|
| Home | Guest - Not logged in | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
» Register
» Login
Gear Reviews
Documents
Tools
» Contact
|
Reviews > Shelters > Tents > Big Sky International Evolution 1P > Ken Bigelow > Field ReportBig Sky Products Summit Evolution
1P Shelter Name: Ken Bigelow Age: 27 Gender: Male Height: 5' 9" (1.8 m) Weight: 205 lbs (93 kg) Email address: krb84108 (at) yahoo (dot) com Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA Backpacking Background: I was first dragged on a backpacking trip eight years ago and have been addicted to it ever since. My adventures vary in length from a weekend to over two weeks. I am slowly shifting my backpacking style to a lightweight approach. I recently upgraded to a hammock to reduce weight. From spring through fall I typically backpack in the mountains or desert, while in winter I often go snowshoeing. I typically see a wide variety of climates ranging from 10 F (-12 C) with snow to 90 F (32 C) and sunny with just about everything in between. Product Information:
Field Conditions: For the first two months of testing I have used the Big Sky Evolution 1P Shelter in Zion National Park, a couple of trips to Canyonlands National Park and in the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. The elevations have ranged from 4,000 ft (1,200 m) to 7,000 ft (2,100 m). Overnight temperatures have been between 25 F (-4 C) and 45 F (7 C). I’ve experienced rain, wind and even clear skies while sleeping in the shelter. The terrain has included sand, dirt and slickrock. Field Report: For a more detailed description of the Evolution 1P and its features please see my Initial Report. Pitching the Evolution is a relatively quick and easy process. After sliding both poles through the pole sleeves (and locking one end of each pole into a grommet) the shelter can be erected in a matter of seconds. The tensioning cords in each corner of the tent allow me to erect the tent with minimal effort. The first time I put up the tent I was amazed at how easy it went up. I did not have to wrestle with the shelter trying to lock the poles into the second grommets while the other end popped out of the first set of grommets. It was literally a “WOW” moment for me and I had to immediately try it again to ensure I was not hallucinating. The fly goes on quick and easy too. It attaches at the four corners of the tent and the Velcro straps fix the fly to the pole sleeves and then can be guyed out. The vestibule has enough space to protect my hiking boots and my pack from the elements, while still providing enough room for me to exit the shelter. I have noticed that the zipper on the rainfly frequently catches on the silnylon, but it is quickly freed by reversing the sliders direction. This is not a big issue in my opinion, but can be slightly annoying. Pitching the tent up in windy conditions is less than ideal due to the light weight of the shelter. On one of my trips into Canyonlands National Park a stiff breeze made erecting the tent a slight struggle as the shelter kept trying to escape from my clutches and fly away with the wind. When I finally had it up, I immediately had to stake it down as it attempted to roll away into the canyon. I actually expected this difficulty from a lightweight shelter so I am not disappointed with the result. I would in no way trade this problem for a heavier tent. Seeing the tent up and anchored seemed to anger the wind and it increased its intensity the moment I had the fly on so I decided to turn in for the day. The fly flapped in the wind, but was guyed out enough as to not create a disturbance and I eventually fell asleep. This only infuriated the wind more and it enlisted the aid of dry sand by blowing the sand under the fly and onto the mesh. While the mesh protected me from the larger particles, the smaller grit did pass through and covered everything inside with a fine layer of sand.  Blowing Sand Was Able to Sneak Under the Fly & Through the Mesh A rain shower finally tamed both the wind and blowing sand, but I am not sure exactly how hard it rained as I was asleep the entire time. When I woke up the ground was wet and beaded rain drops covered the fly. It was definitely more than a drizzle, but probably nowhere near a monsoon storm as I didn’t float away in a flood. Either way I am happy to report that the rainfly kept out all the moisture that fell during the night. I remained dry all night long and could not find a trace of moisture inside the next morning. The Evolution survived a strong wind with blowing sand and a decent rainstorm without too much trouble, which makes it a good shelter in my book. The Evolution 1P is has plenty of interior space for a one-person shelter. I can sit up in the shelter and my head does not quite touch the top of the tent. I have had no problems whatsoever changing clothes or putting on/taking off my jacket while in the Evolution. I