I sold one not long ago (a 2022, so same spec and color). It is an excellent tent, and the color is amazing, though you better put a light on it if you wander away from camp in the night because it's absolutely invisible. I bought this tent because I very often camp with my doggo who fit nicely in the 'back' of the tent. I wasn't so impressed with the height at the head and foot, and if you use a thick pad coupled with a sleep system that has a generous footbox you'll almost always touch the wall (this depends on your size, I guess; shorter folks have an advantage here. I'm a clean 6'). Pulling out the head and foot does help, but it isn't a great fix. Seam sealing wasn't great from SMD, and it does push the price up a good bit. Slippery floor. This isn't unusual and I'd avoid putting dots on the floor; put them on your sleeping pad (or use something like a lightweight foam pad under your pad). In windy conditions, particularly with blowing rain, made me want to drop the fly, but this also drops the bathtub which isn't ideal, and still leaves a bit too much of a gap at the front vestibule and ground. You mentioned the pole being too short; you either bought the wrong one or they sent you the wrong one. They're excellent to have (and the same one you use for the Lunar Solo works with the Gatewood Cape) and is the correct size at 49". If you don't carry trekking poles, this is much smaller and lighter. I do so I only bought it to ensure I had something on hand, or so that I could then use one of my trekking poles to guy out the pulls at the head and foot. Setup sucks. Yes, you will get better and it does get faster, but any of the tents of this design are just a bit fiddly. This is the primary reason, with interior space coming a close second, that I invested in the Durston X-Mid 1 and 2. Both are double-walled, so condensation is far less of an issue, though the one is really only big enough in the inner to put your sleep system while everything else lands in the very large vestibules (you can reach both, unlike the Lunar Solo, which I always thought was an oversight). The 2 is bigger by a good bit, with a LOT more usable space side-to-side as well as vertically and you still retain access to both vestibules. Plus, they couldn't be easier to set up. Four pegs is minimum, though 6 is ideal (and 8 is awesome but unnecessary), then pop your trekking poles in and you're done. You can fiddle if you like, but it's just aesthetics. You can also put it into storm or vent height and this makes a massive difference in comfort (and privacy). This thing is also next level when it comes to shrugging off the wind. It isn't a perfect tent, but given that it comes seam sealed for $300 (within $15 of a seam sealed Lunar Solo) it's sort of a no-brainer. I do miss the forest green though... If you decide to stay with it, you'll enjoy it and I wish you the best of luck. It isn't in any way a bad tent, and in fact it is one of the best I've used. I just wanted to point these things out because I know folks watch reviews and want to know the best way to spend their money. I know I did. The SMD Lunar Solo with absolutely be the right call for some, but knowing about the deltas in the X-Mids is a good thing.
I sold one not long ago (a 2022, so same spec and color). It is an excellent tent, and the color is amazing, though you better put a light on it if you wander away from camp in the night because it's absolutely invisible. I bought this tent because I very often camp with my doggo who fit nicely in the 'back' of the tent.
I wasn't so impressed with the height at the head and foot, and if you use a thick pad coupled with a sleep system that has a generous footbox you'll almost always touch the wall (this depends on your size, I guess; shorter folks have an advantage here. I'm a clean 6'). Pulling out the head and foot does help, but it isn't a great fix.
Seam sealing wasn't great from SMD, and it does push the price up a good bit.
Slippery floor. This isn't unusual and I'd avoid putting dots on the floor; put them on your sleeping pad (or use something like a lightweight foam pad under your pad).
In windy conditions, particularly with blowing rain, made me want to drop the fly, but this also drops the bathtub which isn't ideal, and still leaves a bit too much of a gap at the front vestibule and ground.
You mentioned the pole being too short; you either bought the wrong one or they sent you the wrong one. They're excellent to have (and the same one you use for the Lunar Solo works with the Gatewood Cape) and is the correct size at 49". If you don't carry trekking poles, this is much smaller and lighter. I do so I only bought it to ensure I had something on hand, or so that I could then use one of my trekking poles to guy out the pulls at the head and foot.
Setup sucks. Yes, you will get better and it does get faster, but any of the tents of this design are just a bit fiddly. This is the primary reason, with interior space coming a close second, that I invested in the Durston X-Mid 1 and 2. Both are double-walled, so condensation is far less of an issue, though the one is really only big enough in the inner to put your sleep system while everything else lands in the very large vestibules (you can reach both, unlike the Lunar Solo, which I always thought was an oversight). The 2 is bigger by a good bit, with a LOT more usable space side-to-side as well as vertically and you still retain access to both vestibules. Plus, they couldn't be easier to set up. Four pegs is minimum, though 6 is ideal (and 8 is awesome but unnecessary), then pop your trekking poles in and you're done. You can fiddle if you like, but it's just aesthetics. You can also put it into storm or vent height and this makes a massive difference in comfort (and privacy). This thing is also next level when it comes to shrugging off the wind. It isn't a perfect tent, but given that it comes seam sealed for $300 (within $15 of a seam sealed Lunar Solo) it's sort of a no-brainer.
I do miss the forest green though...
If you decide to stay with it, you'll enjoy it and I wish you the best of luck. It isn't in any way a bad tent, and in fact it is one of the best I've used. I just wanted to point these things out because I know folks watch reviews and want to know the best way to spend their money. I know I did. The SMD Lunar Solo with absolutely be the right call for some, but knowing about the deltas in the X-Mids is a good thing.
Great review! Very real world, not just another quick first impression review. Happy trails!
Awesome review!
Lanshan 1 plus is a double skin and can get a 4 season inner with a T zip, but I agree Six moon is better, Cheers!!
Just a guess but I think you may have bought the 45" poles instead of the single 49".
They only sell one size poll. And it's too short.
@BackpackerCoach They sell a 3 piece 49", a 3 piece 45" and a 5 piece 45" in carbon/aluminium. You definitely bought the wrong pole.
Not true, they have two sizes and two different types of material. @@BackpackerCoach
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