Doctari
11-29-2003, 19:18
at Sgt Rocks suggestion, here is a rewrite of my review.
I am: Doctari
Age: over 45ish
Height: 5’ 8”
Weight: 190 to 200
Experience: AT 390 miles on section hikes since 1997, about 80 miles of additional trails in the GSMNP, another 100 or so on local (Ohio) trails.
Similar Products Used: 12 x 12 tarp (2 years), 9x9 tarp (1 year), dome type bivy tent (1 trip), traditional Pup tent (years & years), Assorted dome tents, Clip flashlight (shared, twice) And the typical “family” car camping tents.
Locations/conditions tested: Have used the Nomad on 3 extended AT section hikes, in weather from very mild, to rain coming sideways. I think the coldest the temp has ever been is 33F. Highest wind was reportedly 40mph 20 miles away & about 1000 ft lower in town. So I have no idea if the wind at my location was the same or higher/lower.
Weight 2Lbs:
Weight 2Lbs:
Price: $275.00 as of 12/06/03
Manufacturer web address: www.wanderlustgear.com
Phone Number: 843-232-9432
E-mail address: He has one, but call as Kurt checks the e-mail about once every 2 or 3 months
The Nomad is made of Silnylon. In years past there were several color choices, now it comes in any color you want, as long as it’s Gray :) The floor is black “to quicken drying time”. Mine came with Velcro closure for the door, I hear that now there is a zipper system, reports are the zippers are a bit fragile the design is a modified pyramid, 10.5 ft long by 3 ft wide by about 3 ft high. There is a vestibule (of sorts) more an awning actually, held up by a two-piece aluminum pole & guyed by a elastic cord. The head & foot areas are held apart by two other aluminum poles apx. 10 inches long. Set up is with 3 stakes (one at each end, & one for the awning) The main support for the tent is your adjustable trekking poles, or follow the instructions for making poles on the web site.
Please note: There is NO DOOR as such, there is only no-see-um netting. The new ones come with a substantial window & door on one side, and a smallish window on the opposite side. I have not seen one of the “New” Nomads, so my impression is based on the one I have. It’s about #90, & wanderlust has made hundreds of them by now.
Construction: the seams are very neatly sewn, AND seam sealed (with silicone). And there is a bead of silicone on the floor to aid in you staying put. There is a small pocket for each spreader pole, and at the apex of the tent is a ¾“ PVC elbow (that you put the tips of your poles in) held in place with a piece of cord. At each end there are fairly long pieces of nylon webbing for the stakes. The tent comes in a stuff sack made of sil-nylon. Included: Tyvec ground cover cut to foot print, tent, stuff sack, 2 support poles for the awning, 2 spreader poles, elastic cord. NOT included: tent stakes, main support poles.
My impression: I love this tent. It is made by a former tarp user for tarp users that want a little more protection. Set up is so very easy, I can do it in under 2 minutes if pressed to do so. For me, carrying no more than 20 lbs of gear, it is large enough for me & all my gear. I can sit up inside it without touching the sides, this is of course in a fairly specific area, namely the center, but it can be done. I have set the tent up from inside, once you set the end stakes, you can crawl inside & finish putting the rest up inside out of the weather (practice first please). I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS; DO NOT DO IT! But I have cooked in the “vestibule”. The Nomad fits inside a stuff sack smaller then my 1 ltr cook pot. (not including the poles naturally.
While ventilation is almost as good as a tarp, there is a bit of a problem with condensation. I hear that has been greatly reduced with the addition of the 2nd window. And, in very cold weather, there is really no way to close up the very large opening that is the door & #1 window. At 10.5 ft long, by 4 ft wide, it do take a bit of space, but much less than my 9x9 tarp does.
Initial Tests:
Set it up in the front yard, went “WOW!” took it down, & set it up 3 more times. That is all the initial practice I needed. I still get tickled when I set it up :D
Conclusions/Recommendations:
If you are gentle on gear, the fabric is fairly thin, and don’t need vast amounts of space give this shelter a look see. If you want to go UL but don’t want to do the tarp thing, this is the tent for you. Stealth camp a lot? The gray color blends in so very well with the surrounding foliage quite well as it reflects those colors (keep this in mind, it can make home hard to find when you go for water)
However: if you like a lot of room get another tent, Kurt do make a 2 person one that is nearly as light. If you are hard on gear, this isn’t the tent for you either. And, I heard that if you are much larger than I am, it might be a bit tight. But again, there is the 2 person one (called the 2 4 2) that takes the same 2 trekking poles but 6 stakes. There is also a fairly long wait for a Nomad, as long (or longer) as 6 months. So be prepaired to wait, and the closer it gets to thru hiker season, the less likely you are to get yours quickly.
Some recommendations / changes I would make: Mine has a Velcro closer for the “door” I plan on someday replacing this with a STURDY zipper. The awning is somewhat small, so in rain that is falling nearly straight down, there is some splash of dirt/mud, and I now try to set up in areas with some kind of ground cover. I might like it a bit wider, but don't really have a problem, you might.
I don’t use a ground cover. That said: I highly recommend that you use a ground cover. Kurt supplies one made of Tyvec.
To me, the bottom line is: would you buy the same tent again if the one you have ever gives out?
Yes I would. I am considering getting a Hammock, but that has nothing to do with my satisfaction with the Nomad. My son is planning on getting a HH, so perhaps I shall be able to do a side-by-side comparison on my next trip.
