Note: the Vaude Lightwing has been discontinued by the manufacturer but is still available from some retailers.

Overview

The Vaude Lightwing Ultralight is a two-person, three-season double wall tent. Vaude has created a tent that tries to mix a lot of roominess, lightweight design, sturdy fabrics, and reasonable setup into one package. The Lightwing has an internal surface area of just over 32.5 square feet and retains a fairly high 38.5 inch ceiling throughout much of the tent, making the tent feel remarkably roomy for its light weight of 4 pounds 5.1 ounces (1.96 kg). This is not a tent for people who want to relish the views; a single screen insert in the front door is the only window. Vaude’s selection of durable materials for this tent certainly increases the overall weight, but also increases the sturdiness of the tent. At $423, the Lightwing is expensive but it built to last many seasons.

In Brief

• Decent internal surface area and height make this a comfortable tent especially for backpackers or mountaineers used to close quarters.
• The tent breathes quite well despite its lack of windows or other ventilation.
• Set up can be a challenge, especially in windy conditions.
• Vestibule should be larger.
• The inner tent sags, and under heavy snow pressure can easily come into contact with the outer wall and/or your sleeping bag if you are lying near the tent wall.

Specifications

Year/Model	2004 Vaude Lightwing Ultralight
Style	Double wall tent with floor
Fabrics	Outer fly: double sided silicone coated 40d ripstop nylon; inner tent: 30d ripstop nylon; floor: PU coated 40d ripstop nylon
Pole Material	Aluminum
Weight Full Package As supplied by manufacturer with all included items	4 lb 5.1 oz (1.96 kg) measured weight; manufacturer’s specification 4 lb 5.8 oz (1.98 kg)
Weight Manufacturer Minimum Includes minimum number of items needed to erect tent	4 lb 1.3 oz (1.86 kg) measured weight
Weight Backpacking Light Minimum Same as Manufacturer Minimum but with 0.25 oz (7 g) titanium stakes and 0.004 oz/ft (0.37 g/m) Spectra guy lines	4 lb 0.6 oz (1.82 kg) measured weight
Area	Floor area (measured) 32.5 ft2 (3.02 m2); manufacturer’s claim: 35.0 ft2 (3.25 m2) Vestibule area (measured) 6.25 ft2 (0.58 m2); manufacturer’s claim 8.1 ft2 (0.75 m2)
Floor Area/Backpacking Light Minimum Weight Ratio	0.54 ft2/oz
Dimensions	Length: 122 in (310 cm) Width: 64 in (163 cm) Height: 38.5 in (97 cm)
MSRP	£240 ($423 USD)

Usable Features / Ease of Use

The Vaude Lightwing Ultralight is more difficult to set up than its simple design appears, especially in windy conditions. First, you run the 13-foot pole through its sleeve and insert it into the far end grommet, then you have to manhandle the whole structure to get the pole into the grommet at your end. This is made more challenging because you are working with a large sail at this point. Even a slight breeze can have a great impact on the tent as you struggle to get the pole into the second grommet. Once the pole is in place, staking the tent is next. Adhering to the directions and trying to stake out the front and back pole ends of the tent first, is challenging because the provided stakes do not always stay in the loops. I found it was better to quickly stake out the outer wall corners, then work on the inner tent, and finally the two pole ends. If at this point you decide the outer wall should be pulled further from the inner wall, you can use the provided guylines, but we found this was not generally necessary. The last step is to place the short spreader pole in place. This is tricky even in mild conditions because everything is already taut and inserting this pole requires a fair bit of force.

Vaude provides lightweight (0.35 oz / 10 g) aluminum stakes that are easy to pound into the ground but sometimes pop out of the tent loops at either end of the pole because of their L-shaped design with small heads (10 mm by 15 mm). This isn’t a problem with the stake out points around the rest of the tent since the small plastic D-loops fit snugly around the stake flukes.

The Lightwing has plenty of room inside and storage options including two 12- inch long by 7.5-inch high wall pockets for storing small items and sidewall and ceiling loops for hanging items.

Weight / Sizing

The complete tent package, which includes the tent, 10 stakes, guylines, and an extra aluminum rod for use as a pole segment replacement, is contained in two stuff sacks and weighs 4 pounds 5.1 ounces. A minimal field kit with eight lightweight tent stakes, tent, and two poles contained in one stuff sack tips the scales at 4 pounds 1.3 ounces.

Usable Space

The Vaude Lightwing Ultralight feels remarkably roomy for a tent with a floor area of only 32.5 square feet. The nearly vertical walls, the mostly rectangular floor, and the overall height of the tent combine to create a more spacious interior than you would expect. Problems with space start to become noticeable when tall people sleep in the tent. While the first 72 inches of the floor form part of a nearly perfect rectangle, the remaining length of the tent is compromised by the inward curve of the back wall. People using long (78 inch/198 centimeter) sleeping bags may feel cramped when trying to stretch out.

The tent walls, while fairly vertical, have a tendency to bow in which affects the perceived usable space in the tent.

The vestibule, though small, is suitable for stowing backpacks and wet shoes. Fully battened down, the vestibule provides complete protection from the outside world. When the weather is clear you can unzip the vestibule in either direction. Opening the vestibule using the bottom to top zippers creates a large, easily accessible opening, but also creates a large area of flopping fabric that cannot be secured. In general, it is better to use the top-to-bottom zipper even though this results in a smaller entry to the main door.

The tent is very bright inside. Despite the fly’s deep forest green color, the inner tent is a cheery light yellow that gives the shelter a spacious and inviting feel.

Wind Stability

The Vaude Lightwing Ultralight held up quite well under moderately windy conditions, especially when pitching the ends into the wind. However, the large sidewalls with no side guyouts had significant deflection with 40 mph side gusts. It is important that the fly is pitched tightly and that all the stakeout points are used under heavy wind pressure.

Storm Protection

The shelter kept rain and snow out. It is important to provide a taut outer wall pitch, especially in snowy conditions. One night when I pitched the outer wall close to the inner tent, several inches of wet snow fell and caused some deflection of the inner tent surface. Although I was lying right next to the tent wall, no condensation appeared on my sleeping bag at any time, and once I tapped off the snow the deflection eased.

Ventilation / Condensation Resistance

The Lightwing Ultralight has one 18-inch wide by 9 inch tall semi-circular window built into the front door. Even if you open the vestibule up completely there is not much of a view. With just this single window to provide ventilation I expected condensation problems, especially after I completely sealed the tent, but the Lightwing performed very well. Moisture moves easily through the inner tent wall and collects on the inside surface of the outer wall where it quickly evaporates.

Insect Protection

The Vaude Lightwing Ultralight is completely bug proof. But this is not the shelter I would choose for escaping bugs for hours – the single, smallish window would turn minutes into hours.

Durability

The rain fly is made of silicone coated 40 denier ripstop nylon, with a 30 denier ripstop nylon innerwall, and 6-inch high bathtub style floor built from polyurethane coated 40 denier ripstop nylon. These are, by lightweight standards, heavy-duty fabrics. I have no worries about pitching the tent directly on the ground. I have used the tent on multiple backpacking trips and left it pitched outside in my southeast Michigan backyard through the latter portion of the winter and early spring. I’ve seen no signs of deterioration.

Value

The Vaude Lightwing Ultralight is a solidly built tent that can certainly handle three-season weather. It can also hold its own in many wintertime conditions, though Vaude does not call this a four-season tent. The tent is built to last a long time even if you treat it roughly. If you don’t care about views and need a tent that will protect you from all but the worst weather, this shelter is worth considering even at the relatively high retail price of $423 since it is quite durable.

Recommendations for Improvement

• The stakeout points at the ends of the main pole do not provide a secure attachment point with the provided stakes. I recommend providing different stakes for the endpoints.
• Providing midpoint stakeout points on the inner tent would help reduce the natural inward deflection of the sidewalls.

Tips

• Don’t peg the pole ends of the tent immediately after you get the long pole in place, since the pegs will not stay in. Instead stake out the outer wall first, and then work on the inner tent and the stakeout points at the pole ends.
• Stake out the outer wall as far from the inner tent as you can. This helps reduce the chance the outer wall will sag against the inner tent.

Overview

The MSR Hubba Hubba uses a single pole hub system and a shorter center pole in a unique configuration for a super fast pitch and impressive usable space. At less than 4.5 pounds, this double wall tent is a spacious home in the field with good wind stability to boot. With the fly off, the large mesh panels offer some of the best views available in a tent. Further, the 2005 model improves on this great design with dual doors and vestibules as well as greater frame rigidity – and at a weight increase of just 2 ounces. If you are looking for a well rounded, lightweight, double wall tent, the MSR Hubba Hubba definitely deserves your attention.

What’s Good

• Brilliant pole/hub system makes set up a snap
• Additional cross pole extends headroom, making this a very spacious tent
• Mesh inner tent provides excellent views and is a comfortable escape from bugs
• Durable materials hold up well to field abuse
• At a minimum weight of 4 pounds 2 ounces (1.88 kg), it is a good compromise between weight, durability, and usable space

What’s Not So Good

• Single door is inconvenient for two (2005 model features dual doors)
• Single vestibule is barely large enough for two people’s gear (2005 model features dual vestibules)
• Fly doesn’t go to ground level, allowing for gusts to blow underneath and rain to splash the inner tent in the corners
• Needle stakes, although tough, are painful to use

Specifications

Year/Model	2004 MSR Hubba Hubba
Style	Freestanding double wall tent with floor
Fabrics	Floor: 70d 190T nylon, 5000 mm PU (polyurethane) coating; Body: 70d 190T nylon taffeta; Fly: 30d ripstop nylon with PU and silicone coating
Pole Material	Aluminum – DAC Featherlite SL sectional pole (five sections with two aluminum hubs) and single cross pole
Weight Full Package As supplied by manufacturer with all included items	4 lb 6.9 oz (2.11 kg) measured weight; manufacturer’s specification 4 lb 0 oz (1.80 kg)
Weight Manufacturer Minimum Includes minimum number of items needed to erect tent	4 lb 2.3 oz (1.88 kg) measured weight
Weight Backpacking Light Minimum Same as Manufacturer Minimum but with 0.25 oz (7 g) titanium stakes and 0.004 oz/ft (0.37 g/m) Spectra guylines	4 lb 1.7 oz (1.86 kg) measured weight
Area	Floor area: 30 ft2 (2.8 m2) Vestibule area: 9.5 ft2 (0.9 m2)
Floor Area/Backpacking Light Minimum Weight Ratio	0.46 ft2/oz
Dimensions	Length: 86 in. (220 cm) Width: 50 in. (130 cm) Height: 42in. (110 cm)
MSRP	$289

Performance

The MSR Hubba Hubba features a pole hub system similar to that found in Big Agnes and Vaude tents. However, the configuration is unique with a side entrance instead of a narrower entrance at the end. This layout gives it the advantage of using a symmetrical pole (same size hub at each end) for super quick pitching. To set up the Hubba Hubba, you first extend the main pole system; pole sections slide into the aluminum hubs similar to how pole sections connect at the sleeves – quick and easy. Next, the pole unit is connected to grommets at each corner of the inner tent body. Twelve plastic snaps connect the mesh inner tent to the pole, erecting the tent. A floating cross pole is then inserted with two grommets and two plastic clips. (In the 2005 model, this pole is connected to the main pole with an aluminum swivel, increasing rigidity and ease of set up).

The fly attaches to the floating pole with a grommet on each side. It attaches to the tent body via a grommet at each corner and adjustable straps. A minimum of two stakes is required for proper fly tension, but a total of thirteen stakeout points are provided (four on the inner tent and nine on the fly). The MSR Hubba Hubba is one of the fastest double wall tents to pitch that I’ve used. With minimal practice, a basic taut pitch can be achieved in just a few minutes.

The inner tent of the Hubba Hubba is almost entirely mesh with only a small nylon panel on the top for reinforcement. While not as warm as a nylon inner tent, the all-mesh inner gives the best views of any double wall shelter I’ve seen. Further, the inner tent is exceedingly breathable, keeping the inner tent almost completely condensation free. What little moisture did condense in the tent was only on the small upper panel and this was very minimal. There is consistent air space between the fly and the inner tent, further helping with ventilation and condensation resistance. While there is no vent in the rain fly, it pitches about 4 inches above ground level, allowing breezes to enter the tent. In wet conditions, we did experience some condensation on the fly but not in our living space.

