Mirage vs Revolution - you have the comparison spot on there Robert. I've a similar battle between my Lanshan 1 Pro (single-skin hybrid) and Tarptent Notch - the Notch gives me so much more for an extra 100g that I hardly use the Lanshan anymore.
The tent type that I will no longer look at, are those models where the poles are pushed through a sleeve. An easy way to snap a pole in my experience.
Welcome back. Will checkout their tents because of your review. I have been thinking about getting a freestanding tent with a smaller footprint than my Durston or MLD Duomid. I did have an issue ordering from Big Sky (some tent stakes). They have/had two web sites. I ordered from one, and it was never fulfilled. Took about two months or so of me sending email to get a resolution. I then ordered from the other site and it was a smooth transaction. It appears the old site is now gone, and I got caught in the transition. GGG is now has two Big Sky products (pegs and a food pouch) so maybe they will start to carry the tents as well. ~S
Thanks 🙏🏻 and yeah, I believe they maybe good tents for the money and just as good as BA and similar. They have never failed me yet 🤷🏼♂️ but prefer DCF tipis for over the tree line adventures.
Yeah. The Big Sky stock situation is really bad. I have been looking at the Revolution 1.5p (solid interior) several times but it has been out of stock every time, and so it is today. For last seson i wanted to order some accessories but all were out of stock. I guess the stock costs are high compared to the sales profit :D
@@joakimolsson1024 unfortunately that’s how it seems… I’ve also noticed that if you mail them, they could give you an update when it’s coming in and when it can be shipped. Most of the time they can arrange for delivery within a couple of weeks. That’s my experience anyways.
Hi Robert, I appreciated the review. I've had an MSR hubba hubba for 10 years and it still holds up but I would like something lighter and that doesn't cause condensation. Do you know any companies that make the equivalent of the Dyneema hubba hubba? so as to have resistance, lightness and waterproofness... but double layer to eliminate condensation and have greater ventilation if it doesn't rain (or it rains only vertically and not in the wind)? thanks in advance. Andrew
Wow Big Sky makes great tents. How did I not stumble across this company until now? They have a stacked lineup of tents. Maybe you are right the Out Of Stock/no secondhand tents is their biggest thing holding them back. It is also very frustrating to me how bad their specs listing are, missing many major key specs on some of their tents. This looks amazing, if for nothing else, for being a sub 3lb freestanding tent (and not one right at 2.99lbs like all of the heavy hitters mind you). Price also seems good for what they are offering assuming you can look past Out Of Stock and no used tents. Sizing, granted I'm looking at the 2p version as well, I'm not seeing where the complaints about sizing are coming from? Seems like similar dimensions to a BA Copper Spur just with a much more generous tapering in comparison. I disagree with the large vestibules comment though. Since vestibules are sloped the smaller size of the vestibules (4in smaller than the Copper Spur) is going to very noticeable on this tent. One big thing I'm loving about this tent is no cross-bar. That was one of the reasons I loved my Kelty tent for a long time even though it was way too heavy to even be called lightweight. Made for an extremely fast setup. And have been keen to make note of this for any tent I come across. Double-walled vs single-walled, if you've paid any attention in the LW/UL tent scene then I'd say this is entirely personal preference to you. Both have their benefits and drawbacks. Doing this review during that windy day must've been a hard task to do and shows a good reasonable performance metric of the tent.
It was a challenge for sure, really windy that day with a lot of fallen trees and branches so not the best timing for recording a vid 😄🤷🏼♂️ but I agree, they make good tents and good value for the money and sure, one can debate “large vestibules “ or not, big enough anyways for 1p anyways. Thanks for watching and commenting ❤️ let’s see if Big Sky can turn if those out of stock signs!!
Robert, did you hear about the European Hang Con that was held in Denmark recently? Any plans to attend the next European Hang Con? They welcome ground dwellers as well as hangers!
7:41 You've got the ONE person version. The two-person (2p) Mirage is 20 cm wider. Big Sky's 1p tents are barely larger than a bivy, so the 1.5p is, as you say, for "you and your gear, or maybe a dog". All of their tents are small, but otherwise good tents. What's the difference between Revolution and Evolution? I can't figure it out.
