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Initial Report - Integral Designs Silshelter Bug Liner
May 16, 2005
Name: David Sowards-Emmerd
Age: 28
Gender: Male
Height: 5' 8'' (1.73 m)
Weight: 155 lb (70 kg)
Email Address: drunken_marmotATyahooDOTcom
Los Altos, California, USA
Date: May 16, 2005
Backpacking Background:
I began backpacking semi-frequently about four years ago, soon
after moving to California. I generally take weekend (1 night)
trips, and occasionally take 3-4 day trips. Most of my
backpacking experience is at moderate altitude, 6,000'-12,000'
(1,800-3,650 m), in conditions ranging from dry desert to hail/heavy
snow in the mountains. In winter and spring I split time between
Southern California (SoCal) deserts and snowshoeing/skiing/snow camping in
the Sierra/Cascades. Summer and fall I tend to stick to the high country.
I have reduced my pack weight down to less than 50 lb (23 kg) over
the past year - including food/water and a bear barrel. I'm trying to
include more mountaineering, climbing and bouldering in my trips.
The product was received on May 11, 2005.
Product Details:
Manufacturer's Website: www.integraldesigns.com
Manufacturer's Description:
''This liner is designed to be in conjunction with the Silshelter, or as a stand-alone refuge from no-see-ums and bugs. Set up is on a single trekking pole (handle fits into pole cup at apex of shelter). The bug screen is a grey no-see-um netting. The floor is bathtub-shaped with 2'' high side walls to keep out any ground water. Floor fabric is a lightweight 70 denier urethane-coated taffeta nylon with no seams. Corner loops are made with 1/2'' nylon webbing with ladder lock adjustments to tension off the same stakes that anchor the Silshelter. Corners are seam taped. Entry is through a 'D-shaped' 60'' zippered door. Three tie loops at the foot end enable the foot end to be elevated. A single loop above the pole cap enables the front to be staked out.
Capacity 1-2 people
Length 84'' (210cm)
Width 44'' (110cm)
Weight 17oz (485g)
MSRP $100''
Additionally, the accompanying info card gives a few hints on setup (not on the website):
''Optimum setup, for use with the Silshlter, is with trekking pole adjusted to 38'' (96 cm) and the corner loops at 135 degrees, outward from the sides, with the ladderlocks almost fully extended. Silshelter apex pole cap fits over top of Bug Liner pole cap and main stake points can be shared with Bug Liner stake points.''
and additionally, the following specifications are listed on the card also:
Height: 38'' (96 cm)
Packed Size: 5'' x 10'' (13 cm x 25 cm) in silcoat stuff sack
Specifications (as measured by tester):
Weight(bug shelter, including guylines): 19.68 oz (558 g)
Weight(stuff sack): 0.46 oz (13 g)
Length: 86'' (218 cm)
Width(stake loop attachment to stake loop attachment): 45'' (114 cm)
and both ends are same width
Height: depends on how long a trekking pole is used in setup
Packed Size: approximately 5'' x 11 '' (13 cm x 28 cm) but I can pack it much tighter
Product Description:
Included with the bug liner were two 11' (280 cm) black guylines and a gray silcoat stuff sack (I can never get enough of these!). Starting from the bottom up, the base of the bug liner is a coated black nylon bathtub floor. The only seams are at the corners and these are seam taped. After seam tape was applied, 1/2'' (12 mm) webbing stake loops were sewn on to the four corners of the bug liner, through an additional square of webbing on the inside of the floor to strengthen the attachment. These four webbing loops are adjustable in size with ladderlocks and are the primary points for staking out the tent. By measuring at the corners of the bug liner, from the stake out point up to the top of the floor material, I found the bathtub floor material extends 3'' (8 cm) up from the ground. Since this angles inward when set up, the vertical projection of this should correspond to the claimed 2'' (5 cm) depth of the bathtub floor. Above the bathtub floor, netting forms something of an A-frame. The front (entrance) end of the bug liner has a nylon pocket attached at the apex where the handle of a trekking pole can be inserted. This provides the primary support for pitching the tent. A loop is sewn to the top of the pole pocket to guy out the trekking pole. The guyed out pole, along with the four stake-out points comprise the minimal setup. The entrance to the front is by a D-shaped zippered (YKK) opening that starts just below the pole pocket, zips down to the right corner (outside perspective) and then back across the bottom of the tent. In the closed position, the zipper is at the top. A pull loop on the tent is provided on the inside at the top. At the foot end of the tent, three loops are present for guying out that end of the bug liner. These can be guyed directly to the ground, to a tree or second trekking pole, or not used at all (see photos). The seam along the top of the bug liner is felled as well as the right side by the zipper. The foot end and left side of the entrance are just sewn through.