have been able to store all my gear inside the tent with me (except for the food bag which I store away from where I sleep due to hungry rodents that surpass me in both persistence and intelligence). I also have enough room in the shelter to comfortably pack up all of my gear (except the shelter and food bag) without leaving its interior. The Evolution also has plenty of space for sleeping. I frequently toss and turn during the night, but I have only come in contact with the side of the tent once and that was when I was sleeping on a mild slope. Lying in the tent does not feel confining and to me it seems the tent was designed to be more of a one-and-a-quarter person shelter as it has room enough for both me and my gear to sit comfortably. It doesn’t have quite enough room, in my opinion, for two people (that are my size) to lie down in. Speaking of size, the hamper (i.e. mesh triangular pocket) is huge! I can fit the majority of my gear in it alone. I’ve simultaneously had my rain pants, hiking shirt, sun hat, gloves, pack cover, first-aid kit, emergency blanket, compass, map, sunscreen, hiking journal, camping permit, knife, water filter, car keys and wallet with plenty of room left over. I keep my lip balm, reading book, headlamp and sunglasses in the smaller side pocket near the head of the tent, but that’s because I can access that storage area while lying down in my sleeping bag. These items could easily have fit in the hamper with the other items mentioned, but this separation of gear keeps me more organized.  The Hamper Pocket Holding Most of my Gear Testing Location: I go hiking/camping or backpacking in Utah almost every weekend from the spring through the fall and will continue to bring the Summit Evolution 1P. I hope to venture into the San Rafael Swell and either Cedar Mesa or Capital Reef National Park in May. If the weather permits, I also intend to go backpacking in Fish Lake National Forest and the Wasatch Mountains in June. The terrain will vary greatly and will include wet and muddy corridors, slickrock, steep and rocky terrain as well as plain old dirt paths. Temperatures should range from 35 F (2 C) to 85 F (29 C). I will likely see all types of weather ranging from heavy rain to sunny. The elevations experienced should be between 4,000 ft (1,200 m) and 9,000 ft (2,700 m). Testing Plan: I still have a few more features to test on the Evolution 1P Shelter and hope to answer them by the time the testing period is over. How quickly can I pitch it? Will the aluminum and carbon poles perform substantially different from each other if I test both models in similar conditions? Can I enter or exit the tent quickly and easily? Do I have enough room to cook in the vestibule if the weather is bad? Will the hamper allow enough ventilation for clothes to dry out over night? Does the no-see-um mesh help properly ventilate the air and prevent moisture from condensing inside the tent when temperatures are either above or below the dew point? Will bugs penetrate the no-see-um mesh if I try and ventilate the tent? Will the "double wall construction" provide enough strength to handle heavy rain, hail or possibly even a light snow? Is the stuff sack waterproof? I am trying to be more weight conscious when backpacking so I have not been and do not plan on carrying a groundsheet to protect the shelter’s floor. If no groundsheet is used, will the silnylon floor fabric resist abrasions and lacerations caused by the ground? Will the shelter fabric or fly rip, tear or in any other way be damaged over the course of the test period? Will the interior pockets and hampers be damaged after four months of testing? Will the aluminum or carbon fiber poles survive for the full four months of testing? Will the poles permanently warp or deform during the test period? I have not yet received any stakes or guylines from the manufacturer. I will use my own set until the manufacturer’s arrive. Will the manufacturer’s titanium UL stakes easily bend when hammering them into the ground? Will any of the seams, stitches or zippers come loose and need to be repaired or replaced? Summary: The Evolution 1P is a very accommodating shelter. It is quick and easy to pitch, which accommodates my impatience. It is light weight to accommodate my inherent laziness. And it is also a roomy shelter to accommodate by fat waistline and restless sleeping. The zipper does tend to snag, but it’s not a big issue. Blowing sand can also enter the tent, but this may be a user error and not the fault of the tent. I look forward to using the Evolution 1P over the final two months of the test period and hope it continues to be a superb lightweight shelter. Things I Like:
Read more reviews of Big Sky International gear Read more gear reviews by Ken Bigelow Reviews > Shelters > Tents > Big Sky International Evolution 1P > Ken Bigelow > Field Report | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
