Tent Choice,LightHeart Solo Standard Vs LightHeart SoLong 6 Standard, Pros and Cons

[Kookork]

I have narrowed down my search for my new light weight tent to either Lightheart Solo Standard Or Lightheart SoLong 6 standard. They are both great tents and I am still undecided about choosing one over the other.

Here is the pros and cons about them:

Solo Standard:

Pros:
Cheaper $245 Vs $298
Better stargazing mode
lighter : 27 Oz Vs 32 Oz
Relative Easier setup( not sure)

Cons:
No vent VS SoLong which has two vents
less usable space ( especially in the corners)
No Rain mode view ( in standard version)
Made in China ( SoLong is Made in USA)
One door Vs Two door in SoLong
Owning mode option for SoLong


Plus: Since I always hike with my dog( A Sheltie) I think Solong offers more options for us and in rare occasions it is a 2 person( tight) tent Vs Standard solo which is more like a 1+ tent. Both have a floor area of 30 square feet but SoLong seems to have more usable vestibules.

Plus: I am in love with the Tan color choice of the Solong.

Ps: The price difference is $53 which is pretty close to $59 which is the price of a Klymit Static V sleeping Pad.


What do you think?

[bfayer]

I have not had it very long, but I can't say enough good things about the Solong 6.

One advantage of the Solo is that it is a fully double wall tent. Where the Solong 6 has areas of single wall on at the head and foot. Some may not like this because of the potential condensation issues.

One advantage of the Solong 6 is that it is shorter (but more usable length), so it will fit better on some tent platforms.

The Solong 6 also needs two additional stakes.

Can't go wrong with either as far as I am concerned. I like the additional usable space of the Solong 6 so that is why I picked it.

[4Bears]

Stumpknocker is out hiking the Florida Trail and is using a SoLong 6 and gave a nice short term review on TJ you can read it here, he also spent time on his first impressions of the tent in his trail prep. http://trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=398343

[bfayer]

Stumpknocker is out hiking the Florida Trail and is using a SoLong 6 and gave a nice short term review on TJ you can read it here, he also spent time on his first impressions of the tent in his trail prep. http://trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=398343

He sure has a problem with the reflective stuff on the tent. I love that stuff. I put reflective tape on just about every thing.

[Del Q]

Great tent. It is BIG inside, lightweight, sets up easily............packs pretty small.

LOVE that I can roll up both sides and have mesh all around me............huge plus in my view. I splurged and got zip openings on both sides.

Plan on being on the PCT in a few years and thought that all of that mesh would be a +

[4Bears]

He sure has a problem with the reflective stuff on the tent. I love that stuff. I put reflective tape on just about every thing.

To be honest I have never had any reflective stuff on any tent. I don't know if I would really want or need it, as I don't wander around at night and would prefer to keep as unnoticable as possible. If I felt a need for something I would just use a piece of trip tease and tie it to a guy line, so I could remove when not needed.

[Kookork]

I have not had it very long, but I can't say enough good things about the Solong 6.

One advantage of the Solo is that it is a fully double wall tent. Where the Solong 6 has areas of single wall on at the head and foot. Some may not like this because of the potential condensation issues.

One advantage of the Solong 6 is that it is shorter (but more usable length), so it will fit better on some tent platforms.

The Solong 6 also needs two additional stakes.

Can't go wrong with either as far as I am concerned. I like the additional usable space of the Solong 6 so that is why I picked it.

very good point , It is major factor in forest areas where a platform is sometimes hard to find.

[Kookork]

Stumpknocker is out hiking the Florida Trail and is using a SoLong 6 and gave a nice short term review on TJ you can read it here, he also spent time on his first impressions of the tent in his trail prep. http://trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=398343

Thanks for the link. Seems he is quite happy with SoLong so far( it rhymes nicely,So long so far!!)

about the barrel type button which is somehow inconvenient to operate from inside I think there are two easy fix if Judy is eager to try. First she can reverse the order of attachment of them , meaning that the loop is sewn inside and the button is attached to the outside . In this way opening is easier when you are inside the tent but more difficult when you are outside.!!!

The second option is using a buckle, like the buckles people normally use in their backpacks hip belt( but a mini buckle of coarse). We are all familiar with opening and closing them even in total darkness.

[Kookork]

Great tent. It is BIG inside, lightweight, sets up easily............packs pretty small.

LOVE that I can roll up both sides and have mesh all around me............huge plus in my view. I splurged and got zip openings on both sides.

Plan on being on the PCT in a few years and thought that all of that mesh would be a +

I wonder why Judy did not design this tent sooner.!!!

[ChinMusic]

I have the cuben solo, with awning and back door. If I were to do it over again I would take a close look at the SoLong. I have backpacked with my dog and the Solo has plenty of room for me, the dog, and my pack.

[Kookork]

To be honest I have never had any reflective stuff on any tent. I don't know if I would really want or need it, as I don't wander around at night and would prefer to keep as unnoticable as possible. If I felt a need for something I would just use a piece of trip tease and tie it to a guy line, so I could remove when not needed.

You may not wonder around at nights but some other people might , especially if you are in a campground . To me it is a harmless thing to say the least.

[Kookork]

I have the cuben solo, with awning and back door. If I were to do it over again I would take a close look at the SoLong. I have backpacked with my dog and the Solo has plenty of room for me, the dog, and my pack.