The 30 square feet of floor area makes for a comfortable living space for two hikers. Even a 6 foot 4 inch hiker was comfortable in this tent. The area to space ratio of 0.46 ft²/oz was right in the ballpark of other freestanding double wall tents in its class. For example, the Sierra Designs Lightning at 0.48 and the Big Agnes Seedhouse SL2 at 0.50 are only slightly better in this category. However, the Hubba Hubba blows these other tents away in the usable space category. The extra cross pole opens up the headroom and creates more-than-vertical sidewalls. This makes the tent much larger inside than its competitors. There was plenty of room for two hikers to sit up and play cards when waiting out a storm.

We tested the 2004 model, which has a single doorway and vestibule. The vestibule is large enough for a couple of medium sized packs and shoes – pretty average for a tent in this class. However, the second pole pushes the fly several inches past the tent floor, meaning that the inner tent is protected when the fly is opened during a downpour. The single side door means that you have to climb over your partner to get out of the tent, which was a nuisance at times. (The 2005 model features dual doors and vestibules with a reported weight increase of just 2 ounces – additions that dramatically improve the usability of the tent.)

For interior organization, there is a huge mesh pocket at each end of the tent with enough space to fit several ditty bags, paperbacks, or items of clothing. The additional storage was a welcome change from the minimal pockets found in most lightweight tents. While the mesh fabric seems fragile, stuffing the pockets beyond capacity didn’t cause any durability issues.

The Hubba Hubba comes with MSR Needle stakes. While I was completely unsuccessful in bending them, the sharp angles are hard on your hands. Despite this fact, they survived being pounded in with rocks and provide solid placements in even the rockiest locations. Personally, I prefer titanium skewers that are easier to place and remove. Kelty Triptease-style guylines with reflective sections were very tough and reflect like laser beams at night – very cool.

An optional footprint ($39.95) can be matched with the rain fly and poles to create a "tarp-shelter" that weighs a reported 3 pounds 1 ounce (1.4 kg), dropping a full pound off of the tent weight. This provides an option to save some weight and have a freestanding tarp when conditions allow.

When conditions turn stormy, the MSR Hubba Hubba holds its own but does show its three-season limits. The rain fly is fully taped and never leaked and the covered entryway keeps the interior dry when getting in and out of the tent. It is critical to stake out the front and rear of the tent to avoid rain splashing against the mesh inner walls. Despite a proper pitch, a windy two-day downpour caused some water to splash in on the corners, wetting gear in the corners of the tent. While this was a serious early winter storm and probably beyond the reasonable range of the tent, this problem could be avoided by extending the nylon floor a couple inches higher in the corners. During more reasonable rainstorms, though, we experienced no problems. Even when pitching the tent in muddy grass, the floor did not soak through.

With the flat triangular sides and broad roofline of the Hubba Hubba, I incorrectly assumed that the tent wouldn’t hold up well when the winds picked up speed; I was pleased to find that the design works quite well in these conditions. Nine guyout points on the fly give very secure pitching options and the geometric shapes of the tent spilled wind surprisingly well. Even in gusts into the 40 mph range, the Hubba Hubba held up just fine.

After extensive field testing by a variety of different hikers, this tent has shown no durability issues. The only wear the tent shows is one small snag on the large stuff sack. All critical seams are reinforced and all seams are taped. This is a quality tent.

At $299.95, the MSR Hubba Hubba is in the ballpark of other tents in its class such as the Sierra Designs Lightning ($249) and the Big Agnes Seedhouse 2SL ($299). However, it offers an overall package that gives you a lot for your money. Good wind stability and storm protection, excellent usable space, the best views around, a competitive weight, and now featuring dual doors and vestibules…all these add up to an excellent value for a three-season, double wall tent.

What’s Unique

The hub pole system, while used by a few other companies, is best applied in this symmetrical layout with a side entrance. It is fast to put up and doesn’t limit door size. The cross pole extends headroom dramatically and also keeps the inner tent dry when the fly is open. Tent angles resist deflection in moderate winds and allow for a taut rain fly.

Recommendations for Improvement

My biggest problems with the tent have been addressed with the 2005 model changes. These include:

• Single door is cramped for two people – current model now has two doors
• Single vestibule is small for two people – current model has two vestibules
• Floating pole system lowers ceiling height and limits frame rigidity – current model has a center pole that is permanently attached by an aluminum swivel
• A weight increase of only 2 ounces (claimed) is well worth the increase in usability to this tent. Great job improving on a great design MSR!

However, the tent would also benefit from:

• A slightly higher bathtub floor to protect from splashing rain, especially at the corners
• A vent in the fly for increased ventilation during humid conditions

Overview

At just over 3 pounds, the Hilleberg Akto is lightweight for a four-season solo tent. The Akto provides comfortable living space and a generous vestibule for weather-protected gear storage and cooking. The inner tent pitches with the outer tent, keeping things dry during set up. Good ventilation is provided through a door vent and zippered vents at each end of the sleeping space, although the end vents are hard to access while inside the tent.

Stability in high winds and rain protection are excellent, but performance during heavy snow loads is poor. While you can bang the snow off the tent while you are inside (as you should with any tent), on numerous occasions (in blizzards that brought over 12 inches of snow) snow buildup on the large unsupported sides caused the tent to collapse. Keeping the Akto structurally sound in these conditions is possible but requires more effort than other designs. Snow load strength notwithstanding, the Hilleberg Akto provides an excellent balance of livability, storm protection, and light weight in a four-season tent. In fact, it is the best spring/fall and low-snow winter solo tent we’ve ever used.

In Brief

• Outstanding stability and stormproofness when wind and rain protection are needed
• Vestibule is roomy and can be opened while sheltering the inner tent from rain for cooking, ventilation, or reduction of the claustrophobic psychosis that commonly occurs in solo shelters
• Inner tent is pitched with the fly to keep the interior dry while pitching in the rain
• Moderately complicated to pitch properly, but a little practice yields big rewards. Requires multiple stakeout points and a large footprint due to its guyline network
• Single pole design limits headroom at ends of tent but provides good headroom when sitting up
• Chimney vent and dual end vents allow good resistance to condensation and ventilation, although end vents are difficult to access from inside the tent
• Single pole design collapses under moderate snow loading

Specifications

Year/Model	2005 Hilleberg Akto
Style	One-person double wall, single pole hoop tent with detachable inner tent
Fabrics	Outer tent is constructed of double silicone-coated waterproof ripstop nylon (Kerlon 1200) with a reported tear strength of 12 kg (26 lb), fabric weight of 50 g/m2 (1.47 oz/yd2). Inner tent is constructed of a lighter version of the same ripstop nylon material, but finished with a water repellent coating intended to facilitate breathability while providing protection from condensation dripping from the inside surface of the outer tent. Reported fabric weight of inner tent is 35 g/m2 (1.03 oz/yd2).
Pole Material	DAC Featherlite (seamless extruded aluminum)
Weight Full Package As supplied by manufacturer with all included items	3 lb 6.3 oz (1.54 kg) measured weight; manufacturer’s specification 3 lb 8 oz (1.56 kg)
Weight of Components	Ounces Grams Pole 6.2 177 Pole Bag 0.1 5 Tent Stuff Sack 0.9 27 Flysheet 1 lb 6.4 oz 636 Inner Tent 1 lb 0.7 oz 473 Stakes (12) 4.2 119 Stake Stuff Sack 0.4 12 Pole repair sleeve 1.1 31 620″ Guylines (6 total) 2.3 67 Total 3 lb 6.3 oz 1.54 kg
Weight Manufacturer Minimum Includes minimum number of items needed to erect tent	3 lb 2.4 oz (1.43 kg) measured weight
Weight Backpacking Light Minimum Same as Manufacturer Minimum but with 0.25 oz (7 g) titanium stakes and 0.004 oz/ft (0.37 g/m) Spectra guylines	2 lb 15.4 oz (1.34 kg) measured weight
Area	Floor area: 18.3 ft2 (1.7 m2) Vestibule area: 8.6 ft2 (0.8 m2)
Floor Area/Backpacking Light Minimum Weight Ratio	0.39 ft2/oz
Dimensions	Length: 87 in (220 cm) Width: 36 in (90 cm) Height: 36 in (90 cm) Vestibule Width: 30 in (75 cm)
MSRP	$355 USD

Usable Features / Ease of Use

You can pitch the inner and outer tents of the Hilleberg Akto simultaneously, or during wet multi-day trips you can pitch the outer tent first. This approach allows you to crawl inside to get out of the rain while organizing gear, changing clothes, or cooking. Then you can attach the dry inner tent, crawl inside the inner, and you’re dry and happy. This design also allows you to keep an outer tent that is wet from condensation or rain separate from the inner tent. The Akto is one of the few outer-pitch-first designs that works flawlessly in the real world.

It is moderately difficult to pitch the tent due to eight stakes being required to secure the tent and the need to create well-positioned guyline angles to prevent ends from sagging. A good pitch comes with practice, but even with experience may require some readjustment. However, sliding adjusters make this easy work. Hilleberg claims that the tent can be pitched with a minimum of four stakes, which it can, but significant sacrifices are made in terms of wind stability.

Weight / Usable Space

At slightly more than 3 pounds, the Akto is lightweight for a solo four-season tent. The single pole design provides good headroom while sitting up, but poor headroom at the ends and for performing tasks when lying down. Tent fly footprint is not particularly large, but the Akto takes up a lot of space due to its long guylines.

Due to the nearly vertical sidewalls, usable space for a solo tent is excellent. The ability to detach part or the entire inner tent to create extra workspace without wetting the interior is valuable for using the tent in the rain.

The vestibule is roomy and provides plenty of space for both cooking and gear. The main vestibule door offers a well-tensioned zipper that keeps the fly “drum-tight,” but offers ease in controlling ventilation. End vents in the rain fly provide controllable ventilation, but are difficult to access from inside the tent.

Wind Stability

Wind stability of the Hilleberg Akto is excellent. Ironically, the tent seems to perform best when pitched broadside to the wind. In this type of pitch, the pole (properly guyed) provides structural stability. Pitched with the end of the tent into the wind improves ventilation but significantly sacrifices stability in very high winds (greater than 40 mph), placing undue stress on the windward stakes and sometimes causing them to dislodge (this should be a consideration when using ultralight skewer style stakes and/or pitching the tent in softer soils). Broadside, the Akto is stable even in winds to 50 mph (we did not test the tent in winds higher than this).

Storm Protection

The Akto provides excellent rain protection, simply by nature of its design. The hybrid cylindrical shape of the outer tent sheds rain well. If pitched properly, the shape prevents rain from pooling on the fly, with one caveat: the Kerlon 1200 fly material stretches considerably in response to temperature change and requires an adjustment of guylines (and possibly an adjustment of stakes) in order to maintain a very tight fly pitch as temperature of the fly fabric drops. The vestibule can be opened two-thirds of the way in a hard rain with no fear of getting the inner tent wet, with the benefits of better ventilation.

Snow loading is another story; the single pole design and relatively flat roof pitch does not support snow loads well. In storms that brought less than 6 inches of snow, the roof collapsed to the point of limiting usable space in the tent and the ends collapsed inward (guylines did not provide enough structural stability to resist snow loading). On two occasions the tent structure completely collapsed under the snow load (an all-day storm that brought 12 inches of snow and another all-night storm that brought more than 24 inches of snow). Snow loading can be partially mitigated by the judicious (and increasingly complex) use of guylines attached to the single pole at various angles that provide tension both parallel and perpendicular to the pole, but this does not address the collapse of the tent ends when snow accumulates on the roof. This tent requires more attention by the occupant to minimize snow loading and the accumulation of snow on and near the ends of the tent. We spent more time outside shoveling snow from around the tent, and banging snow off its roof, than in other solo tents pitched side by side in similar conditions, including the LightWave Crux zr0 cylq, Integral Designs MK1Lite, and a Sierra Designs Ultra Light Year.

Light snowstorms were not a problem. All was well as long as we banged snow off the fly from inside the tent, so that airspace was preserved between the inner and outer tents. However, during the nighttime blizzard, we had to exit the tent to shovel a few times during the night. The most serious problem of having a tent that completely collapses flat in a snowstorm is the risk of not finding it again. After day skiing away from camp during the first storm, we did indeed return to a campsite with one tent (the Akto) apparently missing. A few pokes of an avalanche probe found the tent, but a more serious issue occurred: moisture from the collapsed outer fly wall of the tent completely soaked the inner tent – and a down sleeping bag. The whole scenario proved to be a reasonably frightening experience, not because the occupant was at risk of hypothermia, but because he had to share a sleeping bag with a fellow that snores quite loudly.

Ventilation / Condensation Resistance

Notwithstanding the Akto’s abundant venting options, the tent is of course still subject to significant condensation buildup in the right combination of conditions. However, the tent’s design allows for reasonable moisture management that is on par with other tents in its class.

