Name: Gail Staisil
Age: 53
Gender: Female
Height: 5' 9" (1.75 m)
Weight: 140 lb (64 kg)
Location: Marquette, Michigan USA
Email: woodswoman2001@yahoo.com

Photo Album Website: http://community.webshots.com/user/isleroyalegirl

The Sierra Designs Baku 2 Tent arrived just in time for several spring backpacking trips. All of the tent components came in a yellow stuff sack with a hangtag attached. The hangtag highlighted some of the features of the tent and had warranty information. After reviewing the tent on the website I didn't think I really needed to look at the set-up instructions as it is quite simple but I did anyway. Reminders such as to set up the tent with the mesh doors unzipped are always helpful.

I decided to set the tent up in my living room rather than outdoors as it was already dark outside and I was anxious to see how it looked. The Baku 2 is a freestanding tent so it was easy to set up the main body of the tent anywhere. In the woods, it would be better to stake down the four corners of the main body as that would give it more stability.

There are only three poles to this tent and they are all made by the Dongah Aluminum Corporation. The DAC Featherlite NSL poles are supposed to have the highest strength-to-weight ratio among any aluminum tent poles. The NSL poles all feature an expanded portion on both ends where bending stiffness is higher. According to the manufacturer they are designed to minimize possible breakage at that point. The two pre-bent lengthy poles are identical. These pre-bent poles are the main support for the tent and help to create steeper walls making the inside of the tent more spacious. The poles are inserted into opposite corners of the tent thereby intersecting at the center top of the tent. At the intersection, I fastened the Clip-Loc over both of them. There is a bungee cord attached to this Clip-Loc but that is fastened later. I next slipped all of the Swift Clips (12) over the poles. The Swift Clips are already attached to the tent body. They fasten very easily making the procedure a quick process. The remaining pole (19.25 in/49 cm) is then inserted into grommets between the two main poles at the top of the tent. The Clip-Loc bungee is wrapped two to four times around the intersecting poles at this point. This adds stability and strength to the entire tent.

The Baku 2 Tent is classified as a hybrid tent because it joins both single-wall and double-wall design. The vestibules are already attached to the tent so all I will have to do is stake out both vestibules with one stake each when I am setting it up outside. These vestibules can also be left unstaked for maximum ventilation. There are additional reflective guy cords that can be used to guy out the tent at four different points (loops) on the tent body. This would be an extra point of protection against damage from high winds or severe weather. In order to use the guy ropes, it would be best to bring four extra stakes (not provided) or use rocks or deadfall for anchor points.

As I was setting the tent up, I couldn't believe how large it looked. I then crawled into it and was still surprised at its spacious feeling. The walls of the tent are steeply slanted allowing great headroom. The double stash doors add to its roomy feel. These opposite facing mesh doors are simply huge. One of the doors measures 40 in (102 cm) across at its widest point and 29.5 in (75 cm) at its highest point. The opposite door is a bit smaller but still huge. The doors can be stashed into mesh pockets on each side of the doors.
      
The tent floor tapers from one end to the other with the larger end measuring 52 in (132 cm) and the other end is 46 in (107 cm). The difference of 8 in (20 cm) isn't readily apparent but it might be when two people are sleeping in it. The SuperSeal Floor is waterproof and is in the bathtub style. This style allows the perimeter seam to be raised above the ground level to guard against water seepage. The floor has been treated with Ultra-Fresh. This is a preventive measure to retard the growth of mildew, fungus and the like if a tent is stored without proper dry conditions.

In addition to the mesh door walls of the tent, there are two ventilation vents that are located on each end of the tent. One of the vents is located near the ceiling on one end of the tent and the other is located about 18 in (46 cm) above the floor on the other end. Both of these are part of the Air-Flow Vent System .The vent system consists of elongated mesh inserts that prevents precipitation or bugs from entering the tent. There is a fabric covered Delrin rod on each vent opening that has Velcro attached to it. These stiff plastic rods made out of high resin polymers allows the vents to be propped open. There is also a tab with a corresponding piece of Velcro that can be secured to close the vent system to keep possible severe precipitation from entering the tent.

