The tent she's building right now is actually mine. I asked her to make me one similar to Ryan's, but made entirely from silnylon for cost. The major difference (other than material) is I asked if she could figure out a way to make the awning convert into a standard fly for bad weather. I believe what she came up with will work quite well with only a minor weight penalty. I'll take some pictures of it in my backyard once I get it.

Thanks Jake. Sounds great! I look forward to seeing the pictures. What are you going to use to keep the awning up? Are you going to just use a branch you find around or are you going to bring a lightweight pole?

Can't wait for the pictures Jake. I'm in line for an all Cuben tent from Judy. The material won't be in until mid-January. If the awning works out I'll specify the same.

She's putting a pocket at the tip of the awning and another at the base of the tent to hold the pole. This makes using a branch impossible, but the advantage is the awning will be much more stable. I'm going to make a 3 section Easton Nanolite pole which should weigh about 1.6oz and collapse down to around 14 inches.

I was looking at pictures of other tents in the snow and wondered how this tent would do with a Cuban fly in the snow. It appeared to me that this tent should hold up well as long as the trekking poles can withstand the weight. Would a Cuban version of this tent be able to withstand a foot of Appalachian snow?

Do you let a foot of snow accumulate on your tents?

Good point. No because there is no way my current tent could take it. It might survive 4 light inches.

Of course, if I was sound asleep overnight in a tent I thought could take it, I think it would be pretty darn awesome.

OK, I've finished Jake's tent (but am going to make him a new one - I've been sick and sort of messed up some stuff and don't want to put my name on junky sewing... - never ever sew when your head is so stuffed up you can't think straight!!)
So the tent is all silnylon, same pattern as Ryan's, 2 doors, one side a fly that opens, the other side the awning, it can be pulled down to 'weatherproof' the tent as needed in a driving rain. The final weight was 1 lb 11.8 oz this is just a tiny bit (less than one ounce) more than the regular solo and has the extra door zipper in it., on the side with the awning, I've raised the bath tub floor another 6 inches (see the pix of Ryans tent) this gives some extra protection in the rain with the awning up. Since the weight of this tent is almost the same as the regular solo, I imagine a cuben version will come in right about 1 lb. I won't know till I make one. I'll get some pictures of it up (after I make a new one for Jake and send it to him) next week.

I suppose the 2 door option on this is sort of needed. if you close up the awning side in a driving rain you would need the other side to get out of (but I suppose you would probably just stay inside the tent in a down pour! I just find it more difficult to crawl out from under the awning - if I was younger it might not be such an issue!)

So I expect to have the pattern perfected before I get the cuben fabric in January. it will be Forest Green, they are doing a special color run for me. When I finally get the fabric, I plan to email everyone that has pre-ordered and let them know all the specific options and I will go from there.

Thanks
Judy LightHeart Gear.

Happy news indeed. Great minds think alike, I had also asked Judy if she could find some decent awning compromise; it sounds like this isn't the approach I was thinking of (I had in mind a removable triangular piece of fabric), but whatever works sounds great to me.

Thanks for working this awning issue, Judy, and I hope your headcold gets (got) better quickly.

Brian,
I am also thinking about a zip in flap to convert the standard solo and duo into an awning. I think this is something I could do to essentially 'retro fit' the tents that were manufactured for me. As usual, I can't give you a time line, I have tons of sewing work right now - not just tents, I do dressmaking, wedding gowns, alterations, I teach sewing and all sorts of other sewing related stuff. I also try to get in some backpacking here and there! (sigh, there is not enough of that anymore!)

Judy

I was over at Judy's house the other day and we were discussing how to handle the logistics for the awning pole Jake. I think you (and everyone else that gets a Solo with this option, including myself) are going to be very happy with the implementation.

FWIW,I didn't see anything wrong with the first shelter, so kudos to Judy for being a perfectionist, she doesn't compromise.

Nice color combo btw, it looks quite good.

Stop those jaws a flappen' and get those cameras snappin' !

Edited by greg23 on 12/05/2010 09:12:42 MST.

So, just a small teaser, and I promise to get pictures tomorrow, I have figured out the small details of the awning style for the LightHeart Solo, and I just have to say I'm pretty pleased with myself. the design is in keeping with my philosophy of keeping it very simple and basic, I don't want fancy riggings, or any complicated structure. I don't want to have to worry about kicking poles out and having the tent fall down on me. This is the same basic tent, one extra door in the mesh (this is actually the most difficult part for me as it has to be mirror imaged, and that complicated the sewing a little). one extra pole for the awning.(which you can't accidentally kick out of place. You can easily cook under the awning,get a good view and the awning can very easily be closed up in a driving rain. - you might even be able to rig this somehow from inside the tent.

The cost for this style will be the same as any custom solo or cuben solo plus the $15.00 for the extra door zipper. you don't really need the extra door, but then again, you do. if you close the awning for what ever reason, you would have to get out on the other side.

As soon as I can set the tent up outside tomorrow I will get pictures.

Judy LightHeart Gear

That sounds great!

I'm also supper excited for the zip in awning possibility for the existing Solo's.

Mike

OK, I'll get to work on it soon!
Judy

Pictures are up on my website lightheartgear. On the home page, there is one photo and a link to more.

Judy

This is a very nice design Judy. Great job... I just bought a tent otherwise I'd be getting in line for the silnylon version.

I can't wait for that cuben material to come in. I'm really looking forward to using this tent on the Oregon and Washington state portion of the PCT summer of 2011. I ordered material to build myself a nice light awning pole.

Judy,
Absolutely fantastic. My mother used to say that all good things come to those who wait. I look forward to your cuben version with an awning in the next couple of months. I and lots of others will be eagerly awaiting your notice that the cuben fiber is in. Keep up the great work!
Gerry

here is my first attempt at modifying the existing LightHeart Solo tents that I had outsourced. Because the fly is larger than the awning I designed, the awning here will be a little different (bigger).

One side zips apart so the tent can be closed up to the original fly. The extra wedge of fabric is sewn into the other side. it can't be removed. A waterproof zipper would work here, but they are heavy, and much more expensive.