The Akto’s lightweight nylon inner tent is a refreshing departure from the full-mesh inner tents that are now becoming the industry standard on ultralight three-season tents. Because the nylon inner tent constitutes a legitimate second “wall” it provides far more protection from condensation droplets, and is significantly warmer than tents with mesh inner tents. Consequently, the Akto is an excellent choice for a cold weather double wall tent. The downside of this design feature is that air doesn’t move as freely throughout the shelter and therefore, the Akto runs the risk of overheating in warm conditions. While camping in July in Yellowstone National Park, with overnight temperatures in the 50’s and mosquitoes buzzing all about while a light rain fell, closing the vestibule just a small bit turned the inner tent into a rather uncomfortable sauna, and we were wishing for a little more mesh for ventilation! But since the Akto is billed as a four-season tent, it’s probably unfair to ding it badly on its suitability for warmer summer conditions. The heat retention and condensation protection of the inner tent’s full fabric construction make it particularly well suited for fall, winter, and spring camping (assuming you don’t get buried in heavy snowfall).

Ventilation is easily controlled in the Akto by a very large vestibule and zipper that can be opened at least two-thirds of the way while still protecting the inner tent from hard rain. Two vents in the end aid in airflow, and help keep condensation on the fly to a minimum when a light breeze is present. They work well – when cooking in the vestibule (with the vestibule closed) we could feel cool air being drawn from the end vents and chimney vented out the vestibule’s upper eyebrow vent.

Durability

The Hilleberg Akto has proven to be a very durable tent. After several months of use in very stormy fall, winter and spring conditions, we experienced no durability issues whatsoever. Once, just for kicks, three of us decided to glissade down a 400-foot snow slope on the Akto’s flysheet. It was exciting – double-silicone coated nylon is a very fast material! And the flysheet suffered no damage, which was remarkable considering the terrible abrasion potential of spring corn snow. (A similar exercise with the PU nylon-coated fly sheet of a Sierra Designs Flashlight tent pretty much ruined that tent forever with holes and rips.)

Value

At $355, the Akto is a comfortable and well-constructed solo tent that shines in all conditions except huge snow loading. It is the best spring/fall and low-snow winter solo tent we’ve ever used. That alone makes it worth the money.

Recommendations for Improvement

• Simplified pitching that reduces the number of stakeout points on the ends.
• Adding two small hoop poles at the ends and a single guyline on each end at the apex of these poles would significantly improve snow loading and ease of pitching.

Tips

Practice pitching the Akto at home before you have to do it in a storm – this tent requires some familiarity to maximize performance and minimize pitch time. Once you become familiar with its quirks however, it really does provide a fairly effortless pitch, and would be among our top choices for weathering sustained rain and wind.

It’s not the best choice as a solo shelter where heavy snows are likely, but can be managed well enough with a bit of effort.

Finally, the extensive and moderately convoluted guyline system can make unpacking and sorting things out a bit of a hassle. If you take the few necessary seconds to wrap the guylines in rubber bands, or rigging them in a knotted coil, before packing the tent in its stuff sack, this ceases to be an issue and makes set up quick and painless even in tough conditions.

Introduction

Redfeather claims that their Alpine snowshoes are “nearly best at everything.” While I found that the stainless steel crampons of the Alpine 30 performed amazingly well, the rest of the package was lacking. At 4.8 pounds (manufacturer’s claim) the Alpine 30 was one of the heaviest snowshoes we tested and the extra weight was not justified by their overall performance in the field.

What’s Good

• Eagle crampon system offers excellent traction in various conditions and terrains
• Delta Hinge pivot strap provides outstanding lateral support
• Easy on, easy off thanks to a well designed ratcheting heel strap

What’s Not So Good

• Stiff Delta Hinge pivot system flips snow up your back and also causes the front of the snowshoe to dive, sometimes inducing falls
• Comparatively heavy at 4.6 pounds for the pair

Specifications

Manufacturer	Redfeather
Year/Model	2005 Alpine 30
Dimensions	9 in wide x 30 in long (239 cm x 76 cm)
Surface Area	Measured surface area 224 in2 (1445 cm2), manufacturer specification not available
Frame	6000-series aircraft-grade aluminum alloy tubing, 3/4 in (2 cm) diameter
Deck	Hypalon II
Binding	“Ultra Binding” – straps over the toe area and a ratcheting heel system
Crampons	“Eagle Crampon” system – powder coated stainless steel with “Delta Hinge” pivot strap
Weight	Measured weight 4.6 lb (2.09 kg) per pair; manufacturer specification 4.8 lb ( 2.18 kg)
Load Rating	Up to 220 lb (100 kg)
MSRP	$209 with Ultra binding; $199 with Pilot binding

Performance

The Redfeather Alpine 30, at 4.6 pounds (my measurement), is the heaviest snowshoe we reviewed. While loaded with features, the added weight was very noticeable during use. Below, I discuss the pros and cons of the Alpine’s features in relation to their weight.

The Redfeather Alpine 30 uses the Ultra Binding system, which is very similar to the Control Binding used on the Redfeather Trek 30. Both consist of flexible plastic side supports and a 5-inch hard plastic base. The binding is tightened with two nylon straps that cross the foot in three places: one independently adjustable strap across the toes and one strap that crosses over both the arch and the top of the foot. The flexible plastic heel strap uses a ratcheting system that is extremely easy to use, even with cold hands or while wearing over-mitts. This system consists of a short ratchet lever alongside a release. When the lever is extended fully it locks the release open, allowing quick removal of the heel strap.

I enjoyed the security and simplicity of the bindings, but they caused my heels to turn towards the inside of the snowshoes and the snowshoe toes to rotate towards each other. While this “pigeon-toe” effect was much more pronounced on the Redfeather Trek snowshoe, the Alpine had similar problems. After prolonged use this began to cause knee and ankle pain in both legs.

The Redfeather Delta Hinge pivot system is basically a standard pivot strap that widens into a trapezoidal shape under the ball of the foot. On the underside, a large aggressive toe-crampon is attached directly to the same strap. The decking material is also attached to the pivot strap from behind, sandwiched between the pivot strap and bindings, which restricts the binding’s pivot range. Compared to other pivot designs, the Alpine 30’s pivot strap does not allow the snowshoe’s tail to drop sufficiently to clear snow. Rather, the tight pivot strap caused snow to be flung up my back and occasionally over my head. I can only wonder how much extra effort I expended each time a load of snow was thrown.

The limited pivot range gives the snowshoe a tendency to “dive” in soft snow. This caused me to bury the front of the snowshoe and land on my face numerous times. I had to be very aware of my feet at all times, and running was not an option. In addition, because the front of the snowshoes did not raise properly when I was performing side-hill traverses, the tail of the leading snowshoe would catch the front of the trailing snowshoe, tripping me in the process. The problem with the Delta Hinge pivot system persisted through many miles of testing by several testers.

On a more positive note, the crampon system on the Alpine 30 is amazing! Another reviewer and I tested them to their limits on a section of the Timberline Trail on Oregon’s Mt. Hood. We traversed into Zigzag Canyon, a 1200-foot-deep gorge on the shoulder of the mountain. There were places where a loss of traction would mean an unplanned glissade, followed by a free-fall to the bottom. Cool, rainy days followed by cold nights during the trip meant the snow had an icy crust in some places and was slushy wet in others. These were conditions where we needed boot crampons and an ice axe, not snowshoes and trekking poles. The Alpine 30 crampons handled the situation with no problem. After learning to trust the crampons, they were the only part of the snowshoe that I didn’t have to constantly think about.

As for durability, the Alpine 30 performed very well with the exception of the decking paint. The heavy duty aluminum frame along with stainless steel crampons make for very solid snowshoes, though at the price of extra weight. The only signs of wear I found after long-term use under varied conditions, were loss of paint on the decking and a slight bend to one of the toe crampons. These are not necessarily negatives. In areas where the paint rubbed off the Hypalon decking material showed little or no fraying. The damage was purely cosmetic. The bent crampon was strictly because of misuse on my part. I used these snowshoes while making rocky river crossings and while hiking on short stretches of bare dirt. An aluminum crampon would have been damaged to a much greater extent.

Overall, the performance of the Alpine 30 was lackluster. I liked the ease of use of the bindings and the rock solid crampons, but I’m not willing to carry over 4 pounds on my feet when there are much lighter, and better performing, snowshoes available at comparable prices.

What’s Unique

The Eagle crampon system is rock solid and provides superb traction. They are powder-coated stainless steel, and took a beating while showing little wear.

Recommendations for Improvement

The problems I had with the Alpine 30 are tied to the Delta Hinge pivot system. Providing a cutout in the decking around the bindings and toe crampons would allow the snowshoe to pivot more, avoiding the major heel rebound and “nose-diving” problems I encountered.

Also, these snowshoes are very heavy at 4.6 pounds (in the 30-inch length). Lighter materials all around would make the Alpine 30 much more appealing.

Introduction

New for spring 2006, the Mountainsmith Fusion 35 Alpine pack may be perfect for an all-day, off-piste ski or hut-to-hut trip. It is absolutely loaded with features intended to make carrying snow sport gear easier. Its 2014 cubic inch volume and exceptional durability make it suited for extended trips where a typical hydration pack will leave you short. After four months of testing, I have really gotten to know the performance qualities of this pack. Are they enough to substantiate the 54.1-ounce weight?

What’s Good

• Competitive weight for a snow sport pack
• Able to hold skis, snowshoes, ice axe, ski poles, and avalanche gear simultaneously
• Internal frame stay and supple padding make for comfortable load hauling
• Volume is perfect for an all day ski or lightweight hut-to-hut trip

What’s Not So Good

• Side panel pockets are too small to hold water bottles
• Main compartment access is difficult with skis attached
• Hipbelt pockets are too small to accommodate a digital camera

Specifications

Manufacturer	Mountainsmith
Year/Model	2006 Fusion 35
Style	Internal frame, top loading, drawstring closure, attached top lid
Volume	Size Regular tested: 2014 ci (33 L)
Weight	3 lb 6.1 oz (1.53 kg) measured weight; manufacturer’s specification 3 lb 3 oz (1.44 kg)
Fabrics	Main body is 210d nylon Cordura, wear areas are 420d nylon Cordura, front stretch pocket is 500d nylon Kodra, Hypalon reinforced contact points for skis and ice axe
Features	Fixed top lid, 8-inch extension collar with drawstring closure, zippered top pocket with key clip, two side compression straps, stretch-woven front pocket, one ice axe loop, 3-liter hydration sleeve with one port, haul loop, load lifters, hipbelt stabilizers, sternum strap, gear specific attachment points for skis, ice axe, snowshoes or snowboard, and trekking poles
Volume To Weight Ratio	37.2 ci/oz size L (based on 2014 ci and a measured weight of 54.1 oz)
Comfortable Load Carrying Capacity	25 lb (11 kg) estimated comfortable load for an average person carrying the pack all day
Carry Load to Pack Weight Ratio	7.86 (based on 25 lb and a measured weight of 3.18 lb)
MSRP	$159

Performance

With one of the lowest volume to weight ratios of any pack we have ever tested (37.2 ci/oz), one might wonder why we tested the Mountainsmith Fusion 35 at all. And if this pack were designed for backpacking, we probably would not have. The Fusion 35 is a dedicated snow sports pack with enough volume to handle a long day or hut-to-hut ski trip and features to carry all the tools (or toys) you will need for the trip. The Fusion 35 is one of five models making up the Mountainsmith Alpine pack line, a new line for 2006.

In the world of lighter weight snow sport packs, the weight of the 54.1-ounce Fusion 35 is comparable with similar volume ski packs. The Osprey Switch 25+5 weighs 65 ounces, the Granite Gear Contrail 58 ounces, the Black Diamond Snow 35L 49 ounces, and the GoLite Delirium 43 ounces. So while it might not make the cut as a lightweight backpacking pack, it certainly competes well among other snow sport packs.

For a pack this small, the frame and suspension are over designed to handle the heavier weight of snow sport gear. Mountainsmith uses an HDPE framesheet and single T6 6061 concave aluminum stay to provide support. The concave shape of the stay is apparent when looking down the stay, and is designed to add stiffness to a thin material. The stay comes pre-bent, but will likely need tweaking for a perfect fit. Opening a Velcro closure provides quick removal of the stay. I added a little more curve to the lower half of mine, by bending the stay over the rounded surface of my office chair, to increase the amount it cupped into my lumbar. The pack is not dependent on having the stay; removing it along with the PE framesheet cuts the weight by 6.5 ounces and leaves the molded backpanel padding behind. The stay is welcome when carrying the extra weight of the gear this pack was designed for, and does an excellent job supporting it.

