GG One – What’s wrong?

GG has announced that they are revamping the One with a few minor tweaks. This might motivate the hard-core gear weenie to sell off his despised "old model" to gain the coveted "new One".

Then again, maybe they just didn't care for it that much…

Michael

I've never owned a GG one, but just going off the top of my head, maybe some people just didn't care for the noise that spinnaker fabric makes if a breeze hits it and you don't have it perfectly taught. Even if it doesn't interfere with your sleep, it's still a minor annoyance. Then again, what you're seeing in the Gear Swap could just be normal. I'd say that perhaps half of the stuff people sell there on a daily basis is either unused, or so lightly used that it's clear the owner only used it a couple times. I don't know why, that's just what UL backpackers tend to do.

Some found it too short (not everybody sleeps on a 1/2 "pad) , others did not like the somewhat fiddly set up or the beak (rather than full vestibule) .
Art's comment touches on the fact that when you get down to these insane weights we also tend to be fussier so the "rejection" rate is higher than it is with most hikers that are just happy to have something that does the job.
Franco

Ha ha ha :) I just got a newsletter about all the new tweaks and I was like… d*mn! And for a second… I was one of those wennies who considered selling my current "one". But no… I'm gonna keep it. The only things that caught my eye about the tweaks are the higher bathtub and that supposedly easier setup.

p.s…. LOVE IT!!!!!!

>>I just got a newsletter about all the new tweaks

David, as long as you brought it up, could you post this pls? Or send me a PM.

nm

Short and just a beak wouldn't be deal killers for me. I've been toying with playing with a clearview 3/4 pad anyhow.

I currently use an REI 1/4 dome. I have found that even with the ventilation open on the roof deck, there can be significant condensation on the underside of the fly in some conditions. Which means that any thing I put in the vestible will be under my pack cover anyhow, making the vestible only minimally value add.

I have been using The One this year and have corresponded with a several of the people who have sold theirs. As noted: it seems the two reasons for selling have been setup was a bit temperamental and/or wanting more room. I have yet to hear anyone who was troubled by the beak or performance of the shelter.

I have used shelters that have simpler set-up… but The One is better than many. Hopefully the recent tweaks will improve the ease of getting a taut pitch. As to size, that is a personal thing. When I first used The One I was constantly bumping into the roof. Once I got used to the geometry, I found it quite roomy and haven't had a problem with the space / size.

–Mark

I have used The One this summer. A friend of mine also bought one. The usual problems crept up in ours; the rope they used for tie outs came undone. My friend never got his rear tie outs the same again and had problems all of his trip. I tried to help but he gets frustrated so I told him he could look at mine anytime. He just kept playing with his and never got it right. The rear tie out set up is a bit different and hard to put back if it comes undone.

I like mine. I spent a few days in rain and a night of rain and had no water in the shelter. I got condensation only when it rained and was humid out. The funny thing is the set up should be easy. At times its not. Tie out four corners, set up rear pole, set up front pole and adjust the corners again. After a while it was a piece of cake. I'll definitely keep it in my quiver. Especially when I know there will be bugs or lots of water.

I'm guessing a few people in drier climates moved on to the Sublite and others are preparing to switch to their winter shelters. You have to realize that many people here switch their gear towards the end of each season and will be grabbing the next hot items for next season.

My experience with The One has been troublesome because I have not been able to get a good pitch (my fault). The setup can be frustrating, but I plan to get it right the next time I use it — hopefully this weekend.

Thought I’d post some pics of the One in use two weeks ago here in Japan. Not sure what people who complain abut the “noise” are referring to, but I’ve found the One to be no more noisy than any of my silnylon tents.

I find the One sturdy and easy to set up (I think I did it backwards here… should have set up the rear pole first) and has a small footprint for those places where it’s hard to find a camping spot. Haven’t experienced it yet in a strong rain or wind, but with a light bivy when you expect strong weather that worry should be taken care of.

Thanks for all of the comments, and the pictures!

for the tie out problems, seems like an industrious person might be able to use a hot glue gun to permanently fix the rope in place, obviously taking steps to keep the tent from getting burned. of course, that glue might weigh a few grams :-)

I dont have one, but looking at Miguels excellent pics, the long panel of fabric could do with a 'lifter'.

Owing to the low-stretch, low-sag qualities of spinnaker, and to the tent's taut pitch, lifters are absolutely not needed.

GG's upcoming mods seem all well and good, although nothing is fundamentally wrong with the existing design. As others have noted, achieving a "perfect pitch" does take a bit of practice, and is more of an art than a method, but this seems to be common to many trekking pole-supported tents and is a reasonable trade-off, certainly in this case.

Owing to the low-stretch, low-sag qualities of spinnaker, and to the tent's taut pitch, lifters are absolutely not needed.

