Wednesday, October 4th, 2006...2:23 am
Lunar Solo Enhanced Tent
Through an exchange in a Yahoo lightweight backpacking group I discovered the Lunar Solo Enhanced tent from Six Moons Design.
When I checked out Six Moon’s website, I learned that Backpacking Light gave it its 2005 Lightitude Award for best solo shelter. Okay, so I’m a couple of years behind on this. But I read a lot about lightweight gear and had never noticed it.
What captured my imagination was the weight: just 23 ounces; the description that it is a cross between tarp, tent and bivy, and its roominess, 27.5 square feet of space with a 45-inch-high peak.
Three Season Rated
It’s a three-season tent and supposedly handles light to moderate snow loads.
At $235, I would expect stakes to be included, but they are not. Nor does it come with a pole. They are extras: $25 for a 1.8 ounce single carbon fiber pole and $12 for six stakes weighing less than 2 ounces. That brings the total package to about 27 ounces and then there is an optional Tyvek ground cloth: $8.50 and 4.5 ounces.
You’re beginning to think this is a joke, right? And you’re asking what do you actually get for $235?
Well you get a tent, guylines and stuff sack.
When you add it all up, your pay $290 for a little less than 2 pounds of tent. Still, finding a tent – not a bivy or tarp – at about 2 pounds is pretty remarkable. with as much room as you get (and bug protection, as well).
I recommend you check out all the features for yourself.
From Backpacking Light's Lunar Solo Enhanced tent review :
“The Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo tent is a single wall tarptent-like shelter using a single trekking pole with smart features like mesh full-perimeter sidewalls for ventilation, a self-equalizing guyline system that keeps the pitch taut through a cold night, rain, or snowfall, and a huge vestibule with a large awning that can be dropped for storm protection or fully raised for incredible views. All this for 1.5 pounds? We put the Lunar Solo through the ringer of high mountain rain, wind, and snow, and discuss its performance as related to storm resistance, wind resistance, and condensation resistance, as well as a detailed feature summary and usability discussion.”
Be safe. Be light. Be one with the pack.
Technorati tags: Backpacking, Lightweight backpacking, Lunar Solo Enhanced tent review
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