I have this tent. So far it had kept me dry and warm for 38 nights use. Thru hike on Quachita trail, Wind River Range in a 3 hour rainstorm with significant winds, Superior hiking trail section hike, 2 Ozark trail section hikes. And the Sawtooth loop in Idaho. Never wet. Secret is to pitch it properly, take your time and adjust. I love it!
I like the tent, but as mentioned in many other comments, it’s not that simple. The tent is sewn incorrectly. We have found the same corner is always the one that’s messed up. We’ve followed the instructions from SMD, watched many TH-cam videos on “techniques” to pitch the tent, but the same corner is always off. We even got a trekking pole so we could adjust the pitch height, made no difference. In the end, it’s just a cosmetic issue, much like the seam sealing. Although the pitch looks “off” the bathtub floor still offers full protection, just looks like crap.
I love this tent! I bought it about 4 years ago and use it on many tours in almost all weather conditions. I would just have to re-seal the floor. Over the years it is no longer completely waterproof. But a groundsheet also helps. What I'm missing is another option to be able to tie the tent down at the back - as is possible with the Lanshan tents. Many greetings from Germany!
Sara has been using it for about two years at this point. She recently upgrade to the Durston X-Mid Pro 2+ but that’s more than 2x the price. It’s hard to beat the Lunar Solo for the money, although I know a lot of people like the Lanshan. Thanks for tuning in.
Just bought the Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo tent. So far I have struggled to get the side walls high enough to make the bathtub. I too bought the pole. But feel like its to short. I don't know how to get the side walls higher.
The workmanship on the seam sealing is ridiculous; there are zero excuses for that. I use an Alps Mountaineering Lynx 1 and it is a freestanding double wall tent. The total weight with MSR groundhog stakes, Alps floor saver, and tent w/fly comes to 4lbs. It's not ultralight by any means but the price point was great and it is very sturdy. I live in northern Arizona and it has done well in heavy rains, snow, and 40mph gusts. The ventilation is great. With that said, I don't worry at all when I take it out on a trip. This level of faith is probably because I did test it before concluding that it was trail worthy. I am looking for a lighter option for longer treks. Looking forward to watching more of your videos.
Overall the Lunar Solo is worth the money. It has its quirks but at 26 oz for $300 it still functions pretty well in a lightweight package. It’s waterproof, light, packable and cheap. A lot of other people love them and they’ve won a ton of awards. I honestly think we may have got a lemon that just doesn’t quite pitch correctly and a lackluster seam sealing. Again, it’s waterproof but it looks like crap. Thanks for watching!
I don’t mind using a tarp in the colder months when the bugs aren’t as bad. I just find a hammock more comfortable than sleeping on the ground which is why I usually don’t stray from that.
It has to do with the newer advanced fabrics. Traditional nylon tents were seam taped. You can’t seam tape silnylon, you have to use a seam sealing agent. It’s purely a logistics thing. Many companies use multiple fabrics, some can be taped, some can be sealed etc. If not all of their products can be manufactured via an “assembly line” process they’re going to include it as an additional custom service to offset labor cost. Also, some consumers in the know would rather just seam seal themselves because it’s cheaper. You can look at it like a custom option basically, pay to have it done or DIY.
just got this tent in white during xmas sale...$200 even. bought the sealant on amazon for about $8 and will apply it myself. haven't tried it yet, but hope to soon.
I have always wanted this tent! It is such a cool design. I have heard it has condensation issues. But, I guess all single wall tents have those issues. Great review and video. New follower here. Crow✌️
I didn’t have any condensation in it, but I’ve only slept in it one night. You’re right, that’s a downside to single wall tents in general. Thanks for watching!
I use a tarp, tipi meesh tent, ul80 w/pillow, and 2 sleep bag liners one for my ul80 the other to use like a light blanket. I live in south Texas it doesn't get cold at night.
I've looked into doing a similar setup. Perhaps I will one day. I'm a hammock camper so I try to avoid being on the ground if possible lol. This was a nice budget option for Sara who is a ground dweller and overall she's pretty happy with it. I'll need to get another ground option for when I head out west above the tree line so I may consider a tent setup. Thanks for watching!
