Weight of Big Sky Evolution 2P versus SMD Lunar Duo

Well, here's half the equation — actual weights of the Evolution 2P – version F:

Tent 18.4 oz
Fly 17.3
Pole 13.2
Total Minimum Weight 48.9 oz

Just pay heed to the usual warnings — try to order from a reputable dealer — Feathered Friends is one such:

Feathered Friends
119 Yale Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98109
+1 (206) 292-2210

If they have one in stock, great. If not, then ask for an ETA. If they can't tell you, then be skeptical about any estimations coming from BS.

Edited for jerkiness

Both of these tents are pretty close to spec (within an ounce or so), so you can just look up the weights on the respective websites.

Why not just buy a lunar duo and see if you like it? If you buy one on gear swap, you'll be able to sell it again for not much (or any) less than what you paid. Alternatively, buy a new one from SMD and you can set it up in your yard… if you don't like it you can send it back for a refund.

Analysing tent specs and reading opinions only gives you a small piece of the picture… don't spend too much time on it. In the end you need to try things out for yourself. I spent ages analysing tent decisions very similar to yours, eventually bought the lunar duo, and then ended up selling it because it wasn't quite what I expected (and I wanted a Scarp 2).

I think it's not a bad idea to start with the lighter, cheaper options (eg. lunar duo) and try them out. If it doesn't work for you, work your way up from there. At least then you can be sure of why you need a heavier, more expensive tent.

Just my 2c!

Cheers, Ashley

ps. I still reserve the right to agonise over gear decisions because I'm based in Australia, so I can't send things back if I change my mind and it's harder to find someone to sell it to on this side of the world! ;-)

Hi Ben, I already owe you (or alternately curse you) as my gear enabler on my hardshell, cooking gear and now tents.

Where do you get this info? The info on the website it coming up a mess on my end – lots of XXs in place of data. Is it listed on another page somwhere? http://www.bigskyinternational.com/SummitShelters/Big_Sky_Evolution_2P_details.htm

What are the usual warnings? Do some dealers promise delivery on a certain date without knowing at all that they are getting them in?

Is the Version F the latest version?

EJ:

Thanks for the 'curse'. The weight figures up above were my own actual weighing's.

I (and others) have written ad nauseum about BS and their long delivery time. Many paid for their tents, were given a 4-6 week deliver time, and then made to wait more than a year (some up to two whole years)! There has been a small handful of recent feedback stating reasonable delivery now. OTOH, the XXX.XX "non information" on their website is just one more indication of continuing sloppiness. Anyway. google the forum and you'll see.

I believe the F version is the latest version, but truthfully, I haven't been following up on BS.

Hi Joe,

I didn't think you were being a jerk, just offering some sage advice. But my question is driven by real thought, and not overthought. For a 2 person shelter, I have to think about the needs and concerns of my better half, not just my own. Our comfort standards are different. I've been able to get her into backpacking and other outdoor sports by introducing her in a way that has her looking forward to the next adventure, rather than cursing the last one. Few of my friends can get their backpacking spouses to spend 15F nights winter camping, let alone a single night out, but I have, thanks in part to good tent and gear selection : ) (and lots of begging and barter).

The BPL community has been a wonderful resource as I've lightened up over the last few years. I've put into practice tons of gear and technique recommendations, something essential for me as I put serious wear on my knee, hip and shoulder joints as an elite airborne soldier and suffered two leg injuries. I love to move in the outdoors, on land, water and snow, and moving lighter and smarter is essential if I want to continue to do so for many years.

Also, I'm growing a tech company and 1) work very long hours, making it hard to spend as much time as I'd like trying things out 2) I can't buy all the gear I'd like to try out and then flip. Sure I've sold some things that didn't work out, but doing that a lot is a luxury.

You've been a big help in narrowing down my tent selections and I sincerely appreciate your advice.

Any idea what delivery time is like now? I'll call a few dealers tomorrow.

Also are there any close alternatives to the E2P?

EJ:

I like to echo what Ashley wrote up above. Once you've whittled down to the final 2 or 3 — and you find yourself agonizing over them — just order them all. Considering the high upfront cost and the critical importance of having a good tent (or pack or boots) — and considering how light weight these tents are and thus how inexpensive return postage is — the upfront hassle is well worth it. Best of luck in your tent selection!

How much does the E2P cost??? I found a 2006 article quoting $260 with aluminum poles.

It's $350 plus any extras (guylines, stakes, porch fly etc).

Not quite the raging hot deal it used to be.

BTW, my wife saw the BPL article on single wall tents and condensation open on my laptop which prompted the discussion. Should've used my polarized privacy screen. Yes I include her in gear decisions up to a point…she's laughing as I write this. Personally I'd like to try the Lunar Duo and E2P (if the latter is available or there's a good alternative).

If possible, order up then sort it out.

I just ordered 4 tents (the most recent one from Ben) in the last couple of weeks and have been setting them up in the living room as opportunity arises (i.e. wife & kids out of town for Easter whilst I worked). This has been remarkably beneficial, despite my staunch anti-empirical epistemology.

For example(s), the new Terra Nova laser was very attractive sounding as it now has 2 doors and 2-way zippers for theoretical high vents, as well as a claimed lighter min. weight of 1.12 kg (39.5 oz.). The actual min. weight of the fly & inner ended up being almost the whole 1.12 kg, sans the pole, guys, sacks & stakes – which basically pushed the tent to almost 3 lbs. – where the stated max. is 2 lb. 11.5 oz. There were also some unfortunate stitching problems on the inner tent that could lead to significant inconvenience in the field later on.