The main storage mesh pocket in the tent is roomy enough. It measures 14.5 in (37 cm) by 5.5 in (14 cm) and is subdivided into two units. There are also two additional mesh pockets that are utilized for storage of the stash doors (one on each side of the tent) but they probably can be used for other items as well.

The materials used in the main body of the tent include 40D Nylon Rip Stop for the main unit and 40D HT Rip Stop Nylon with Silicone coating for the fly. The fly also has Polyurethane under coating that makes it 100 percent waterproof to 80 PSI. The seams are taped making seam sealing obsolete. The circular-like mesh doors are fully zippered and have reflective cord on the zipper pulls in case I get lost during the night.

This Baku 2 Tent is unbelievable easy to set up. Total time involved is less than four minutes. I quickly set it up again today in the forest a few  miles from my residence so that I could take some pictures. I was able to stake the vestibules and was pleased with the coverage. There seems to be adequate room to stow boots, water bottles and other items without hindering entrance or exit to the tent. Tomorrow I will be heading out for a few days of backpacking so the Baku 2 is already stowed in my backpack. I'm looking forward to setting it up in difficult weather conditions if they occur as it assembled so quickly.

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Sierra Designs Baku 2 Tent--Test Plan

During the next few months, I will test the Baku 2 Tent during several spring and summer backpacking trips. They include a three day solo trip at the end of April to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, a four day trip to the Hiawatha National Forest in early May, a four to five day solo trip in May and several lengthy trips in the following months. All trips will be in the state of Michigan or to the province of Ontario in Canada. The testing conditions will be at low elevation or altitude 600 ft (183 m) to 2000 ft (610 m), with mostly semi-cool to warm conditions and mid-to-high range humidity (50-95 percent). The amount of time in the field will far surpass the minimum requirements for this test.  In addition to these planned trips, I will most likely be taking several weekend-type trips during the testing period.

 

Rampant temperature change and much precipitation is expected during the four month testing period. Testing location temperatures will range from the average low in April of 27 F ( 4 C) to a high of 46 F ( 17 C). July being the hottest month of the test period historically has an average high of 75 F (29 C) and an average low of 53 F (11 C).  Precipitation averages for this time period add up to over 12 in (30 cm). All of these trips will be taken to hilly boreal or deciduous forest. Many of these trips are of the bushwhack variety, so in addition to the above, I will be encountering wet swampy areas and the like.

 

I will address the following concerns and more:

Comfort: Will there be sufficient room for myself and some of my gear in the Baku 2 Tent? I would also like to test it with an occasional partner. Will the tent be comfortable and roomy enough with two people in it so that each person has a little space of their own? Will the tent be lengthy enough so that my sleeping bag does not touch the walls of the tent and become wet from condensation? Will I easily be able to get in and out of the tent without catching part of my body on the entrance doors? Will the tent be tall enough so that I am not constantly wiping the top of the tent with my head?

Weight: Will the weight of the tent with so many exceptional features truly be as advertised? I normally use a hammock or tarp during the spring and summer months. Will the weight of the tent hinder me from wanting to carry it after the test period or will the features of the tent be so outstanding that I will prefer it over my tarp or hammock?

Ventilation: Will the single-wall design allow more ventilation than a standard double-wall design? My testing will occur in a high humidity and semi-warm to warm environment during the summer months. Will the tent be able to transfer body moisture to the outside quickly and not heavily condense the interior of the tent? Will the double vestibule doors allow adequate ventilation?

Set-Up/Take-Down: Will the tent be easy to anchor? Will it always need to be anchored? How long will it take to set up the tent and take it down? Will it be easy to pitch in the middle of a rainstorm with strong winds? Will I be able to easily pack the tent and poles in the stuff sack provided or will it be a challenge to get it all in properly? Will it be be easier to separate the components of the tent system and pack them separately? Will I be able to easily stow the tent in my backpack without major reconfiguration of items stowed in there?

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I will gladly address all these issues and any additional pertinent issues, as I test the Baku 2 Tent. Thanks to Sierra Designs and BGT for this great opportunity during the next four months.