Biographical Information
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Name: |
Mark Wood |
A Brief Introduction
I grew up camping with my parents and had taken a few short backpacking
trips, as well as a couple of 10-day trips before I got married. While
my wife and I have enjoyed car camping and day hiking for close to 6
years, we have both decided to make backpacking a permanent part of our
lives. Our trips are generally shorter (2 - 5 days) over rocky, hilly
terrain. My general pack weight for a 3 day trip is around 25 lb (11.4
kg) including food and water.
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Age / Sex: |
28 / Male |
Height: |
5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) |
Weight: |
250 lb (113 kg) |
Email Address: |
mwood_bgt at markandkc dot net |
Web page: |
http://www.markandkc.net |
Location: |
Chenango County, New York, U.S.A. |
Product Information
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Manufacturer: |
Big Sky International |
Model: |
Convertible 2P |
Year of Manufacture: |
2007 / 2008 |
URL of Manufacturer: |
http://www.bigskyinternational.com |
MSRP: |
Varies by Configuration
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Color: |
Granite Gray
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Component Weights: |
Winter Shell: 25 oz (709 g)
Winter Interior: 19.5 oz (553 g)
Summer Interior: 17.4 oz (493 g)
3 Piece HD Aluminum Poles: 26.2 oz (743 g)
Compression Stuff Sack: 2.2 oz (62 g)
Aluminum Tube Stakes (2): 0.6 oz (17 g)
Titanium Hook Stakes (6): 1.6 oz (45 g)
Aluminum Y Stakes (4): 1.7 oz (48 g)
Snow Anchors (2): 2.1 oz (60 g)
Reflective Guy Lines (4): 1.2 oz (34 g)
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Interior Dimensions: |
Head Width: 55 in (140 cm)
Foot Width: 45 in (114 cm)
Length: 85 in (216 cm)
Height (Peak): 40 in (102 cm)
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Shell Dimensions: |
Head Width: 65 in (165 cm)
Foot Width: 53 in (135 cm)
Length: 98 in (249 cm)
Height (Peak): 42 in (107 cm)
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The Big Sky International Summit Convertible 2P shelter is a modular shelter system. The fly can be setup
alone or with either the summer or winter interior. Therefore, package weights vary depending on what
the user decides to pack.
A typical spring configuration could include the following: Winter shell, Summer Interior, 3 HD Aluminum
poles, Compression Sack, Guy Lines, 6 Titanium Hook Stakes and 4 Aluminum Y stakes for a total packed weight
of 4.7 lbs (2.1 kg).
Warranty: (from manufacturer website)
"We use lightweight high strength materials, but a customer should not expect our products to stand up to the same use/abuse as products using materials weighing much more than our products. Big Sky warranty products again manufacturing defects, but does not warranty products against materials failure due to durability issues."
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Field Conditions
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Numerous locations will
be visited during the testing time
frame. My usual backpacking areas are the Catskill and Adirondack
regions of New York as well as some Northern Pennsylvania trails such
as the West Rim Trail. Also, the Finger Lakes Trail passes very close
to my home and I often incorporate this into my "regular" destinations.
In general, temperatures
will range from around 40 F (4.5 C) to 90 F (32 C) during the testing
time frame. Over the last few years, Upstate New
York has had a lot of rain so I would expect quite a wet and muddy spring.
Elevations in my normal hiking areas generally range from 500 - 2500 ft
(150 - 750 m).
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Initial Report - April 28, 2008
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First Impressions
Initial inspection of the Convertible 2P showed exceptional workmanship. Attention was paid to details
and all seams were tight with no loose threads. The seams didn't appear to be sealed, but I will hold
off sealing them unless I find they leak. All poles slide together easily and everything fits nicely
in the included compression sack.
Unlike any other tent I have used before, the pole system for this shelter supports the fly alone.
However, this is not the typical exo-skeleton type tent as the poles actually go in sleeves on the fly.
