Tester Information

Backpacking Bio

I learned camping and hiking in Boy Scouts, tramping Washington’s lowland forests, and eventually took up backpacking as a singular pursuit and found a home away from home in the Cascades and Olympics. Now living in northern California, most of my hiking is in the Sierra Nevada with trips ranging from overnight to weeklong excursions. I favor high, alpine settings. My total pack weight for three-day summer trips, including food and water, is roughly 25 pounds (12 kg); longer trips see pack weights ranging into the mid 30s (17 kg).

Product Information

Product Description

The Baku 2 is a relatively lightweight two-person, single-wall, three-season shelter with an external three-pole frame and two vestibule–protected entrances. The tent’s small footprint allows pitching in tight locations where larger tents don’t fit, and the relatively low and smooth profile sheds rain and wind.

 

 

Caption: Furled vestibules in fair weather.

 

Design & Materials

My Initial Report details the Baku 2’s design, materials and construction.

http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/Shelters/Tents/Sierra Designs Baku 2/Rick Dreher/Initial Report/

In summary, the Baku 2 is a compact, lightweight, two-man, single-wall wedge tent with dual side doors and vestibules. It’s supported by a pair of crisscross external poles, with a small third cross-pole at the apex. It has a pair of small vents to help ventilate the otherwise non-breathable canopy, although large netting doors handle most of the venting chores.

Key Measurements at a Glance

* Canopy, poles, stakes, main stuffsack.

** Distance between vestibules, tip to tip. Additional space required on each side for staking.

The living area is nearly rectangular but the entire footprint, including vestibules is roughly hexagonal. Maximum width, measured from the vestibule ends, is 94 in. (239 cm); an additional few inches are needed on either side for the anchor webbing and stakes.

Packing and Carrying

I pack the canopy and stakes in the main stuffsack inside my pack and the poles outside, either vertically or horizontally depending on the particular pack. Stowing the poles separate from the canopy makes the canopy much easier to pack, because it’s fairly small and can bend. Using the pole sack assures the little third pole won’t be lost when they’re lashed outside. When not soloing of course, the canopy and poles can be split between two, to share weight and bulk. I usually keep the stakes with the canopy, in the main bag.

Field Setup

Baku 2 setup is simple and straightforward. A rectangular area at least as large as the 83 x 51-45 in. (211x132-114x cm) tent floor is required, but the vestibule areas needn’t be level. Setup is now second nature and, as the tent has stretched, is easier too. Staking the corners first when it’s windy is the best practice, but not required if it’s calm. The clip system has proved much easier than pole sleeves, whether pitching or striking. It’s a great system!

 

 

Caption: Despite the yellow, the Baku 2 can blend in.

 

I’ve used the Baku 2 on snow, sand, dry ground, moist ground and rock slab. Sand and snow are a challenge for the skewer stakes, and require some creativity to get them to hold. Dense springtime snow will hold them once it’s stomped a bit. “Deadmen” can replace one or more anchors as necessary and if it’s not windy, only the vestibule anchors are truly required. The vestibules can also be tied off to nearby low branches.

The thin-walled poles are susceptible to dented edges and getting fine sand in the ferules. Cleaning or careful re-bending with a small tool is occasionally needed in the field. I was packing the poles without their stuffsack, but have gone back to using it to keep them clean when lashed outside the pack.

The tent can be moved after pitching by unstaking and plopping it down in the new location, since the tent holds its shape when carried (except the vestibules). Empty, it can be shaken clean still pitched, with the doors open.

Long-Term Report

I’ve taken the Baku 2 on four solo trips (two, one-night and two, two-night) and three, two-man (one, four-night and two, two-night) trips--all to the Sierra Nevada. It’s a nice place to sleep and hang out. Solo, it’s luxurious for me and my gear and the ventilation is fine. I can keep my backpack in one vestibule (the door I’m not normally using) and my shoes and a few handy items in the other.

