Gatewood Cape or Sublite Sil- help needed

The Gatewood cape will allow more ventilation and views (you can sleep only in the bug net, for example), but I personally think the Sublite Sil is a little more storm worthy and has better headroom, particularly for taller people. While the Sublite is superb for higher elevations, the Gatewood is more versatile at lower elevations.

I know you are trying to narrow things down, but I will instead open up options: have you considered a MLD DuoMid with your Serenity NetTent? This would shave 10+ oz off your Shangri-La 3 setup and still be very similar. It would give you the storm worthiness of the pyramid designs, but also give you the venting versatility of the removable fly models. What you don't get is a poncho option.

Hi
Apart from the weight, they are not that similar.
The Gatewood cape is a cape as well as a shelter.
The Sublite Sil is a fully enclosed (bugproof) tent. About 9" shorter footprint but more usable space inside.
With the door and rear vents open you still get a good view and lots of air flow.
It takes me just over 2 min to set it up, only 4 pegs are needed.
And as Quoddy has demonstrated , it can take some snow too.
Franco

I've got a Duomid on the way and have the Serenity Net Tent to pair with it. I'm still waiting on the Duomid so have not set them up yet. I would think the Duomid would be easier to find a spot for and set up than the Shangri La. If you are not looking to use the Gatewood as rain wear I would skip that shelter. I think the Duomid should have better opportunity for ventilation than the sublite and you could leave then door open in buggy humid conditions as you will have the net tent. The Duomid can be pitched high with long stakes and a pole extender. I havn't used the sublite but I wonder about the venitilation in hot weather.

Thanks for all your input so far, guys, and thanks to Rezniem for the PM- point taken.

I've gone off the Gatewood for various reasons- mostly becasue I won't be using it as rainwear, and am thinking the DuoMid could replace the SL3 totally, although it looks a little confined inside- anyone with pictures with people in their DuoMid for scale?

The Sublite worries me in mid summer- it looks pretty hot- I'd love to hear from anyone with experience in hot weather camping with it. Bear in mind, I'll probably be camping in the shade under a canopy with this shelter. Still an option.

Another option I have been thinking of is an 8×10 flat tarp, Integral Designs has one with a center tie out which could hold the SMD bivy in an A frame configuration. Only weighs 14oz/ 400g and could be more versatile all round on bug free nights. I don't like bivy bags, I've a TiGoat Ptarmigan I never use, and prefer a shelter with lots of room- hence the SL3.

cheers,
fred

As Franco said, the Gatewood is 9" longer than the sublite. I'm 6' 8" and the Gatewood works for me – just. If you won't be using it as rainwear, and want bug protection, the SMD wild oasis may be worth a look as an alternative to carrying an additional bugtent. I'm planning on adding a no-seeum skirt to my 14oz Gatewood, as mosquito bites bring me up in big lumps.

Kath and I just got back from a ten day hike in Sardinia, we shared the Gatewood (good job she's a shortie!) and really liked it's stormworthiness during a night of wind and rain in the mountains, and it's airiness when the beach weather was hot. I use a 2 1/2 oz 47" carbon fibre golf club shaft as tent pole and trekking pole. This allows a lot of versatility in setup. When it came in stormy, I dug a pit for the pole to effectively shorten it and pegged the cape tight to the ground all round. This meant I had to curl up a bit to avoid pressing the foot of my bag against the side. I'd guess the wind gusted to 35-40mph from various directions and we were fine.

What Franco actually wrote, was that yes the Gatewood Cape is longer however the Sublite has more usable (longitudinal) space …
see http://www.tarptent.com/sublite2.html
(if you pitch the Gatewood with the 45" pole)
Franco

Hi Franco. I haven't tried a sublite, but I have done the trig, and the gatewood has more sleeping headroom for me when pitched high. It has much more cooking space in the porch too. And it's a lot lighter, even after adding a groundcloth and the extra 2 pegs. The addition of a no-seeum skirt will probably bring them close weightwise, though I'm planning to make it removeable.

How many pegs would you use in stormy weather?

Just guessing, but considering there is only one pole and looking at the geometry of the shelter if the 6 pegs are properly placed and the Cape has enough tension I don't see any benefit in putting extra pegs. Maybe an extra guyout point about a third of the way up on the two end panels could help.
or better still… ask Ron.
However I would be buying a Lunar Solo instead (that one fits me)
Franco

Heh, I was asking how many pegs for the sublite in stormy weather. 4 seems…. minimal, though the twin pole setup is neat.

The struts add a lot of stability to the shelter (as well as allowing a shorter foot print) , the two poles help with side winds.
I would add the front and rear guylines, as I have with the Contrail. So 6 in total.
Franco