Thinking of trading/selling my Lunar Solo

[mindi]

I wanted to post here before putting anything up on the for sale forum or on backpackgearswap and get some input.

I'm really not feeling very comfortable with this tent. I want to make it very clear that this is a great little tent and I've received excellent service and advice from 6MD, but I'm not really sure that it's for me. Should I just give it more time and keep trying it out or find something else?

I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas for a light tent that I might find easier to set up that isn't too heavy. I'm thinking of seeing if anyone may want to do a trade or a partial trade since I can't afford another tent. My Lunar Solo is new, save for the two snapped bungees which I've tied and can be repaired easily. It's already seam sealed.

Thanks for any advice.

Mindi

[deadair]

try ebay if you cant find a trade, i just lucked out on a brand new sierra designs lightning for 100 bucks cheaper then in the stores.

[mindi]

I think I'm just asking too much. I want a freestanding double-wall tent with room to sit up and put my pack in, AND I want it to be lightweight. It doesn't seem possible.

I thought about just saying screw it and getting something heavier but I know I'm going to regret it after I have schlepped it for miles and miles. I also know that I don't want to sleep in shelters if I don't have to and that I want to be comfortable with my tent.

I just don't know what to do. This is so frustrating!

[copythat]

I think I'm just asking too much. I want a freestanding double-wall tent with room to sit up and put my pack in, AND I want it to be lightweight. It doesn't seem possible.

can't comment on the lunar solo, but check out this thread for lots of opinions on finding a light freestanding tent with room for gear ...

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=19180

[bigcranky]

Mindi,

If you want enough room for you and all your gear, you might look at the 2-person tents from Six Moons Designs and Henry Shires' Tarptent. The Europa and the Squall 2 both get excellent reviews, though the Europa was the favorite in a recent Backpackinglight review.

The 2-person tent will give you plenty of room for changing clothes, sorting gear, and just feeling unconfined. With the Squall in particular, you may find it easier to get a taut pitch than with the shelter you currently have.

I understand the cost factor. The Squall 2 is on sale right now at Tarptent.com for $190, complete with sewn-in floor. You should be able to sell your Lunar Solo for a good percentage of that price. The Tarptent Rainbow solo tent also gets excellent reviews from users, and it's on sale for $180 right now.

None of these is double wall, nor are they freestanding. (The Rainbow can kinda sorta be freestanding.) But they are lightweight and offer much more room, and provide plenty of protection from rain and bugs and all that.

Good luck. Don't give up.

[John B]

It's not a double wall, but it meets your other criteria. I don't own one, but I've seen it and it looks great -- the new Shires Rainbow tarptent (www.tarptent.com)

I have a Squall tarptent. I like it because it's very light, has great ventilation, but it's not free standing and sitting up in it is very tight (I'm a bit over 6').

If I win the lottery, I'll replace it with the new Rainbow.

[Footslogger]

If I didn't already own (and really like) one I'd make you and offer. It's the best litte 23 oz solo shelter I've ever seen/used with walls and a floor.

'Slogger

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

You might look at Sierra Designs Baku or Lightyear, Mont-bell Monoframe Diamond, MSR Hubba or Microzoid.

[Sly]

Why a free standing tent?

You'll need to stake it down regardless if you're using a rain fly or it's windy. The only advantage I see in a free standing tent is that it's easier to move, but usually comes at a cost of it being heavier.

[ronmoak]

I
I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas for a light tent that I might find easier to set up that isn't too heavy. I'm thinking of seeing if anyone may want to do a trade or a partial trade since I can't afford another tent. My Lunar Solo is new, save for the two snapped bungees which I've tied and can be repaired easily. It's already seam sealed.

Mindi,

A snapped bungee is a sure indicator that there's too much tension on the floor. There should be little tension on the bungee cords. Just enough to keep the floor centered.

