[pct-l] Ul tent

[tom aterno]

The Lightheart website shows a version of the Solo tent is available for hikers up to 6'8".  

I never knew about Lightheart until it was mentioned on the list, and their tents look impressive.  

Does anyone have experience using them on the rainy AT?


The Incredible Bulk 


________________________________
 From: Scott Williams <baidarker at gmail.com>
To: Jim & Jane Moody <moodyjj at comcast.net> 
Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net 
Sent: Sunday, December 11, 2011 3:57 AM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Ul tent
 
I have used a Wanderlust single for many years and used it for my PCT thru
hike in 2010.  This is the design that Lightheart bought up and I think
made some improvements to for their Solo.  I love it still and found that
it had much less condensation than most single wall tents because the large
mosquito net sides allow tremendous air flow.  If the weather was good, and
I was using it for bugs I could roll up the large tarp like flies and see
the stars.  In rain, those large flies gave complete protection and still
allowed good air flow.  After 8 or 10 years of hard use and a thru hike, it
still doesn't leak a drop.

It is very easy to set up as you only need to stake out the front and back
and then put in your poles to hold it up.  Maybe a 2 minute job if it isn't
blowing a gale.  If you're pitching it just for bugs, you're done, if for
weather, you need two more stakes and a stick on each side to hold the tarp
out taught.  I always just found something to use in the area, or tied off
to a tree.  The only drawback in my mind and after many, many pitches and
nights in it is that the flies tend to flap more than most single wall tarp
tents unless you get really savy about tyeing them down properly, sometimes
to large rocks or making extra stakes etc.  This was only an issue in big
wind, and was not insurmountable, just something you need to take into
consideration and learn to do properly.

Mango's point about length is valid if you are over 6', but for my little
5' 9'' frame has never been a problem.  I always had plenty of room.  I'm
looking into the cuban version for hiking the CDT this year.  I'm still
looking at all the options, but like this tent well enough after many years
to possibly spend a lot of cash on a lighter version of it.

Shroomer



On Sat, Dec 10, 2011 at 2:41 PM, Jim & Jane Moody <moodyjj at comcast.net>wrote:

>
>
> I'm not sure if that's the same tent I saw at Trail Days in 2009, but if
> so, I didn't like the way the forward end tapered to nothing both
> vertically and horizontally.  I felt like I had no room to turn or sit up
> without rubbing my head against a tent wall (or mesh wall).  Even felt
> constricted at shoulders.  I'm 6'0", so maybe a shorter person wouldn't
> notice.
>
>
>
> Mango
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
>
> From: "Lisa Seeley" <seeleylisa at gmail.com>
> To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Sent: Saturday, December 10, 2011 4:52:25 PM
> Subject: [pct-l] Ul tent
>
> Anyone have any experience with the lightheart gear solo tent? If so, how
> smooth/hard is setup? How does it perform in rain & wind? Thanks, Lisa
> (helicopter)
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