I have used one for years and the initial few setups were less than satisfactory. A couple of tips: 1) set up[ once get it as close as you can get it then readjust about 30-60 minutes later. Most sil-poly tents tend to relax after they are initially set up. This will cause sag and always one quadrant is worse than the rest. 2) you are right about getting adjustable trekking poles. They will help immensely. 3) make some self-tensioning tie outs for your stakes and they will help you in the middle of the night when the tent relaxes in rain and also provide some fabric protection in high winds.
Appreciate the heads up. We did use a trekking pole. We also tighten it up after initial setup. It’s still always a little off. We think it wasn’t sewn correctly from the factory. It’s still functional but there’s always a side that’s off.
@@bradbaston7186 Watch this, as an example. th-cam.com/video/RQCqE4HiL40/w-d-xo.html Around 2:30 to 4:00 are the most relevant parts. But basically tie in some 1/8" shock cord to your guyouts. Use lets say a 6-8" section and tie it to a 7-9" section of static guyline. That will allow you to have an inch of play to the guyline. Allowing the guylines to 'stretch' a bit in high winds or when wet with the shock cord putting constant tension on the line. Also as tent fabric wets out the shock cord will put additional tension on the line and 'tighten' up the line as the fabric sags due to wettign out.
Absolutely! It will probably take a little while. I already have my next three videos recorded and we’re booked with trips in the coming weeks. I’ll put it on the idea list though!
I just got this tent and my first pitch was like mmmm wow really bad. I know these trekking pole tents are a bit more fiddly but yeah we'll see how we go I have to do a more thorough inspection of my seam sealing but initial impressions wasn't blowing me away. I just seam sealed my BD bivy and I feel my effort was far better to detail. Have you guys contacted 6MD about your concerns and the seam sealing? I could have done the sealing myself but I thought nah let them do it, it's 35 bucks I'm sure they'll do a really good job
I think our tent was sewn incorrectly. We have pitched it over 50 times now and it’s always the same corner that’s ugly looking. We can get the bathtub floor perfectly set up, but the “fly” looks like crap on the one corner. The tent is fully functional and it’s an overall good tent, but the aesthetic issues detract from my overall opinion of it.
VERY NICE VIDEO.ARE YOU AT THE PROPERTY THOUGHT I RECOGNIZED IT. YOUR INFO WAS VERY INFORMATIVE YOU SHOWED ALL THE INS AND OUTS OF THE TENT, GLAD YOU GUYS DIDNT GET WET. VERY GOOD INFO GLAD YOU WERE ABLE TO FIGURE IT OUT HI SARA SEE YOU IN THE NEXT ONE CANT WAIT ENJOY YOUR TRIPS
You use a trekking pole ,you can raise the whole thing bye just adjusting the pole. On nice days with no rain I try to raise a little higher than normal. Works a little better for air flow. Another person said do 2 back corners first then pole,works the best. Then remaining pegs. I have used this tent about 30 nights. Also I use my other pole and a stick to guy out foot and head area. Gives you a little better room at ends.
She has used a trekking pole 5-6 times now with basically the same result. The one corner is just sewn incorrectly I believe. We've tried multiple different pole heights, various amounts of tension and multiple orders of operation and we still get the same issue in the same place. Judging by the poor quality of the seam seal, I think this tent was a lemon that skirted the QC process. Overall, it's fully functional and I honestly like the tent. It's just annoying that the one corner is always ugly lol
@@TheRealTomSelleck I was doing the same. I literally just got the 6md and I went for this also over the 3ful as alot of the Chinese tents just seem a little smaller for bigger westerners
We have tried that. I’ve put it at multiple different angles, doesn’t help. It’ll fix one spot and mess up another. We bought some adjustable trekking poles to try out and see if we can get a better pitch.
sweet video folks......im caught between this the GossamerGearThe One and the Vango Hydrogen Air (an air beam tent popular with bikepackers)..........Ive an awesome tip for ye.......get yourselves the Helinox Ground chair....they are pricey...but my god they are good....so comfortable you wont want to get out of them around camp (weigh around 550grams)......just a hint for ye both ......
