Discovering the precise tent for a backpacking journey is at all times difficult. It’s important to stability packed measurement and weight in opposition to livability and the way nicely 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 season, when storms are much less doubtless 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 season 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 packing containers on my tent want listing.
Loads of Area
{Photograph}: Scott Gilbertson
There isn’t a 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 assume Six Moon Design’s Lunar Solo is great for summer season journeys whenever you prize touring mild over withstanding intense storms.
That is to not say the Lunar Solo will not preserve you dry. It is going to. The silicone nylon, or silnylon, is loads waterproof, although you may both have to seam-seal it your self with some Seam Grip, or have the Six Moon Designs crew do it for you earlier than they ship it, which prices $35. My testing tent arrived seam-sealed, however being sufficiently old to recollect whenever you needed to seam-seal nearly each tent, I’ve finished it sufficient instances to say it isn’t arduous must you select to DIY it.
The Lunar Solo is single-wall, single-pole tent meant to be pitched with a trekking pole. This makes for a really small and lightweight tent but additionally has two potential drawbacks: structural integrity and condensation. Extra on these in a second. As soon as pitched, the Lunar Solo affords 26 sq. toes of dwelling area and a peak peak of 49 inches, and the vestibule affords 8.5 sq. toes of further gear storage. General I discovered the Lunar Solo to be loads spacious for one individual with gear. The rear wall expands out barely, supplying you with a spot to stash regularly wanted gadgets 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, except you need to go together with a Cuben Fiber/Dyneema tent, however to my thoughts the excessive worth of Cuben places it in a distinct 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 battle in wind, irrespective of what number of guyline factors it affords. I did discover the Lunar Solo compressed a great deal once I pitched it in excessive winds on the uncovered shores of Lake Superior. It was admittedly not a fantastic campsite from a seeking-shelter standpoint, not one I’d 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 supplied. (I did a great portion of my testing whereas bikepacking so I did not have trekking poles.)