Hi ChinMusic

It was kind of weird but I honestly was missing you during my absence.

[ChinMusic]

You may not wonder around at nights but some other people might , especially if you are in a campground . To me it is a harmless thing to say the least.

I can see it both ways. I guess if the reflective parts are sown into the gear you are going to be visible all the time to headlamps. I can see times where I would not want this to be the case. I can't remember where all the reflective stuff is but I would think I little tape could cover it up if one wanted to be well hid.

Personally I LIKE the reflective stuff. There have been times where I even took a waypoint of my tent's location before wandering off for water.

[HeartFire]

About the buttons - these are small toggles - on each door, there are 3 'loops' - a plain loop inside the tent, a loop with the toggle between the door mesh and the fly - this is used for the mesh door, then there is another plain loop on the outside of the tent. you use the that with the toggle between the door and fly to button back the fly. I don't see how reversing this would make the tie back any easier, and it would require 2 toggles on each door and one plain loop - more weight, more money.

I have never had any problems setting up a LightHeart Solo on a platform (along with 2 other tents on the platform) or being able to squeeze one into a small tent site.

Regarding the OP's question - first, how tall are you - if you are 6 foot or taller, go for the SoLong 6 unless you enjoy being a pretzel inside the tent. If you are about 5'6" you and a Sheltie could fit into the Solo, but you would be better off in a SoLong 6.

Judy - LightHeart Gear

[bfayer]

...Personally I LIKE the reflective stuff. There have been times where I even took a waypoint of my tent's location before wandering off for water.

That's me . I have it on my hiking poles, my headlamp, my bic lighter...

I guess if I did a lot of "stealth" camping, I could see the issue.

I think its just on the tieout lines and the flat webbing for the tieouts.

[bfayer]

...I have never had any problems setting up a LightHeart Solo on a platform (along with 2 other tents on the platform) or being able to squeeze one into a small tent site.

Judy - LightHeart Gear

Judy, first great tent. On the platform thing, not too long ago I ended up a campground (not on the AT) that had 8x8 platforms, that we were required to use. Another person had a Solo and it just barely fit diagonally. So it can be an issue. Not enough of an issue to drive my tent decisions. Just a factor to think about.

I asked my wife to get me the solong 6 just because of it's size. Nothing else I looked at came close for the weight and price.

I just brought it up as a possible factor, heck there are people on here that will only buy a free standing tent because they are worried about platforms.

Again love the tent.

[wcgornto]

Plan on being on the PCT in a few years and thought that all of that mesh would be a +

I am using a Cuben Solo on the PCT this year. I am looking forward to rolling up the tent sides and having just the exposed mesh as much as possible.

[Kookork]

About the buttons - these are small toggles - on each door, there are 3 'loops' - a plain loop inside the tent, a loop with the toggle between the door mesh and the fly - this is used for the mesh door, then there is another plain loop on the outside of the tent. you use the that with the toggle between the door and fly to button back the fly. I don't see how reversing this would make the tie back any easier, and it would require 2 toggles on each door and one plain loop - more weight, more money.

I have never had any problems setting up a LightHeart Solo on a platform (along with 2 other tents on the platform) or being able to squeeze one into a small tent site.

Regarding the OP's question - first, how tall are you - if you are 6 foot or taller, go for the SoLong 6 unless you enjoy being a pretzel inside the tent. If you are about 5'6" you and a Sheltie could fit into the Solo, but you would be better off in a SoLong 6.

Judy - LightHeart Gear

Thanks for your reply Ms Gross

About the reversing I might have not been able to explain it clearly. When you reverse the attachment the advantage is that you clearly can see the loop and buttons from the inside right in front of your eyes so it would be easier to tie back or open it from the inside( which is more frequent than closing it from the outside). You do not need to add any button or loop for this ( no more money or weight).

Loop and buttons are not easy to operate when you can not see them and you need to operate just by touch and feeling. It is a very minute issue but I have always been struggling with this loop thing in my current tent( which is not LightHeart tent).

I am 5' 8'' and I think I have no issue with the solo but the SoLong offers more for a person like me who spends most of the time either walking or laying down in the tent and writing.

One more question: In normal conditions( not a stormy weather) is there any difference in the number of stakes that are needed for setting up SoLong 6 standard Vs Solo.

[wcgornto]

Regarding the OP's question - first, how tall are you - if you are 6 foot or taller, go for the SoLong 6 unless you enjoy being a pretzel inside the tent. If you are about 5'6" you and a Sheltie could fit into the Solo, but you would be better off in a SoLong 6.

Judy - LightHeart Gear

I am exactly six feet tall and I have the solo. It is perfectly comfortable for me.

[Kookork]

Judy, first great tent. On the platform thing, not too long ago I ended up a campground (not on the AT) that had 8x8 platforms, that we were required to use. Another person had a Solo and it just barely fit diagonally. So it can be an issue. Not enough of an issue to drive my tent decisions. Just a factor to think about.

I asked my wife to get me the solong 6 just because of it's size. Nothing else I looked at came close for the weight and price.

I just brought it up as a possible factor, heck there are people on here that will only buy a free standing tent because they are worried about platforms.

Again love the tent.

where I normally go hiking sometimes finding a very small flat area suitable for my tent forces me to search a lot more. In some cases even one foot makes the difference for me and Solong is the winner in this matter since it is not diagonal like solo.