Doctari.
I am: Doctari
Age: over 45ish
Height: 5’ 8”
Weight: 190 to 200
Experience: AT 390 miles on section hikes since 1997, about 80 miles of additional trails in the GSMNP, another 100 or so on local (Ohio) trails.
Similar Products Used: 12 x 12 tarp (2 years), 9x9 tarp (1 year), dome type bivy tent (1 trip), traditional Pup tent (years & years), Assorted dome tents, Clip flashlight (shared, twice) And the typical “family” car camping tents.
Locations/conditions tested: Have used the Nomad on 3 extended AT section hikes, in weather from very mild, to rain coming sideways. I think the coldest the temp has ever been is 33F. Highest wind was reportedly 40mph 20 miles away & about 1000 ft lower in town. So I have no idea if the wind at my location was the same or higher/lower.
Weight 2Lbs:
Weight 2Lbs:
Price: $275.00 as of 12/06/03
Manufacturer web address: www.wanderlustgear.com
Phone Number: 843-232-9432
E-mail address: He has one, but call as Kurt checks the e-mail about once every 2 or 3 months
The Nomad is made of Silnylon. In years past there were several color choices, now it comes in any color you want, as long as it’s Gray :) The floor is black “to quicken drying time”. Mine came with Velcro closure for the door, I hear that now there is a zipper system, reports are the zippers are a bit fragile the design is a modified pyramid, 10.5 ft long by 3 ft wide by about 3 ft high. There is a vestibule (of sorts) more an awning actually, held up by a two-piece aluminum pole & guyed by a elastic cord. The head & foot areas are held apart by two other aluminum poles apx. 10 inches long. Set up is with 3 stakes (one at each end, & one for the awning) The main support for the tent is your adjustable trekking poles, or follow the instructions for making poles on the web site.
Please note: There is NO DOOR as such, there is only no-see-um netting. The new ones come with a substantial window & door on one side, and a smallish window on the opposite side. I have not seen one of the “New” Nomads, so my impression is based on the one I have. It’s about #90, & wanderlust has made hundreds of them by now.
Construction: the seams are very neatly sewn, AND seam sealed (with silicone). And there is a bead of silicone on the floor to aid in you staying put. There is a small pocket for each spreader pole, and at the apex of the tent is a ¾“ PVC elbow (that you put the tips of your poles in) held in place with a piece of cord. At each end there are fairly long pieces of nylon webbing for the stakes. The tent comes in a stuff sack made of sil-nylon. Included: Tyvec ground cover cut to foot print, tent, stuff sack, 2 support poles for the awning, 2 spreader poles, elastic cord. NOT included: tent stakes, main support poles.
My impression: I love this tent. It is made by a former tarp user for tarp users that want a little more protection. Set up is so very easy, I can do it in under 2 minutes if pressed to do so. For me, carrying no more than 20 lbs of gear, it is large enough for me & all my gear. I can sit up inside it without touching the sides, this is of course in a fairly specific area, namely the center, but it can be done. I have set the tent up from inside, once you set the end stakes, you can crawl inside & finish putting the rest up inside out of the weather (practice first please). I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS; DO NOT DO IT! But I have cooked in the “vestibule”. The Nomad fits inside a stuff sack smaller then my 1 ltr cook pot. (not including the poles naturally.
While ventilation is almost as good as a tarp, there is a bit of a problem with condensation. I hear that has been greatly reduced with the addition of the 2nd window. And, in very cold weather, there is really no way to close up the very large opening that is the door & #1 window. At 10.5 ft long, by 4 ft wide, it do take a bit of space, but much less than my 9x9 tarp does.
Initial Tests:
Set it up in the front yard, went “WOW!” took it down, & set it up 3 more times. That is all the initial practice I needed. I still get tickled when I set it up :D
Conclusions/Recommendations:
If you are gentle on gear, the fabric is fairly thin, and don’t need vast amounts of space give this shelter a look see. If you want to go UL but don’t want to do the tarp thing, this is the tent for you. Stealth camp a lot? The gray color blends in so very well with the surrounding foliage quite well as it reflects those colors (keep this in mind, it can make home hard to find when you go for water)
However: if you like a lot of room get another tent, Kurt do make a 2 person one that is nearly as light. If you are hard on gear, this isn’t the tent for you either. And, I heard that if you are much larger than I am, it might be a bit tight. But again, there is the 2 person one (called the 2 4 2) that takes the same 2 trekking poles but 6 stakes. There is also a fairly long wait for a Nomad, as long (or longer) as 6 months. So be prepaired to wait, and the closer it gets to thru hiker season, the less likely you are to get yours quickly.
Some recommendations / changes I would make: Mine has a Velcro closer for the “door” I plan on someday replacing this with a STURDY zipper. The awning is somewhat small, so in rain that is falling nearly straight down, there is some splash of dirt/mud, and I now try to set up in areas with some kind of ground cover. I might like it a bit wider, but don't really have a problem, you might.
I don’t use a ground cover. That said: I highly recommend that you use a ground cover. Kurt supplies one made of Tyvec.
To me, the bottom line is: would you buy the same tent again if the one you have ever gives out?
Yes I would. I am considering getting a Hammock, but that has nothing to do with my satisfaction with the Nomad. My son is planning on getting a HH, so perhaps I shall be able to do a side-by-side comparison on my next trip.
Doctari.