I have both the Chinook 2p and the revolution 1.5p w/vestibule cross bar and I love both of them! Not sure why more people aren't talking about these tents tbh? 🤷🏼♂️
Could work, but remember that it’s 220 from outer to outer so you don’t want to get too close to it with your head or foot box, especially if you have an thick inflatable pad! I recommend max 180 or 5ft10 for that reason.
Great review. Thanks. Aways checking, right now, out of stock 😢. Meanwhile, what's the brand of those down-filled type trousers you make use of, during the cold season? Thanks.
First of all, a big thanks 🙏🏻🙂 and the down pants is the “Basic Downpants” from Cumumus. See link 👇 cumulus.equipment/eu_en/men-clothing-basic-down-pants.html
I’m totally fine with 1.1 or 1.3 kg for a small 2p to be used as a 1 person tent. I believe it’s justified with the space and comfort it gives. Love my DCF tipi tent as well but for the shorter hikes I prefer freestanding tents.
Unfortunately they are in my opinion too heavy, good tents… yes, but much lighter alternatives exist, also those for large people. And not all Hilleberg tents is for large people, like Enan 🤷🏼♂️
@@roberthammenrudh can you share your opinion on which lighter alternatives there are for larger people in the realm of freestanting tents? I can't think of many off the top of my head tbh. I bought a big sky international revolution 2p tent last year and the inner length is just around 215 (outer ones are 230) which is actually not enough for me. I just can think of the zpacks tents which are are longer, duplex: 230cm, free zip: 218cm
@@markrear2986 hi, you are right. Not many alternatives exist for freestanding tents but the BA Copper Spur UL2 is 224 cm and Tarp Tent Double Rainbow 224 cm. For longer persons it’s limited for sure!
It’s a love / hate kind of relationship for me… love the weight and space but very easy to slide towards the tent during the night waking up with a soaked foot-box 🤷🏼♂️.
Way too small. Have noticed that if the CEO is tiny, the gear is tiny. Don't know who runs Big Sky, but will bet he's under 5'11"? Columbia's CEO is 6'5" or 6" and that's why Columbia's one of the only places tall people can get clothing that fits. Columbia sells -midget- little-people clothing too, but the reverse is rarely true. Durston makes tents that work for tall people. Hopefully his free-standing tent continues the tradition?
While there may be some truth to that theory Columbia’s CEO was not slways that tall yet they still made taller sizes AND tents/gear are made to bare minimum size requirements to meet weight weenie/savers demands to weigh less. Does that make ultralight hikers weak princesses? 🤣🤣
Sorry, some of the measurements are there but yeah, missed a few!! Weight 1100 grams = 38.8 oz Internal height 1m = 39.37” Internal width bottom 102 cm = 40.15” Internal width top 115 cm = 45” Max length of user (in my opinion) 180 cm = 5ft10.9” I hope that can help?
It's almost as if Big Sky is an american version of Durston... :) That said, I'd rather go for a modular tent than another hybrid double, I like having the option of using the mesh on its own, but also have being able to pitch the outer first (or both together, of course).
Yes, understand it’s a thing for many to stargaze and such or use the outer only for colder weather. Me I don’t care so much, probably due to the more unstable weather we have here.
@@roberthammenrudh We get a lot of extremes here... I've had wintery weather in August and sweltering weather in October. Last time I was up in the mountains I was expecting intense wind, and it ended up being so mild that I could probably have gotten away with cowboy camping for two of the three nights, but a few years earlier at the same time of year in the same area (Enchantment Lakes) we had an intense storm with high wind, rain, sleet, snow... And of course in summer when it's still 25 degrees C at night, the mesh is great due to the bugginess since the Cascades and Rockies are also skeeter breeding grounds...
Mirage vs Revolution - you have the comparison spot on there Robert. I've a similar battle between my Lanshan 1 Pro (single-skin hybrid) and Tarptent Notch - the Notch gives me so much more for an extra 100g that I hardly use the Lanshan anymore.
great review, I like how you get into the practical details and aren't afraid to directly compare to other tents
Thanks, glad you liked it 🙏🏻🙂
Another masterfully crafted upload man, you nailed it once again!
☺️🙏🏻
The tent type that I will no longer look at, are those models where the poles are pushed through a sleeve. An easy way to snap a pole in my experience.