The padding in the shoulder straps, hipbelt, and backpanel is super supple closed cell foam. The shoulder straps measure 3 inches at their widest point. We are starting to see a trend to wider, more supple shoulder straps in the backpacking industry, which is a welcome change. Some of the first packs with really wide shoulder straps came from Gossamer Gear; now others are following the idea with good results.

The shoulder straps are fixed to the top of the backpanel. However, some adjustment is still possible by raising and lowering the hipbelt. The hipbelt is fixed behind the padded backpanel with a single, vertical strip of Velcro. The hipbelt can also be removed, cutting 8.5 ounces. The hipbelt and backpanel use dual density foam – a stiffer density behind to support the shape and a softer density for comfort against your back and hips. The Fusion 35 has a sternum strap, top load lifters, and hipbelt stabilizers to dial in the fit.

When fully loaded with skis, poles, avalanche gear, snowshoes, and a day’s worth of gear and food, I found the suspension and frame very comfortable. I tested the Fusion 35 with such gear at weights between 20 and 25 pounds. To test further, I loaded the pack with 30 pounds of books and gear, and found it would handle this weight comfortably too, but perhaps not for an entire day; besides, it is very difficult to fit that much gear in a 2000 cubic inch pack.

What sets the Fusion 35 apart from an ordinary backpack is the tool specific attachment points. I hoped to find a reasonably durable ski pack that could carry skis and snowshoes at the same time and hold enough gear for a day of hiking and skiing. In the mountains of Arizona, our transition season snow tends to be a good jaunt from the car, hence my interest in carrying both skis and snowshoes. The Mountainsmith Fusion 35 fit the bill with regard to its carrying power.

Designed to carry skis in an A-frame configuration, the Fusion 35 carries a ski on each sidepanel using two nylon webbing straps with side release buckles and Hypalon reinforcements. I found skis carry best when they are strapped together at the top (the skis’ nose) to stabilize the A-frame shape. This also kept them wider at the bottom and away from my calves when hiking. The same straps that hold skis on one side panel extend to mate with those on the other side panel to attach a snowboard or snowshoes to the front. In addition to strapping on gear, the side panel straps also compress the entire pack load.

The Fusion 35 holds a single ice axe in a sleeve on the left side. A side release buckle allows one to remove the axe by sliding it down. The buckle, being firmly attached to the ice axe sleeve, is slightly difficult to open while wearing gloves because you can’t really get your fingers around it. The sleeve is reinforced with Hypalon along the bottom edge, and has a Velcro tab at the top to adjust for different size or shape axes.

Four Hypalon reinforced Velcro tabs, two on either side of the front pocket, attach two trekking poles. On the bottom of each side panel is a short “water bottle/wand” pocket made from the same fabric as the packbag. I found these pockets ill suited or unnecessary for either task. A water bottle of nearly any reasonable size won’t fit within, and the two pole tabs on the front make the need for a wand pocket unnecessary. Nevertheless, the presence of the “pockets” goes unnoticed and might be useful for carrying a fishing rod case or tent poles.

The tough stretch-woven fabric front pocket is large enough for a snow shovel and some additional gear. It is attached to the main body on three sides, with the opening on top, as we have become familiar with. The top is held secure with a side release buckle and strap going over the top of the pack. This strap is also useful for securing a climbing rope underneath the top pocket.

The Mountainsmith Fusion 35 is a top loader with a fixed hood pocket. Being fixed, the hood pocket does not “float” to accommodate extra volume. There is an 8-inch extension collar and the hood will allow some increase in volume, but it tips forward rather than raising up. Mountainsmith topped the extension collar with double draw cords to make stuffing everything inside easier.

Inside, the Fusion 35 is similar to most top loaders, with a 3-liter hydration pocket and single exit port, but is fairly clean and cavernous otherwise. One unique feature is the use of a white polyurethane coating on the inside fabric. I found the white coating does make it easier to see the contents within by reflecting light, as Mountainsmith claims.

The top pocket also sports the new white coating and a key clip near the water resistant zipper (YKK #5) opening. Underneath the hood, you will find a clear view zippered map pocket. With skis or snowshoes attached, I had difficulty opening the top lid to see the map pocket underneath. The ski A-frame configuration narrowed across the top pocket, effectively pinching the pocket shut. The snowshoes blocked access to the side release buckle holding the top lid closed. Though abrasion is a concern, it might have proved more useful to place the map pocket on top of the top pocket.

Two other pockets are provided on either side of the hipbelt. The left one is a stretch-woven fabric with an elastic opening, perfect for holding an energy bar, but too insecure to hold anything of value. The right pocket is zippered, ideal for your backcountry permit, a small notebook and pencil, or a very small GPS unit (the Garmin Geko will barely fit). Neither of these pockets will accommodate even the smallest of digital cameras.

The fabrics used are more than durable enough for those of us who frequent the backcountry wearing packs of 1.1 oz/yd² silnylon and spinnaker fabrics. The 210 denier and 420 denier nylon Cordura fabrics seem stiffer than past renditions of Cordura, and exude toughness. While soft powder will hardly scuff the surface, I also tested the Fusion 35 on day hikes and overnight backpacking, and found the fabric holds up well to the sandstone and cactus of the southwest. After four months and frequent trips, it is difficult to find much more than a scuff. The only durability issue was some slight fraying of the binding material used to frame the ice axe sleeve. The fraying occurs from the left lower trekking pole Velcro tab, which easily grabs the fabric. There are a few other places on the outside of the pack that use similar material to bind an otherwise raw fabric edge. The edge binding material is susceptible to snags at all of these places.

What’s Unique

It can hold it all – skis, snowboard, snowshoes, crampons, ice axe, poles, avalanche gear, and enough food, water, and supplies – for a long day or hut-to-hut trip. The full-featured frame and suspension allow you to carry all your snow gear in comfort.

Recommendations for Improvement

We always harp about reducing the weight in this section. And for good reason; most of us are more than a little neurotic about lightweight gear. However, while the Fusion 35 won’t win any lightweight awards, snow sports packs need to be durable, and many of the extra features are desired by Mountainsmith’s mainstream buyers and won’t likely be stripped from the design. So my recommendation is not for Mountainsmith to reduce the weight, but for you to brandish a sharp pair of scissors to trim the excess. Food for thought: the few extraneous features, like the clear map pocket and Velcro strap keepers can be cut off with scissors, and the frame stay removed, to shave half a pound or more.

Mountainsmith should use a different material to bind the fabric edges. The material used is susceptible to abrasion and snags from encounters with Velcro.

Mountainsmith should consider increasing the volume of one of the hipbelt pockets to accommodate a small camera.

The Velcro strap keepers wreck havoc on lightweight clothing fabrics. I see this as a next frontier in pack innovation: to develop a means of containing straps without using Velcro. We all like the ability to strap items to the outside of our packs, but few find the dangling strap ends appealing.

Overview

The Starlight II by EMS is a sub-5 pound, two-person, three-season backpacking tent. It features dual vestibules and a very breathable mesh inner tent. Ample living area complete with “office space” up front, make this tent quite comfortable to live in; there is room for a 6-foot tall person to sit up and change clothes. However, it is not particularly light, is non-freestanding, and proved difficult to achieve a very taut pitch. At just $149 though, the EMS Starlight II is an excellent value and is quite comfortable to live in.

Specifications

Year/Model	2004 EMS Starlight II
Style	Double wall tent with floor
Fabric Description	Fly: 70d 190t nylon with 1200 mm coating Tent Fabric: 70d 190t breathable taffeta, 40d no-see-um netting Tent Floor: 70d 190t nylon with 2000 mm coating
Pole Material	Two aluminum poles; DAC Featherlite
Weight Full Package As supplied by manufacturer with all included items	5 lb 1 oz (2.30 kg) measured weight; manufacturer’s specification 4 lb 9 oz (2.07 kg)
Weight Manufacturer Minimum Includes minimum number of items needed to erect tent	4 lb 12.5 oz (2.17 kg) measured weight
Weight Backpacking Light Minimum Same as Manufacturer Minimum but with 0.25 oz (7 g) titanium stakes and 0.004 oz/ft (0.37 g/m) Spectra guy lines	4 lb 7.75 oz (2.03 kg) measured weight
Floor/Vestibule Area	Floor area: 34.6 ft2 (3.22 m2) Vestibule area: 4.9 ft2 (0.46 m2)
Floor Area/Backpacking Light Minimum Weight Ratio	0.48 ft2/oz
Dimensions	Length: 107 in (272 cm) Width: 58/24 in (147/61 cm) Peak height: 40 in (102 cm)
MSRP	$149

Features

Ease of setup

The Starlight II sets up in a similar fashion to many non-freestanding tunnel-style double wall tents. First, the two shock-corded aluminum poles (color coded to match tent clips) are slipped through short sleeve sections in the tent ceiling and inserted into grommets/straps at the floor of the tent’s shoulder section. Second, the tent’s foot end is staked in place. Third, the tent’s head end is stretched tight and staked. Finally, the sides are staked down. Care must be taken when staking to ensure a flat and tightly stretched floor.

Rain fly assembly involves attaching four Velcro straps to the aluminum poles, attaching the foot and head ends to the correct side-release buckles and then tightening. Finally, the left and right side vestibules are stretched out and staked in place. Each vestibule zipper has two stakeout loops on either side. The loops provide an option for which way the vestibule doors unzip.

EMS prints step-by-step illustrated directions on the side of the pole bag that were helpful but unnecessary; with no prior practice or forethought, the tent can be set up in 10 minutes. Proficient setup can be in much less than 5 minutes, largely depending upon the ground surface and ease of staking.

This tent needs a minimum of 10 stakes to provide proper tension and floor area. Optional guyline attachments utilize four additional stakes. Even with all 14 attachment points, achieving a “drum-tight” rainfly is very difficult. While the tent can be set up to be quite tight and very weatherproof, it is not a bomb shelter and is not intended for mountaineering.

Usable Features / Options

This majority of the inner tent is mesh and nearly the entirety of both sides unzip for very easy access. The large vestibule openings and large mesh doors make stashing and organizing gear inside the tent very quick and easy. Two tent doors make access for two people from either side, which is very nice. The twin vestibules also are great for separating each person’s gear. Ample room in each vestibule area accommodates shoes and a medium-sized pack.

Inside, there is nearly 3 feet of usable space ahead of the sleeping area. This space makes lying in the tent and reading or reviewing maps very convenient and comfortable. There is nearly 40 inches of headroom at the peak, which provides plenty of room for a 6-foot tall person to sit up and move around. However, due to the canopy’s slope there is not enough room for two to comfortably sit up at the same time. The shoulder/head width of the sleeping area is moderately spacious at 58 inches. The shin area width is 44 inches and the foot width is just 24 inches. The foot area can be slightly cramped unless one of the occupants is shorter; however, this is not a great inconvenience.

Additional features: Three interior mesh pockets are above floor level at the front. They’re useful for storing small pieces of gear such as knives, lights, glasses, etc. The exterior guy loops are reflective, which helps somewhat in locating the tent at night. The rain fly’s gray color blends unobtrusively into the landscape.

The tent provides full insect protection and excellent views when not using the vestibule.

Weight / Sizing

At 34.6 square feet (3.22 m²), the Starlight II is moderately spacious for two, providing ample room for sleeping and reading after a day on the trail. However, the space is most usable when lying down. Weighing in at the 5-pound mark, the Starlight II is not among the lightest tents in its class. The usable vestibule area for gear or cooking, and the extra living space beyond the sleeping area makes it quite an enjoyable shelter to use.

Flexibility of Pitching

Due to the non-freestanding design and minimum of 10 stakes, the Starlight II is limited in where it can be sited. Also, the force required to stretch the floor tight (and a tight rainfly depends on a tight floor) is considerable. These factors mean we can’t recommend the tent for desert sandy soil or rocky tundra above tree line, where stake purchase and exact stake placement are compromised.

Usable Space

Nearly every square inch of this tent is usable due to the tunnel design’s steep sidewalls. The vestibule areas on each side offer excellent gear storage or cooking space for each occupant. Full access panels on each side make entering and exiting the tent and gear stashing very easy. The nearly 3 feet of extra head-end floor space past the sleeping area provides excellent “office space.” For example, lying down and laying out maps or reading in front of you is very comfortable.

The nearly 40 inches of headroom at maximum height is ample for a 6-foot tall person to sit up and change clothes. Two can’t comfortably sit up at the same time, though. There is less extra room at the tent’s foot end due to the sloping roof and tapered floor, but it is still possible to sit up and reach the foot area for any small gear stored there.

