Mountain Hardwear Skyledge 2.1 Tent 2-Person 3-Season - 2008 BCS

About all's I've used this for is winter conditions and overall, does just fine. Have used it at 10,000ft a couple of times, and other times in rain, wind, and freezing temps. It does sound like it flaps around in the wind when you're inside, but has never caused any structural problems. It also does tend to get grit and sand inside if it's windy, but some of that may just be me tracking it in. I try to, and I would suggest, to anchor it down as much as possible once it's setup using rocks or tying-off to branches or whatever. Otherwise, my only complaints are that it's a little tricky to put the fly on the first few times, or if you don't use it very often. And is also a tight-squeeze for 2 persons. Plan on bumping into or kicking each other during the night. Structurally, very well put together, lightweight, packs/re-packs easily, and isn't some gawdy yellow or orange color.

Check out mine below

I have a similar, but much older style of this tent, also made by MHW and its pretty bomber in the wind. Of course, due to the mesh in the body of the tent, any wind that picks up too much dust/sand (ie Moab), you might get a little in the tent. On the bright side, it'll ventilate really well! Backcountry's return policy is also pretty amazing. Understandably frustrating not to get it right the first time, but this is the best place to buy from if you're not absolutely sure!

Mountain Hardware does publish 4lbs 7oz for packaged & 4lbs 1oz for minimum. I'd go with the manufacturer weights just to be sure. I don't know how or where bc.com gets the 3lbs 14oz but it does happen from time to time & they do a good job considering they're tracking thousands of items.

You can "pitchlight" the Skyledge 2.1 tent with just the fly, poles, & tent pegs. Check out these instructions:

http://mountainhardwear.com/images/Skyledge2pt1_PL-S09.pdf

This is a double-walled tent made mostly of mesh. If you ventilate the tent properly you should not have issues with condensation. This is the short answer. The semi-long rudimentary answer is that condensation occurs when dew-point is reach on any surface. Also, our bodies are composed of 98% water. You would be amazed at how much moisture is exhaled while you sleep. When the temperature drops and humidity increases water condenses... bottom line. Double-walled tents, ventilation, dry weather, and low humidity all help to mitigate or improve our experience with condensation especially when it comes to tents. Hope this info helps..

MSR Hubba hubba is solid, and a bit wider, but I prefer the Skyledge 2.1, primarily because of the larger vestibules.

Yep. The Skyledge 2.1 is slightly wider and slightly longer than the Skyledge 2. It is a great tent and one I have in my personal stash! Cheers.

thanks jon,
cheers

The "moisture of dawn" that you speak of is condensation. Condensation is also known as 'dew' and you know when frost ends up on your windshield on a cold morning? Frozen dew. It is a part of living on this earth and any time there is humidity and a difference in temperature (always), say between the inside of a tent, and the outside air... you get dew or condensation. How do we combat this in tents? Ventilation. We allow TONS of breathability and ventilation by making a mesh tent. Also when you combine a mesh tent with a two door fly that goes over it... the condensation typically forms on the underside of the fly and not inside the tent. With single wall tents... this is a diffrent story. In single walls... ventilation is critical. If you read through the reviews you will find folks that have used these in very humid environments and had a good experience. So, in short... good ventilation = less condensation. This is a great tent for that! Enjoy!
-------------------------
I forgot to mention that when sleeping at night the amount of water vapor that you breathe out of your mouth is enough to cause substantial condensation on the inside of a tent. Especially if it is cold out. Go breathe on a mirror and tell me this isn't true! Again, the solution is ventilation. Cheers!

the mesh really does help with ventilation. I used it in northern Georgia (muggiest place ever in summer!) for a three-nighter and was impressed with the ventilation

I own this tent and although I have not used it in the Ozarks in the summer I would imagine that the fact that the tent is completely made of mesh, save the fly, would make it as ideal as any for a hot and humid Ozark evening. The mesh does a great job of keeping the bugs at bay as well. Also, it only weighs 3lb. 14oz.!!-----------------------------------------I own this tent for backpacking in the Great Smoky Mountains (also extremely muggy in the summer) and it works like a charm. Highly recommended for that environment

I have one of these tents in my personal quiver and have had no issues with small sticks or rocks poking through. If you are camping in a particularly abrasive environment... definitely consider a ground sheet! This would be the case with any tent. Hope this helps!

Good question! I have an older Skyledge 2 and love it. I recently bought a Skyledge 3 and am not impressed. Everything from the footprint to the tent itself feels far less durable. Furthermore, on my first night out in the new tent, one of the poles split in half. The older Skyledge 2 poles (red, not gray) seem far more durable to me. Needless to say, I'm looking for another tent...

Nope. No vent on the fly... but the two doors provide a ton of ventilation...

Yes. The tent fly is guaranteed water tight from Mountain Hardwear. And the floor seam is taped...