I actually have the Helinox Chair Zero that I bring with me on my backpacking trips. When we were recording this video we weren’t backpacking. We were just camping out on some property and decided to create some content for the channel. Thanks for watching!
It’s a good tent. Sara really likes it. I think we got one that was sewn slightly wrong because we just can’t get a perfect pitch on it. It’s still 100% functional but it’s a little annoying that it doesn’t look as crisp as it should. Thanks for watching!
Gosh dang, everything thing about this tent is a money grab add on. And who sells a tent that isn’t seam sealed? I looked at this tent and I’m glad I didn’t buy it.
Honestly, this is probably the best money for value tent on the market right now. The Lanshan may be in the conversation as well. For weight, price and quality, this tent is way more affordable than something like a $900 Zpacks tent. It’s about 80% as good for less than half the cost. The tent doesn’t come seam sealed standard because some people don’t want it sealed and some people would rather do it themselves cheaper.
They have won a lot of awards and I know quite a few thru hikers that have used them. The one we got has annoying cosmetic issues, but Sara has been using it for two years and it works just fine. Nothing wrong with the function.
I have this tent. So far it had kept me dry and warm for 38 nights use.
Thru hike on Quachita trail, Wind River Range in a 3 hour rainstorm with significant winds, Superior hiking trail section hike, 2 Ozark trail section hikes. And the Sawtooth loop in Idaho. Never wet. Secret is to pitch it properly, take your time and adjust. I love it!
I like the tent, but as mentioned in many other comments, it’s not that simple. The tent is sewn incorrectly. We have found the same corner is always the one that’s messed up. We’ve followed the instructions from SMD, watched many TH-cam videos on “techniques” to pitch the tent, but the same corner is always off. We even got a trekking pole so we could adjust the pitch height, made no difference. In the end, it’s just a cosmetic issue, much like the seam sealing. Although the pitch looks “off” the bathtub floor still offers full protection, just looks like crap.
I love this tent! I bought it about 4 years ago and use it on many tours in almost all weather conditions. I would just have to re-seal the floor. Over the years it is no longer completely waterproof. But a groundsheet also helps. What I'm missing is another option to be able to tie the tent down at the back - as is possible with the Lanshan tents. Many greetings from Germany!
Sara has been using it for about two years at this point. She recently upgrade to the Durston X-Mid Pro 2+ but that’s more than 2x the price. It’s hard to beat the Lunar Solo for the money, although I know a lot of people like the Lanshan. Thanks for tuning in.
Just bought the Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo tent. So far I have struggled to get the side walls high enough to make the bathtub. I too bought the pole. But feel like its to short. I don't know how to get the side walls higher.
We started using trekking poles right after this video. Tent pitches fine for us as far as function, but it always has an ugly corner lol
The workmanship on the seam sealing is ridiculous; there are zero excuses for that. I use an Alps Mountaineering Lynx 1 and it is a freestanding double wall tent. The total weight with MSR groundhog stakes, Alps floor saver, and tent w/fly comes to 4lbs. It's not ultralight by any means but the price point was great and it is very sturdy. I live in northern Arizona and it has done well in heavy rains, snow, and 40mph gusts. The ventilation is great. With that said, I don't worry at all when I take it out on a trip. This level of faith is probably because I did test it before concluding that it was trail worthy. I am looking for a lighter option for longer treks. Looking forward to watching more of your videos.
Overall the Lunar Solo is worth the money. It has its quirks but at 26 oz for $300 it still functions pretty well in a lightweight package. It’s waterproof, light, packable and cheap. A lot of other people love them and they’ve won a ton of awards. I honestly think we may have got a lemon that just doesn’t quite pitch correctly and a lackluster seam sealing. Again, it’s waterproof but it looks like crap. Thanks for watching!
@@Bacon_N_Backpacking Thank you for taking the time to give some insight. Appreciate it!
Nice review on this tent. I have been using a DD Superlight tarp in different configurations rather than a tent.
I don’t mind using a tarp in the colder months when the bugs aren’t as bad. I just find a hammock more comfortable than sleeping on the ground which is why I usually don’t stray from that.