The Starlight II has a vestibule area on either side. The actual usable area of each vestibule is just under 5 square feet – ample room for a moderately sized pack and a pair of shoes. The vestibules can also be used for cooking, but not while any gear is present. The vestibule portion of the fly zips completely back out of the way, making access from outside extremely easy.

Performance

Stability

The Starlight II is stable in moderate winds (below 20 mph). The low approach angles provided by the wide vestibule area allow wind to spill easily over the tent. Overall, the tent’s angles and shape are well designed. The main problem is that the tent needs to be drum tight to minimize flapping, but I could not achieve a drum-tight pitch. The varied patchwork of angles and panels make this nearly impossible, even when stake placement is adjusted plus or minus an inch. While this tent is well suited for average inclement weather, I can’t recommend it for storm chasing above tree-line, due to difficulties with stake placement and hold, and rainfly tightness.

Storm Protection

The Starlight II is a reasonably comfortable place to sleep, read, or lounge in during a rainstorm, but is not comfortable for two people to sit up and play cards. The tent’s above ground-level floor seams aren’t sealed or taped, but no noticeable leakage occurred during rainstorms. The vestibules don’t pitch to ground-level, allowing some splash and wind-blown rain to enter the vestibule areas. This didn’t prove to be much of a problem during our tests, and the tradeoff of greater airflow was worth it in most three-season conditions.

Ventilation/Condensation Resistance

With all the mesh in the tent canopy and the large sweeping vestibule area, ventilation is better than average. Airflow over the sweeping angles of the fly allows for good airflow inside during breezes. When the air is still and humid, condensation passes though the mesh of the inner tent quite well but collects on the fly. The canopy roof of the inner tent is uncoated nylon, which collects some condensation, but it is a small area that can easily be wiped dry. It’s also tall enough that the occupants and contents can easily avoid touching it.

Durability

All the stitching and bar-tacking are single-stitched. Given the tension required for achieving a taut setup, the stitching may represent a weak point over time. The tent’s floor has a higher density coating than the fly (2000 mm versus 1200 mm), but is not bulletproof like some mountain tent floors. We took care not to pitch the tent on sharp objects, and recommend a supplemental ground cloth if headed to areas of highly abrasive or soggy ground.

Value

At $149 MSRP, the Starlight II is a good value for a two-person, three-season backpacking tent that is also fairly lightweight. Because it’s not an ultralight shelter and must be pitched in relatively spacious locations that accommodate at least 10 stakes, it is not a minimalist tent. Still, it’s a very comfortable shelter that provides good ventilation, excellent usable space, reasonably good storm protection and excellent overall living comfort. We think this makes the Starlight II a great shelter for backpackers looking to make minimal monetary investment and lighten their shelter weight for touring backpacking trips, while not compromising comfort or storm protection.

Tips and Tricks

Do not try to set up the Starlight II for the first time at night, after a long day on the trail. Getting the tent body taut takes a little practice and time, and daylight helps too.

Because a tight rainfly pitch is difficult to achieve and is necessary for storm performance, we found it helpful to presoak the stakeout loops before staking the tent down. This allows them to stretch, as they will when they wet out from rain. Without this extra step we found the tightest setup we could achieve sagged enough to be aggravating after the rain started and the stakeout loops soaked and stretched. Restaking an occupied tent during a storm is not a fun proposition.

Recommendations for Improvement

Greater adjustability and longer straps with side release buckles to tension the fly would greatly aid in achieving a “drum-tight” fly.

A second hanging loop at for each door and vestibule would help keep the doors up and open for ease of getting gear in and out.

Introduction

Why did I review the Dunham Contrail-Mid? Three reasons: Dunham boots are among the lightest available, I like a mid-height boot for off-trail stability, and Dunham boots are available in extended sizes and widths. Assuming that many of our readers have the same needs, I gave the Contrail-Mid a thorough testing and report my findings here. Dunham has lofty claims for the Contrail’s comfort and performance; so how did they survive some serious off-trail hiking and bushwhacking?

What’s Good

• Lightweight
• Very comfortable, little or no break-in required
• Excellent traction
• Excellent stability
• Sturdy rubber toe bumpers
• Available in extended sizes and widths

What’s Not so Good

• Not waterproof as claimed
• Tongue gussets can cause sore spots
• Toe area is a little too pointed, causing some toe scrunching
• Too many side seams make them vulnerable to seam failure

Specifications

Manufacturer	Dunham Bootmakers
Year/Model	2005 Cloud Contrail-Mid
Style/Size Tested	Men’s mid-height waterproof light hiking boot, size 11.5 EEEE tested (size 11 UK, 45.5 EUR)
Weight	3 lb 2.5 oz/pair (1.43 kg), manufacturer specification 2 lb 14 oz/pair (1.3 kg) for size 9.5
Materials	Upper is full grain waterproofed leathers and synthetics
Outsole	Proprietary Tru-Trak
Features	Dryworks lasted waterproof membrane, Rollbar motion control technology, Tru-Trak multi-directional traction outsole, Absorb shock absorption system, gusseted/fully padded tongue and collar, extended rubber toe bumper, polyurethane midsole, extended sizes and widths
MSRP	$130 US

Performance

Forty-eight years of backpacking have caused my feet to spread out a little – size 11.5 EEEE. Because of my wide feet, finding hiking boots that fit is a major challenge. I have found many manufacturers’ “wide width” not all that wide, at least not for me. But Dunham’s 4E width gives me the width I need (they even have a 6E width available in some models). For hikers feet challenged in other directions, they also have lots of narrow widths and extended sizes.

While a low-cut trail runner shoe is fine for ultralight on-trail backpacking, I much prefer a light mid-height boot for off-trail hiking and bushwhacking. A mid-height boot is still on the lighter side, and (if the midsole is stiff enough) provides the extra support and foot protection I need for scrambling, steep descents and sidehills, and crossing slide-rock slopes.

The Contrail-Mid is part of Dunham’s Cloud luxury boot series, and is claimed by Dunham (a subsidiary of New Balance) to provide “luxury comfort – superb fit, cushioning, stability, versatility, and protection – with little or no break-in time.” Sounds like the perfect boot, and at 25 ounces per boot in my size they are fairly lightweight too.

How close does the Contrail-Mid come to “luxury comfort”? Pretty close. I found the sizing accurate, the fit good, and the comfort very good with little break-in required. The collar and tongue are adequately padded to provide all-day comfort. One caveat: the gussets on the sides of the tongue created sore spots on my ankles when they were turned inward. Once I discovered the source of the problem, I made a point to turn the gussets out and the problem disappeared. Also, the toe box is a little more pointed than usual, which squeezed my toes somewhat, especially when I used thicker footbeds.

The Contrail-Mid has a moderately stiff urethane midsole (see photo), which provided a good balance of walking comfort and off-trail stability. I found the boots adequately stiff to utilize smaller toeholds for climbing and effectively edge on sidehills. Their lacing system allowed me to easily adjust looseness or tightness across my instep for hiking uphill or downhill, respectively. When traversing sidehills or descending steep downhills, the tightened boots effectively kept my toes from jamming.

Dunham’s Tru-Trak tread is not as deep as many Vibram treads, but it definitely provides good traction. Over four months of testing, I hiked in the Contrails over all types of wet and dry surfaces, and was very pleased with their traction. I found that I could depend on them to get a good grip in mud and snow. The tread cleaned out fairly well, but not as well as Dunham’s Waffle Stomper tread. On slickrock, the Tru-Trak outsoles stuck me to the rock like Gorilla Glue.

The Contrail-Mid has Dunham’s proprietary Dryworks waterproof moisture management membrane system. So how waterproof are they? Nada, or close to it. I found that the boots would resist wetting from brief shallow immersions or short-duration wettings (like wet vegetation), but they readily wetted through from longer exposure to water. When I wore them (with gaiters over the tops) in rain, snow, or wet vegetation, I consistently got wet feet. In warm weather they dried out fairly well overnight.

I would rate the durability of the Contrail-Mid as average. Although the boots have an excellent rubber toe bumper that effectively eliminates toe wear, the leather and synthetic panels are showing some deterioration from repeated wetting and drying. Dunham claims that the Contrail has a minimum of seams, but in fact they have a lot of seams. Since thread wear is the nemesis of hiking boots, especially the side seams, I would say these boots are quite vulnerable. I did not have any seams come apart in my rough off-trail testing, but I would still advise coating the seams with McNett SeamGrip liquid urethane (or equivalent) to make the seams more durable.

Overall, the Dunham Contrail-Mid comes through as a lightweight, mid-height, comfortable hiking boot that provides good foot stability and protection for off-trail or on-trail hiking. I found their claims to be accurate, except for the waterproof part.

What’s Unique

Dunham (and New Balance) boots are available in extended sizes and widths to fit most feet. For wide or narrow feet, Dunham boots are a good alternative to custom-made boots.

Recommendations for Improvement

I found a lot to like about the Dunham Cloud Contrail-Mid. They are loaded with features to provide support and comfort. The improvements I would like to see are:

• Upgrade the Dryworks waterproof moisture management system so it is a more effective waterproof/breathable system. The present technology is water-resistant, but not waterproof.
• Revise the gussets on the tongue so they do not fold inward and irritate ankle skin.
• Broaden the toe box slightly to eliminate toe squeezing.

Introduction

At $159, the Redfeather Trek 30s are inexpensive for moderately lightweight snowshoes. They use stainless steel crampons that provide good bite for recreational to moderately technical snowshoeing. However, there are issues with the shoes that, depending on your usage, might make them a poor value for you.

What’s Good

• Competitively priced at $159
• Moderately lightweight at 3.8 pounds for a 30-inch snowshoe
• Thin steel crampons slice easily into ice and crusty snow and offer good traction in most conditions

What’s Not So Good

• Bindings do a poor job of centering the foot, causing the snowshoes to “pigeon-toe,” which shifts your weight to the inside of the shoes
• Heel plates ball up with wet snow, causing heel slippage
• Printed graphics rub off with usage
• Stiff pivot straps flip snow up your back (or over your head when running)

Specifications

Manufacturer	Redfeather
Year/Model	2005 Trek 30
Dimensions	8.9 in wide x 30.5 in long (22.5 cm x 77.5 cm)
Surface Area	Measured surface area 224 in2 (1445 cm2), manufacturer specification not available
Frame	6000-series aircraft-grade aluminum alloy tubing, 0.75 in diameter (1.9 cm)
Deck	TX 35 polyvinyl laminate material
Binding	Control binding consists of a heavier rubber strap called the "Live Action Hinge,” a stiff plastic base plate, soft rubber side supports, 1-inch webbing straps, and urethane heel strap with aluminum buckle
Crampons	Hawk crampon system consists of a stainless steel 1.25 in (3.1 cm) long front crampon and 1 in (2.5 cm) heel crampon
Weight	60.8 oz as measured (1724 g), manufacturer’s claim 56 oz (1.59 kg)
Load Rating	220 lb (100 kg)
MSRP	$159

Performance

The Redfeather Trek 30s use the Control Binding, which consists of clear plastic side supports and a 5-inch (13 cm) hard plastic base. The front of the binding is tightened with two nylon straps that cross the foot in three places, providing a secure attachment. The urethane heel strap adjusts with a single aluminum buckle. There is good adjustability to accommodate a wide range of boot sizes. Excess straps tuck neatly into attached rubber rings.

Although the bindings are very secure, they do a poor job of keeping the heel centered over the heel plate. This results in heels sliding to the inside of the snowshoes and the snowshoes having a “pigeon-toed” gait. With the heels on the inside of the snowshoes, my weight tended to shift to the inside, causing the shoes to angle inward when walking in deep snow. Despite trading boots, setting up the bindings differently, and having several friends try out the snowshoes, this problem was consistent and seemingly unavoidable.

The Trek 30s use a pivot strap to keep the deck close to your heel when walking, keeping it clear of snow, allowing for a natural stride, and ensuring flat landings when jumping. However, the stiffness of the pivot strap results in snow being flipped against my back when running. (This is fairly typical with this type of snowshoe pivot.)

The traction system consists of a moderately aggressive toe crampon with a heel crampon in the rear. The crampons are made of stainless steel and have remained sharp and durable during our testing. While not as aggressive as some crampons, they are sufficient for technical snowshoeing that far exceeds the realm of “recreational snowshoeing” including sidehilling icy snow on Mount Hood in Oregon and direct high angle ascents. Because the steel crampons are thinner than aluminum, they bite easily in crusty and icy snow; a real benefit. Despite multiple rocky river crossings the crampons showed no sign of bending.

