Review: PuroMonte VL-16: A lightweight yet reliable all-season mountain tent
Written by Outdoor Gearzine Editorial Department
People tend to be weak when it comes to the word "lightest."
However, in these days when lighter things tend to be overly popular, it's sometimes good to pause and think about the phrase "lightness is justice." Especially when it comes to tents. We mustn't forget that tents are tools that give us the rest we need to survive in harsh natural environments
Promont's lightweight all-season VL series are a challenging yet unwavering character that, unlike modern mountain gear that tends to only emphasize its lightness, continues to evolve while adhering to the consistent principle of safety and incorporating the needs of the times.
It has its roots in Japanese mountain tents that took the world by storm in the 1970s (the editor-in-chief was also greatly helped by them during his student days at Wanguer), and continues to be produced domestically using domestically produced fabrics, and has continued to be improved based on feedback from Japanese users over the decades
This time, I would like to summarize my impressions of using the VL-16, the lightest model of mountain tent that Japan is proud of
table of contents
The origins and main features of the VL series
Dunlop tents and the birth of ProMonte
ProMonte is a Japanese mountain gear brand founded by HSC in 2005. While ProMonte itself has a short history, its origins date back approximately 50 years.
In the 1970s, when Japan was competing internationally for the first ascent of Mt. Fuji, the tent that all expeditions used was the world's first suspended dome tent manufactured by Dunlop. Although it has now become a standard tent design, at the time it was a groundbreaking design, and this robust and lightweight model led the global mountaineering community
HSC continues to produce Dunlop brand tents, and Promont is a brand that is conscious of manufacturing products suited to the modern Japanese activity environment. Starting with lightweight mountain tents, they offer a wide range of mountain gear, from sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and rain jackets to mountain climbing equipment
General features of the VL series
Promont's VL-16 traces its roots back to its first release in 1989. Based on user feedback and repair history, it has a clear concept of lightweighting while maintaining sufficient durability for year-round use in Japan's mountainous regions, and there are few excessive sacrifices made for weight reduction like those seen in other manufacturers.
It has a dome-shaped structure that is suspended using hooks, which is common in lightweight tents, and is made lighter by using simple parts and light, thin materials
On the other hand, the ground section is made of 30D polyester ripstop fabric, and it has a suspension bridge-like mesh panel that distributes the tension, which is a weakness of suspended tent types, and hooks that come off before they break in strong winds, making it a safe and lightweight all-season tent that ensures a minimum and sufficient level of safety that has been proven through a long track record
Recommended points
- Durability for all seasons and safety that is unlikely to collapse even in the event of an accident
- Lightweight while ensuring durability
- Made in Japan for peace of mind when it comes to repairs
Points of interest
- Ventilation when the entrance is closed
- Mechanisms and parts for comfortable living
Main specifications and evaluation
| item | Specifications and reviews |
|---|---|
| Number of people sleeping | 1 person |
| color | Saxe Blue |
| official minimum weight | 1210g (1400g including pegs and storage bag) |
| Actual weight | 1265g (1435g including pegs and storage bag) |
| Fly material | 20D polyester ripstop |
| Inner material | 10D nylon ripstop |
| Inner bottom material | 30D polyester ripstop |
| Pole material | DAC-7001S (aluminum alloy) |
| size | Width 205 x Depth 90 x Height 100 cm |
| Storage size | Body: 25 x 14 cm, pole: 37 x 5.4 cm |
| Floor area | 1.84㎡ |
| Front room | 0.6m |
| accessories |
|
| option |
|
| Living Comfort | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Ease of setup and takedown | ★★★☆☆ |
| weather resistance | ★★★★☆ |
| durability | ★★★★☆ |
| weight | ★★★☆☆ |
| Portability | ★★★☆☆ |
| Versatility | ★★★★★ |
| comprehensive evaluation | ★★★☆☆ |
Detailed Review
Small packing possible
The tent can be stored in four sections: inner tent, fly, poles, and pegs. There are few models that allow you to store the inner tent and fly separately, so this is convenient when packing
In terms of storage, it is surprisingly bulky compared to lightweight three-season tents, which may be why the tent body and fly are stored separately
All parts go into their own storage bags. It's easier to pack if they're all separated into smaller bags
As a test, I tried storing both the inner tent and the fly in the inner tent storage bag. It just barely fit, so you can compress it and carry it around in this way
The inner liner and fly can be stored together in one stuff sack, so you can compress it and carry it around
The poles used are DAC's DAC-7001S. Considering their use during the snowy season, their thickness and strength are quite reasonable. The rounded tips are a nice touch, preventing damage to the fabric. Twelve DAC duralumin pegs are also included
Setup: Simple structure with ingenious parts
This is a freestanding dome tent, a standard among lightweight mountain tents. The poles are the hanging type, a standard among lightweight tents, but the pole tips are secured to the inner tent using sleeves, achieving both lightness and strength. Once the poles are inserted into the sleeves at the four corners, the tent will stand on its own
