SMD Skyscape user reviews

I currently have one of SMD's scouts, which is the poly version of the skyscape. I have spent about a week with it on the trail so far, but have yet to experience severe weather so I can't comment on that as of yet, however to address the issues you brought up I have made the following observations:
There is virtually no "wobble" with the stock spreader bar when the tent is tensioned properly.
The ventilation is excellent on this tent, the fly sits from 3-6" above the ground allowing a generous amount of airflow when closed up. With the fly pulled back in bug screen mode, this tent is comfortable in even brutally humid/hot midwest summer evenings. Also here in the midwest mosquitoes are a big issue in warmer weather and last weekend I was able to sleep under the stars very comfortably despite the clouds of bloodsuckers outside the tent.

Mike,
Thanks for the reply and insight. I'll be able to check out the tent in person later today. There's no replacement for shoes on ground information. If I do buy it I'm planning to break it in on Mt. St. Helens this weekend.

I received my SMD Skyscape Scout from Antigravity Gear last Thursday (thanks George and Heather for super-fast shipping, free Ti stakes, and Tyvec). On Saturday I headed up to Point Reyes National Seashore for a little test and seam seal session (I live in an SF apartment, a little hard to seam seal there).

If I am hiking with my wife, I have a CF pole-equipped Mountain Hardwear Skyledge 2.1. If I am hiking alone, I use the MH or a silshelter (16 oz. plus stakes and lines) with a light OR bivy (11 oz.). More and more I hike alone, and more and more, I prefer – especially in the high brush around point reyes – a fully enclosed tents.

After watching and reviewing hybrid shelters, like the lightheart solo, Sixmoon Designs Skyscape Series, and the Tarptent Notch and Conrail, I decided on the Skyscape, albeit half-heartedly. I did not know what sort of pitch I would get (the ID Silshelter takes some practice and patience) and whether I would have the space and protection I am looking for. For this reason, I picked up the economical Scout model.

The set up: After hiking up and over Mt. Whittenberg and out to Coast camp, I set down my bag excited to pitch the new shelter. I put down a polycro groundsheet from Gossamer Gear (which looks unused even after being on briars, vines, brush, gravel, etc.)and spead out the Scout. Well, it was almost no fun. I staked the pointed end to the wind as in SMD's video, put the feet end tabs in and climbed in side. Twenty seconds later the poles were in the supplied spreader, and in another twenty seconds per side, the vestibule/side awnings were staked out. The thing looked great – high and tight – really amazing for five stakes total, and only three in convertible mode.

The test: It was so windy in the valley where the coast camp sites are Saturday, it was unreal. Beautiful sunny day, but wind gusts were easily 35 miles an hour and likely a few more at time. The wind was also constant. Inside the tent, about nine hours later, I moved the poles a little to the outside and adjusted the outside tension pulls. That was all I did and things were still pretty as a picture come morning. This thing owns most free-standing tents I've owed in terms of ease of pitch and ties them all in stability. I will say that the hybrid wall structure could use some middle tie points on the outer material between the head-end point and the two staked areas. Serious wind caused some flapping and noise, but really this is not a defect of the tent but the reality of touch mother nature. It may as well have rained, as the wind had us all in our tents chatting by 8:30. It stopped sometime around 11 p.m. or midnight.

As to the hybrid design. I experienced – in a night that dropped from mid 60's at sunset to probably low 40's at night with a fare amount of dew on the ground in the a.m. – some condensation on the sigle, single-walled portion of the tent that runs from the apex to the feet. Not enough to bother wiping off and definitely not enough to drip off on my bag. I'm five 8, size 9.5 shoe and using a thermarest prolite 3/4 sized mattress with my vapor trail pack under my feet as I have for years. I use a montbell super stretch down hugger no. 2 (35 degrees, 850 fill down) and my toes did not come near the ceiling at the foot end as configured. Out of boredom I did stake up the rear tie-out, but I did not have a third pole and I don't think that this really would give much lift without one. I'm sure it saved some sage from the weight of dew on the outside / condensation on the inside of the tent.

The result: This is perfect. Blows the silshelter away and just as comfy as a tent. I am definitely keeping a Skyscape. But I think I'll sell the Scout and put the money toward the Silnylon or cuben model, for weight reasons only. Honestly, I don't know if Silnylon would pitch as tight, hold as well, or look as good. Maybe I'll sell something else and go cuben. Anyone else have thoughts on this point? I probably shouldn't be in too big a hurry. I came in at 19 lbs. with food, water, and a six pack.

Also, the polyester fly and floor in the Scout are rugged material, and did not look the least bit saggy/floppy in the morning. I really like both of these features. I used they polycro but would have no qualms at all about my dog coming along with me (PRNS does not allow) or pitching the scout without a groundsheet.

In short, this is a superb shelter that has me looking to the lighter six moon designs. I should also note that the tent (without seam sealer) came in more than an ounce under the listed weight. I got 33 oz. on the scale in a cuban stuff sack with no stakes or guylines. Definitely recommend.