The heel plate, which helps to center the heel of a shoe or boot, is a raised plastic plate with angled ridges for traction. When snowshoeing in dry conditions, the plate provides good traction. However, it tends to ball up in wet snow, causing the heel to further slip off the plate and to the side. In conjunction with the problem of the binding not keeping the heel centered, it is very difficult to keep the heel centered on the snowshoes during wet snow conditions (quite common in the Pacific Northwest).

According to Redfeather, the pointed tail is designed to act as a rudder to help straighten the stride when snowshoeing in powder or downhill. I did notice a slight effect, particularly when descending in steep, icy snow. However, the pivot strap typically keeps the decking pretty close to the heel, eliminating this advantage in most situations. Further, the pointed tail decreases the surface area of the shoe, reducing flotation. While the pointed tail did not adversely affect side hilling, it did sometimes catch in the open foot area of the opposite snowshoe in very narrow, technical traverses, causing stumbles and occasional falls. All in all, the benefits of the pointed tail did not outweigh the drawbacks.

The TX35 decking of the Trek 30 wraps around the frame and is secured by rivets. While I didn’t have problems with the decking in general, the attachment points tend to rub against icy snow, trail obstacles, and occasionally the opposite snowshoe. On the first trip with the shoes, the screen printed graphics began to wear off of the decking along where it wraps around the frame. After extended usage, the decking at the front attachment points has begun to fray and wear through slightly. While other snowshoes have similar decking attachments, the durability of the TX35 decking might not be adequate for this style of attachment.

I bent one snowshoe frame slightly in the heel area. The tubing did not flatten but it now has a slight curve to it. Although I’m not sure where or how this occurred, these shoes were submitted to usage that exceeds what I would consider normal usage for a recreational snowshoe. We jumped off of small cliffs, kicked placements in icy traverses, and took several hard, tumbling falls. However, I have used a variety of snowshoes (Sherpa, Northern Lites, Tubbs, and Atlas) doing similar things for years and have never experienced a bent frame before.

At $159 for a pair of quality, fairly lightweight snowshoes, the Trek 30s are a good value.

However, the problem of heel centering is annoying, and if you push these snowshoes to the limit you may experience durability issues.

What’s Unique

Steel crampons set the Redfeather Trek 30 apart from snowshoes that use aluminum crampons. These proved durable during testing and especially sharp, a real benefit in icy conditions.

Recommendations for Improvement

• The Trek 30s need some changes to improve heel centering in the binding. The Redfeather Alpine 30, which has a stiffer (and heavier) pivot binding, doesn’t have heel centering problems to the extent of the Trek 30. With this in mind, a stiffer binding may be a solution to this problem. A lower profile heel plate with wider groove spacing would ball up less and minimize the heel sliding off the plate, helping to keep the heel centered.

• While it is annoying to see graphics begin to rub off on the first outing with a new pair of snowshoes, the decking beginning to rub through after hardly one season of use is unacceptable. More durable graphics would be preferable and a more durable front decking attachment (or tougher decking) is essential.

• Despite my pushing these snowshoes to their limit, I should not have experienced a bent frame. A more durable snowshoe with a tougher frame material would be better for extreme usage.

Overview

The MontBell Hexagon is a two-person double wall tent that nearly breaks the 3-pound (1.4 kg) barrier. With its unique single pole design, it is easy to set up, and has a fast and light option that provides a poled tarp with zippered entry. The Hex provides a lot of floor space for its weight but the inward sloping walls reduce the usable space. To save weight, there are few extras; a vestibule and interior convenience pockets are missing from the design.

Specifications

Year/Model	2004 MontBell Monoframe Shelter Hexagon
Style	Double wall with floor
Fabric Description	Tent body is 15d Ballistic Airlight ripstop nylon; floor is 40d high-density nylon taffeta with polyurethane coating waterproof to a 2000 mm hydrostatic head; rain fly is 30d polyester ripstop with 1500 mm waterproof polyurethane coating. Ballistic Airlight is created by a heating and stretching process that gives it one-and-a-half times more abrasion resistance and three times more tear strength than similar weight fabrics.
Pole Material	DAC Featherlite 8.8 mm aluminum base alloy 7001
Weight Full Package	Backpacking Light scale Manufacturer claim 3 lb 5.4 oz (1.51 kg) 3 lb 5 oz (1.5 kg)
Weight Minimum Package Includes tent body and fly, minimum necessary stakes and guylines, no stuff sacks or extra hardware	Manufacturer supplied minimum Backpacking Light minimum 8 stakes, 8 ft (2.4 m) guyline Same as Manufacturer Minimum but with 0.25 oz (7 g) titanium stakes and 0.004 oz/ft (0.37 g/m) Aircore 1 Spectra guylines. 8 stakes, 8 ft (2.4 m) guyline 3 lb 1.7 oz (1.41 kg) 3 lb 1.5 oz (1.40 kg)
Weight, Light & Fast Option Fly, pole, webbing strip, 10 stakes, 2 guy lines	1 lb 12.7 oz 28.7 oz (0.814 kg)
Component Weights	Tent body 23.4 oz (663 g); fly 15.9 oz (451 g); pole 6.9 oz (196 g); stakes 3.9 oz (111 g); stuff sacks 1.5 oz (43 g); guylines and pole repair sleeve 1.4 oz (40 g)
Floor/ Vestibule Area	Floor area Vestibule area 34.4 ft2 (3.2 m2) None
Floor Area/Backpacking Light Minimum Weight Ratio	0.69 ft2/oz
Dimensions	Inches Centimeters Width 59 150 Length 96 244 Height 46 117
MSRP	$250

Features

Ease of setup

The unique feature of the MontBell Hexagon is its “monoframe” – one 12 foot (3.7 m) pole that runs the length of the tent. Set up is easy and fast – simply slide the pole through a sleeve on the tent and slip each end into a grommet, then stake out the tent floor at the six corners of the hexagon. The fly attaches to the same stakes plus two more at the center of the sides.

Usable Features/Options

The Hexagon is simple and lightweight. It has no vestibule. Entry into the tent is through a zippered door in the fly and one or two zippered doors in the tent (one door is the Ballistic Airlight material and the other is bug netting); either one or both can be used. The tent has one prominent vent above the door, which vents the tent unimpeded, or through bug netting. The amount of venting is adjustable. There are no pockets on the inside of the tent to store small items, which we greatly missed. Inside the tent there are six loops for tying a cord for drying clothing or adding a mesh gear loft.

There are a total of ten 7-inch-long (18 cm) angled 7075 aluminum alloy stakes for securing the tent. They have a notch at the top to hold the tieout cords. They do not easily bend, but they usually require cleaning when they are pulled out. The tent’s single pole is made of DAC Featherlite 8.8 millimeter aluminum base alloy 7001. There are two optional guylines that attach to a loop on the pole sleeve at each end for windy conditions. An aluminum pole repair sleeve is also included.

The tent packs into four stuff sacks: one for the pole, one for the stakes, one for the guylines and pole repair sleeve, and one for the entire tent.

The Hexagon does not have any options available such as a footprint, mesh loft, or vestibule.

Weight/Sizing

At 53 ounces (1.5 kg), the Hexagon approaches the 3-pound barrier for a two-person double wall tent. Accomplishing that, while maintaining good durability and performance, required some ingenuity and discipline. Many of the extras are missing, like a vestibule and inside pockets. The monoframe (single pole) design and thinner fabrics save a lot of weight, yet allow for a roomy (34.4 ft²/3.2 m² of floor space) two-person tent. This adds up to one of the best area/weight ratios (0.69 ft²/oz) of all the tents in our Gear Guide.

Flexibility of Pitching

Overall, the shelter has three pitching options: 1) the tent body only for fair weather camping with bug protection, 2) the tent plus fly for bug and storm protection, and 3) the fly only for lightweight storm protection where bugs are less of a problem.

A very nice feature of the Hexagon is its fast and light optional setup, which allows the tent fly to be used like a tarp. This setup consists of the tent fly, pole, webbing strap, stakes, and guylines (28.7 oz/814 g). This configuration is very fast and easy to set up and provides excellent shelter. There is no bug protection per se, but the fly can be staked close to the ground to exclude most flying insects. Entry is through the zippered door in the fly, and the excellent vent above the door is retained to provide ventilation (but without any bug netting).

Usable Space

I have complimented the Hexagon for its excellent area to weight ratio. However, the downside of the monoframe design is the sloping tent walls that drape inward toward the center. This gives a claustrophobic, restricted feeling for two people, and reduces the usability of the floor space. The Hex has ample floor space for two people plus gear, but to effectively use the floor space it is necessary (in fair weather) to press against the tent sidewalls or pack gear against the interior sides of the tent to provide the desired headspace and elbowroom. The confined interior space (due to the inward sloping walls) is our biggest complaint about the Hex; we longed for some provision to pull the walls out so they were not “in our face” all the time.

With the tent’s entry located to one side of the pole, one person sleeps with his/her head or foot in front of the entrance. Getting up in the middle of the night means disturbing the person blocking the entrance. The problem can be avoided if a shorter person uses that location.

The Hex is adequately long for a taller person, especially on the side not in front of the door. There is adequate headroom to sit up and change clothes, although you frequently hit the sidewalls with your arms while putting on a shirt.

Usable Vestibule/Porch

The MontBell Hexagon does not have a vestibule or auxiliary protected area. There is limited space on one side to place boots between the tent and the fly. Alternatively, boots can be placed in a plastic grocery bag and stored in the tent. There is no provision for cooking inside the tent during inclement weather, and it would be very dangerous to do so.

Performance

I used the Hex on seven backpacking trips in the Southern Colorado Rockies. It got quite a workout, being exposed to thunderstorms with rain, hail, or strong winds on every trip. On one trip, a pre-dawn thunderstorm at 12,000 feet (3658 m) hit the tent broadside with 30 mph (48 kph) gusts, heavy rain, and 2 inches (5 cm) of hail. The temperature dropped to 34 °F (1.1 °C). On the other trips, an afternoon or evening rain or snow shower created very wet/damp overnight conditions. Nighttime low temperatures were 28-45 °F (-2 to 7.2 °C) during our August testing period.

Stability

Obviously it is best to orient the tent so the back of the tent points in the direction storms will come from. That is easier said than done. The pre-dawn storm described above hit the tent broadside, and I had not used the Hex’s additional guylines for wind (it was fair weather the evening before). While inside the tent, it held up to broadside winds fairly well, although strong gusts flattened the windward side and pushed the pole off to the leeward side. Since the fly uses the same stakes as the inner tent, it does not have a taut pitch, especially when wet/damp. This makes it more vulnerable to wind and causes more flapping. A tauter pitch (and more fly/tent ventilation space) could be obtained by securing the fly with separate stakes (which would require four additional stakes).

The Hexagon comes with two extra guylines for wind, which attach to a loop on the pole sleeve. These are inconvenient to use since they must be threaded through small hooded holes in the fly. Instead of this arrangement, we would recommend using two guylines at each end that are attached to the fly at the top of the tent at 45° angles. The user can leave these guylines attached to the fly, and use them whenever windy conditions are possible. This arrangement would require two additional stakes.

Overall, the Hex has good stability if an attempt is made to orient it in the direction of storms, extra stakes are used to tighten the fly, and extra guylines are provided at the ends of the tent.

Storm Protection

The Hexagon provided excellent storm protection. It has a waterproof bathtub floor that extends 6 inches (15 cm) up the sides, and the fly has plenty of overlap. All seams are taped on the fly and floor. I weathered a number of storms, mild to wild, with not a drop inside. The Ballistic Airlight fabric of the inner tent is water repellent up to a point. It frequently contacted moisture on the inside of the fly, but did not readily transfer it through. However, pressing against the tent and fly caused water to come through, which dampened our sleeping bags in areas of contact. I verified this with a simple test in which we laid the fly on our floor at home and poured some water on it, then laid the tent fabric on the wetted fly, with a cotton T-shirt on top of that, then a board and 20-pound (9.1 kg) weight. The water soaked through and dampened the T-shirt in 15 min, and most of the water passed through into the T-shirt after 30 minutes.

Used as a solo tent, the Hex is quite roomy while waiting out a storm, but it is snugger for two people. Weathering a storm in the Hex is a sitting up part of the time, lying down part of the time experience. There is adequate headroom to sit up, but the inward draping sidewalls get in your way. I would really like to see some sidewall tieouts, with a hook connector to the inner tent, to pull out the sides of the tent to provide more interior volume.