– That is the obvious, but just laying down inside the tent and arranging sleeping pads + bags + typical gear made for excellent palpable criteria for decision making.

Terra Nova , nova no longer for me.

Another tent, which surprised me pleasantly with coming in significantly under weight and being well crafted, was a 3-man ALPS Mountaineering Zenith 3, from Sierra Trading Post for a scant $90 dollars. The listed minimum weight was 5 lb. 3 oz., but the actual came to 4lb. 12.5 oz.!!! – which is right up there with some of the best 3 man tents on the market and you can't beat the price. This one is definitely a keeper – especially with it's polyester fly, which is unusual in lightweight tents, since it adds some weight, but tends to hold up hydrophobically better and stretch less than nylon. If this tent had a silnylon fly & floor methinks it could undercut 4 lbs. It is a very efficient design – similar to the REI quarterdome UL 2 – think quarterdome 3 UL, except with all mesh walls like the newer ones and only partial poles sleeves. It should be a perfect tent for having the kids along with, which makes the extra durability a welcome compromise.

Speaking of the quarterdome UL2, I ordered that too and it ended up being about 3 oz. overweight. I'll have to put it on a UV only diet.

I decided to pass on the Big Sky 2 man tents due to the similarities in specs with other current products and questionable reliability of the company, as well as my personal indifference to dual vestibules. I also don't much care for the snow flaps on their winter version(s) – which end up at around 4 lbs. after it's all said & done. To get their weights down, they rely heavily on carbon fibre (extra $$$) and lighter aluminum poles, which I would prefer not to have, since I have had my share of poles snap under hefty wind storms. If you put carbon fibre poles in a few of the Big Agnes tents or other current contenders and compared specs with BS, you'd be mighty impressed by the results…until you encountered El Niño.

Which other 2 person 3 season double wall tents with aluminum poles are similar in weight and performance to the Big Sky Evolution 2P?

Are Big Sky's aluminum poles that fragile? I wouldn't use carbon poles.

I wouldn't say they are fragile — although not as robust as the BA Seedhouse SL poles.

Oh, and stay away from Fibraplex carbon fiber poles!

Ben, how does the BA SL2 compare with the Evolution 2P? Does the BA SL2 work well for someone 6 ft tall?

The BA — with its modified A structure and 5-pole / 2-hub frame — is much more robust than the EV2's simple 2-pole criss-crossed at the top design. Both tents weigh about the same.

What climates are you expecting in your hikes? If lots of strong winds, and esp. if using as a solo tent, the Seedhouse 2 SL would be the better choice IMO.

OTOH, for two people sharing, the EV2 will be much more comfy. And structurally, it will be fine for most 3-season camping with a bit of care in site selection.

We have a dedicated strong winter/mountaineering dome tent (Hilleberg Allak), but we do want a 3 season for 2 that can handle windy nights, something I took into consideration with tarp tent selection as well (favorite dual ones are SMD Lunar Duo and TT Double Rainbow, favorite current solo TT Rainbow – these are not perfect for wind but are very good all arounders). I'm 6 ft tall and my wife's 5 ft 6.

Any other suggestions you can think of?

Is there anything that can be done to make the E2P a little stronger without adding much weight?

Summing up a few choices:

For 3-season use in areas of low to moderate humidity:

1. SMD Lunar Duo — for space and comfort
2. Rainbow solo — for adequate space if you like to snuggle

Tarptents are going to be airy when there is a wind, but for 3-season, that shouldn't be a big problem.

For maximum versatility 3-season use (storms, high winds, high humidity, etc.):

1. REI Half Dome 2 — a perennial favorite all around tent — not the lightest but still reasonable.

2. BS Evolution 2 — same as above, a lot lighter, but not as stout.

3. Montbell Thunder Dome 2 — light and stout — but only one door/vestibule

4. BA Seedhouse 2 SL — even lighter and still robust — but small — great if you don't need a lot of interior or vestibule space.

As they say, pick your poison. :)

Which other 2 person 3 season double wall tents with aluminum poles are similar in weight and performance to the Big Sky Evolution 2P?

The aluminum pole criteria leaves out a couple of double walled competitors: MSR Carbon Reflex 2 and the yet to be released Tarptent Scarp 2.

Personally, I look at design and materials, as well as weight when assessing tents. If a double walled tent weighs the same as a single walled tent and they have the same material, then the doubled walled tent probably has a lot less room (something has to give). The Big Sky tent has a couple of nice features: double walled and free standing. It also has silnylon (which many of the big manufacturers are afraid to use despite its great success for the cottage industries). Other than that, though, it isn't exactly a radical design. The Carbon Reflex has an interesting design to save on pole weight, while the Scarp has an even more innovative design (allowing for flexibility in pole usage).

All that being said, when I finally had to choose a single walled tent a few years ago (to replace my REI tent) I went with a TarpTent model over a Six Moons, only because it was a few ounces lighter. My wife and I have been thrilled with the tent, but I'm sure we would have been very happy with a Six Moons tent as well.

Ross, which TT model did you go with?

Also, while venting enough to keep condensation to a minimum, what do you use for your sleep system (bag/quilt, clothing, pad, etc.)?