I always wonder why the tents don't come seam sealed? Is that not the point of having a tent in the first place, to be weather proof?
It has to do with the newer advanced fabrics. Traditional nylon tents were seam taped. You can’t seam tape silnylon, you have to use a seam sealing agent. It’s purely a logistics thing. Many companies use multiple fabrics, some can be taped, some can be sealed etc. If not all of their products can be manufactured via an “assembly line” process they’re going to include it as an additional custom service to offset labor cost. Also, some consumers in the know would rather just seam seal themselves because it’s cheaper. You can look at it like a custom option basically, pay to have it done or DIY.
just got this tent in white during xmas sale...$200 even. bought the sealant on amazon for about $8 and will apply it myself. haven't tried it yet, but hope to soon.
I like it overall, but they could have had a little better QC. Definitely a steal at $200
I have always wanted this tent! It is such a cool design. I have heard it has condensation issues. But, I guess all single wall tents have those issues. Great review and video. New follower here. Crow✌️
I didn’t have any condensation in it, but I’ve only slept in it one night. You’re right, that’s a downside to single wall tents in general. Thanks for watching!
I use a tarp, tipi meesh tent, ul80 w/pillow, and 2 sleep bag liners one for my ul80 the other to use like a light blanket. I live in south Texas it doesn't get cold at night.
I've looked into doing a similar setup. Perhaps I will one day. I'm a hammock camper so I try to avoid being on the ground if possible lol. This was a nice budget option for Sara who is a ground dweller and overall she's pretty happy with it. I'll need to get another ground option for when I head out west above the tree line so I may consider a tent setup. Thanks for watching!
I have used one for years and the initial few setups were less than satisfactory. A couple of tips: 1) set up[ once get it as close as you can get it then readjust about 30-60 minutes later. Most sil-poly tents tend to relax after they are initially set up. This will cause sag and always one quadrant is worse than the rest. 2) you are right about getting adjustable trekking poles. They will help immensely. 3) make some self-tensioning tie outs for your stakes and they will help you in the middle of the night when the tent relaxes in rain and also provide some fabric protection in high winds.
Appreciate the heads up. We did use a trekking pole. We also tighten it up after initial setup. It’s still always a little off. We think it wasn’t sewn correctly from the factory. It’s still functional but there’s always a side that’s off.
Self tensioning tie outs?
@@bradbaston7186 Watch this, as an example. th-cam.com/video/RQCqE4HiL40/w-d-xo.html Around 2:30 to 4:00 are the most relevant parts. But basically tie in some 1/8" shock cord to your guyouts. Use lets say a 6-8" section and tie it to a 7-9" section of static guyline. That will allow you to have an inch of play to the guyline. Allowing the guylines to 'stretch' a bit in high winds or when wet with the shock cord putting constant tension on the line. Also as tent fabric wets out the shock cord will put additional tension on the line and 'tighten' up the line as the fabric sags due to wettign out.
Travis & Sarah... would yall consider a short video on rolling wet tent to prevent inside from getting wet?
Absolutely! It will probably take a little while. I already have my next three videos recorded and we’re booked with trips in the coming weeks. I’ll put it on the idea list though!
I just got this tent and my first pitch was like mmmm wow really bad. I know these trekking pole tents are a bit more fiddly but yeah we'll see how we go I have to do a more thorough inspection of my seam sealing but initial impressions wasn't blowing me away. I just seam sealed my BD bivy and I feel my effort was far better to detail. Have you guys contacted 6MD about your concerns and the seam sealing? I could have done the sealing myself but I thought nah let them do it, it's 35 bucks I'm sure they'll do a really good job
I think our tent was sewn incorrectly. We have pitched it over 50 times now and it’s always the same corner that’s ugly looking. We can get the bathtub floor perfectly set up, but the “fly” looks like crap on the one corner. The tent is fully functional and it’s an overall good tent, but the aesthetic issues detract from my overall opinion of it.
Thanks for the review! How wide is the Solo at the head and feet? The website only says 48", which I assume is at the widest point in the middle.
I’ve never measured it. I could set it up this weekend and get back to you on that, thanks for watching!