Also notable is that the Hex is quite warm inside. We took an inside/outside thermometer with us on two trips to measure the temperature difference. On the first trip we intentionally camped in a low alpine meadow. At 1:00 a.m. the outside temperature was 31°F (-0.6 °C) and the temperature inside the tent was 41 °F (5 C). By 6:00 a.m. the outside temperature was 28 °F (-2 °C) and inside temperature was 45 °F (5 °C), a 17 °F (9 °C) difference! On the second trip we again found that the Hex was 15-17 °F warmer inside. This is a plus in cooler weather, allowing one to get by with a lighter sleeping bag, but it is obviously a negative in hot weather.

Ventilation/Condensation Resistance

Since the Hex’s rain fly envelopes the tent nearly to the ground, getting enough ventilation to exhaust excess heat and moisture is a challenge. The Ballistic Airlight fabric has a tight weave that does not transmit a lot of air when blowing through it, yet there appears to be enough ventilation through the tent to exhaust moisture under warmer/dryer conditions. The prominent vent near the top of the tent helped to provide adequate ventilation for most of the conditions we encountered. During numerous warm/damp nights following a light afternoon or evening shower, I did not experience any condensation in the Hex. There was plenty of condensation on the inside of the fly, but the interior of the tent stayed dry even with all three doors zipped. However, in prolonged rainy conditions (with the fly and mesh doors zipped) I had heavy condensation inside to the point that our sleeping bags were dampened. On several below freezing nights the upper tent walls were quite wet and the inside of the fly was covered with thick frost. Fortunately I found that the condensation could be reduced considerably by leaving the inner tent’s doors open and zipping only the fly door.

The Ballistic Airlight fabric of the Hex’s inner tent is water repellent and contributes to the interior dryness of the tent under normal conditions. The inner tent contacts the wet fly a lot, but water is not transmitted through – unless you are pressing against it with your sleeping bag, then you get a dampened bag.

Insect Protection

Because the Hexagon is sealed with a zippered entry, it provides complete insect protection, which is a big plus when bugs abound. With the fly zipped, the Hex has no view at all to the outside. With the fly door open and the bug-netting door zipped, there is some visibility to the outside in one direction. The lime green color of the tent makes it easy to find your tent in a crowd and transmits plenty of light to the interior. It also makes you crave key lime pie and a margarita when you get home!

Durability

I used the Hex without a footprint in our tests. In my opinion, the Hex is made of materials that are a good balance between lightweight and durability, and I expect it to hold up well long-term with reasonable care. The construction quality is excellent, with adequate reinforcement in all stress areas.

Value

The MontBell Hexagon is an excellent value for a near 3-pound (1.4 kg) two-person double wall tent with lots of floor space for its weight. It is fast and easy to pitch, and is sufficiently durable for long-term use. I like the fast and light option to use it as a poled tarp at only 1 pound 12.7 oz (814 g). The MontBell Hexagon is not as light as the Terra Nova Laser at 2.8 pound (1.27 kg), but the Hex’s price tag of $250 is much more affordable than the Laser’s $450 price tag. The MSR Zoid 2 costs $50 less, but it has less floor space and weighs 21 oz (595 g) more. Finally, the Big Agnes Seedhouse 2SL costs $50 more and weighs an extra 4 oz (113 g).

However, the Hex’s confined interior volume because of the inward draping interior walls is a downside. If this tent had sidewall tieouts to increase interior volume, and the other improvements suggested below, it would certainly be a candidate for a perfect score.

Recommendations for Improvement

I compliment MontBell’s innovations to provide gear that has a good balance between light weight, functionality, and durability. Some suggestions we can offer to make the Hexagon an ever better product are the following:

Add sidewall tieouts for the fly, with a hook connector between the fly and inner tent, to provide significantly greater interior volume.

Increase ventilation to minimize interior condensation.

Eliminate the zippered door made of Ballistic Airlight; a single door made of mesh will do and will further reduce weight and increase ventilation.

Provide four more stakes so the fly can be staked separately from the tent to get a tauter pitch and better ventilation. Also consider providing titanium stakes instead of the angled aluminum stakes; they weigh half as much and do not require cleaning of the “V” each time they are used.

Provide two wind guylines at each end of the tent that attach to the fly at 45-degree angles. In our opinion, this would be more convenient and effective than the current single guylines that must be threaded through a small hooded opening at each end each time they are used.

Eliminate the second drawcord on the tent storage stuff sack to save a few grams of weight.

Add two small mesh pockets for convenient storage of small items; the added weight is miniscule.

Overview

The Lightwave zrO cylq (zero silk) is a lightweight and storm-worthy solo double-wall tent. Lightwave is a small tent manufacturer located on the edge of the Pennines in Northumberland, UK. At 3 pounds, the zrO cylq is the lightest of the Lightwave tents. It is best described as a three-season one-and-a-half-person tent – roomy for one, very cozy for two. It is a double-wall asymmetric design with two carbon fiber hoop poles and has excellent stability in high winds. Entry is from the front behind a small vestibule. The fly completely envelops the tent down to the ground, providing exceptional rain and wind protection, but also exceptional proneness to condensation. Three mesh-lined vents in the inner tent and one vent in the fly provide limited ventilation. We found much to like about the zr0 cylq’s features and performance in wind and rain, but its condensation problem needs to be addressed.

Specifications

Model Year	2004
Tent Type	Double wall with floor
Fabric Description	Inner tent groundsheet is 75 g/m2 (2.2 oz/yd2) high-tenacity nylon 6.6 ripstop with 3 x PU-coating (water resistant to 6000 mm hydrostatic head); canopy is 35 g/m2 (1.0 yd/m2) high-tenacity nylon 6.6 ripstop with large no-see-um mesh panels; fly is 52 g/m2 (1.5 oz/yd2) high-tenacity 6.6 nylon ripstop silicone-coated on both sides (5000 mm hydrostatic head)
Weight Full Package	Backpacking Light scale Manufacturer claim 2 lb 13.9 oz (1.3 kg) 3 lb 0.5 oz (1. 4 kg)
Weight Minimum Package Includes tent body and fly, minimum necessary stakes and guylines, no stuff sacks or extra hardware.	Manufacturer supplied minimum Backpacking Light minimum 3 stakes, 0 ft (0 m) guyline Same as Manufacturer Minimum but with 0.25 oz (7 g) titanium stakes (no guylines required) 2 lb 13.4 oz (1.3 kg) 2 lb 12.6 oz (1.3 kg)
Floor/ Vestibule Area	Floor area Vestibule area 20.5 ft2 (1.9 m2) 4.3 ft2 (0.4 m2)
Floor Area/Backpacking Light Minimum Weight Ratio	0.46 ft2/oz
Dimensions	Inches Centimeters Width 47.2/31.5 120/80 Length interior 96 245 Length exterior 116 295 Peak Height 37.4 95
MSRP	£275 (approximately $498 US)

Features

Ease of setup

This tent is designed for easy setup – 5 minutes max. It has two shock corded carbon fiber poles that almost assemble themselves. The inner tent is set up by threading the poles through mesh sleeves, slipping the ends into grommets to tension the tent, then staking out the front and rear. The fly is attached by laying it over the tent, attaching four grommets to the pole ends, and staking out the front and rear. The tent is not free standing; a minimum setup requires five stakes. There are four loops near the top of the tent to attach guylines at 45-degree angles for windy conditions.

Usable Features/Options

The zrO cylq is Lightwave’s lightest tent, utilizing lightweight fabrics and carbon fiber poles. Specific features include a front vestibule, two-way zippered entry, four vents in the inner tent and one in the fly, a large inside pocket, shockcord loop for a headlamp, bug netting window in entry door, 11 high-viz hard aluminum stakes, four detachable guylines, pole sack, and tent stuff sack. Entry into the tent is via zippered openings on the right front of the fly and inner tent. The stuff sack’s size is just right for the tent and poles and has a zippered pocket for the stakes and an emergency pole repair sleeve. The same tent with heavier, less expensive components is the "trek" model. Lightwave will provide a footprint for its tents upon request.

Weight/Sizing

The zrO cylq is best described as a one-and-a-half-person tent – it will function as either a roomy one-person tent or a very cozy two-person tent. This size makes a lot of sense for someone who likes to hike solo and also likes to camp with his/her partner. With two people inside, there is little room for gear. The tent has a lot of room for its weight. It is sufficiently long to accommodate a 6′ 6" (2 m) tall person, but he would have to extend his legs into the back point of the tent. At 3 lb (1.4 kg) the zr0 cylq is lightweight for a double wall tent. The MSR Zoid 1.5 by comparison has a little more floor space, but it also weighs 1 lb (0.5 kg) more than the zrO cylq.

Flexibility of Pitching

The only pitching options are the inner tent without fly and as a double-wall tent. We tried pitching the fly and poles as a fast and light setup, but the zrO cylq lacks pole sleeves on the fly to properly tension it. It would be very easy to add this feature and I highly recommend it.

Usable Space

Not a square inch of space is wasted in this tent. The zrO cylq tapers to a point at each end. The back end provides extra length for tall people, or can be filled with gear. The tent’s sidewalls are at approximately a 70-degree angle to maximize interior usable floor space however the tent height is barely sufficient for our 6′ (1.8 m) reviewer to sit up and change clothes. Height in the back of the tent is sufficient to stand on one’s hands and knees to retrieve gear stashed there but little else.

Usable Vestibule/Porch

The tent has a front vestibule extending out 36 inches (91 cm). However, the front point of the inner tent extends into the vestibule, taking up a lot of its space (a fact not readily apparent in the illustrations on Lightwave’s website). Fortunately they have provided a clip and ring arrangement that allows the top of the inner tent to anchor to the fly so the front point of the tent can be retracted, giving more space for other tasks.

With the front of the tent extending into the vestibule, there is only room for two small backpacks. With the front of the tent retracted, the vestibule will shelter two medium sized packs or one pack and a dog. The tent’s vestibule is simply too confined to safely cook in; it would be too easy to burn a hole in the fly (or worse).

The zrO cylq is convenient to enter, simply open the zipper on the fly and then the circular zipper on the tent. The bottom of the entry is about 6 inches (15 cm) above the ground to reduce unwanted debris and water entry into the tent. It is no problem to enter the tent headfirst and then turn around once inside the tent. The zipper on the vestibule has a good storm flap anchored with Velcro tabs and a small side compression buckle at ground level to secure the entry.

Performance

I used the zrO cylq on several outings in the Colorado Rockies. The longest was a 6-day trek on the Continental Divide Trail. During my experience with this tent, I managed to test it on a rainy night, in 30 mph (48 kph) winds, below freezing temperatures, and buggy conditions.

Stability

The wind test was one afternoon and night camped at 12,000 feet on alpine tundra, where I had wind gusts of at least 30 mph (48 kph). The zr0 cylq excelled in the wind due to its wedge shape, taught pitch, and sturdy guylines. The tent has four guylines that attach to loops at the top of the tent and tie out at 45-degree angles, a very stable design. I attached and used the guylines on this occasion, in case the wind got stronger, but frankly the tent could have easily withstood this wind without the guylines. Besides the guylines, the tent has loops for staking it at each of the pole ends. Inside the tent, it was hardly noticeable that the wind was blowing outside. The sides of the tent compressed slightly in the wind, but there was no major compression or flapping. This is one stable tent!

Storm Protection

During field testing, I found the Lightwave zr0 cylq to be very storm worthy, with no water leaking into the tent. Its sturdy fly is ripstop nylon silicone coated on both sides, slightly heavier (52 g/m²) than the familiar silicone impregnated ripstop nylon (44 g/m²). The fly extends to the ground on all sides, and snugly attaches with grommets to the four pole ends plus three stakes at the ends. The instructions do not say anything about seam sealing the fly, but I seam sealed it anyway on the inside with diluted silicone seam sealer. The tent has a polyurethane (PU)-coated ripstop nylon floor with a bathtub design that extends 6 inches (15 cm) up the sides. All floor seams are taped.

Waiting out a rainstorm in this tent is a lying down experience. The height at the door (the highest point) is barely high enough for a 6-foot (1.8 m) tall person to sit up, and the small vestibule means that you may have some of your gear inside the tent with you. The fly is zippered on the right side of the tent and has a good storm flap secured with two hook and loop tabs. There is a small side compression buckle at the bottom so the two-way zipper can be partially opened for ventilation when it is not raining.

Ventilation/Condensation Resistance

The zr0 cylq’s main weakness is lack of ventilation and small interior space, and consequently its proneness to condensation. The inner tent is made of thin ripstop nylon and has only three small mesh vents to the space between the tent and fly. In contrast, the inner tent of many comparable tents is made entirely of mesh to maximize ventilation. I found this construction to be good for retaining heat on the one hand, but disastrous for venting away moisture from inside the tent. I experienced condensation inside the tent whenever the fly was zipped closed, except when it was windy or breezy. After a humid night during or following a rain, the condensation was so bad it was dripping from the ceiling and my sleeping bag was damp from condensation.

