When is the Tent SOTMR coming out?

Don't we already have an HMG Echo review? Would we do another, or would we just include the specs from that review?

We do. There are changes being made to the 1 (10-15% larger), but nothing has been done as of yet. I'm open to doing it either way. Doing an updated review would mostly just offer another perspective and be under different conditions.

Is there a particular number of shelters you'd like to keep it to?

I'm thinking 10 tops and even that would likely require splitting them up. It would also take a month or two to see all of the pieces published (based on current trends anyway).

Received my Kilo 1p last week and set it up inside to check it out. Looks really good. I am a small guy, (5'7") and 160 lbs, so the 1p is sufficient. If I were much bigger though it would probably be claustrophobic. Initially, there are two things I would change. #1, when I was in the Bridger in the Cirque of the Towers a couple years ago, there were bright colored tents everywhere. Some were day-glo neon and the whole area felt crowded. (last time I was there in 1974 we had the whole place to ourselves so I guess I'm spoiled). I wish the Kilo fly was a more muted green. #2, it seemed to need a guy out point just above my head and to the left as I was laying down. I am not sure how to add one though as it would need to penetrate the fly and attach to the mesh tent body. I am open to suggestions. I like the side entrance and the vestibule is larger than expected.

Any interest in the Sea to Summit Specialist?

The Specialist. Too short, and what's with a 37 inch wide double? Pass.

Kevin…Im thinking of getting this tent, but your comments about you being much bigger might make you feel claustrophobic has me worried. Was it the height or the width or maybe both that had you feeling this way.

Im 6'2 200lbs and from the demensions it looked like me and my pad would fit rather nicely, but maybe not. Do the head and foot ends have a good vertical slope to them. If you could take some pics and maybe do a little review that would be great to those of us considering this tent.

Thanks.

I think it would be great if you included an MLD pyramid, such as the Duomid, and come cuben offering from Bear Paw, such as the Bear den w/ vestibule or the Luna.
-Conner

And……..I was just going to say Bear Paw. I am always one person too late.

Here's what I have in hand or in route:

HMG Echo II (my personal shelter) – HMG hasn't made any changes to the I or II at this point, so I'm not inclined to do another review but I would definitely include the measurements for comparison and the original review could be linked to in the overall SOTMR page(s).

LightHeart SoLong 6 – This includes the awning and rear door options.

Both of these are light enough for 1 but can sleep a couple (two burly men would be interesting to say the least). Both also use poles in such a way that living space is not encroached upon.

Given these parameters, I'm inclined to adjust the criteria for this SOTMR to this:

Space for 1+
Trekking pole supported
Double-wall or hybrid single/double
Supports are not in the middle of the sheltered space
Light enough for solo use

That would changes things a bit but keep the scope more defined.

With that in mind, I'd like to list off shelters that fit.

GoLite Shangri-La 1 tent – 23 sq ft @ 36 oz (not really big enough for two but spacious for one)

GoLite Shangri-La 2 tent – 45 sq ft @ 50 oz (spacious for even two men, but maybe too heavy for solo use)

MLD DuoMid + net – 29 oz with duo net or 24.5 oz with solo net (assuming pole outside the net if solo and inverted V using two poles if duo)

TarpTent StratoSpire 1 – 19 sq ft @ 33 oz (same as the Shangri-La 1)

TarpTent StratoSpire 2 – 31 sq ft @ 40 oz (not much heavier than the 1 and enough space for two)

SMD SkyScape Trekker – 23 sq ft @ 24 oz (probably a bit tight for two but cavernous for one)

Nemo Meta 1 – 26 sq ft @ 31 oz (cozy for two but cavernous for one)

Nemo Meta 2 – 36 sq ft @ 47 oz (spacious for two but maybe too heavy for solo)

Bear Paw – too many options to list

What else am I missing? Thoughts on these?

Chris – the Tarptent Notch?

My thought is that at 15 sq ft the Notch is small, even for one, and doesn't really fit with the others listed. Maybe it deserves its own review?

Well I have one and it feels much more spacious than 15sq feet. I think it may have to do with the ends of the inner. The footprint is almost a modified diamond shape and feels roomy. At 6'1" I don't touch the ends or the sides.

A review would be nice all the same.

Are you volunteering? :-)

Sure – but the next field test won't happen until the third week in May when the next 5 day trip is planned. The wet and wild West Coast Trail. A good test for all things 'waterproof.'

it is more like a 3 – 4 season tent and not ultralight.

but the aarn pacer tents could be interesting too.

the 1 person version weighs 2.8 pounds though.

http://www.aarnpacks.com/products/pacer_tent_1.html

some people in NZ and Tasmania like it for inclement conditions.

Chris, I think you've got an excellent list there. I'm with David, I'd love to see the Notch included, but I understand why it's outside of your criteria. It would be nice if there's another review, especially testing how it carries over to shoulder season (I'd do it if I had one, but that's outside the budget).

I'm also noticing that many of these are potentially good for four seasons. Are there any plans to incorporate that into the SOTMR? For me, any shelter I own has to stand up to at least light to moderate snow loading or it'll only be good for July and August.

In regards to 4-season use, I'd say it depends. Unless something changes here, winter appears to be gone for the most part so testing for snow would push things out way too far. We could definitely note winter-worthy features though like wall slopes, extra guy lines, etc.

Oh, and I talked to GoLite today about their Shangri-La 1 tent, and apparently 4 of the ounces that they list is just for stakes (6 of them). I would assume that's true of Shangri-La 2 as well. That makes them that much more appealing.

I noticed that on their site as well. A good point since most (if not all) of the other weights are without stakes.

You mean you can't set up all the tents in your backyard and then borrow one of those fancy snow-making machines to test it out?

Haha. We do have some ski spots I might could play with them at. I'll see what I can do. No promises of course. :-)

I'm pretty sure Henry includes stakes in his weights as well, but he also uses lighter stakes. Both versions of the StratoSpire take 6 stakes, and for the 6" Easton stakes that he ships, that drops just over 2 ounces from each shelter there as well.

Let's try to narrow it down some between the 1P and 2P versions.

On the duomid, I think it makes sense to use the 2P inner since it adds very minimal weight.

The easy solution for narrowing things down is to add a weight restriction.

2.5 lbs?