This side sleeping 72" tall hiker found the One's head and foot clearance inadequate even when pitched in good flat sites with very little wind load.

Mind you, I don't own a One but have borrowed one of them. I'd glue on a lifter about 12 inches uphill from the center of the roof-bugnet seam on each end.

That's not to say I didn't like the One, but I do prefer more than 2-3 inches of clearance.

I'm 6'2" and although the One is technically big enough. It was a bit difficult to move about without touching the sides and my foot end was often touching while shifting about in the night.

All this would not be a problem is it wasn't for the ridiculous amount of condensation I experienced. Even fully vented, every night on my CDT trip I woke up with a soaked and often dripping tent. If it rains outside, its going to rain inside the tent too.

All the cords came loose or off, the stuff sack stitching came undone and some of the seems aren't perfect. For the price these shouldn't be issues. It is a great design and overall performed fine, it's just not for me. A lot of people seem to like them and haven't had the issues I had.

I think most of Gossamer Gear's stuff is best suited and targeted for the PCT and southwestern climates. (Where Glen does most of his hiking)

I sold it too because:

– Setup was a bit temperamental and
– It's a bit cramped.

Still with my tarp and bivy at this stage. Yes you are cramped in a bivy when its done up but when its not, which is most of the time, you have a lot more room than The ONE.

Carter,

It's been a few months since this post was revised; but I'm 6'2" and am curious what you plan to replace The One with. I have a TT Rainbow and am intrigued by Miguel's switch from a Rainbow to GG's The One, but it looks like you are moving in the other direction.

I sold mine because:

1. temperamental set up
2. sagging spinnaker (I kept reading spinnaker doesn't sag but my experience was simply different!)
3. cramped space
4. noisy

It should be noted that some of the reasons above are relative and also subjective to some degree. YMMV.

Thanks Benjamin. After reading a few more reviews, it sounds like I would be a bit too cramped in The One vs the Rainbow.

John:

You are welcome. The Rainbow was what I returned to (kind of like the prodigal son).

But stating the obvious, the attributes I stated about The One are really not anything "wrong" per se — except for the sagging spinnaker material. Many hikers I am sure would be delighted with a great tarptent that weighs only a pound — or just half the weight of the Rainbow. When it comes to interior room, I am a relative space hog.

So what changes are planned for "The New One" and when can we expect it to appear?

Just to add another voice, I have been pretty happy with The One. Setup is a bit more temperamental than my tarptent squall, but was better than say my spinnshelter or several other shelters I have used. I do believe it could be improved, but it's not bad. I don't have a rainbow. I found The One just slightly worse than the double rainbow.

I haven't had any problems with sagging and I didn't find it significantly more noisy than other shelters when I got it pitched tightly.

As to space… that is a very personal thing. The first time I used The One the space seems large but I keep running into the sloping walls. I was very much used to our squall and spinnshelter with the highest point in front. The second (or maybe third) night my brain clicked and I didn't have any problems from them on. I find The One a perfect size now.

–mark

I like the ONE. It is not perfect, but it meets several criteria in the quest for a good 3 season shelter:

– Complete rain and insect protection.
– Light 17 oz. weight.
– Compact stuff size.
– Head room for sit up in the center.
– Side access with small vestibule.
– Good ventilation.

I spent 20 plus nights in my ONE last year. I find the size fits my 5'11" frame well. The small vestiblue is adequate to keep my shoes and small items out of the weather. Is is not sufficient to protect a pack, but I put my empty pack under my feet. I can sit up comfortably and change clothes. I have been fortunate in that I have not experienced condensation problems. The foot print is small, which gives flexability in site selection.

There is no perfect shelter and the ONE is no exception. I would prefer a little more clearance between my face and the canopy, but I have become acustomed to the shallow clearance.

The set up is tempermental. I can pitch my TT Virga in half the time that it takes to pitch the ONE. It is not easy to obtain adequate ground clearance of the staked end panels for good ventilation. I have found that pitching the tent with treking poles set at 130 to 135 cm works better than the recommended 125 cm. The angle of the side pullout cords is also critical. The cord angle must not be too steep. This can be a problem if the site drops off away from the tent.

In order to obtain good ventilation of the split ridge vent, it must be pitched taut. I shortened the bungee cord attachements and this provides taught vent panels and better air flow.

I have not experienced sagging of the spinnaker material. The noise has not been objectionable. Wind stability is suprisingly good.

Overall, the workmanship is adequate but far from exceptional. The unfinised seams between the mesh panels and the floor are disappointing from a asthetic stand point. They look suspiciously weak, but they have never failed. I trimed a mile of loose thread from the seams. I have re-tied all of the knots. The stuff sack seams are loose.

This will remain my "go to" shelter for 3 season use. Now if you would like to buy my ONE, I will buy the next version of the ONE in that quest for the elusive perfect shelter. After all, isn't that is how this addiction works?