Discovering the suitable tent for a backpacking journey is at all times difficult. It’s a must to steadiness packed dimension and weight in opposition to livability and the way properly it stands as much as wind and rain. I’ve at all times erred on the aspect of a sturdy tent over any weight considerations, which is why I like the Hilleberg Akto, however I do not at all times want the Akto.
There’s a quick season in my neck of the woods referred to as summer time, when storms are much less probably and temps do not drop a lot under the 60s. That is once I’ve been utilizing the Lunar Solo, Six Moon Design’s flagship ultralight one-person tent. After a number of late and early summer time journeys across the north woods of Wisconsin and Michigan, it has proved itself a succesful shelter. It weighs simply 2 kilos, packs down fairly small, and checks a complete lot of different containers on my tent want listing.
Loads of Area
{Photograph}: Scott Gilbertson
There isn’t any one tent to rule all of them, and looking for one is a mistake. You are higher off with two tents, figuring out the restrictions of every and utilizing every when it is the perfect for the job. Which is to say, I like the Akto, however I additionally suppose Six Moon Design’s Lunar Solo is superb for summer time journeys if you prize touring gentle over withstanding intense storms.
That is to not say the Lunar Solo will not preserve you dry. It should. The silicone nylon, or silnylon, is lots waterproof, although you may both must seam-seal it your self with some Seam Grip, or have the Six Moon Designs staff do it for you earlier than they ship it, which prices $35. My testing tent arrived seam-sealed, however being sufficiently old to recollect if you needed to seam-seal nearly each tent, I’ve finished it sufficient occasions to say it is not onerous do you have to select to DIY it.
The Lunar Solo is single-wall, single-pole tent supposed to be pitched with a trekking pole. This makes for a really small and light-weight tent but in addition has two potential drawbacks: structural integrity and condensation. Extra on these in a second. As soon as pitched, the Lunar Solo presents 26 sq. ft of dwelling house and a peak peak of 49 inches, and the vestibule presents 8.5 sq. ft of extra gear storage. Total I discovered the Lunar Solo to be lots spacious for one particular person with gear. The rear wall expands out barely, providing you with a spot to stash continuously wanted objects with out pushing them up in opposition to the tent wall.
The 20D silnylon and mesh partitions really feel as sturdy as something you may discover at this weight, until you wish to go along with a Cuben Fiber/Dyneema tent, however to my thoughts the excessive worth of Cuben places it in a special class. The ground of the Lunar Solo is a extra strong 40-denier (40D), and has a tub form to assist guarantee water does not get in. The rear of the Lunar Solo has a 6-inch mesh portion between the ground and the primary wall that helps with air flow.
Any single pole tent goes to wrestle in wind, regardless of what number of guyline factors it presents. I did discover the Lunar Solo compressed deal once I pitched it in excessive winds on the uncovered shores of Lake Superior. It was admittedly not an excellent campsite from a seeking-shelter standpoint, not one I might choose if I wasn’t testing the wind resistance of a tent. However it did persuade me that the Lunar Solo wants both a trekking pole or a heavier tent pole than the ultralight pole Six Moon Design offered. (I did portion of my testing whereas bikepacking so I did not have trekking poles.)
