent!

[@barriewatson]

@thecampingbiker791 the chair is a good idea somtimes in the evening l use mine, if my partner wants to sleep and l sit in the porch check emails and drink a cool beer.

[@thecampingbiker791]

@@barriewatson I’ve been using a standard Helinox one for about 14 years and I’d say it is an essential bit of kit… so many evenings in front of log fires and watching the world go by… oh, and the beers 😂

[@matth2357]

Would you be able to bring a mountain bike into the porch/living area (laying down) of this or the voyager 3 ex? If so it would be perfect for cycling and wild camping where you can bring the bike in for a bit of security

[@thecampingbiker791]

I think you would, possibly taking front wheel off… there’s 1.6m of length and 1.3m width tapering to about 80cm (porch)

[@matth2357]

@@thecampingbiker791 thanks for the reply, appreciated!

[@thecampingbiker791]

@@matth2357 no problem..great tent

[@KidCurry666]

Great review Andy, Robens do make good kit, it looks like a bomb proof tent. Buy yourself a monkey bike as it would fit in the porch 😆

[@thecampingbiker791]

Cheers Steve….class use of tent for Monkey garage 😂 👍🏻

[@camouflage962]

it has little headroom

[@thecampingbiker791]

Think it’s deliberately kept low profile for better stormy high wind capability.. doesn’t feel too bad sitting in the tent

[@Jungleland33]

Very bulky tent to carry on a bike considering there is limited storage space.

[@thecampingbiker791]

It’s the bulkiest I’ve got but should stand up to winter and bad weather really well… I thought storage space in vestibule was good and for me solo camping the inner worked well, but then I’ve been using one man tents a lot so it really feels like a palace 😂

[@simonbennett2721]

Sort the screechy voice sound out. And you can get a groundsheet from the £ shop.

[@thecampingbiker791]

Yes, sorted… stopped using the remote microphone! Tried everything to make it work but have given up on them now. Like to test gear out for others consumption but also have pound shop groundsheets in use 😃

[@camouflage962]

inconvenient...after 400 km riding in cold and possibly rainy weather, one would wish to stretch out and relax w/o any compromises....

[@thecampingbiker791]

Different tents different purposes….for quick pitch and moving day by day I’d use one of my other tents for really hot climates there would be another…but I guess every single tent is a compromise one way or another.

[@camouflage962]

you are perfectly right - thank you very much for your great contributions and related efforts producing the videos

[@thecampingbiker791]

@@camouflage962 thanks for that, appreciated 👍🏻

[@barriewatson]

Thing is its camping ! In that tent you can stretch in the horizontal and in the porch you can sit ,, any more l would sugest a hotel ,