Skyledge 3 Rocks!

Scott Jasper

Member since  Mar 9, 2011

Posted on August 4, 2012

• Gender: Male
• Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer

I am a big proponent of comfort on the trail. For that reason, I prefer a 3 person tent to sleep 2 people (and a 2 person tent when flying solo). This tent is an excellent two-people-in-a-three-person-tent tent.

My previous tent in this category was the Mountain Hardwear Haven 3 tent - MH's precursor to the Skyledge 3. Every improvement that MH incorporated into the Skyledge 3 is exactly what I hoped they would do to improve the Haven 3: they reduced tent footprint slightly; they made two equal vestibules (Haven 3 had a large and a small vestibule); they reduced material weights in every category (tent canopy and fly fabrics, poles, pole "clips" and stuff sacks) to bring total weight down by around 1.7 lbs (over 25% weight reduction).

The eyebrow pole helps create nearly vertical sidewalls which increases useable interior space. With two 12 sq.ft. vestibules, the drip line of the rain fly is far removed from the tent body (helping to make this tent an excellent performer in the rain). This tent also has a very taught pitch and, with guy cords, proved it's mettle in strong winds at 12,200' in Colorado's Holy Cross Wilderness (see pic).

The Skyledge 3 doors are "c-shaped" - when unzipped, they hang to the side. Compare to the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3 where the doors are "n-shaped" - when unzipped, they hang on the tent floor or on the ground (where you'll likely step on them during entries/exits).

I opted for a custom homemade "soft" Tyvek footprint (different from Tyvek "housewrap" found at building centers) to save weight over the OEM footprint (saved 4 oz or 1/4 lb). The stakes are aluminum with a "Y" cross-section: strong, light. I changed out the OEM guy cords with thinner, lighter, reflective cord.

You can save a little weight with other/smaller tents, but I think this one hits the weight/space/comfort sweet spot.