The tip of the pole is ball-shaped to prevent it from getting damaged when passing it through the sleeve
The two poles are connected by a center hub to prevent them from moving apart. The center hub is connected to the top of the inner tent with an unfamiliar plastic part called DAC's swivel H9783
This system fixes the top of the tent at a single point, making it less likely to shift and more stable in crosswinds. While this is great, it can easily get upside down if you're not careful when setting it up, so it takes some practice and care
The three hooks on each side are simply attached to the poles, but they use special hooks called screw hooks. Instead of simply hooking, they are twisted 90 degrees before hooking, which makes them a little tricky to use, but they are designed to come off if unexpected force is applied, preventing the tent from collapsing
A normal hanging tent is easy to set up as it only requires about three hooks, but each hook is subject to considerable stress. However, the VL series is designed to minimize tension on any one point by connecting the hooks with a suspension bridge-like mesh panel, improving stability and durability in strong winds. It truly combines the best of both hanging and sleeve-type tents
To set up the fly, simply fasten it to the inner tent with the buckles. The buckle system is definitely easier to set up
Basically, it is easy to set up intuitively, but until you get used to it, you may be a little confused about how to secure the hooks, how to raise and lower the poles, etc. However, once you have set it up a few times and understand how it works, you will be able to do it without any problems
Actual impressions after using it
Livability is the bare minimum. Don't expect too much
The inner lining is made of 10D nylon ripstop, which contributes to its light weight. The bottom is made of 30D polyester ripstop, which is heavier but improves durability. The fly is made of 20D polyester ripstop with a polyurethane waterproof coating. The fly is only available in one color, blue, which is vibrant and comfortable
The floor area of the interior is 205cm x 90cm. To be honest, it's not very spacious, as it's for one person. However, the entrance opens up halfway along the long side, so unless you're extremely tall, you probably won't feel cramped (as long as the entrance is open). There's plenty of room to lay a mat and place your luggage
The ceiling is 100cm high at its highest point, so it should be fine if you just stand up. There are loops at the four corners and the top, so although it's hard to see, you can hang your luggage by passing a string through them as shown in the photo below
There are also two mesh storage compartments on the floor. They are just big enough to fit an iPhone, so I wish they were a little bigger
The vestibule is also large enough to store luggage and cook
If you open the wide long side entrance, the air will pass through easily, but..
The entrance is on the long side, and when fully opened, half of the long side is open. The entrance has a double structure of nylon and mesh, and about 1/3 of the entire entrance is mesh, which improves breathability
Another ventilation feature that functions as a ventilation vent is the downward-facing ventilation on the fly on the left side of the entrance (photo below)
Two streamers on the opposite side of the entrance (photo below). This ventilation system has remained almost unchanged since ancient times, but it is not very user-friendly as it cannot be stretched properly due to the weight of rain and snow, and honestly, I would like to see more improvements in terms of ventilation
Also, once the entrance is closed, no matter how much mesh there is, it doesn't feel like air is passing through. After all, the mesh at the entrance alone isn't enough. I wish the vents were at least facing each other
After all, it's long..
In addition, the panel at the entrance and the string that fastens the fly are quite long for some reason... I tried fiddling around with it but couldn't figure out why they're that long... You can solve the problem by cutting them or using a cord lock. Please check and take measures before actually using the jacket. It can be quite stressful
The bottom of the inner tent is made of durable 30D fabric, so it is unlikely to tear unless there is a sharp rock or something. If you bring a ground sheet, you won't have to worry, but even though it's a lightweight mountain tent, it's not particularly light, so I would avoid using one if possible. If you check under the tent when setting it up, there shouldn't be any problems
Summary: Recommended for these people
As you can see from what we've seen so far, it's not exceptionally light, nor is it particularly comfortable, so in that sense, it's hard to deny that it's a bit lacking when viewed as a lightweight three-season tent
On the other hand, I could definitely feel the high level of reliability in safety that has been built up since the Dunlop era. As an all-season tent, I felt that this lightness and safety performance would be especially useful in the snowy season. In that sense, it may have been unfortunate for this tent that we were unable to test it in harsh conditions this time
Of course, you can certainly live comfortably in the tent even during the snow-free season, and this tent is highly cost-effective and perfect for those looking for a tent that can be used safely in a wide range of environments and fields, from trekking and mountain climbing to river climbing and other demanding activities during the snowy season
This tent boasts a long history as a mountaineering tent, so there is something romantic about sleeping in it while thinking about Japan's mountaineering history
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