VERY NICE VIDEO.ARE YOU AT THE PROPERTY THOUGHT I RECOGNIZED IT. YOUR INFO WAS VERY INFORMATIVE YOU SHOWED ALL THE INS AND OUTS OF THE TENT, GLAD YOU GUYS DIDNT GET WET. VERY GOOD INFO GLAD YOU WERE ABLE TO FIGURE IT OUT HI SARA SEE YOU IN THE NEXT ONE CANT WAIT ENJOY YOUR TRIPS
Glad you enjoyed
You use a trekking pole ,you can raise the whole thing bye just adjusting the pole. On nice days with no rain I try to raise a little higher than normal. Works a little better for air flow. Another person said do 2 back corners first then pole,works the best. Then remaining pegs. I have used this tent about 30 nights. Also I use my other pole and a stick to guy out foot and head area. Gives you a little better room at ends.
She has used a trekking pole 5-6 times now with basically the same result. The one corner is just sewn incorrectly I believe. We've tried multiple different pole heights, various amounts of tension and multiple orders of operation and we still get the same issue in the same place. Judging by the poor quality of the seam seal, I think this tent was a lemon that skirted the QC process. Overall, it's fully functional and I honestly like the tent. It's just annoying that the one corner is always ugly lol
Teddy do you have a pic of the set up how you're describing?
I do,not sure how I can post it.
Good review. Looking at this over the 3ufl pole tent…
New Brunswick Canada 🇨🇦
Not my tent but Sara likes it. Has some drawbacks but so does everything. I think it’s worth it, especially for the money. Thanks for watching!
Ive been comparing the 3UFL with this tent too. Decisions decisions.
@@TheRealTomSelleck I was doing the same. I literally just got the 6md and I went for this also over the 3ful as alot of the Chinese tents just seem a little smaller for bigger westerners
Try putting the pole at a slight angle which effectively reduces its height to adjust the pitch.
We have tried that. I’ve put it at multiple different angles, doesn’t help. It’ll fix one spot and mess up another. We bought some adjustable trekking poles to try out and see if we can get a better pitch.
sweet video folks......im caught between this the GossamerGearThe One and the Vango Hydrogen Air (an air beam tent popular with bikepackers)..........Ive an awesome tip for ye.......get yourselves the Helinox Ground chair....they are pricey...but my god they are good....so comfortable you wont want to get out of them around camp (weigh around 550grams)......just a hint for ye both ......
I actually have the Helinox Chair Zero that I bring with me on my backpacking trips. When we were recording this video we weren’t backpacking. We were just camping out on some property and decided to create some content for the channel. Thanks for watching!
Looks like your tent and she is the model that's there for the advert
I assure you it is her tent, she doesn’t talk as much as I do
Footprint 11 💰ars? 🤷♂️😳
Yup
The tentpole 15 $ and the rubbish bag footprint 10 ? 😉 😂
The pole is reasonably priced. The ground sheet is whatever, but there are companies that charge way more. SMD has really good value compared to cost.
good video. It is wierd for me to watch a man review someone else's tent. But I guess she is shy?
Yeah she would rather not talk much lol
Gonna sell my Nemo dragonfly 1p for this bad boy
It’s a good tent. Sara really likes it. I think we got one that was sewn slightly wrong because we just can’t get a perfect pitch on it. It’s still 100% functional but it’s a little annoying that it doesn’t look as crisp as it should. Thanks for watching!
Gosh dang, everything thing about this tent is a money grab add on. And who sells a tent that isn’t seam sealed? I looked at this tent and I’m glad I didn’t buy it.
Honestly, this is probably the best money for value tent on the market right now. The Lanshan may be in the conversation as well. For weight, price and quality, this tent is way more affordable than something like a $900 Zpacks tent. It’s about 80% as good for less than half the cost. The tent doesn’t come seam sealed standard because some people don’t want it sealed and some people would rather do it themselves cheaper.
SMD quality is crap. It's all mass produced crap. Woulsnt recommend to anyone.
They have won a lot of awards and I know quite a few thru hikers that have used them. The one we got has annoying cosmetic issues, but Sara has been using it for two years and it works just fine. Nothing wrong with the function.