SD Velox vs. BA Seedhouse SL 1

I'll help make your decision easier: scratch the Velox entirely! Here's why:

1. Single wall tents are bad for humid places and hybrids are not much better. SD had a series of hybrids called the "Baku" and those flopped big time — even in relatively dry southern Cal where I live (and tested the Baku 2). The Velox series is apparently the successor to the Baku. No direct experience, but it looks underwhelming in the condensation department.

2. The Velox is narrow as heck — I'd call it a nylon coffin.

3. This thing is heavier than my two-person BA Seedhouse 2 SL, never mind the 1 SL — so why should I (or anyone else) put up with a condensation-prone hybrid design and the cramped space of a nylon coffin just to carry more weight?

SD is better known for its 2-person and bigger tents, including some of its winter tents. But it has had a string of flops lately with single walls and hybrids — such as the Solomente (discontined after just 2 years on the market), the Baku (ditto), and IMHO now, the Velox.

If you are 6' or shorter, the SL1 will fit you.

I love my BA SL 1. It certainly has plenty of ventilation.

I'm convinced a light, double wall, breezy tent doesn't exist. I also have a lightning, and looked at the double wall alternatives due to the sauna effect in the summer. However, the SL2 and Hubba Hubba user reviews all mentioned the same sauna problem I had with the lightning (unless they lived in a windy area of the country). An overhanging eave like a tarp tent and big top vents would probably fix the problem, but almost all the user reviews of main-line double wall tents with a top vent mentioned leaking in rain due to puddling or light wind.

So my suggestion is to pitch a tarp over the top of the inner tent from the lightning. No extra poles needed, just drape it over the top and run guy lines out to create 18" of "wind accessible" sidewall, but with a 12-15" overhang to handle windblown rain. Unfortunately the nylon lower walls of the lightning block a lot of light breezes on non-windy nights, so on humid, still summer nights a Hubba Hubba or SL2 with mesh all the way to the bottom would work better. In the variable-weather spring-summer or summer-fall transition weather, the lightning would be warmer on cold nights.

In my opinion, if you want the room of the lightning, you will need the SL3. The Hubba Hubba only has about 75% of the interior space of the lighning, and the SL2 seems like it only has about 60% of the space in the lightning.

ps: I live in an area with 95% humidity and not much wind unless there is a big storm. So the inside of my rainfly usually has beading water on it in the morning. So I like double wall to prevent the droplets from shaking loose and falling on me when rain or wind shakes the fly.

NM

Howdy Dave:

Big Agnes' stated weight of its Seedhouse 2SL is accurate.

Narrowness is, of course, subjective — I prefer space, but then you are totally comfy in a bivy (aka body bag)! But regardless, in the Velox, you have a tent that is both smaller and heavier! The Baku 2 hybrid design I tried had full mesh on the two long sides and I still had heavy condensation problems in relatively dry southern California! The Velox 1 looks to be much less well ventilated — with mesh on only 1 side.

Finally, the Velox does have a bigger vestibule, but for the solo user with one pack, one pair of boots, and maybe one pair of hiking poles — the SL1 provides enough space.

Thanks for your replies!

My lightning weighs 4 lbs. 2 oz. on my scales. The velox is listed at 3 lbs. I was hoping to save 1 pound.

I'm 6' 2" and find that the lightning is long enough as would be the velox. The narrowness does concern me.

I notice that the velox has a high zippered vent on the single single skin (back) side. Would this be enough to improve ventalation on nights when rain is forecasted but not raining yet? When the rain begins it would be easy to zip the vent closed to keep the weather out.

The 8 sq. ft. vestabule should be large enough to store my pack and shoes.

I know the SL 1 has more room but I like the simple design of the two crossed poles on the lightning. I don't have experience with hub design poles. Are they easy to set up and are they stong enough to withstand a 40 to 50 mph wind?
Won't be above tree line in the mid-west but we do get severe thunderstorms.

I love my Velox 1 !

( That's why everybody doesn't buy the same tent )

The size is, in many ways, perfect for me.

a. the footprint of the tent ( size) allows for lots of possibilities; unlike the bigger 2 person tents.I've put it on top of big boulders; openings between boulders; little cubby hole notchces among trees, etc.

b. I'm 5'10" 185 lbs . with a 43 Chest and am very comfy in it; have room to put addtl "stuff" inside the tent as well.

c. nice and light ( again, not as light as other alternatives, however, beats 4lbs as well )

Very easy to set up

Quality looks A-1

No issues with condensation.. The venting at the top of the single walled side is nice

I don’t know anything about the Sierra Designs but I do have a BA Seedhouse 1 SL.

“Even BA recommends a groundsheet with the SL line”

They may recommend it, but I have never used a groudsheet with my SL1 and I haven’t had any problems. I have slept in the Seedhouse on snow, sand, grass, and weathered storms with rain and hail (pea size) and snow (3-4”) with no problems whatsoever. The Seedhouse is the most weatherproof lightweight tent I have ever used. I don’t even get some of the spaying through the rainfly that I have gotten with some sil-nylon flys.