The condensation problem is primarily due to the fly design. While it is very storm-worthy, it completely envelops the tent down to the ground. There are no tieouts to pull it out away from the tent to provide some opportunity for ventilation. As mentioned, there are four small mesh vents from the tent to the fly space, and one small vent on the front of the fly’s vestibule, but these simply are not adequate to exhaust internal moisture under calm or humid conditions. Another problem is that the sidewalls of the fly (between the poles) contact the inner tent when the fly is wet, and condensation from the fly is transferred to the tent fabric.

Insect Protection

This tent provides excellent shelter from insects. However, there is only a limited view to the outside through the zippered vestibule. The zr0 cylq is most comfortable and convenient to use in fair weather when the vestibule opening can be tied open to maximize ventilation and to allow easy entry.

Durability

For a lightweight tent, the zr0 cylq is very durable. All fabrics are adequately durable for their purpose without adding extra weight. Seams are double stitched and all stress points are strongly reinforced. The light carbon fiber poles save weight and seem to be very strong. The main risk is stepping on one of the poles and breaking it. The floor is fairly heavy (75 g/m²) PU-coated ripstop nylon, which should be sufficiently durable for most camping surfaces, exercising normal care.

Value

The zrO cylq is a very well thought out tent that provides a lot of room, functionality, and durability for its 3-pound weight. It is a high-end tent made of high quality materials and featuring excellent craftsmanship. However, it also sports a high-end price of approximately $500 US. For comparison, that is over twice the cost of the MSR Zoid 1.5. Considering its high cost, the zrO cylq only scores a fair value rating.

Tips and Tricks

A basic pitch of this tent, requiring only a few minutes and five stakes, is adequate for many conditions. If wind is expected the four top guylines can also be staked out, which will provide plenty of stability. One-half of the tent’s instructions are dedicated to explaining the proper use and protection of the tent’s carbon fiber poles. This serves as proper warning to be careful with them to avoid breakage; a broken pole section costs $10 US to replace.

Recommendations for Improvement

The Lightwave zr0 cylq needs more provision for ventilation to overcome its condensation problems. I recommend redesigning the fly to more effectively exhaust water vapor from within the tent. Also it would be very easy to add pole sleeves on the fly to create a fast and light option, where only the fly, poles, and a few stakes can be taken on some outings to save weight.

Overview

The Vaude Hogan Ultralight is a double-walled, three-season, two-person shelter with a one-piece pole system. At less than 4 pounds, it is among the lightest double walled tents on the market. The steep walled interior is spacious for one but extra-cozy for two – almost to the point where I question its two-person status. The tent has a single entrance at the head and a small vestibule that has room to protect two medium sized backpacks. It is lightweight, simple to set up, holds up well to rainstorms and wind gusts and looks nice, but is expensive at an MSRP of $371.

In Brief

• One piece pole system connects together in a “+” shape, improving stability and keeping the pole system light
• Quick set up – takes about two minutes with a little practice
• Lightweight – the design and materials were selected to keep weight at a minimum
• Very compressible – the tent and fly minus poles will easily shrink to half the size of its spacious 22″x7″ stuff sack
• Well ventilated – when staked taut there is a large air gap between the breathable tent fabric and the fly on all sides, additional weatherproof venting is provided by zipping down the top of the covered fly entrance
• Original stakes bend too easily under normal use and should be upgraded

Specifications

Year/Model	2004 Vaude Hogan Ultralight
Tent Type	Three-season, double wall, single entrance tent with floor and vestibule
Fabric Description	Flysheet: Waterproof to 3000 mm hydrostatic head, 40d polyamid ripstop 240T nylon, silicone-coated on both sides. The stakeout points are reinforced with thicker gray nylon sewn to the inside of the fly. Inner canopy: 30d polyester ripstop 285T. Groundsheet: Waterproof to 10,000 mm hydrostatic head, 40d Polyamid ripstop 240T laminated nylon.
Pole Material	Aluminum 7001 T6, 9.8 mm
Weight Full Package As supplied by the manufacturer: includes tent body, flysheet, poles, 12 aluminum stakes, four 4.9 ft (1.5 m) guylines with plastic glow in the dark tensioners, pole stuff sack, stake stuff sack, and tent stuff sack.	Backpacking Light scale Manufacturer claim 3 1b 14.8 oz (1.78kg) 3 lb 15.5 oz (1.8 kg)
Weight Components	Component Ounces Grams Poles 15.2 431 Pole stuff sack 0.5 14 Tent stuff sack 1.1 31 Stake stuff sack 0.4 11 Flysheet 18.8 534 Tent 21.8 618 Stakes (12) 4.2 119 Guylines (4) 0.8 23
Weight Minimum Package Includes tent body and flysheet, poles, three stakes and two guylines.	Manufacturer supplied minimum Backpacking Light minimum 3 lb 9.2 oz (1.62 kg) 3 lb 8.5 oz (1.60 kg)
Floor/Vestibule Area	Floor area Vestibule area 29.2 ft2 (2.71 m2) 4.5 ft2 (0.4 m2)
Floor Area/Backpacking Light Minimum Weight Ratio	0.52 ft2/oz
Dimensions	Inches Centimeters Width 48.8 124 Length 106.4 270 Height 38.1 97
MSRP	£210 (Approximately US $371.00)

Features

Usable Features/ Ease of Use

Set up of the tent is straightforward and intuitive. After a few tries I could confidently pitch the tent in the dark in less than three minutes, closer to two minutes in daylight. All of the sections of the pole connect together at one “+” intersection near the front of the tent which branches the side poles at a slight forward angle. The ridgepole continues forward for another segment length to provide a weatherproof overhang for ventilation. To connect the poles to the tent put the front two poles in their grommets then insert the rear part of the pole at the back. Next attach the eight hooks, which connect to the tent via short lengths of elastic material and snap snugly to the pole. Next run the short pole segment at the front through the hole at the front of the fly and insert into the pocket. Snap the fly to the tent at the base of each pole and stake tent and guylines.

The minimum number of stakes required to set up the tent is three – one on each side in the rear and one at the head of the fly (with a maximum of 12 stakeout points). I would recommend using at least six for good stability, additionally securing the front two guylines and the rear-most point.

The 13 included stakes are 6.3-inch (16 cm) long aluminum with a curved shaft and a 90-degree bend at the top to provide a pushing point. During field testing the stakes proved to be too weak in all but the softest, most stake-friendly soils. When trying to pitch the tent on some very rocky ground in the Absaroka Mountains several stakes bent to the point of being unusable. I settled for a loose pitch accomplished by placing heavy rocks on the horizontal stakes.

The Vaude Hogan Ultralight tent comes with four guylines, which are quickly attached and de-attached with plastic sliders. They have glow in the dark tensioners, which cinch nicely and make the tent very taut.

The inner tent has two small zippers to the door with orange pulls and a 10-inch by 6-inch mesh pocket on each side in the front. The entire tent is lightweight breathable nylon with just one small mesh window on the upper half of the door.

Weight/Sizing

At 3 pounds 9.2 ounces trail weight, this tent is very lightweight, especially if distributed between two hikers. However, it is a little small for two hikers. When taken on solo trips it is still manageably lightweight and I found I preferred the extra space provided by the tent over a lighter bivy shelter. The stuff sack is a spacious 7 by 22 inches, but the tent will easily take up half that space. The area to weight ratio of 0.54 ft²/oz (1.75 m²/kg) is in the average range for double wall tents we tested.

Usable Space

The steep walls of the tent interior make for good usable space at the head of the tent. Near the foot of the tent the walls are really low, my upward pointing feet brush up against the fabric. I estimate the amount of compromised difficult-to-access space at the foot of the tent constitutes about 10% of the total tent area. The length of the tent may not be enough for tall people; I’m 5’10” tall and there is about a 5″ space cushion at my head and feet. The width of the tent will fit two 20″ wide side-by-side ground pads, any wider and they will overlap at the foot of the tent. With two bodies in the tent there is no room for additional gear.

The usable space of the vestibule is hindered by the fact that the fly does not go all the way to the ground and any gear too close to the wall will get wet in a storm. The vestibule is large enough to protect two medium packs and two pairs of boots, but not much more.

Performance

Wind Stability

The tent has Velcro strips that secure the fly to the poles at three locations. This lightweight and simple feature adds a lot of stability to the tent in windy situations by keeping the poles from sliding relative to the fly. The front guylines are secured high on the tent and dramatically improve stability, especially because they are easy to get very tight. I originally thought the low rear guylines were poorly positioned and not very useful. I took them off a few times in moderately windy conditions and didn’t notice much difference. But on one windy night a huge gust flattened the rear of the tent, folding the pole almost to the ground. Re-installing the rear guylines prevented another flattening. The guyout points are located at seams in the fabric above the poles, making them strong and not prone to tearing. In general it is good to point the tail into the wind to maximize stability, since even with all the guylines, strong side winds will cause some deflection.

Storm Protection

When pitched taut the Vaude Hogan Ultralight is extremely weatherproof. The fabric will not let any moisture through. On one trip in the Spanish Peaks Wilderness in Montana I spent two days alone in the tent with almost constant rain fluctuating from a light drizzle to times of heavy downpour. I kept the guylines tight and the tent held up well and kept me completely dry. An elastic sleeve of fabric covers the zipper and keeps water from leaking through. The seams are not sealed, but I didn’t notice any leaking at all. The tent has steep walls that make the rain run off quickly and keep dry snow from building up. Wet snow sticks a little, but the tent holds its shape surprisingly well and snow tends to slide off after a little buildup. When correctly pitched the only water I noticed on the inside was due to condensation buildup. The fly doesn’t reach all the way to the ground, so with a loose pitch the bottom of the tent is exposed and will leak.

Ventilation/Condensation Resistance

When pitched taut there is a large air gap between the fly and the tent allowing for good air circulation around the whole tent. The fly door unzips at the top under an overhanging canopy and provides weatherproof ventilation. I found that zipping each side down 5-7 inches keeps condensation buildup down except on overly humid or rainy nights when a larger hole is needed. The most condensation buildup I noticed with two people occupying the tent was a light dampness, not enough to form droplets. When the tent is loose to the point where the fly sags against the walls of the tent it severely decreases the ventilation and condensation will build up. On one stormy night, in my backyard, I loosely pitched the tent and tried to weather the storm. Condensation built up and began dripping by early morning and rain soaked the side of my sleeping bag where the tent was exposed, so I abandoned the tent and went inside. Taking the time to properly pitch the rain fly is critical.

Insect Protection

The Vaude Hogan Ultralight is completely bug proof when the door is zipped closed. In situations where there is no likelihood of a storm, the fly can be left behind and the tent becomes a very lightweight bug shelter with a floor area to weight ratio of 0.76 ft²/oz (2.49 m²/kg). The upper half of door is mesh, which allows for good ventilation but minimal views.

Durability

The fly material is very durable – I stretched it as tight as I could every time I pitched the tent and noticed no wear on the fabric surface or at the guyout points, which are reinforced and located along seams. The stake points at the base of the tent are reinforced with heavy gray nylon. The thinner breathable fabric of the inner tent is less durable. On about the tenth use one of the elastic clips started tearing out. On subsequent uses more of these points began weakening. I noticed no wear on the surface of the tent fabric itself over the duration of testing. The floor fabric is very strong; on several occasions I pitched it on very rocky surfaces with no resultant tears. On one occasion I unknowingly pitched the tent on a very sharp rock that not only wore a small hole in the tent, but also popped my Therm-a-Rest sleeping pad. No fabric could have stopped that rock, and overall I found the tent to be well built and very strong.

Value

The MSRP of $371 is a bit higher than similar tents. The Vaude Hogan Ultralight is a lightweight, storm-proof, no-frills tent but overall it has no distinguishing features that distance it from other tents of comparable lightness and functionality.

Recommendations for Improvement

I found the provided tent stakes ineffective on all but the most stake-friendly ground. On rocky ground the stakes bent to the point of no longer being usable. Vaude should include tougher stakes with this tent.

The two side stake points on the fly need a longer loop to help make the stakes less apt to pull out of the ground – which will help stablize the tent – and move the walls of the fly further from the tent and improve ventilation.

The tent door zipper tends to snag at the seams near the bottom of the door. The seam should be modified to not intrude along the path of the zipper.

The elastic clips should be reinforced; they are prone to tearing out of the tent fabric.