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Diamond Solo Cuben Fiber Tent

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PostedMar 11, 2012 at 1:01 pm

Hey guys,
I want to introduce you to a new tent designer, named Tim Evans. This is his first attempt and I am very impressed. He has designed a new single person cuben fiber tent called Diamond solo. We worked with him to bring this tent into realization. The first tent came in at 9 oz, but I believe that we can easily get it under 8.5 oz. He originally designed it to use a single nanolight pole so that the packed size was 4" x 12", but a trekking pole works perfectly and it can be packed down to 4" x 10".

Here is his video:

http://youtu.be/nFZjkAHD-O8

Also, here are a couple of pics.

Diamond solo

Diamond solo

I am curious to hear some of your comments about the design and to give him some positive feedback for encouragement.

Thanks,
John at BearPaw Wilderness Designs

Dustin Short BPL Member
PostedMar 11, 2012 at 2:27 pm

Looks pretty similar to the MLD Cricket, only you added a zipper and made the fifth panel not extend to the apex of the shelter, creating a pseudo-ridgeline. Oh yeah there are vents. Ok, not that similar on closer scrutiny.

Actually it looks like a refinement on the ZPacks Hexamid solo. The Hexamid is basically creating vertices similar to the Diamond's actual defined ridge/panel edges.

Not a bad looking tent.

PostedMar 11, 2012 at 2:35 pm

It is probably closer to the z-pack solo. Except this tent has the double peak (front and rear) and still only uses one pole. The z-pack has one peak and uses one pole. The double peak gives you more headroom — a big plus when sitting up. Thanks for the comment.

PostedMar 11, 2012 at 2:36 pm

Also, the vents (both front and rear) enables you to close off the front and still get some condensation escape route. The vents have drawstring closures for bad weather.

PostedMar 11, 2012 at 2:51 pm

Looks good! Got some questions though.

Double peak? I can't see it. Got any more pics from different angles? Dimensions? What weight cuben are you using? Any plans to make an inner, or bug bivy?

Reason I ask about materials and dimensions, is if we are making comparisons with the hexamid solo with beak, there is a 4.3oz discrepancy, or double the weight. Of course we might be comparing apples to oranges here.

PostedMar 11, 2012 at 3:50 pm

John, how tall are you? In your YouTube video (featuring this "carbin fiber" tent), this tent doesn't give the impression of being very long. By the time you're on top of a 2.5" tall sleeping pad (NeoAir) and add a sleeping bag, it looks like you'd be brushing up against the tent at the ends.

The peak guylines look very long. How important are they to measure out?

This tent, made in cuben fiber, looks to need a flat area to stay taut since it's staked straight to the ground. This should make it warmer than a tarp, and two peak vents should help with condensation.

PostedMar 11, 2012 at 3:52 pm

This one was made out of .51 oz cuben. The extra weight is due to the full zippered vestibule and it is longer and wider than the hexamid solo.

Here are the dimensions:

diamond solo

You can see the tent peaks better on this video:

http://youtu.be/IJJZtDX6fzY

John BearPaw Wilderness Designs

PostedMar 11, 2012 at 3:54 pm

I am about 5' 10". There is plenty of room for someone up to about 6' to 6' 2". You can also raise the tent off the ground (my recommendation) for better ventilation and room for a taller person.

John

PostedMar 11, 2012 at 3:56 pm

The guideline in the back should follow the ridge line to give a proper pitch. The front guideline can come down at a sharper angle.

John

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