From here (living up to the Convertible name), either the winter or summer interior can be "hung" from
the fly. I can see the advantage to this system immediately as it allows for a lot of versatility. It
also allows the tent to be pitched without exposing the interior which I hope will prove handy in
the rain. It should also be noted that there are additional Convertible options available from the
manufacturer which I was not supplied. These options make this shelter system ideal for an all season
individual who like to tailor their shelter to the expected conditions.
Stakes and snow anchors
Initial Setup
I must confess -- for such a well made shelter, I was sorely disappointed in the included instructions.
They are quite brief and list features which do not exist on this particular tent. Deciding to forge ahead
on my own, I went out to my pasture to begin the initial setup. After about 10 minutes, I was becoming
somewhat frustrated. The idea is that the shell has two pole sleeves running in an 'X' pattern. In these
sleeves, the two straight poles are supposed to slide. However, I found that it is quite difficult to
actually slide the poles through the sleeve owning to the fact that the top of the fly requires the pole
to bend somewhat severely. It's not so bad getting the first pole in place, but trying to slide the
second pole in was where my problem started. Once I realized that it was necessary to reach over and
assist the pole in sliding over the first (already in place) pole, things went much smoother. It should
be noted that the HD aluminum poles I was provided are indeed quite strong. This somewhat exacerbates the
problem as they don't really like to bend up and over the fly. Once the two poles are secured, things
progressed much easier.
Shell Pitched
Vestibule Pole Incorrect!
With the shell pitched and staked, it becomes elementary to line up the chosen interior and clip it
in place using a series of small plastic clips on the underside of the pole sleeves. The interior also
fastens to the four corners where the fly stakeout points are located. Overall, this part was very
easy and was accomplished with little stress.
At this point, I had a functional shelter! However, I still had the extra vestibule pole. Things
looked simple enough and I inserted it into the grommets on either side of the fly and clipped the fly to
the now flexed pole. While I can see this keeping the vestibule away from the tent and offering a bit
more room, I really didn't understand how this was at all supporting the tent or offering any real
advantage. All of the pictures I have here are with the pole installed this way which I later found
out was incorrect. Closer inspection revealed that there are two small holes under the vent at the top
of the fly through which the vestibule pole can be threaded. Secured like this, there is a significant
improvement in the rigidity of the fly and I can better appreciate the purpose of this feature. It should
be noted that the vestibule pole is not mentioned in the instructions.
Shell with Winter Interior (Door Open)
Vestibule Pole Incorrect!
Winter Shell
The winter shell is available in both Granite Gray and Marigold Yellow. I specifically chose the gray
option as I really don't want to draw undue attention to my camp site. I enjoy the solitude of nature
and wish to keep a somewhat low profile so others can see the beauty around and not my tent. Sitting
under the fly it becomes apparent that sufficient light still enters the tent. Around the edge of the
shell are snow flaps which lay out on the ground. These can be buried for winter use to seal off the
floor of the shelter from drafts and blowing snow. They can be secured up using plastic toggles and
elastic loops for use during the summer months where ventilation is key. The dual vestibules offer a
substantial amount of additional storage space -- especially with the additional vestibule pole. The
top of the shell is somewhat unique. From inside, it becomes clear that the shell really has a
rectangular hole at the top which is covered by an additional rectangular piece of nylon. This provides
the opportunity for ventilation and there are two small poles which can be held in place using
hook and loop fastener to keep these vents open which is a nice touch.
Interiors
The summer and winter interiors are functionally the same except that the summer interior is made
from a light weight netting while the winter interior is made from a breathable nylon material. The
floor of both is made from a silnylon material which is dark in color. The other difference is that
the winter interior has vents at the top corresponding with the shell roof vents which open with a small
zipper. Opening the zipper reveals bug netting.
The interior is quite cheery and there are numerous conveniences. There are mesh pockets in all
four corners which I think will be great for small items (head lamp, wallet, etc...). There are also
numerous loops sewn into the top seams. This should allow the occupant to hang lights or other items
from the ceiling. Finally, the doors are quite tall making it very easy to enter and exit the shelter.
