Gossamer Gear Whisper Review (Updated)

But what about the Tensor Extreme I saw sneaking around in the tent?

Your video review highlighted one of my big peeves about a lot of ultralight tents: non-adjustable tie-out cords! Who designs a tent assuming that there will never be a rock in the ground where you need to insert a stake for proper tension (amount and direction)?!? It seems so silly to me to save a few grams per tie-out to sacrifice a good setup. And in some soils (particularly in forests), when you remove a stake it disturbs the surrounding soil enough that you can’t get a secure stake placement anywhere near the first one. So small adjustments don’t work well.

For the Whisper it looks like you don’t need a lot of adjustability on the corner cords so you could get by with a taughtline or truckers hitch. But those limit the range of length adjustment to between half the length and the full length of the tie-out (and you may have to use your own cord because the adjustable knots will take up some length). On some tents I’ve owned that inexplicably came with fixed-length tie-out cords, I’ve been able to attach a Line-Loc to webbing loops at the corners for more adjustment.  But the Big Agnes tents I’ve owned have really aggravated me that use a “Jake’s Foot” with buckle in the corners. There is only a small tubular hinge through which you can pass a cord. I was able to tie a Line-Loc pull to the corners but it’s pretty crude and limits how close to the corners you can stake down the tent – not ideal in high wind situations. (I think Nemo’s light tents have the same issue).

This is usually not a problem with apex and other guylines because they are so long, an adjustable-length loop (hitch or traditional tensioner) still gives enough adjustment length. But please tent and tarp designers, give us adjustable tie-outs so we don’t have to hack our own!

Bryan, you can use a couple stakes in the corners of the polycro sheet to keep things in place. Mostly, I do not carry the stakes, but, whittle a few out of sticks. Often, all it takes is breaking the stick as needed. You can add a piece of duct tape, to both sides, if the corners get badly torn up. I get a couple years out of a single piece of poly, hate to add it to the dump until it is WELL used.
Choose a rather stiff, half inch diameter stick, with a branch or two. Break/cut the center 4-5″ ABOVE the joint. Break/cut the branch(s) off.

I was skeptical but the review made me think that this is a pretty darn good tent. I hate bugs and dirt and wet so a floorless tent isn’t something I would normally consider. However this review has me almost convinced for its light weight worthiness. However:

–I don’t like tents with the pole inside next to my sleeping body (altho this may be a false objection that one night spent in one would remove.)

–since one has to bring along a floor–even if it’s polycryo–wouldn’t a built in floor be worth the expense of another 3 ounces to simplify and improve performance? and make the entire tent more storm and bug worthy? Or anyway easier to work with at the end of a long day?

–My very old Hexamid solo had a fully enclosed netting floor with a clip-in dcf (?) floor on top of that. This was a bad design, as the netting would would weigh a ton if it got wet. A dedicated floor to that shelter, that eliminated the need for extensive netting, eventually proved to be a better idea. I’m going to assume that this new GG tent will also suffer from rain adding weight in the netting. so the carry weight will balloon up to over a pound after a drenching rain.

So for me, bearing an additional five or six ounces for a fully enclosed tent with a floor and pole outside of the living area still seems worth it.

But: under 10 ounces for a well ventilated, storm worthy tent that’s easy to set up is very tempting!

edit: as it happens I do use GG trekking poles. For others, having to rely in a lucky sized rock nearby to set up my tent just adds to the anxiety of using an essential pole structure situated right next to me as I sleep. a rock seems potentially unstable as a surface for my tent pole.

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Like Richard said, looks very similar in concept to SMD Wild Oasis and their newer and slightly larger Deschutes Plus, but DCF vs silnylon. I used the wild oasis as my solo shelter for many years, and have been using the Deschutes Plus now for maybe 3-4 years when solo. I use it with a 3.5 oz DCF bathtub floor from Zpacks clipped into the corners.

@jscott – I have never noticed the netting picking up significant water weight – although both of my SMD shelters were silnylon and that did of course pick up some water weight. It does accumulate forest duff and mud but you can just shake that off. I think SMD did make a DCF version of the regular Deschutes (no netting) at some point. As far as the pole next to you while sleeping – I don’t recall having ever collapsed my shelter, but I am definitely aware of it.

Although I use them because of the 360 degree weather protection in a relatively light weight package, the biggest concern I have with shelters of this type is the sloping ends at the head and foot. I am 5’11-ish (might be closer to 5′ 10″ at this point – seem to be slowly shrinking) and I with an X-lite mattress and a 20 degree down bag I have to be pretty careful moving around inside, and dealing with rain requires some contortions getting in and out without soaking everything.

But all that being said – I still use this type of shelter because I think it still wins the solo shelter trade study for me, and the weight for the Whisper is pretty compelling for 360 degree coverage. Maybe the 2nd pole helps with some of the headroom/space issues vs the single pole.

I’m excited by this tent and have purchased one.  I like that it will protect a taller person with less contact with the canopy.  I had a Hexamid at one point and felt only partially protected from rain.

After watching Ryan’s video about how a tensioned cord from the tent apex can increase the tent strength, I’m wondering if a small loop could be sewn to the high point and staked out.  Which direction would be most helpful? In line with the zipper?

It would also be easy to sew on a tie out point to the perimeter.  I’m thinking of adding one to the large back panel about midway to the foot end.  This tie out could help stabilize that panel, but I’ll have to not over-tighten it and distort the panel.

I stuck on a small loop inside the peak to hang a headlamp from.

Where I hike in Southern California, this tent can be used most of the year for short trips where you know good weather is predicted.

Scott

I’m thinking of adding one to the large back panel about midway to the foot end.  This tie out could help stabilize that panel, but I’ll have to not over-tighten it and distort the panel.

The problem with this is that if wind blows strongly on to the panel, it will distort it even if you’ve been careful not to over-tighten it as the panel tries to deflect.

I want one!   If someone doesn’t like theirs, please hit me up.

Ryan, I really appreciate this review.  Really showed so many useful tidbits about this shelter – helped confirm why I want one :) .