Hey all,

I thought some of you out there might like to read my review of the Six Moon Designs 'Skyscape X' solo shelter!!

http://hikelighter.com/2012/04/03/six-moon-designs-skyscape-x/

Been getting a lot of private messages from folks around the world asking me if I was ever going to review this shelter... and now I have!!

-Abela
HikeLighter.Com

Great review! Thanks for posting the link to it. I think a lot of people will find it very helpful.

Thanks John! Great review.

Ryan

John saw you have 2 X's.. and you are selling on in your bulk sale. You wouldn't happen to want to sell me the other one would you? :)

Anyone know anything about when they'll be back in stock?

Great review John. I bought mine last fall, but haven't had a chance to use it yet (I do all my backpacking in the summer). I feel the same way you do; it could use a bigger bathtub floor. Not only for the reason you mention, but to take advantage of the double walls. With a bigger bathtub, there will be fewer drafts. With a single walled tent, you need the drafts so that condensation will escape. With the double wall, you don't have to worry about it.

@Diana, @Ryan,

Thank you!


@Jason,

I only have one now and I am not letting it go :-D


@Barbara,

Ron Moak (owner of SMD) sent me a message and let me know that the next batch should be in-stock in late May. Start saving up... I know I am. I want another one so that I can start heavily modifying it and seeing what all I can come up with.


@Ross,

Yeah that is one of those things that I really want to try modifying with mine - adding probably three inches of cuben fiber all the way around the bathtub and seeing how it effects the shelter. Will probably start by just attaching some cf right onto the netting (that can be removed) and see if that does a decent job of killing the draft and if it causes an increase in condensation. This is the first hybrid shelter I have ever used for this long so still trying to get my head wrapped around what it is solving and what it is not solving.

Thanks John - definitely saving up - maybe Ron will have some for sale at the PCT kickoff in April ;-)

That would be sweet!!

But if his claim that their next batch won't be here until late May that will not work out for the KO huh :(

Unless he has a few early samples of an updated version :-) Not that there is an updated version that we know of, but just wishin'

Ron posted an update on the status of stock/inventory yesterday over on the SMD facebook page.

I just spoke to Ron at the PCT kickoff yesterday, where he had all his tents up, including a Skyscape X. The original version I think. Anyway he said that due to changes he has made in production facilites for cuben (more efficient, and using prescision equipment), he didnt think the X would be available until July. Sigh.

John,

I left a more detailed comment at your site but yes, I have posted before that, IMHO, the Scyscape X was THE best UL solo tent out there.

The design of Skyscape series is great B/C it is minimalist yet very adequate at the same time. And the "hybrid" design of single wall at each end and double wall at the sides is excellent.

I currently own a (modified) TT Moment and wish it was made with Cuben fiber.

Edited by Danepacker on 05/05/2012 16:56:02 MDT.

I've been wondering if TarpTent will ever move to cuben.

Scott,

Henry Shires once told me in a phone conversation that he was not thinking of using Cuben "fabric" because it would raise the cost of the tents too much.

Personally I'd like to see it as an option but it may force slight re-design of the cut of tents as it does NOT stretch under tension like nylons and, to a lesser extent, dacrons.

Perhaps if the Skyscape X becomes popular Henry will reconsider. He and Ron Moak have backpacked together from photos I've seen, and likely exchange ideas once in a while. There's hope.

Edited by Danepacker on 04/29/2012 20:33:18 MDT.

My money is on "no"

Not on Henry's watch, anyway.


This is only my speculation from the vibes I got from Henry on this forum over the years. I am speaking from my buttocks.

Hey All,

Sorry for the delay in responding to this thread.

I spent some time on a trip the last couple of weeks. Went down to Death Valley to begin some initial recon on potentially hiking the Lowest-to-Heightest Trail. As a long distance hiker, I find much more pleasure in hiking multiple trails that are sub 500 miles in a year, than I do in hiking one really long trail each year. So, doing research on the L2H and the Colorado Trail at this point. Anyway, than I went down to Joshua Tree to do some video work that needed to be done with a video crew down there. All in all it was a good time. Was crazy hot though. Here in the Redwoods where I live it is usually around 48-54 degrees (f) all year long, and the day I got into Death Valley it was 111 in the shade and 116 out in the sun - that was a weebit hot for me. lol

Anyway, onto responding to the comments:

(Barbara)

I just spoke to Ron at the PCT kickoff yesterday, where he had all his tents up, including a Skyscape X. The original version I think. Anyway he said that due to changes he has made in production facilites for cuben (more efficient, and using prescision equipment), he didnt think the X would be available until July. Sigh.

@Eric

I left a more detailed comment at yor site but yes, I have posted before that, IMHO, the Scyscape X was THE best UL solo tent out there. The design of Skyscape series is great B/C it is minimalist yet very adequate at the same time. And the "hybrid" design of single wall at each end and double wall at the sides is excellent.

@Scott, I've been wondering if TarpTent will ever move to cuben.

We can also be thankful to Ron and the other "cottage" manufacturers that they do careful QA on their materials before the sewing process starts! IMHO, this is more important than having the products always in stock but of inferior material!

My take from what Henry Shires of Tarptent has said publicly is that he wants to keep his tents affordable. I suspect that should the price of cuben fiber drop in the future (which it might as it becomes more popular, or at least we can dream), he might be interested.

Edited by hikinggranny on 05/05/2012 14:42:37 MDT.