Yama Mountain Gear’s new tent design…

1/4 even ;)
Swiftline = asymmetrical, SS 2 = symmetrical

nice to see another thoughtfully designed shelter

"1/4 even ;)
Swiftline = asymmetrical, SS 2 = symmetrical"

Incorrect. The SS2 is asymmetrical.

I concede that there is one less small side on the SS2 but the shape is almost identical.

Why is this Yama design so heavy as a single wall?

"1/4 even ;)
Swiftline = asymmetrical, SS 2 = symmetrical"

Incorrect. The SS2 is asymmetrical."

nope the SS2 is *rotationally* symmetrical (but not reflectively symmetrical)

"nope the SS2 is *rotationally* symmetrical (but not reflectively symmetrical)"

So it is reflectively asymmetrical….

http://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/symmetry-rotational.html

http://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/symmetry-reflection.html

There are only so many ways you can do this whole pole/fabric thing, even fewer if you are working with trekking poles. Both designs went down the same innovative path, poles on each side, off center. And yes, the ss2 went that direction first. But Yama followed the path to a different conclusion and deserves to be applauded for it's innovation, as does TT.

> . Both designs went down the same innovative path, poles on each side, off center.

Not true, or at least mostly not true. Off centering poles does nothing for you in terms of usable volume in a given footprint. It steepens one end wall (a good thing) and makes the opposite end more shallow (generally a bad thing). The real innovation of the SS is the corresponding raising/steepening/strengthening of that otherwise shallow slope end via the PitchLoc corner strut support. The net result is much more usable volume than is otherwise possible in a symmetrical A-frame of the same footprint or of the offset version without also steeping the wall. The PitchLoc also ensures a crush-free zone in the event of snow load. The only way to get the volume back, especially the critical usable sleeping length is to extend/lengthen the footprint which leeds to further loss in slope (generally a bad thing).

-H

Henry,

Thanks for weighing in with the design feature that sets the StratoSpire 2 apart. It is interesting that in the back and forth before my post nobody mentioned that key feature. I was just trying to point out that while the two designs seem similar at first glance the Swiftline is a different shelter and can be considered innovative in its own right and not just as a reflection of your work.

Now, does anybody have an idea when we might see pictures of the Swiftline 1p?