Six Moons Designs Lunar Solo Tent Review 2023 - 2650 Miles on the PCT
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- Опубликовано: 28 сен 2024
- The Six Moons Designs Lunar Solo is a faaaantastic backpacking tent. I hiked 2650 miles with it on the PCT, here’s my up to date review for 2023 ✨🦎✨
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Thanks for posting this; looks like you have your trekking pole handle side up? If I am right, why did you do that and how did it work out? Any signs of stress near the peak? Also, what height did you typically set your pole? Sorry for all the questions. I live in WA and followed your whole journey. I am about your age and good to see an “old” guy make it. Cheers!
Hello Racer. Dang I knew I'd forget something! I started using it handle up because the ground based beasties would chew the handle on my pole in the night, the little jerks! I used the rubber tips you can get to stop the tip pushing down into the ground.
I was using a Leki Vario and had it set at the 125 mark. Initially I would set the pole to lean a little then adust its position in the ground to make sure i was happy with the bathtub height. Dang, thanks for reminding me, I knew I'd miss something...
Yeh, we've still got it Racer!
I set it up with the handle up (this reduces stress at the peak and makes the guy-line stake out more forgiving.
Setup: SMD got the instructions wrong. People sometimes complain about the trickiness to set it up. The reason it seems tricky is that SMD approached the setup as though you were building the tent from the bottom up instead of the top down (you're really just hanging the canopy at the end of the day). This is my advice from a guy who's done a lot of aviation industry tooling development/design, etc.:
Preface. The entire shape is defined by the front door panel; if that's correct, the entire tent will pitch correctly, and to do that you have to work around a solid, fixed point. That point is the grommet on the bathtub at the base of the door in the center of the tent.
1. To attain this datum point, put the TIP of the trekking pole into the grommet. Now the entire tent pivots around that point and it is fixed in space. Extend the HANDLE of the pole up into the 'pocket' where the tip is supposed to go. You can flip it around later if you want, but there's no reason to. Extend the pole to the correct dimension.
2. Set the front guy line so that the pole is sitting vertical and cannot tip toward the rear of the tent. Ensure this matches the zipper line as well as the slope of the vestibule doors; this relieves pressure on the zipper caused by the guy line being at a more obtuse angle than the doors naturally are, and that makes it easy to open and close the doors without any strain on the zipper.
3. Set the FRONT corners and ensure that the pole is not leaning toward the head or foot of the tent. As with the front guy line, make sure the lines match the seam line as well as the slope of the canopy. This now ensures the primary structure of the tent is correct, and that the rest of the tent points will fall in their correct spots to ensure the bathtub floor will sit perfectly.
4. Stake out the rear line, matching the slope of the canopy. Double check that the pole is standing vertically and hasn't tipped toward the rear of the tent.
5. Stake out the corners, again following the seams and slope of the canopy.
6. Snug everything down and admire your perfect pitch.
@@dangerpudge1922 excellent, thanks Danger Pudge. I will try this method for sure. I tended to set it up from the back corners first, followed by the pole and guy line. I will try this definitely 👍
I use this tent on the cdt. No problems. I lay down so my head is always on your left in front of the mesh. Once I started doing that I’ve had no C problems.
Yeh it would be much easier if I didn’t toss and turn so much. I’m always on the move through the night….
Finally a video that shows that you can fit a pack in there with you! Thank you for the great review
Thanks Dr! Yes it’s quite difficult to give a sense of size and scale in videos like this isn’t it?
Great review! I started with a Lunar Solo. Got the bug for dyneema, went back to Lunar! It's a good tent.
Thanks Terri. I’ve got a Durston at the moment but I can already tell I’ll probs be back the Lunar 🤔
I've got a Six Moon Designs Skyscape Trekker (actually on my 2nd one now), and I like how open it is when you roll up the fly all around. You can't look straight up, but the views of the sky are still pretty good. I looked at the Lunar Solo, but I ended up sticking with what I knew. I also have an SMD Gatewood Cape that I use for rain gear and as my shelter when bugs aren't going to be a problem (just leave the Trekker at home and save 770 grams).
Oh yes I’ve always been curious about the Trekker, looks really good. I’ve ordered a Durston X Mid now just to always have the choice between a single and double fly tent….
Really great review my friend. I’m too tall for that tent but it looks great! I had to go with the packs triplex which you know is DCF/single skin which I really like. Great to see another video thx
Thanks Young Marmalade. I loved checking out all the different tents on trail 🤩
Great review!
Thanks Jeeper! 🖖
Great review. Thanks. BTW, if you could do the PCT again, would you consider any other tents based on the other tents you saw?
Hi John. I think going forward I’m going to have two tents to switch between. My Luna Solo and a Durston XMid. Just to always have the choice between a single skin and double skin tent. Having said that if I only had a Luna Solo for the rest of my life that would be fine!
Thank you for making this! This is one of my favorite reviews of the tent and I like your delivery style. People don't understand how much time and effort (as well as learning) making a video like this takes. I appreciate all that effort!
Be well.
Thank you Danger Pudge! Kind words, much appreciated 🤩
Great review, I have had mine for a year and a half, 35 nights or so. Mostly section hiking the AT. The newer ones switched from ribbon to cord and line-locks on the corners. This past weekend I was out and had about 6 hrs. of wet snow. I would not consider it a 4 season tent but like you said you can get by. Condensation is not really that bad,site selection helps and leaving a door open helps. I really like how big the floor space is but it is a little misleading with the slope of the walls.Congratulations on your trip.
