SNEAK PEEK: 2015 Sierra Designs TENSEGRITY ShelterS

Between feeding my 18 month old and getting him ready for bed time I was in and out on the broadcast. When will the Tensegrity shelters be available for purchase? I don't see them on the website yet and was hoping to use that 40% coupon. :)

They won't be available until the Spring of 2015. I thought it looked pretty sweet and I'm excited to try one out next year. I really enjoyed the presentation tonight as well.

Hey… I missed the live event due to work. Is there going to be a recorded podcast of it?

I realize they won't be ready until 2015 but figured they would do pre-orders or something like that since they threw up the coupon on tents. Am I missing something?

The coupon is only good for the next 48 hours on the current tents.

Is it just me, or does anyone else wish the door was on the other side?

Reading posts and the link noted above, I see – Doors – plural.

"Sierra Designs not only uses “tensional integrity” to provide structure and strength at a lower weight in its new Tensegrity Elite tents, it also creates more space with a configuration that is wider at the top than the bottom, alleviating the typical cramped quarters of trekking pole tents. Large drop down doors open up the view and remain uncluttered with vestibules on the ends." [emphasis added]

It could just be wishful thinking on my part.

I watched the presentation and saw one.

Same issue for me with the Flashlight UL 1 too.

Edit: I am talking about the 1p model only.

I like to lay on my left side and this has me facing away from the door. Hard to cook like that. With the door on that side it is like getting in the passenger side. Which is weird if you drive all the time.

It may be like the flashlight and have 1 door for the 1 person and 2 for the 2 person.

Michael?

Thanks all for attending the event.

The Tensegrity tents will be available in January 2015; we are still working on dialing in the patterning. We had a design review today and made more pattern changes to the complex top panel. The 48 hour coupon applies to existing tents only; sorry! I believe the door was shown on the correct side tonight. It was prototyped on the other side, and then we switched it to the same side as the Flashlight 1. Funny, because our designer Chase wanted it on the other side for the same reason as you, and we made him change it to match the FL1. The Flashlight 1 and Tensegrity 1 have one door. The 2P models have two doors.

I wish we had done a better job showing the shape of the tent inside. Next time we will try do incorporate some better camera work to give a better perspective on the size and feel of the interior.

I hope you all enjoyed it and we are pleased with the outcome and attendance. We plan to do it again so be sure to sing up for email on our site or "like" our Facebook page for the next event, or I will probably post it here too. I hope you got something out of it and at least understood how passionate we are about what we do!

Thanks again!

Check our website tomorrow if you missed the event. It is supposed to be posted to our blog tomorrow.

You are welcome, Jennifer!

I got caught up having a last minute trip planning call and missed the presentation as well. I look forwarding to having a 2nd chance in the near future.

To alleviate the issues of 'right side-left side' preferences why not make the i person with 2 doors. A lot of cottage industry lightweight 1P tents have this feature and it is certainly more flexible. If I buy the Elite 1P I will probably have my shop put in the extra zippers. The extra few ounces isn't a deal breaker. Just musing.

+1 for two doors

And a color other than yellow. Put me on the list with all the others that want green.

Hi Michael it’s great to see you and Sierra Designs here. I still have a Sierra Designs Meteor Light going strong after years as a car camping tent (tons of room and ventilation – only complaint is that the inner has to be pitched before the outer).

+10 for 2 doors and Green or Olive/Brown color.

How do the Tensegrity FL and Elite compare weight and interior space-wise with the new Lightheart Gear Duo and similar 2-4 pole supported rectangular silnylon shelters like the SMD Lunar Duo, Tarptent Double Rainbow, Tarptent Stratospire 2, etc.?

Is the main differentiator the wider shape at the top?

[note – haven’t seen the presentation yet or read the full article]

Michael, could you elaborate on the width at the top of the tent a bit.

> The floor is 30 inches wide, and it is 46 inches wide at the top interior, and 54 inches wide including the awning (for 12" awning overhang on each side).

That makes it sound like it's 54" wide at the top (ie, top is 8" wider than the floor) and an additional 12" on each side for the awnings. Does that mean the width (at height, not base) is 78" across at the awning tips.

How do these specs compare to the 2-person version?

Ken/All:

Note that the taped, FL version will have a tan roof.

I hear you wanting green, and I understand. The problem with a green tent is that it creates a poor color interior (you, your stuff, your tent mate, all look green) and it can be depressing over time. We chose tan since it blends well in a variety of climates and creates a natural warm color temperature on the interior, is bright enough on cloudy days and shady on sunny days. We think it is better than green….

JP:

Sorry for the confusion. The top of the shelter is a TOTAL of 12" wider on each side, 8" of this is "inside" and 4" of this is "outside". So the total width at the top is 54 inches wide for the 1P (30" width floor) and 74" wide for the 2P (50" width).

Thanks for getting back to me. That's exactly what I was looking for.

"The problem with a green tent is that it creates a poor color interior (you, your stuff, your tent mate, all look green) and it can be depressing over time"

Horse poop. Having had brown and green tents along with blue and grey, and a few other colors. Makes no difference to me or obviously the others that are asking for it. Especially if one can see outside of the shelter I'd say then the color is even less important, 've found that neutral grey that everyone uses to be the saddest "feeling" color. But it's so popular because it's a non color.

Yellow attracts bugs. Ask a Trailstar owner. Goes against LNT also.

Bring on the earth tones.

Yellow looks great in the showroom only.

One mans' opinion I know.

Have some available to order direct from SD and test the waters that way.

I agree with Ken. Earth tones please! Try camping somewhere serious in a bright yellow tent…

As I understand it the FL build is earth toned with only a 5 or 6 oz. wt. penalty. My personal preference is the yellow, but that's me. I would like to however see the Elite floor in either black, charcoal or dark grey. The visual contrast with yellow is very pleasing and yellow floors always seem to appear dirtier and marked (stained) than darker colors, again my personal preference only.

Love the yellow. As far as LNT, the best way is to not backpack.