Steven,

A while back I sat down at my CAD station and tried to work the numbers and angles on a two person version. Nothing I came up with proved appealing. From this designers perspective, any two person tent where both occupents can't sit up at the same time is going to be PITA for someone.

I've been there, done that and don't want to go back.

Unless I can find a workable solution to that problem, there won't be a 2 person Skyscape.

That doesn't mean I won't look to offer a lower price two person tent. It depends upon how well the Scout does.

Ron

Ok I need confessions. Who has ordered a Skyscape and what toppings did you get :)

Guilty Party: Bender
Version: Trekker
Options: just shipping

If the poles are inexpensive for the Scout I can see it being a huge hit with those new to UL. Even with cheap poles and stakes the Scout will be half the price and just as light the MSR Carbon Reflex 1.

Neat design, nice to see it in multiple versions. Question: would I have to add two more poles or sticks and the optional porch in order to use the vestibule for wet gear storage and cooking?

Ryan yes it takes 2 extra poles or sticks to setup the porch. SMD has a photo with 2 sticks being used. If you have trekking poles and the optional poles you are set when sticks cant be found.

I think all these new tents from SMD are great, but I have to admit I love my Gatewood Cape and Serenity tent. I'd love to see a cuben tent that goes with the new Serenity net. It doesn't have to double as a rain ponch/cape. I really like the design of the Gatewood Cape just as a tent. Excellent coverage and easier entrance than a lot of this genre of tent. A non poncho Cuben version would take a lot of ounces off the Gatewood Cape/Serenity Net combo.

You took the thought right out of my head there!

I also would love to see a Gatewood Cape design in Cuben that you could use as you chose with an inner or bivy.

I too don't use it as a cape/rainwear.

A Cuben Gatewood Cape without the rain-wear faff would be tremendous!

Yeah, I love my Cape's side entry. Soooooo much easier than a front entry tarp.

Edited by funnymoney on 04/16/2011 12:35:07 MDT.

What does the two pole set up offer over a single centre pole set-up? I was wondering if the two poles are more, or less stable?

Will the pole sleeves / set-up work with the handles of pacerpoles?

Steven,

The Coleman Peak 1 Cobra sounds similar to what you are asking for.

Two person, two side entries. Weight-tent (24.2oz), fly (19.6oz), poles (7.6oz) for a total of about 3 1/4 lbs (51.4oz).

I like the tent but would prefer less mosquito netting.

Not sure if it currently available.

Here's a photo. Not sure if the tent in the photo has the same specs as mine because I bought mine some years ago (maybe 10?).

tent
Daryl

Edited by lyrad1 on 04/16/2011 12:43:58 MDT.

This is close to my idea of the ideal two person tent. It's based on the Coleman Peak I. It weighs about 2 lbs 4 ozs including pole, stakes, and fly. It's a very cozy two person tent (like best w a wife or significant other). Someday I'll learn to sew or find someone to make me a custom Cuben rain fly for it and make it even lighter. Or maybe someone will manufacture something real close.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=11839&skip_to_post=176960#176960

I too still use a Coleman Cobra Peak 1. No longer made. Later versions of the Cobra added a second pole in the front of the tent . The more current Inyo has that second pole as well. I find I don't need a second pole if I do a taut pitch to the front. If you wanted to add a second pole it could be built out of PVC or aluminum and be pitched on the outside of the fly through the 2 front guy-outs. The Cobra is great in that it has two doors and vestibules. Some time back here at BPL someone had a new fly made for one out of Sil.

This has some of the features I really like about my GG The One (side entry, off-center apex, twin trekking pole setup) and adds width, length, and a mesh inner that allows both sides to be open for views and cooling.

Really nice.

Cuban already out of stock!

** Edit: Not sure why I thought it would be in stock, as these are pre-order. Sending my pre-order for the cuban version once I get the registration conformation email. **

Edited by roguenode on 04/16/2011 15:12:49 MDT.

Richard,

Thanks for the link to your previous post on the Peak 1 Cobra. I read the entire thread and was pleased to see you got the weight so low.

The relatively flat and wide ridgeline makes the tent very attractive for two people. A single pointed pyramid shaped roof doesn't work as well for two, in my opinion, although it works fine for 1 person.

I'm a fan of the side entry, one hooped or shaped pole tent design. I've made and bought several 1 and 2 person models over the past 40 years. I like the Scarp, for example.

Different strokes for different folks. I considered making a new inner tent for the Cobra from solid fabric. I seek warmth in a tent.

Daryl

Very interested in the tent. But I want to ask about the ventilation.

Why no ventilation at the top of the tent? How to ensure the airflow when the canopy is fully closed?

I ordered the Trekker this morning with the porch...now come on July...

Since he's become one of the more visible gear junkies on the forums I frequent, I thought I would make fun of Stick for buying another tent. Instead...........I just went and ordered a Scout. Enabler.

Hey Andrey,
Re:
"Why no ventilation at the top of the tent? How to ensure the airflow when the canopy is fully closed?"

I suspect because top vents often seem to let in spray when the wind is really bad in a rain/snow storm. This is often debated in shelter designs.

The bottom seems to have a gap that provides significant ventilation when fully closed.
I think in general, you would only have it fully closed when you really needed it in harsh conditions, wet wind or cold

Hey Ron,
Re:
"That doesn't mean I won't look to offer a lower price two person tent. It depends upon how well the Scout does."

And I guess it's hard to really improve upon your other two person shelters except to have material options like cuben and polyester.
But would they sell well enough to make it worthwhile?

Edited by brooklynkayak on 04/18/2011 22:10:39 MDT.

I already made my major gear purchase for the year.... (living in the glutinous lap of luxury with a new exped snynmat 7 DLX with the integrated pump), so wifey won't be too interested in what I have in mind for mitigating those added numerous DLX ounces. The scales will be tipped back in my net favor if I just splurge on the Skyscape X. At half the weight of my current squall 2, I am seriously being tempted..... Don't know if I could justify dropping $450 on a tent though.

I almost pulled the trigger on a wild oasis/gatewood cape/lunar solo in the past, but kept getting steered away by comments by tall owners who were hitting the sides of the tent with their feet/heads. I almost pulled the trigger on the hexamid as well, but saw those same type of comments. Ron Moak, you are an evil man. You tempt me so.

I love the offset side entry, the extra long interior, all the netting and the porch option.

It is very interesting to see traditional construction weight vs. ultralight weight vs. fringe lunatic weight. This is the first tent that I can think of that has been offered in 3 different versions. There are differences between the models in things like netting used and floor weights, but the main difference is in the canopy materials. Very cool.

Scout
34 ounces, 190T canopy, 190T floor, 40D netting

Trekker
24 ounces, 20D sil canopy, 40D sil floor, 20D netting

X
16 ounces, CT2K.08 cuben canopy, CT2K.08 cuben floor, 20D netting

RE: Since he's become one of the more visible gear junkies on the forums I frequent, I thought I would make fun of Stick for buying another tent. Instead...........I just went and ordered a Scout. Enabler.

haha... Glad I could be of assistance...

Edited by Stick on 04/19/2011 22:24:27 MDT.