Summary
My initial likes and concerns can be found below:
Likes
- Everything appears very well made
- The doors are quite large making it very easy to get in and out of the shelter
Concerns
- After my initial setup problems, I hope I am able to set this up quickly when necessary.
- The small clips holding the interior to the shell worry me. I see no signs of them stressing
or breaking, but I somehow feel they are the weak point of this setup.
This
concludes my Initial Report. The Field Report will be appended to
this report in approximately two months from the date of this report.
Please check back then for further information.
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Field Report - July 15, 2008
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Field Conditions
Night time temperatures during the field test
time frame ranged from a cool 35 F (2 C) to a hot and
humid 80 F (27 C). This shelter was used a total of
11 nights -- 7 of them car camping, coupled with a pair
of two night backpacking trips -- one in the Adirondack
region of New York as well as one on the West Rim trail
in Pennsylvania. Car camping took place in the
Catskill region of New York as well as a weekend hiking
/ camping trip to Allegheny State Park. Rain was
prevalent during the Adirondack backpack trip and there
was plenty of humidity most nights.
Pitching the Convertible 2P
I've attempted to use as many possible configurations
of this shelter as possible during the Field Testing
time frame. Early in the test period, I used the winter
interior but as conditions warmed, I switched over to
the summer interior. Both fit very well inside the
supplied shell. At no point during the testing did I
experience any leakage. A ground cloth was never
used.
As mentioned in the Initial Report, I was incorrectly
pitching the shell with respect to the Vestibule
Pole. In the photo below, it is possible to see how
the pole should pass through two small holes in the
pole sleeve. This is easily seen when detaching the
top vent and flipping it over as I have done for this
picture. This procedure makes it much simpler to pitch
this pole correctly.
Correct Vestibule Pole Location
With regards to stakes, I have found that for me,
the simplest configuration is to use four titanium hook
stakes to secure the four corners of the tent and two
aluminum tube stakes to secure the vestibules (one per
side). For especially soft soil, I've found the
included aluminum Y stakes work very well for the four
corners and hold more securely than the titanium hook
stakes. I have yet to have trouble finding an
appropriate stake for the soil conditions I've
experienced.
Having pitched the Convertible 2P numerous times, I
have to say that the procedure gets easier and easier.
It is actually quite simple unless the poles or the
pole sleeves are at all wet. In this situation, the
poles stick to the sleeve material making for a
somewhat frustrating experience. While I don't see
this as a major flaw of the system, I couldn't help but
wish for pole clips instead of the sleeves. The pole
clips on the Vestibule Pole gave me zero problems under
the same conditions.
Living in the Convertible 2P
Living Space
The Convertible 2P is a spacious living space for
two people. I have found that using the Vestibule pole
maximizes the space for storage under the fly (and
outside of the tent body itself) and allows for two
adults to be very comfortable inside. I especially
enjoy having the pockets at all four corners of the
interior. Not only does it help keep the shelter
organized, they provide a great place to dry out socks
and such after hiking all day in the rain.
Mesh Pockets
Having never had a shelter with two entrances, I do
have to say that my wife and I truly enjoyed this
feature. Neither of us tends to get up much during the
night, so we rarely climb over one another on a single
entrance shelter. However, being able to leave our
packs and other gear in our own vestibule, and able to
access these whenever we needed was really nice.
Condensation
One of my major concerns for any shelter is how well
it handles condensation. I tend to be a very warm
sleeper, and seem to have a bigger problem with
condensation than most. Overall, the Convertible 2P
provides acceptable ventilation if proper precautions
are taken. The first essential item is to ensure the
roof vents are open. If rain isn't expected, the
entire roof vent will open allowing for a clear view up
to the stars (through the interiors top mesh). Also,
if possible, having the vestibules open helps a lot.
During a serious rain storm, neither of these are
options and I found that a somewhat high level of
condensation formed. However, since the interior of
the tent does not touch the fly (if pitched tightly)
the condensation has yet to reach any of my gear.