@@RegEdmunds yes , love this solution and many new tents have adapted. Last one was Dan Durstons XDome1+ 👍🏻🙂
Welcome back. Will checkout their tents because of your review. I have been thinking about getting a freestanding tent with a smaller footprint than my Durston or MLD Duomid. I did have an issue ordering from Big Sky (some tent stakes). They have/had two web sites. I ordered from one, and it was never fulfilled. Took about two months or so of me sending email to get a resolution. I then ordered from the other site and it was a smooth transaction. It appears the old site is now gone, and I got caught in the transition. GGG is now has two Big Sky products (pegs and a food pouch) so maybe they will start to carry the tents as well.
~S
Thanks 🙏🏻 and yeah, I believe they maybe good tents for the money and just as good as BA and similar. They have never failed me yet 🤷🏼♂️ but prefer DCF tipis for over the tree line adventures.
Much nicer edditing that 2 years back. Nic eone man :)
Thsnks 🙏🏻 appreciate you giving me a second chance!
Yeah. The Big Sky stock situation is really bad. I have been looking at the Revolution 1.5p (solid interior) several times but it has been out of stock every time, and so it is today. For last seson i wanted to order some accessories but all were out of stock. I guess the stock costs are high compared to the sales profit :D
@@joakimolsson1024 unfortunately that’s how it seems… I’ve also noticed that if you mail them, they could give you an update when it’s coming in and when it can be shipped. Most of the time they can arrange for delivery within a couple of weeks. That’s my experience anyways.
Hi Robert, I appreciated the review. I've had an MSR hubba hubba for 10 years and it still holds up but I would like something lighter and that doesn't cause condensation. Do you know any companies that make the equivalent of the Dyneema hubba hubba? so as to have resistance, lightness and waterproofness... but double layer to eliminate condensation and have greater ventilation if it doesn't rain (or it rains only vertically and not in the wind)? thanks in advance. Andrew
Wow Big Sky makes great tents. How did I not stumble across this company until now? They have a stacked lineup of tents.
Maybe you are right the Out Of Stock/no secondhand tents is their biggest thing holding them back. It is also very frustrating to me how bad their specs listing are, missing many major key specs on some of their tents.
This looks amazing, if for nothing else, for being a sub 3lb freestanding tent (and not one right at 2.99lbs like all of the heavy hitters mind you). Price also seems good for what they are offering assuming you can look past Out Of Stock and no used tents.
Sizing, granted I'm looking at the 2p version as well, I'm not seeing where the complaints about sizing are coming from? Seems like similar dimensions to a BA Copper Spur just with a much more generous tapering in comparison.
I disagree with the large vestibules comment though. Since vestibules are sloped the smaller size of the vestibules (4in smaller than the Copper Spur) is going to very noticeable on this tent.
One big thing I'm loving about this tent is no cross-bar. That was one of the reasons I loved my Kelty tent for a long time even though it was way too heavy to even be called lightweight. Made for an extremely fast setup. And have been keen to make note of this for any tent I come across.
Double-walled vs single-walled, if you've paid any attention in the LW/UL tent scene then I'd say this is entirely personal preference to you. Both have their benefits and drawbacks.
Doing this review during that windy day must've been a hard task to do and shows a good reasonable performance metric of the tent.
It was a challenge for sure, really windy that day with a lot of fallen trees and branches so not the best timing for recording a vid 😄🤷🏼♂️ but I agree, they make good tents and good value for the money and sure, one can debate “large vestibules “ or not, big enough anyways for 1p anyways.
Thanks for watching and commenting ❤️ let’s see if Big Sky can turn if those out of stock signs!!
Robert, did you hear about the European Hang Con that was held in Denmark recently? Any plans to attend the next European Hang Con? They welcome ground dwellers as well as hangers!
First time hearing about it but yeah, why not! Take the lead and invite me for next time and I’ll see what I can do 🙂
7:41 You've got the ONE person version. The two-person (2p) Mirage is 20 cm wider.
Big Sky's 1p tents are barely larger than a bivy, so the 1.5p is, as you say, for "you and your gear, or maybe a dog".
All of their tents are small, but otherwise good tents.
What's the difference between Revolution and Evolution? I can't figure it out.
I believe Revolution is outer pitch first but no mesh only mode. Evolution is the opposite.
I have both the Chinook 2p and the revolution 1.5p w/vestibule cross bar and I love both of them! Not sure why more people aren't talking about these tents tbh? 🤷🏼♂️
Yeah they are great and for that price a bargain in my opinion.
