View Full Version : Big Sky Summit tents
I am a patient human being for the most part but I have finally reached the end of the rope with Big Sky tents.
Oct. 2005, after having seen one of their tents at Trail Days in Damascus that same year, I ordered one of their Summit 2P tents, that being almost 2 lbs lighter than the Half Dome I was currently using.
After much delay in which a lot of communication from them was done via "inspection trips to Asian factories", and, as much as possible, tactfully harrassing them for a delivery date for the tent, I finally received said tent almost 6 months later.
After 2 uses, one of the door zippers came apart.
To their credit, Big Sky offered to repair the thing if I would send it back. Yeah...it only took 6 months to get it to start with. We repaired the tent ourselves, one door being slightly trashed now. No big deal.
On a recent trip to the BMT, one of the corner "guide outs", a strand of nylon connecting the corner of the tent to the pole sleeve end, tore off. I had to thread it through the canvas ends with the grommeted pole end, causing the whole tent to be slightly out of kilter.
I wrote the company, even sent pictures, and again, to their credit, they made me a possible offer on a newer, better, later generation tent.
I offered to accept this and, after writing yet again offering to accept, I have never heard from them again.
Therefore, and this is something I rarely do, I do not, cannot, would not, recommend these people, nor their tents.
Construction, without proof to the contrary, and, mostly, customer service, sucks.
Too bad because it was a easy to set up and lightweight.
I bought a REI QuarterDome where, say what you will about those folks, they stand behind their products.”
terrapin_too
12-14-2006, 22:50
Eman, I have heard similar stories about this vendor. Too bad, because (if the ad copy is to be believed) they're about the lightest double-walled tents, anywhere, bar none. One wonders how they remain in business, though.
Frolicking Dinosaurs
12-14-2006, 23:06
Glad I saw this. I know someone who was seriously considering one of these tents. I just emailed her a link to this thread.
For the ones that are not aware, the Big Sky pie in the sky story has been going on for over a year.
It has to be the closest to the Wanderlust saga I have seen. Considering that a lot of the orders for Big Sky tents where placed by people that needed the tents for a long planned hike, I think that it is a cruel joke that most have had to wait and fight for over a year to get a refund or eventually their tent. This unfortunately tends to push people to the mainstream brands to the detriment of dedicated and honest niche manufacturers that are the lifeblood of the backpacking community.
As a tip, some brands like Tarptent, Six Moon Design,Gossamer have a clear "in Stock" or "Out of Stock" description in the order section. If in doubt about delivery times you can always call them up for a straight answer. Big Sky products do look appealing but I would not at the moment send Bob $10 for any of them.Not even for the new and improved version...coming soon....almost....
Franco
( occasionally Renee and I agree)
Correction.
Looks like after dinner I cannot distinguish between "where" and "were" except for when I read somebody else's posts.
Renee, the Female Dino, has reminded me that in fact we agree on most things. I agree with that.
I just had another look at the Summit shelter web site (Big Sky International) , all of the tents are listed for "estimated delivery spring 2007" . Don't bother.
Franco
As an addendum to my original story, after they finally sent me the first tent, they offered, as a sedative I guess, one of their vests for a discounted rate.
Great vest. Real lightweight and all.
Guess how long it took to get it?
Just part of the heartache getting a product manufactured at Bung Chow's House of Fine Manufacturing, PRC. The only high-quality, and cheap China goods I've experience with are guitars. Ephiphone setup their own manufacturing plant in China (which probably doubles as a resturant furniture and chopstix plant). The quality of Chinese-made Epi's is very good.
So if you are a small company, you have to deal with the 100's of crappy, idea-stealing, theiving, manufacturing shops that have cropped up as well as learning which Chicom officials to bribe. It is a big learning curve.
If there is one area where the US technilogical revolution has failed, it is in automation.
I ordered the pole clip version of the Evolution 2D2V back in early September 2006 --- about 7.5 months ago. I've sent emails every month or so since January and have been told repeatedly that I'll have it soon. Still no tent.
Any other out there who've waited over 6 months?
This is a perfect example of a guy with a good idea but no business sense. I run a small biz that gets more than i can handle at times but I have the sense to tell people that I can't do it or tell them the wait time.
Great feedback...thanks...I'm shopping for a new tent and almost ordered the 1P2D...Not now, even if it's months later their reputation is unrepairable.
Brian...I can see the answer....."we are busy visiting our factories in Asia"....
Or something close?
Pringles
11-27-2007, 18:44
I ordered the pole clip version of the Evolution 2D2V back in early September 2006 --- about 7.5 months ago. I've sent emails every month or so since January and have been told repeatedly that I'll have it soon. Still no tent.
Any other out there who've waited over 6 months?
I waited longer. I won't even go into how long, but my Wanderlust tent came in about half the time. Really. :D
I do like the tent a lot, but wouldn't order one again, unless it was in stock.
I, too, sent e-mails about once a month and got a number of auto-replies saying he was in Asia.
Beth
"my Wanderlust tent came in about half the time."
Beth, that was funny. Of course you need to know both the Wanderlust and the Big Sky saga and not having been a participant at the same time to appreciate it.
Franco
I wish this company was legit becouse the Evolution 1P2D seems like it would be my dream solo tent.
I wish this company was legit becouse the Evolution 1P2D seems like it would be my dream solo tent.
Seen these?
Warmlite (http://www.warmlite.com/tents.htm)
scout005
11-29-2007, 23:29
I'm gonna wait and see if Big Sky gets it's act together. I can wait a while before buying a new tent. I like the 1P tent and I can use my bivy shelter in the mean time. Somebody shoot me a PM if the company ever gets it right.
trlhiker
12-03-2007, 22:28
I hear they are now offering 20% off if you pay up front and can wait until June 08 for delivery. Not a joke. Saw this on BPL.
briarpatch
12-04-2007, 10:55
If anybody wants a Big Sky tent now, I was in Mountain Crossings on Saturday and noticed that they had one on the shelf. They had a Six Moons Design on the same shelf.