I've also found it very helpful to stow the snow skirt
when not needed.
Vents Open and Snow
Skirt Stowed
It should be noted that during the testing with the
winter interior I noticed less condensation problems. I
would have to attribute this to the cooler weather and
lower humidity on the nights it was used. I did,
however, open both ceiling vents of the winter interior
during use.
Summary
Overall, I've really enjoyed the Convertible 2P.
It's kept the rain away, withstood moderate winds and
provided a spacious shelter for two people.
My initial likes and concerns can be found below:
Likes
- Large double entrances!
- Withstands the weather very well
Concerns
- Ventilation is somewhat lacking
- I'm still a bit worried about the small clips
holding the interior to the shell worry me even
though I have experienced no problems thus far.
This
concludes my Field Report. The Long Term Report will be appended to
this report in approximately two months from the date of this report.
Please check back then for further information.
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Long Term Report - September 15, 2008
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Field Conditions
Night time temperatures during the long term
reporting phase ranged from 45 F (7 C) to a hot and
humid 75 F (24 C). This shelter was used a total of
4 additional nights -- 2 of them car camping, coupled with a pair
of overnight backpacking trips -- both in the Adirondack
region of New York. Car camping took place in the
Catskill region of New York. Humidity was very high for
the car camping trip and on one of the hiking trips.
Pitching the Convertible 2P
Throughout the long term testing phase, I normally
used only the summer interior and the full three pole
setup (two crossing poles plus the vestibule pole). I found that this configuration maximized
interior space (third pole) while not making the whole
shelter too heavy for backpacking. This worked very
well for me and the shelter was quite weather
proof.
During the last backpacking trip, cold nights were
expected so I decided to take the winter interior
instead of the summer version. This proved to be a bad
decision on my part. While the temperatures fell to
around 45 F (7 C), I was still very warm. Also, the
humidity was higher than I would have expected which led
to some minor condensation problems. The winter
interior is much less breathable than the almost all
mesh summer interior and therefore, ventilation was much
less than I would have liked. Between the humid night
and the condensation in my breath, I had drips running
down the interior walls in the morning. Overall, not the
most comfortable night, but not the shelter's fault as I
have used the summer interior in similar conditions with
much less of a problem. I simply picked the wrong
configuration for the conditions.
Living in the Convertible 2P
Living Space
My hiking companion slept in a hammock for all
outings during the Long Term Phase so I had the spacious
Convertible 2P to myself. This shelter is plenty large
for not only myself and my gear, but my wife's gear as
well. I truly enjoy having the luxury of a two person
shelter for only myself!
I also have found that the accessibility of the dual
vestibules and doors is something which I'm
becoming spoiled by. I can store a lot of gear in the
vestibules even if it's rainy and muddy outside.
Compared to some of the single occupant shelters I've
used, this seems downright huge!
Condensation
I almost always have condensation problems with
double-walled shelters. This one is no exception, but
to a minor degree. I have been very pleased since even
on the warmest nights with high humidity, the
condensation has remained manageable. Only when I chose
the wrong interior for the conditions did I experience
any sort of heavy condensation. I continue to take
care to ensure the roof vents are situated to allow a
breeze and this seems to make a huge difference.
Summary
Overall, this is a great shelter for two, and a
luxury shelter for one. There are no major issues with
the shelter and it performs admirably in all conditions
thus far.
My final opinions can be found below:
Likes
- Easy to use, large, double entrances
- Remained dry and comfortable in a variety of conditions
Concerns
- Ventilation is somewhat lacking (though I've found
ways to mitigate this concern)
- The small clips
holding the interior to the shell seem undersized
but have continued to perform as designed. I still
wish they were slightly more rugged if nothing more
than for piece of mind.
This
concludes my Long Term Report. I wish to thank Big
Sky and BackpackGearTest for the opportunity to test
this shelter!
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Read more reviews of Big Sky International gear
Read more gear reviews by Mark Wood
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