Says on their website it’s 220cm long and is sufficient for someone who is 6ft 3
Could work, but remember that it’s 220 from outer to outer so you don’t want to get too close to it with your head or foot box, especially if you have an thick inflatable pad! I recommend max 180 or 5ft10 for that reason.
Great review. Thanks. Aways checking, right now, out of stock 😢. Meanwhile, what's the brand of those down-filled type trousers you make use of, during the cold season? Thanks.
First of all, a big thanks 🙏🏻🙂 and the down pants is the “Basic Downpants” from Cumumus. See link 👇
cumulus.equipment/eu_en/men-clothing-basic-down-pants.html
I feel like the UL goal posts have shifted these days, anything over 1kg seems heavy 😭
I’m totally fine with 1.1 or 1.3 kg for a small 2p to be used as a 1 person tent. I believe it’s justified with the space and comfort it gives. Love my DCF tipi tent as well but for the shorter hikes I prefer freestanding tents.
Very nice review video, tyou
5’10” only?? Yeah no. Inside dimensions need to be bigger than that for us people over 6’2”
Buy a Hilleberg tent. They fit larger people.
Unfortunately they are in my opinion too heavy, good tents… yes, but much lighter alternatives exist, also those for large people. And not all Hilleberg tents is for large people, like Enan 🤷🏼♂️
@@roberthammenrudh can you share your opinion on which lighter alternatives there are for larger people in the realm of freestanting tents? I can't think of many off the top of my head tbh. I bought a big sky international revolution 2p tent last year and the inner length is just around 215 (outer ones are 230) which is actually not enough for me. I just can think of the zpacks tents which are are longer, duplex: 230cm, free zip: 218cm
@@markrear2986 hi, you are right. Not many alternatives exist for freestanding tents but the BA Copper Spur UL2 is 224 cm and Tarp Tent Double Rainbow 224 cm. For longer persons it’s limited for sure!
@@roberthammenrudh thank you for your advice
Top tents are big sky
I am not a fan of single wall tents. It is hard to beat the MSR Hubba Hubba.
It’s a love / hate kind of relationship for me… love the weight and space but very easy to slide towards the tent during the night waking up with a soaked foot-box 🤷🏼♂️.
Way too small. Have noticed that if the CEO is tiny, the gear is tiny. Don't know who runs Big Sky, but will bet he's under 5'11"? Columbia's CEO is 6'5" or 6" and that's why Columbia's one of the only places tall people can get clothing that fits. Columbia sells -midget- little-people clothing too, but the reverse is rarely true. Durston makes tents that work for tall people. Hopefully his free-standing tent continues the tradition?
While there may be some truth to that theory Columbia’s CEO was not slways that tall yet they still made taller sizes AND tents/gear are made to bare minimum size requirements to meet weight weenie/savers demands to weigh less. Does that make ultralight hikers weak princesses? 🤣🤣
Have noticed..... hah😂😂 you have noticed??? What about then? Its you😂😂😂
Always tents for short people …. easy to sell. 😣
Yeah… but they have some alternatives with 220 and 230 cm inners, can’t remember which ones but take a look at their website.
Lbs, ounces, feet, and inches, please
Sorry, some of the measurements are there but yeah, missed a few!!
Weight 1100 grams = 38.8 oz
Internal height 1m = 39.37”
Internal width bottom 102 cm = 40.15”
Internal width top 115 cm = 45”
Max length of user (in my opinion) 180 cm = 5ft10.9”
I hope that can help?
It's almost as if Big Sky is an american version of Durston... :)
That said, I'd rather go for a modular tent than another hybrid double, I like having the option of using the mesh on its own, but also have being able to pitch the outer first (or both together, of course).
Yes, understand it’s a thing for many to stargaze and such or use the outer only for colder weather. Me I don’t care so much, probably due to the more unstable weather we have here.
@@roberthammenrudh We get a lot of extremes here... I've had wintery weather in August and sweltering weather in October. Last time I was up in the mountains I was expecting intense wind, and it ended up being so mild that I could probably have gotten away with cowboy camping for two of the three nights, but a few years earlier at the same time of year in the same area (Enchantment Lakes) we had an intense storm with high wind, rain, sleet, snow...
And of course in summer when it's still 25 degrees C at night, the mesh is great due to the bugginess since the Cascades and Rockies are also skeeter breeding grounds...