I’m seriously thinking of buying a new tent– The Six moon Designs Wild Oasis. They say it weighs 13 oz. That’s a 10 ounce saving over the one I have– the Lunar Solo. I don’t know if it would be better to have 175 more dollars in my account or 10 ounces less on my back.
I do know, that of everything I own, my backpacking gear is what I value the most. Even when I was tied to a house, a job, and responsibilities, it was what I valued the most. I used to set up all my gear in my bedroom and imagine the day that I would be out there. That’s why I don’t mind buying gear– as far as material possessions go, it’s the most valuable thing to me.
Update: Wait, there is no floor in this tent. That’s no good. I want a floor in my tent so the ticks, ants, and spiders don’t bite me. Well, that dilemma is over.
Crow,
I too was put off by the lack of a floor. The Wild Oasis does have a loose “curtain” of noseeum mesh that hangs down, which can then be tucked under a groundcloth of some kind. I still wasn’t totally sold, though, and I’ve now turned my attention towards Gossamer Gear’s new “The One,” which hasn’t started shipping yet, but it’s over here: http://www.gossamergear.com/cgi-bin/gossamergear/The_One.html
Hope that helps you out, although I realize it isn’t as light. Not sure what your Lunar Solo weighs in at.
Long time reader/like minded soul.
Cheers,
Basil
Are you the same Basil that was on the PCT last year?
My Lunar Solo weighs 23 oz. Since I don’t carry trekking poles I bought the 1.8 ounce carbon fiber pole to go with it. With seamed sealing, pole,stakes, and stuff bag it weighs 27ounces.
It looks like if you need to carry the poles, “The One” only comes up an ounce lighter.
“The One”, looks a lot like the Lunar Solo, but it requires two poles and his poles weigh in at over 6 ounces….
You might want to consider the combination of the Mountain Laurel Designs Patrol Shelter (with optional beak) at 10.9 oz for silnylon plus Bugbivy at 5.2 oz, for a total of 15.7 oz, not counting poles or stakes and perhaps not seam-sealing. If money and durability are not a concern, you could get the spectralite versions and reduce the weight down to an amazing 6.2 + 4.3 = 10.5 oz!
You can get very light carbon fiber tarp poles at Fibraplex, or use your umbrella for the rear pole.
A combination of tarp and bug-bivy is very light and more functional than a 1-piece system. Among other things, ventilation is better, you have the option of pitching the tarp very low in storm conditions, the tarp and bivy can be dried separately which takes less time and reduces the chance of mildew, the bivy can be replaced separately since the bivy floor is the part most likely to fail.
I make my own gear and have long been using something similar to this combination. One feature of my tarp that MLD may lack is two loops sewn onto the ridge line, about 5″ and 10″ from the front. I use one of these loops to hold the bivy up. Then I run a piece of cord between the two loops and hang my socks from this cord at night. I use the front loop to hang my poncho or rain jacket, to block off any rainspray that blows under the beak. For winter conditions, replace the bug-bivy with one of the water and wind-resistant bivies.
The beak is optional, but I would have to recommend it. You never know when you might need to camp above the tree line and then the wind might change. Without a beak, the tarp would likely blow away. My beak is larger than MLD and split down the middle, so it functions like dual doors which I can roll the up and tie away when I don’t need the beak, and roll down when I do need it. This also allows use of a shorter front pole, such as that wicked Luxurylite stick.
Yeah, a tarp and a bug bivy might be something I will try some day if I make my own gear.
The Mountain Lurel one is 500 dollars and that’s without pole or stakes. That would be kind of nuts to spend that much on a little tarp system.
For right now I think I’ll stick to my Lunar Solo. It’s light, sets up fast, and I already own it.
I’ve got a Lunar Solo also, and it’s does a good job of keeping me sheltered from rain, wind, and bugs. It’s not perfect, but it’s roomy, sets up fairly easily, and it works with my single trekking pole. There are surely lighter weight options out there, but the cost per ounce of weight reduced will be quite high for as long as the Solo holds up. I believe I can reduce more pack weight for less money per ounce as I replace other gear, instead of buying a new, marginally lighter shelter.
I totally agree. A person would feel pretty stupid with a pile of the lightest gear money can buy, but no money to go hiking with.
Crow,
Not the same Basil, nope. Wish I had been on the PCT then, but I’m hiking mainly on the East coast for the moment. I’m glad you’ve found what you need in the Lunar Solo. I had forgotten that you don’t use trekking poles when I posted my suggestion of “The One.”
My lightest setup at the moment is a Mountain Laurel Designs “Monk” tarp (their cheapest) and a TiGoat bivy (6 oz or something). I used that on a short (midwinter) section hike of the Florida Trail and I had no complaints other than being a bit soggy in the bivy from the humidity at times. Mountain Laurel Designs has a new (old?) shelter that I’m now considering alongside Gossamer Gear’s… it’s called the “Serenity Shelter.” Looks like a neat combo with perhaps a lighter spinnaker tarp, but now we’re talking pricey again.
Anyway, I love reading your updates and I hear you on the winter doldrums… Take care!
Cheers,
Basil
Looking at the Gossamer Gear web site, “The One” appears to be an enhanced version of the Lunar Solo. My big beef with the Lunar Solo is that my head hits the back of the tent when I sit up. “The One” adds a pole to pull the back of the tent up so you can sit up. Not getting rid of my Lunar Solo for that, but if I didn’t already own my Lunar Solo, I’d buy “The One” instead simply because the Lunar Solo is so friggin’ annoying that way. (Note: I’m 6′, shorter people may not have that problem but I surely do).
Hey Badtux,
I open my umbrella in the Lunar Solo to poof out the back wall more.
“The One” doesn’t weigh less then the “Lunar Solo” unless your carry trekking poles because the 17 ounces is what it weighs without poles, stakes, bag, and seam sealing. There are reports that it weighs more than is advertised even if you don’t count those things. It also is smaller then the Lunar Solo.
Here is what someone said about “The One” over at the Yahoo group, “PCT 2008”:
“Ask Len on PCT-L (or trailjournals) about “The One.” He used it on our hike this week. It looked like it took some futzing but he got it up ok. It looks VERY small, as in narrow. Len is a very thin guy, and he still just fits into it. I wouldn’t be happy with it, even though the side entry is easier to deal with than the front entry of a Contrail. I call it “The One Point 5″ since it weighs more than GG says it does.”
TRY THE OR NIGHT HAVEN, I’V COMPARED THEM ALL AND THIS IS THE ONE!