With two, it’s strictly sleeping quarters with little extra gear space. It’s better to sleep head-to-toe because of the cattycorner door arrangement, despite the narrower “foot” end. With both occupants at the head end, the person on the right has a bit less ventilation and a bit more challenge entering and exiting. The difference isn’t dramatic and either configuration works, it’s more of a preference. There is the old-foot-to-the-side-of-the-head trick to watch for, though.

Two sleepers, two pads, two sleeping bags and a bit of clothing and gear are about all the Baku 2 will accommodate. Distance from the walls is important to keep condensation away from the sleeping bag. The two stash pockets handle some gear in addition to the netting doors themselves, and the left-side occupant gets the small third pocket.

 

 

Caption: Two guy’s worth of stuff, stuffs the Baku 2 full.

 

The 40.5-inch (103 cm) peak height allows me to sit upright in the tent center. Two can sit upright at once without banging heads. The sidewalls are steep, helping maximize interior space. A small flashlight hung from one of the ceiling loops makes a nice, out-of-the-way tent light.

Field Conditions & Weather

I’ve taken the Baku 2 into California’s Sierra Nevada on several trips, with destinations at 5-6,000 feet (1,524-1,830 m) elevation in late April/early May and 7-9,500 feet (2,134-2,900 m) in June-August. Conditions ranged from cool-and-snowy late spring to hot-and-dry late summer. Nighttime temperatures have been as warm as about 60 F (16 C) and down to about freezing (32 F/0 C).

As during the field report period, fair weather continued for this long-term. I’ve had but a single bout of rain (an afternoon-evening thunderstorm), which the tent handled with no problem. Even in the rain, the vestibules can be kept a bit open to increase venting and provide a view. Wind spills over the Baku 2 without disturbing it or creating loud and annoying flapping, so long as it’s properly anchored and the Clip-Loc is well secured. Without a breeze it can be stuffy inside when the vestibules are zipped closed. Some frost has formed outside the canopy and a bit inside, around the apex and vent openings. When lounging in warm weather while mosquitoes and blackflies bang away at the netting, it’s important to keep the vestibules wide open; otherwise, the compact Baku 2 quickly becomes sauna-like. Of course, opening the vestibules pays off in the views.

 

 

Caption: The Baku 2 is a fine backcountry bedroom.

 

Condensation

In a dry camp on a mild night, or with any decent breeze, there’s little condensation even with the vestibules closed. But, humid air on cooler nights causes minor misting around the ceiling and vestibule apexes. Still colder, humid and windless nights, especially with two occupants or with wet clothes inside, create moisture that has to be managed. It descends farther down the sides and I can either contact it directly or have it shower down if anyone hits the wall or ceiling. While the two vents undoubtedly help, they’re not enough and the vestibules have to be opened. When the temps hit freezing, the condensation will ice up.

In summary, condensation can overwhelm the non-breathable tent canopy if I’m not careful about keeping the vestibules open enough to gain significant cross-ventilation. The two small vents sometimes need help, and it’s prudent to dedicate a rag or small sponge to occasional wipe-downs.

Wear and Tear

The Baku 2 has weathered this test with no material or sewing failures, little visible wear and only a few tweaks to the poles. The floor coating is intact despite no use of a ground sheet or “footprint” (I’m careful about clearing tent sites). The many zippers still operate smoothly and the snaps hold without binding. The static-y canopy fabric attracts dust and tree sap clings to floor and canopy alike. The stakes bend a bit if forced, but are tougher than many aluminum skewers I’ve used. In short, the Baku 2 is plenty robust for my purposes.

Long-Term Test Conclusions

I think the Sierra Designs Baku 2 is a terrific, compact two-man tent that serves well in most of the conditions I’ve used it in. Ease of setup, good use of interior space, innovative design and lightweight materials combine to make it an attractive shelter option.

Suggestions

I suggest the vents could either be enlarged or more added. I’d prefer that it met the weight specification. Even a teeny window would be nice for when the vestibules are battened down. I’d be curious about a carbon pole option, and how much weight it could save.

My sincere thanks to Sierra Designs and BackpackGearTest for the opportunity to participate in this test!

—Rick Dreher