Integral Designs Sil Wing vs Gossamer Gear Spinn Twinn

I have the GG Spinn Twinn and I really like it. For me, though, it is perfect for one person. For two, it would suffice if gear was left outside. Last month I experienced 50+ mph winds for an entire night and it held up just fine.

"Last month I experienced 50+ mph winds for an entire night and it held up just fine."

Get any sleep?

Gerry,
Do you think two vertically challenged adults (5'4" and 5'6") would have enough room? We're both narrow, too. ;-)

It looks like the Spinn Twinn would be more versatile. If there isn't room for the two of us AND our gear, I guess DH will just have find shelter elsewhere. ;-D

I have an ID Silwing that we carry most of the time when there are two of us. There's plenty of room for two plus all our stuff. It's easy to set up taut. But it only sets up one way. You can raise or lower it but not change the shape. The shape is great except that the lower edges are curved (which is probably to keep them from flapping), and don't go all the way to the ground between tieouts. This is not always a problem, but it is, for me, when there is a cold wind blowing and the tarp doesn't let me block it at the lower edges. Later I got an ID 8×10 hoping to get that batten-to-the-ground wind protection, and have used that on one trip so far, but it's harder to set up smooth and tight. I haven't tried the Spinn Twinn–hard to justify another purchase just to try something.

I hear you. I was hoping to find one lightly used or maybe GG would have some kind of 'special' on them.

HI P.P.,
IF this helps your decision, or maybe complicates it,
we have a sil nylon version of the SpinnTwinn in production right now at GossamerGear, called of course the SilTwinn. Same tarp just a sil version of it. It weighs a couple of oz more and will launch for $140.00 in the next few weeks.

Grant

Actually, that may be the way for me to go. I like the lighter weight of the spinnaker and that it doesn't stretch when wet, but I guess the sil nylon would be sturdier.
I've got to stay on the cheap side if I'm going to be able to buy the new 'One' when it becomes available. ;-)

Hi Grant

A gentle reminder – please disclose your company interest when making any such posting. You could edit your posting to do this.

Anyone else – same applies. Full disclosure of any vested interests required.

Cheers
Roger Caffin
Online Community Monitor
BPL

Roger,
A good idea, certainly. In this case, I know who Grant is because I received an email from him recently updating me on the production status of 'The One.'
BTW, Don't you have a used Spinn Twinn around (perhaps from testing) that you'd sell me, Roger? I promise not to tell. ;-)

I thought everybody already knew Grant. If you didn't, you ain't payin attention ; ).

Clelland does the same thing and nobody ever tells him to tell of his financial interest in his forum bookselling efforts.

Roger, Grant did disclose: "…we have a sil nylon version of the SpinnTwinn in production right now at GossamerGear…"

Grant is as well known to folks here as Henry Shires; I haven't seen anyone asking Henry for disclosure info.

Grant, Henry, Ron – we know them all!

I have a GG SpinnTwinn tarp and have used it on many trips up to 27 days. The spinnaker material is tough, cant see a reason to downgrade to heavier silnylon except price. Like the earlier post I have used the SpinnTwinn in all kinds of weather including huge storms. I have also used it for 2 persons in rain and we were able to store our gear inside and everything stayed dry. I love the space under cover for one person. It also goes up quickly if the weather turns bad and everything can be packed up under cover in the morning and the tarp is taken down quickly and stowed in the outside pack pocket. The quality of manufacture is excellent and I have not bothered to seam seal. The SpinnTwinn is a winner.
Aussie Dave
Canberra Australia

Nice input, thank you. So, you haven't seam sealed and it hasn't leaked? Great! I will probably seam seal anyway.
I also like your input about the durability of the spinnaker. I was concerned about that. I'm not careless but………

I think I am going to be returning my SilWing. It is only 60" wide at the rear which seems to small for two people. The rear width on the SpinnTwinn is 86" which is much more reasonable. There is also the issue with the curved lower sections on the SilWing which make it impossible to get it low enough to block wind and rain from the sides.

The SilWing has a complex shape which is not easily measured, but my assesment is that the average width is 78" or 6.5' and the length is 8' not including the beak.

Rules are rules but ….
"IF this helps your decision, or maybe complicates it,
we have a sil nylon version of the SpinnTwinn in production right now at GossamerGear, called of course the SilTwinn."
That should have made it pretty clear of who Grant his for the ones that don't know him.
I know that this has been posted above, I actually read those posts, but I wanted to give Grant an extra go.

BTW, not long ago I complained to the managing director of another company for not disclosing his interest in the product he was promoting, so I am not glossing over the issue, just differentiating.
Franco

Hi Franco

You are right that Grant's posting was fairly clear. So what I wrote was:
'A gentle reminder – please disclose your company interest when making any such posting.'

This was just a *gentle reminder* of the rules, not a slap over the wrist. It was addressed to Grant, but it was really aimed at all others with vested interests.

Cheers

Thanks Roger.
Mine was more a gratuitous plug for Gossamer Gear than anything else. After all this is Backpacking Light and GG do a darn good job at making gear to satisfy the wants ( maybe needs) of some of the gear freaks that hang around here.
Franco
We love you Grant, really.