SMD Gatewood Cape Questions

I like a bivy to add bug protection and I think it makes for a more versatile purchase than the inner nest. It can be lighter and easier to deploy and used for cowboy camping in better weather, as well as adding warmth and weather protection.

Polycro is fine for non-bug season. If you aren't too tall, the Gatewood can be pitched down low, making it as weatherly as any floorless tent and in any case is more weatherly than any a-frame tarp. Site selection is the cure for wanting a bathtub floor. I use an oversize polycryo ground cloth and roll the edges under as well as making a berm of duff on the uphill side (and , scatter it when leaving). For that matter, the pitching issues are the same as for tarps, except that you get 360 degree coverage.

As rain gear, it has more coverage than a poncho. A bit of line as a belt can help. It does make you look like a tossed salad coming down the trail, but once you get over the fashion issues, it will keep you and your whole pack dry. The big front zipper allows ventilation as needed.

It will reduce pack volume and your base weight shrinks to 11oz for shelter and rain gear. It is great for summer day hiking CYA, giving you complete emergency shelter and rain gear in a package the size of a loosely packed gallon ziplock. Six Ti stakes are barely noticed and it pitched just one trekking pole or a found stick.

I made a two piece pole for mine with carbon golf club shafts that weighs a little over 2oz. I need to turn that into a fishing pole :)

How tall are you, Kaleb?

If you're under 5'10", I'd say it could be a little long as raingear. I'm 6'2"
and love it as raingear, wish it was a tad longer for shelter.

One of the greatest pieces of gear EVER made, in my opinion.

I love side-entry shelters (easier entry and easier on my knees).

"I love side-entry shelters (easier entry and easier on my knees)"

And you can fold the doors back for ventilation, the view, cooking etc. I forgot to mention the volume of hand-dandy vestibule or dog space for such a compact shelter.

You could add higher tabs that hold the corners up inside if you need it to be shorter. The cord belt helps there too. At 5'10" it works for me.

Dale's right (note that neither of us work for SMD!!!), there are many reasons to like the Gatewood's design.

I just picked up a tigoat raven, and was thinking about a Gatewood. I am 6'4", is this realistic for a gatewood with a relatively splash resistant bivy for 3 season?

I don't use a bivy under my Gatewood. For bugs, I use a solo "Sea to Summit Nano Mosquito Pyramid Insect Shield Net" that hangs from the peak. It costs about $50 and weights just under 3oz. I also use the S2S bug net in my DuoMid.

Jacob,

I think I'm too tall for the Gatewood (at least for it to be perfect), and I'm shorter than you.

Sure, you can pitch it higher and make other concessions. However, when I use gear a lot, eventually I want the wrinkles ironed out. At your height, you will find yourself making concessions in regards to splash protection, too little room at the head/foot, etc.

Rog Tallbloke (on this site) used one happily at 6'7", so what do I know?

But to your question, yes, the bivy would work for splash protection.

Todd

Have any pics of the STS and the Gatewood? I just picked up the Gatewood.

Thanks

i don't think the Gatewood will work for someone 6'4". It is a minimalist shelter to sure. It's too bad they don't make a long version.

When looking at that floor plan view, keep in mind that the sides are sloping straight up to 45" in roughly half that 8'9" length with no "bow" in the panel. Although it is covering 35sf, there isn't much headroom out around the edges. That's why smaller footprint solo tents go to such contortions with poles and stakes to get the height in a narrow footprint. The Gatewood has a footprint the size of many 2 person tents; although much off that extra space is good for vestibule type use, it is too low for humans that aren't shaped like a splitting wedge :) It doesn't have that sleeping-in-a-coffin feeling that many solo tents do. The sides slope for better wind shedding rather than stick up like a sail.

I'm 5'9" and the Gatewood makes the best poncho setup I've used. You can unzip the front for ventilation if needed. There are two arm holes you can use for your arms or you can hike with your arms inside the poncho. The poncho works great even when using hiking poles.

I set mine up along with the 3oz solo "Sea to Summit Nano Mosquito Pyramid Insect Shield Net". This is similar to Edward Jursek's setup. I also use a Tyvek groundsheet. I use lightweight bungee connecting the four corners of the Gatewood to my Tyvek and net. This keeps everything centered very well.

I think the SMD Wild Oasis is the same size as the Gatewood. I am 5'11" and I barely fit without touching the ends at night. Shelters like this are prone to a lot of condensation; even with the top vent on mine. Here are a some pictures. The sleeping pad is a 20" X 72" Neoair. I do like the shelter. I have had this for 7 years, although it is no longer my primary shelter I do use it a few times each year.

"i don't think the Gatewood will work for someone 6'4". It is a minimalist shelter to sure. It's too bad they don't make a long version."

---

Its pushing it. I'm 6' 3" and I use the GC with a Borah Gear Bivy. I like the bivy and tend to only pitch the Gatewood when I suspect it might rain, or when I just want the extra coverage. I've yet to use the Gatewood as rain gear while hiking. Its not that I wouldn't, I just haven't yet had to use it on a hike in the rain.

Regarding the length, I have to pitch it high in order to not touch the inside with my bivy. I can pitch it low as needed, but my feet touch unless I sleep on my side with my knees bent, which I often do anyway.

I really like the design and it works for me in its current size, but it would be nice if it were just a little longer.

BTW: My Gatewood weighs 12.1 oz, a bit over the 11 oz. advertised weight.

I like using a bivy with my Gatewood Cape for reasons other than rain or bugs: Wind. In colder weather, at least some wind will blow under the cape. I’ve been chilled a couple of times in temperatures well within the rating of my sleeping bag. I added the bivy, and, voila, no more chilling due to wind.

HJ
Adventures in Stoving
Hikin Jim’s Blog

There's a tieout that you can use (in conjunction with your second trekking pole) that buys you some extra, and in my opinion, valuable headroom…

I'm 6'2" and really wanted the Gatewood to work but despite the floorplan appearing to be long enough on paper, as has been noted the walls slope very steeply causing a serious reduction in head and foot room. Permanent side sleepers who aren't concerned about being able to lie out flat at any point will be fine, but otherwise, it is too tight in my opinion. YMMV and if you can it is still worth trying one out.

I should add that I’m 6’0″ (183 cm) and a side sleeper.

HJ
Adventures in Stoving
Hikin Jim’s Blog

I've been using my Gatewood Cape for ~10 years and wouldn't have anything else. I've even used it in the winter in the PNW. This past summer my brother hiked into the Jewel Basin south of Glacier Park; we each had our bivies plus the Gatewood in case the weather turned bad. It turned bad. That night an unprecedented PNW style monsoon rolled in with torrential rain and lightning that lasted for over a week. We were both able to fit inside, and the bivies kept the splash off our sleeping bags…we stayed warm and dry. I'm 5'11 and he's about 5'9.

I have the net that goes with it but have never used it, as 98% of the skeeters tend to stay outside for some reason; the few that find their way inside are easily swatted.

Happy trails!

I'll chime in and add that this is my favorite one person shelter as well–mine is now going on 8 years. One 'upgrade' I'd suggest is to replace the stake out loops with thin shock cord–such as this:

http://www.amazon.com/Coghlans-Replacement-Shock-Cord-Tents/dp/B0000E0QX5/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

I cut six 16" pieces and tied these into the sewn-in loops. This gives you self-adjusting tension (wind/wet) and may allow you enough flex to use your trekking pole support w/o adjusting it. Adds a small amount of weight but well worth it IMHO.