“Personally, I prefer side entry and decent, but consistent height in a shelter. The SL1 falters a bit in these areas and requires 13 pegs to pitch effectively”

I too prefer a side entry and the smallish door on the SL1 is one of its flaws, but you can pitch it perfectly with 10 stakes right out of the box and with a slight modification (see the BPL review) you can use 8 to pitch the tent and fly.

“I have heard that the BA battened down provides very little airflow and can be downright muggy (no vents in the fly).”

I do wish there was a roof vent in the SL1 but I kind of make my own by leaving the door open (not the mesh) when the weather is nice (you can close it without getting out of your bag if the weather turns) and by leaving it cracked at the top when it is raining out (the zipper cover keeps any rain from coming in). I have had very little condensation in this tent, less so than my two person tent, the REI Quarter Dome which does have a roof vent.

“I don't have experience with hub design poles. Are they easy to set up and are they strong enough to withstand a 40 to 50 mph wind?”

I have known one person with a MSR Hubba (hub poles) that has broken a pole, but it wasn’t near the hub at all. The SL1 is easy to set up, but the loops on the main part of the tent take a little longer to thread the pole through than clips or sleeves, but they are lighter. I have used my SL1 on Mt Rogers Virginia in 50 mph winds and it preformed fine. If you have ever been to Mt. Rogers you know how rough the wind can really be up there. I don’t know how it would do with 50 mph broadside winds, but it can handle very heavy winds to the head and foot ends of the tent.

I am not trying to tell you which one to buy, but thought I would clear up some confusion on the SL1 from an actual user.

Good Luck

As an owner of the Seedhouse 2 SL — I can tell you that the hub design is both strong and easy to set up. Indeed, few tents are as taut as the Seedhouse after set up.

My Seedhouse 2SL's five-pole / 2-hub design — along with its steep "modified A" profile — makes it structually a good winter tent. BPL's glowing review has a photo of the 2 SL half buried in snow without any problems!

But while it is structurally strong, it doesn't qualify as a good winter tent because of its "all mesh" inner. For three-season use, the tent is more than strong enough. I set up mine with 9 stakes — even in very strong winds.

Not that you asked, but considering that even the heavier Velox is within your "weight budget" — I'd actually recommend that you get the 2SL over the 1SL.

At around 3lbs and side entry, at least consider the REI T1. I have the T3 and have found it breezy. They have top vents and the fly doesn't go down to the ground and can be staked out (this may be a downside in heavy driving rain). The fly can be put on half way and rolled off to the side as well, which is a great option for hot muggy days with a threat of rain.

My concern is that it may be short for you at 6'2", but that will be a concern about most tiny 1 person tents.

http://www.rei.com/product/761891

NM

OP, Just saw your second post about your 6'2" height. A lot of sleeping bags come in two lengths — regular up to 6' and then long up to 6'6" or something like that.

If you use a long size bag, the Seedhouse may be too short for you. Remember that you want to leave a few extra inches at either end for your bag to loft properly. On paper the SL1 is 6 inches longer than the SL2, but that last 6 inches won't really help. Picture the end of a cone where all the sides converge. It's good for storing small items, but not for extending your sleeping bag.

If you are concerned about the Velox's narrowness, the REI Quarter Dome 1 (T1)is even worse.

Finally, reading David's post above, one man's "design flaw" is another's "smart compromise". All subjective here. I suppose BA could have increased the size of the vestibule and added a "brow pole" to form an overhang — but that will likely add another pound to the tent. YMMV, but for me, it takes no brains and no particular skill to quickly open up – get in – close up the vestibule in the rain — using the vestibule flap itself to block out most of the rain, then take 8 seconds to wipe up the seven raindrops that still managed to get in. For me, I rather do that then carry an extra pound every single minute that I am on the trail — for hours and days on end. YMMV.

nm

I've done my share of hiking in the PNW and camping in the rain. Maybe some of us are more agile? :)

My SL2 minimum weight — tent, fly and poles — came in at around 2 lbs 14 oz. I think using package weight and not knowing what's inside the package only adds to the confusion.

nm

David:

I've had my tent in pretty strong winds and rains over close to 5 years of usage in Wyoming, Colorado, Tennesee, etc. and I've never used more than 9 stakes — 4 at the corners, 2 at the vestibule and 1 each on the three sides to guy the fly away from the inner tent. This thing pitches drum tight.

If staking is such a pain, I suppose one can easily make do with just 5 instead of 9 — by skipping out the four tent corners. The SL2 is palatial for one — so pulling out the four corners tight is not necessary — and the other 5 stakes will hold down the tent by holding down the fly.

But back to comparing with the Velox — I would go with a smaller tent and a hybrid design — in exchange for meaningul weight loss — except the thing is actually heavier than some two-person, double wall tents!

nm

Re-read my post above. I changed it, but you beat me to it.

Regardless of minimum weight or packaged weight, the Velox is still smaller, more condensation prone due to its hybrid design, and heavier than a two-person tent — never mind another solo tent. So IMO, this back-and-forth doesn't change anything.