Such a good tent. I now have a Durston XMid too and I’ll swap and change between the two 👍
It looks like you could run this as a 2p tent for racing. One or two nights.
Hmm I’m not sure, I haven’t any experience of that kind of racing tbh…
That tent took you 2,659+ Miles on the PCT .. WOW ! 😲 .. that's a GREAT recommendation
Thank you for sharing your experience with us
Looks like all you need to do is get some silicon seam sealer and re-do the seams
Yes really is a great tent Pagan. So practical.
This is what I call a review! Thank you. I may get one.
I spent a lot of nights in it!
Very good review mate. I bought one of these recently and i have on ly used it on 6 nights so far but i am really enjoying it. The only niggle i found was the vibrating sound but i realised that the guys that come with it do stretch a fair bit compared to Lawson. I didn't think that there was any slack in the system when i first heard that noise so i kind of though i had to persevere with it but then i had to get out to pee and thought i might as well give the guys a once over and thats when i discovered how much slack had occurred in just 3 hours but now i know that and have changed the guys i expect no more issues. It's very spacious and i love the sensation of being under a tarp with the added benefit of the bug protection. Condensation has been very easy to manage and i have had some really wet and humid conditions so it's a keeper for sure. I am going to see how it copes through the seasons to gage where its limits are before i bring out the big guns for winter. Thanks very much for making your video its been useful and interesting 👍
Thanks Olan. I’ve switched to a Durston 1p at the moment but tbh I might switch back after this season….
@LordQuiche I have the Durstan too and I do like it but there is a lot of unusable space or rather space I don't use ie the second porch and I am currently preferring how I can make use of all the inside floor space with the Luna. I was out in it last night and I gave the guylines a tweek just before I was going to sleep and I didn't hear any vibrating noise at all this time 😉
Yeh I’ve only just got accustomed to having my pack outside in the vestibule. Made me nervous of all the the little nibbly critters 🙄
Outstanding review my friend, this was done so professionally. You elaborated everything so nicely! 👌👌
Ah thank you, kind words!
Cool review. All bases covered. Where did 5 and a half months go, plus the time you've been back. Feels like five minutes since you set off. Animals trying to get in your tent? Eeeek. Again, top review.
So much has happened and changed in that time. The greatest thing I’ve ever done 😳
Chipmunks and mice! It happens occasionally. It’s important if you ever eat in your tent to be strict about crumbs and wrappers etc. Best not to, really.
@@LordQuiche damn chipmunks. They sound cute until they're ripping holes in your mesh.
I was wondering why critters chewed through. So it was more crumbs and wrappers and not that you stored your food in your tent, I hope? I just got a lunar solo and haven't had a chance to use it yet. I seam sealed it myself and a nearby construction site gave me a big sheet of tyvek, Which I cut to 7 ft by 3 ft. I'm used to using an REI quarter dome SL2 and like it but wanted something I could set up more quickly in rainy conditions. Eagerly looking forward to using the lunar solo and your review validates my purchase ☺️. @@LordQuiche
Taking my lunar solo on my attempt thruhike of the PCT starting March 18th 😊
Aww so pleased for you Elaine. Tie those doors back and bathe in starlight ✨
I have the Lunar Solo LE (got it just before they discontinued it). It's a heavier material, but that's what I was after since I have two dogs that go with me. The dimensions and setup are the same. I can fit in a 50# dog, a 70# dog, myself (5' 3" and 160#). My Exped Dura 5R Duo just about fills the floor, with just enough space at the head for a bundle of clothes or pack for use as a pillow.
That’s interesting Amanda, I’d not heared of that one before….
Great review Owen, I’ve had a Vaude Power lizard for years, weighs 1 kilo twin wall. I wonder how these would hold up in a wet uk??? Also how did it compare to others Cuban fibre tents you saw??? Thanks again for posting!
There were loads of Duplex and Big Agnes on trail. They were all pretty good, I don’t think you can go wrong these days tbh. Everything works so well….
Nice review mate, always fancied one of these tents
Yeh I love it Darren 🖖
Nice review and a wonderful PCT adventure!
Thank you! ✨🦎✨
Great review thank you so much.I was debating on getting this tent. Your review sealed the deal for me thank you so much.
Thanks Stephen! Where are you going? Anywhere interesting?
@LordQuiche - Sparkle Lizard PCT 2022 I'm lucky enough to live in the San Gabriel mountains and Angeles Forest in Wrightwood, California. The PCT comes through here, you might have stayed at my campground, Jackson Flats! Haha. I campground host in the summer season and am always hiking around and about. I appreciate the review again, cheers!
I've used six moons Lunar Solo on so may treks and have had it dry and super wet inside. I find the condensation no problem at all - I just take a super absorbent cloth with me, lay on my back and wipe away - I'm good at it now. In a jiff it's done. It's the trade off 600g vs 1200. Well, hope you use it often. All the best for the week ahead. Mark
Yes I soon got used to it 🤩
@@LordQuiche No doubt - easy enough.
Thanks for a great review. You have seen it all on PCT! When it was cold did you notice the wind cutting under the fly a lot? The bathtub is so low I’d imagine it would happen. That’s the one concern I have
The only time I had problems with wind really was during severely turbulent gusts. That’s when I would usually get dust or ash in the tent. Very rare though and it had to be super aggressive gusts. The bathtub is actually a lot higher than you think and the bottom edge of the ‘outer’ extends well below the top of the bathtub 🖖