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Reviews > Shelters > Tarps and Bivys > Six Moon Designs Gatewood Cape > Andrew Buskov > Long Term Report Long Term Report - Six Moon Designs Gatewood Cape
Andrew Buskov August 21, 2006
Tester Biographical Information:
Backpacking Background: I started backpacking when I was about 8 and quickly became hooked on the outdoors. I prefer being out in the winter more than the summer. I have hiked a variety of environments ranging from Maine's Mt. Katahdin to the bottom of Arizona's Grand Canyon. As an Emergency Medical Technician, I have been trained to be prepared at all times so my pack tends to be on the heavy side. I'm finding that as I solo more and more my needs are changing. I'm looking for ways to lighten my pack and gear while still providing me with the level of safety and security that I demand while being out in the wilderness. I like the challenge and excitement of hiking difficult and dangerous terrain more than the just getting from point A to point B on flat level ground. Product Information:
Product Description:
Testing Locations and Conditions: Unfortunately, it seems as if the weather was against me on testing this item. The weather here has been extremely temperamental during the last phase of the testing period. In all, there were only 5 days that I was off work in which time it rained. However, all those times were during severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings. Naturally, I was unwilling to place myself at the mercy of tornadic activity simply to test the durability of this item. The majority of my testing was done in the Land Between the Lakes recreational area and the John James Audubon state park. Both of which are in western Kentucky and have elevations around 500 ft (152 m). The temperatures that I saw while testing this cape were from the low 70's F (21 C) to above 100 F (38 C) during the day. Because I am usually a winter camper, and absolutely loathe the hot temperatures, I decided to do most of my testing during this phase as short 2-3 mile jaunts into a campsite then back out early the next morning. The only rain I saw was one evening while I was just arriving at camp. It was merely a sprinkle.Long Term Results:  In my last report I
described some issues that I was having with the harness that connects
the cape to the pole. This item was apparently sewn wrong at the
factory and failed during one of my trips. I contacted Six Moon Designs
and was shipped a new harness within 2 weeks. The new harness has a
completely different stitching that is superior the the original
harness I received.Setup has become easier and easier during the past few months as I have become more comfortable with the shelter. I have found that after a period of time, I no longer need to look at the length of my pole during the setup as the tent has stretched a bit. The length of the pole during setup had grown from when I initially received the shelter. I find that making the pole as long as I can causes the tent to be tighter and then quieter during the night, especially in windy conditions. I was extremely surprised that this cape did not rip during the test. As I noted in the FR phase, the cape caught almost everything while walking through the woods. After careful examination, I found that although the cape snagged quite frequently, the material was not damaged in any way. None of the threads were pulled or torn, nor was the waterproofing of the material harmed. Results: During the life of the test I think I have received a fair amount of use from this item and am adequately prepared to answer the questions that I posed during the Initial Report.The cape fit quite well, and allowed me to use as a cover for my pack while hiking. Due to the excess material that was hanging, my mobility was limited some. I had to be extremely careful not to brush up against anything that I thought may rip the cape. At times I found myself more focused on the trees and shrubs that pose a danger as opposed to the beauty of the environment around me. I did find that I was able to use the zippers single handedly. However, even with the zipper completely down there was a great deal of moisture inside the cape from perspiration that was not able to escape. This was a big draw back for me. There were times I was drenched simply from perspiration before I was even exposed to any rain. I was also able to use the cape as a pack cover, but due to the perspiration and moisture retention, I found that I simply couldn't wear it unless I thought the chance of receiving rain was high. As a shelter I found that this shelter to be extremely roomy. At no time did I feel confined or cramped. I thought that having the pole in the middle of the cape would significantly cut down the usable space. Because of the design of the cape, and the fact that the pole sits more in the vestibule area, this wasn't a problem. This shelter did adequately protect my gear from a constant downpour from the hose. The only thing that I found during the rain test is that the hood that covers the neck hole in the cape has a tendency to flap around and can possible blow open during a rainstorm, thus leaving a nice big hole for rain to enter your shelter through. For durability I must admit that the fabric performed much better than I thought it would. During the FR phase I noted that I was almost constantly snagging on things while walking, but found that the material was undamaged by the end of the test. The fabric has not faded yet, nor has the material stretched much more than any other nylon that I have used over the same period of time. I didn't find the need to reapply any type of waterproofing during this test. Over the testing period, I have found that that the designer is from the Pacific Northwest. The weather and environment out there is much different than what I have been exposed to here in western Kentucky. I feel that this item would be much more suited to cooler weather months like October and November here. Summary: I must admit that testing this item was completely different that I ever imagined. I would have to recommend this item to anyone who in comfortable with a tarp tent style shelter and is looking to save some weight by leaving a separate parka at home. Some of the things I liked:
Read more reviews of Six Moon Designs gear Read more gear reviews by Andrew Buskov Reviews > Shelters > Tarps and Bivys > Six Moon Designs Gatewood Cape > Andrew Buskov > Long Term Report | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||