... between tent and tarp. It doesn't really matter whether anyone thinks this is a very minimalistic tent or a super tarp. Either way it keeps the midges out of your ears, the slugs out of your tea and the rain off your head . It comes in at around 650g + pegs/pole, so something around 780g up and dressed, there's a big enough 'porch' to cook, store gear and sit (at the same time) and just about enough sleeping room for it to be used by 2 close friends. I've not tried it in anger yet but I'm hoping for good things.
That's nice Stu - would it suit the +6 footer for sleeping and sitting... I hate bloody midges and that might be a solution (hence the fear of a tarp alone - burn the heretic!)
Cheers Stu - did this come from that German lightweight gear site you linked to a few months back rather than sourced direct from the good ol' US of A?
Cheers Stu - did this come from that German lightweight gear site you linked to a few months back rather than sourced direct from the good ol' US of A?
Mine came from someone in the UK but the German site do stock them.
Thanks for that Stu - sorely tempted by one from the German site and looking around it seems to be pretty durable.... some guy in the States seems to almost live in his permanently. I like the concept - I have been using an Akto with the completely mesh inner... outer open in anything other than rain and this looks like a good lighter weight alternative to that too.
If you get one and need a pole look at ultralightoutdoorgear. They do a nice alloy one which is just the right length ... comes in at a shade over 100g.
Hi Stu, have you given this a good field test yet.... any more feedback as I'm sorely tempted for the summer (when that day arrives in late May).
Thanks for the pointer on the pole too. I see something good/similar on the German site too.
Cheers. Mark
Hi Stu, have you given this a good field test yet.... any more feedback as I'm sorely tempted for the summer (when that day arrives in late May).
Not yet Mark ... I was hoping to take it out this weekend but the woman I'm riding with, would like to experience life under a tarp and it seems unfair if I'm in this
The couple of times I've put it up make me think it's very well made and thought out. Obviously condensation might be an issue at certain times but I'm sure there's enough ventilation to combat most of it ... can't see it been any worse than a ground hugging tarp.
One on it's way - thanks for the feedback and info Stu...
Hallo Mark,
leider ist SMD etwas in Lieferverzug geraten. Da ich dir alles in einem Paket senden wollte, warte ich noch auf die Zelte. Angeblich wurden sie Anfang der Woche aus den USA versandt.
Ich hoffe, dass ist o.k. für dich.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Luckily Google Translate gave me more than my CSE German!
Hi Mark,
SMD is unfortunately lost some delay in delivery. Because I wanted to send you everything in one package, I'm still waiting for the tents. Supposedly they were sent earlier this week from the U.S..
I hope that is o.k. for you.
Yours sincerely,
B*gger - no stock in Germany (due to issues with supply from SMD Lunar in the US) and he's refund my money!
Any ideas on alternatives to this - thinking of a Tarptent Notch (or Contrail) - any other alternatives out there?
Stu - if you ever fall out of love with yours let me know!
Cheers, Mark
Mark, Lunar Solos are meant to be ready in the US next week. They're listed as $235 so might not work out anymore expensive than getting one from Germany which are 239 euro (but you knew that)
Another option would be a BearPaw Lair and Pyra net. If you get a Lair with an extended beak then you'll have pretty much the same area as a Lunar plus the ability the remove the inner tent if you want.
Lair with extended beak $159
Pyra Net $95 ... loads of options on these like extended sides, etc.
Nice one Stu - I'd not seen BPD stuff before - the Ute Solo looks very like the Lunar Solo.... lots of Cuben 'tartiness' to get tempted by there! Will drop John a mail. Cheers Mark
Stu - did you get this new in the UK or was it s/h?
Looking throught the options ATM - the Mini 2 looks a bargain when you take into account the potential hit from customs if I order one of the US tarptents - it would just be good to see the kit in the flesh before making a decision!
Ordered my Lair with Pyranet a few weeks ago for exactly the reason's Stu outlined. It shipped last Monday and desperately hoping I get in time for trip next week. Fingers crossed!
Gone for the cuban version with beak and vent. On paper Lair and Pyranet should come in at 382g but scales of justice will tell for sure when it lands. Going to use adjustable pole with it till I figure optimum height and then get a fixed length one. Hopefully should then be able to get an all in weight of around 500g :D
Did look at Lunar Solo and a z-packs hexamid, but Lair had the shorter lead time and was marginally cheaper for what I wanted. John was also very helpful and very quick with his email repays.
I think my only concern about the minipeak is that the inner isn't midge proof which defeats the whole idea of an inner! With a bit of repellant I suppose it should be OK though
I never used an inner when I had my Shangri-la and even under heavy attack from the winged b'tards, never got bitten ... it's as though they didn't have the sense to get in underneath
. It comes in at around 650g + pegs/pole, so something around 780g up and dressed, there's a big enough 'porch' to cook, store gear and sit (at the same time) and just about enough sleeping room for it to be used by 2 close friends. I've not tried it in anger yet but I'm hoping for good things.
