Talk me into or out of a SMD Wild Oasis

FWIW I'm 6 foot even as well and fit well inside the Gatewood Cape.
The two may be cut completely different, but i can stay in the Cape pretty well.

I have the Gatewood Cape and am 6' tall. It is a tight fit, but it works.

The WO and the GC are the same shelter, but the WO deletes the hood and adds mesh skirting.

IMO, The GC ventilates much better with the hood open and acting as a large high vent; the WO just has a small high vent and the perimeter mesh reduces air movement.

The WO adds full-time bug protection for only an additional 2 oz, while the GC requires the 7 oz Serenity Net Tent (which can be set up without the GC when all you need is bug protection). Note that that extra 7 oz of the Serenity includes a full floor.

Of the two, I got the GC and have never regreted it; used it on the PCT, JMT, and the CT. Since I often cowboy camp and/or don't need bug protection, I still carry a WP ground cloth, even when I bring the SNT. Makes the whole system very flexible, which is useful when Mother Nature throws a variety of conditions your way.

Wandering Bob

Another happy Gatewood user here. I'm a little taller than you and I'm fine.

If you want sleep room with extra to sit up in & a little more for gear you'll be fine. Just don't expect a palace. Other shelters do that – with compromises, of course.

If you want a simple, four-sided, great shelter then it's for you. Of course, you have to be a fan of tarp-style shelters!

So maybe I could save a little weight and some $$$ if I went with the GC but I guess I'm a little concerned about the bugs and skeeters. Also though has anyone who owns a GC been in one while it was raining for prolong periods of time? Obviously the PNW is known for it's "moistness" but it's always more of a continual drizzle. And by "in one" I mean sleeping in one not hiking in it. I do like the idea though of not having to carry a separate rain jacket and a shelter with this setup.

I normally use a GG Spinnshelter so I have only spent a few nights under the Gatewood Cape, one in a heavy rain that caused massive flash flooding making rock hops turn into waist high crossings in raging water. Other than some misting from the silnylon (which I have gotten on any sil shelter I have used) it kept me perfectly dry. I did have a drip from a bad seam sealing job in the vestibule, but it didn't hurt anything.

Here is a pic in the morning when the rain had mostly stopped

I'm 6' and I fit inside the Wild Oasis, but there isn't much head or foot room. I had to do some work to keep the foot end from touching the sides. The netting is effective, but I also use a ground sheet to seal it better. The ventilation isn't great, so I replaced the included extender loops with longer versions made from Triptease so I can pitch it higher. This also creates more room. There's an option to hang it from a branch to eliminate the pole inside, but I've never used it that way. If that would be an option for you, I think it would work well to eliminate the space concerns.

I think it's a great shelter for what it is, but I find myself taking my Moment more often for the extra room and comfort.