When you pull the floor out too much, you also change the geometry of the canopy. This tends to result in concave slope in the rear corners of the shelter. The result is the netting collapses and reduces ventilation.

There doesn't need to be a lot of tension on each stake in order to achieve a nice taut setup that will withstand significant wind load. Also all stakes should be firmly in the ground with the guylines terminating at ground level.

Ron

[MacGyver2005]

A lot of good information has already provide, which I can add little to. However, should you desire to part with your Lunar Solo, please feel free to email or PM me, as I would be interested in it.

Regards,
-MacGyver
GA-->ME

[mindi]

Wow, I've gotten so many offers already! If I sell or trade I might get the Eureka Spitfire..what do you think?

I'm going to have to look through all of my PM's and this thread and see who posted first and find the best offer if I do decide to sell, so whoever gave me the best offer first will get it.

I got the advice about the bungees after I had already snapped them, now I know what I did wrong.

I'm going to try it out a few more nights and see if I can get used to it, if not, I'll contact those of you who wanted to buy or trade and see if you are still interested.

Thanks so much for all of your help!

Mindi

[mindi]

Scratch the freestanding thing. It doesn't seem to make much of a difference from what I've read.

I just want really easy to set up, lots of room for myself and my gear, and dry (preferably 2-wall). And not too heavy. Or too expensive.

I'm browsing through all of the threads on this topic but if any of you want to rehash it and give me some suggestions, please go ahead. Especially if you have used the tent on a thru. Thanks!

Mindi

[mindi]

Sorry to keep posting on my own thread, but what do you all think of the Squall II? Too hard to setup, too heavy, or a good buy?

Arggh I'm so frustrated.

[Jim Adams]

MSR Hubba or Sierra Designs Iota. Near the same light weight, freestanding, can sit up inside, EASY set-up, double wall and fairly cheap ($100--$150 on Ebay). Iota is 5sq. ft. more floor space.
I am a little old fat man that fills my Hubba totally from side to side but it goes up in about 3 minutes and I am very happy with it.

[Whiskyjo]

While looking you might take a peek at the REI Quarter Dome, just my 3 cents worth, John

[mindi]

Thanks for all the suggestions, everyone! I'm researching all of them and continuing to fiddle with my Solo before I make a decision.

Right now it's work, work, work, so it's hard to find time.

Mindi

[mountain squid]

Why do you need to put your backpack inside the tent? I have the Lunar Solo, and if I had to I could squeeze my pack in. But, I don't. I usually lean it against my hiking pole, under the vestibule, with the rain cover on. Never had a problem. Without the pack inside, there is alot of usable interior space.

If you do buy a heavier tent, as you already stated, you will probably regret the decision. And most likely you'll regret it at Neels Gap.

If you can "sleep" comfortably in the tent, I suggest keeping it. After all, that is about all you will do in it.

See you on the trail,
mt squid

[mindi]

I decided to sell and I bought a Squall. I'm going to post the Solo on the Sell Gear Forum, if you've already contacted me, please message me again if you are still interested.

Mindi

[terrapin_too]

You might look at Sierra Designs Baku or Lightyear, Mont-bell Monoframe Diamond, MSR Hubba or Microzoid.

I can comment on two of those. The MicroZoid is tiny. Way tiny. It's even smaller than my ancient Eureka Gossamer. Absolutely not for the claustrophobic. Plus, I didn't like the cut of the fly, and there was no guy point sewn in to fix that. Plus it has opaque fabric on the roof of the inner tent. What were they thinking?

The Lightyear is a lot more roomy. I could even sit up in it. But it's also kinda heavy, about a pound heavier than the Microzoid, and 2 lbs heavier than the Lunar Solo. Think of the Lightyear as a solo version of the Clip Flashlight.

The nicest tent I've seen in this category is the Big Agnes SL1. Make sure it's one of the "new" superlight ones -- the min. weight (which I've verified) is 2 lbs. 4 oz. it's free-standing (sort of) and has lots of headroom.