Trust Disclosures (Beta)
- Gossamer Gear has provided financial compensation to Backpacking Light for event sponsorships. These agreements are not contingent on publishing product reviews or providing other types of editorial coverage.
- The Gossamer Gear Whisper shelter and polycryo ground cloths featured in this review were purchased by Backpacking Light at MSRP. Gossamer Gear occasionally provides complimentary samples to Backpacking Light, but Backpacking Light has no obligation to review or mention them in any editorial coverage.
- This review was produced with complete editorial independence and without any involvement from Gossamer Gear.
- This article contains affiliate links to Gossamer Gear and other online merchants.
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Introduction
The Gossamer Gear Whisper is a 1-person, 2-pole, floorless full-perimeter shelter made with Dyneema Composite Fabrics. It includes an attached noseeum mesh netting skirt, is pitched with 7 stakes, and weighs 9.8 oz (280 g).
The Whisper’s most unique features include:
- A full perimeter, floorless design that combines a noseeum mesh skirt with an aftermarket ground cloth creates a highly bug-resistant design.
- A tall peak and large footprint makes it big enough for tall hikers and large sleeping pads.
- A minimalist design that forgoes features found in other tents, such as magnetic door tie-backs, gear storage pockets, and interior mesh doors.
- Geometry that provides more room in the sleeping area (to one side of the main pole).
- Some flexibility in pitch height without disrupting the shelter geometry or tautness, allowing the user to pitch the shelter a little lower for some wind protection.
Updates & Corrections Log
- 2025/05/04 11:00 AM MDT – Comparative context updated to include updated specs for the most current model iterations of ZPacks shelters.
- 2025/05/03 6:00 PM MDT – Long-term review, trust disclosures, and corrections log added.
- 2023/09/19 10:00 AM MST – Original article published.
Have feedback, a correction, or a fairness concern? Please see our editorial corrections policy.
Video Review
The following video goes into detail about this style of shelter as well as specifics about the Gossamer Gear Whisper based on my initial experience with it in Roosevelt National Forest and Rocky Mountain National Park.

Long-Term Performance
This review was initially published Fall of 2023. The Gossamer Gear DCF Whisper has now seen about 15 nights of use across a range of demanding 3-season conditions, and its real-world behavior under pressure offers insight into its limitations – and strengths – as a minimalist shelter.
Conditions tested:
- Overnight low temperatures down to 18 °F.
- Winds gusting to about 30 mph.
- Light snow loading (about 1.5 inches of overnight, low-density snowfall).
- Heavy rain (including intense thunderstorms with high winds.
- Peak mosquito season.
- High-condensation risk environments (low temperatures, clear sky, no wind).
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