Initial Impressions:
First off, the mesh was a bit heavier duty than I was expecting, I assumed something lighter like I've seen on bug hats would be used. This is a plus for me, since I was initially very worried about durability when I applied for the test. Overall, the quality and construction appear to be top notch (with the exception of a slight opening at the end of the zipper which I may seal with duct tape). Second, the weight of the product is somewhat heavier than I expected from the listed weight. My preferred trekking/ski poles are two-piece BD poles, with a minimum (collapsed) length of 41'' (105 cm). Unfortunately, this suggested 38'' (96 cm) length for setup (when used with the Silshelter) is not listed on the website so I had no way of knowing my trekking poles were not compatible with the suggested setup. However, angling my trekking pole seems to work fine - I will also try my older 3-piece poles if needed. I will report on how use of a longer trekking pole effects the Bug Liner setup. Also, keep in mind that this note on the setup is specifically for using the Bug Liner with the Integral Designs Silshelter. I've already set up the bug liner in living room with a pole and some dumbbells, and also set it up in a local park. It is VERY spatious for one person and was trivial to set up, taking just a minute or two, including digging out an extra guyline for setting up with two trekking poles. Below are photos showing the different guyline setups for the foot end of the Bug Liner.
General Questions and Things to Test:
- Stability: how stable is the bug liner setup without guying out the foot end? Does angling the main trekking pole make a difference in the stability of the setup?
- Durability: Is the netting visibly damaged by sunlight after a bit of use? I probably will be using it stand-alone most of the time. Is the floor easily punctured? Does the netting catch on Velcro? If I need to make any repairs, I will report on whether duct tape works or other solutions.
- Does the bug liner seem to hold in some of my body heat on calm nights?
- Is it easy to set up in windy conditions, in the dark, or in a cloud of mosquitoes?
- The webbing tie-outs definitely seem excessive when not needed for use with a Silshelter. Are they convenient enough to justify the extra weight? Will I feel the need to remove them at the end of testing for tiny stake loops, or will I break down and buy a Silshelter?
- How often will I feel the need to tie up the foot end of the bug liner? If condensation is not a problem and it's cool enough I'm in a sleeping bag, I don't imagine it'll make a difference having the netting up or down. Also, are the foot end guylines needed in wind for extra structural support?
- Headroom: is it possible for two to play rummy inside if the bugs are bad?
- Condensation: Is condensation a problem on the netting like with single wall tents?
- Rain: If I'm in this at night and it suddenly clouds up and starts raining, I'm sitting in a bathtub, right? I do not anticipate much rain overnight in the Sierra this summer as the afternoon thunderstorms typically clear up by sunset, but there's a slight chance I'll end up reporting on this.
- Is it easy to set up without a trekking pole (using a tree)? I plan to try this setup when my wife decides to hammock, since we'd be camping where there are plenty of trees around.
- Any problems with condensation on the netting?
- How quickly does the bug liner dry out? It should be much easier to air out than a typical tent.
- Does the bug liner provide any noticeable shade from the sun? Does the floor (black) get extremely hot in the summer sun if left set up?
- Can I see stars through the bug liner on a clear night?
- Are heavy winds a problem? Would I want to be in this shelter in heavy winds in the first place? Does the netting cut a noticeable amount of wind?
- I assume dust will blow right through the netting, but what about sand?
- Is it easy to see mosquitoes (and other bugs) against the netting (ones inside the shelter), and if so, is it easy to swat them against the fabric, or 'guide' them out of the shelter?
- Will this shelter fit loosely inside other open air tents (GoLite Hex 2 specifically) by attaching the pole end to loops inside the Hex 2?
- How much adjustment is possible when guying out the tent and how many stakes are needed for minimal and typical setups?
- This seems like something that would be very easy to miss (visually) and trip over between twilight and dawn. How visible is the tent in low light (the black guy lines will be very difficult to see).
- Is it easy to get in and out of without letting too many bugs in?
- Will my wife fit in with me, or is it really a 1 person shelter?
- How about cooking inside the bug liner - it'll keep the bugs off my food, and there sure won't be a problem with ventilation! My only concern is that the netting may be flammable, but I will consult Intergral Designs regarding that first.
Test Plan and Testing Locations:
As I'm currently looking for a job, my future is a bit uncertain at the moment, but hopefully my wife and I will take most of the summer off and backpack, climb and otherwise bum around California, and possibly Colorado, Utah, Washington? In any case, I will be able to get a good deal of testing in well before that time here in California, including at least one more ski trip in the Sierra or southern Cascades since we've got a hefty snowfall this year - yes, there are bugs on the snow, and nights tend to be around freezing so I will give this shelter a try. In addition, I will use the Bug Liner during my usual wandering around California. On colder trips, I may pair this shelter up with a bivy sack (Integral Designs eVENT South Col - doesn't have bug protection) to reduce the wind and add some extra warmth, but otherwise, I envision using it standalone for most of the testing period. I will try to use this in conjunction with a GoLite Hex 2, but realizing how long this is, I'm very doubtful that it will fit underneath.
Read more reviews of Integral Designs gear
Read more gear reviews by David Sowards-Emmerd
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