• As advertised, using long stakes with a few inches protruding from the ground allows the tent to be pitched higher allowing for more headroom and more ventilation. This makes a big difference in the comfort level inside the tent.
• There were times when using the pull outs at the head and foot would have also improved the pitch and given me more headroom but for one reason or another, it was impractical to use them.
• My initial observation that the front vestibule needed a longer guy line in order to keep the vestibule taut was obviated with additional experience setting up the tent. When the front side guy lines are set up in line with the front (mesh) doors rather than at an angle going forward of that line, the vestibule door pitched taut without the need for extra length.
• I used this tent with and without a Tyvec groundsheet. I only use a ground sheet if I can’t find a place where I don’t have to worry about sharp objects causing tears in the fabric. After the six month test period, I find no sign of wear on the bottom.
• I experienced one night of extreme condensation in the tent. While I had tried to set up as far under trees as I could, I was forced to camp at the edge of a grassy area on a foggy night that frequently turned to rain. The raindrops and larger drops falling off trees would knock the condensation off the tent wall. The mist splattering my face woke me up. No amount of drying with a Packtowl could prevent the condensation from immediately reforming on the tent walls. I had to cover my face to get some sleep and rely on my sleeping bag's ability to shed moisture.
  
  I believe all users of any SilNylon single wall tents must be prepared to deal with such situations.
  
  Not knowing if perhaps the fabric could actually be leaking (the feel and look of the fabric differs significantly from another SilNylon tent I have), I tested the tent with a hose and am perfectly satisfied that the material does not leak. The hose test did prove useful as I was able to identify one point on a seam that was leaking. I'm sure a quick recoat with McNett SilNet will solve that problem.
• I did not find myself sliding around on the floor of the tent quite as much as I had in the winter. I'm not sure whether that was because the SilNet was tackier in warmer conditions, whether I pitched on a flatter area, or whether I wasn't as aware of it in warmer conditions.

• How well does the tent stand up to windy conditions?

Assuming the stakes are firmly embedded in the ground, I’ve had no problems with the wind in the tent.

• How well does the tent keep rain at bay, both along the vestibule entrance which is adjacent to the tent body, and while entering and exiting the tent during rain?

I did not encounter any leaking along the vestibule entrance. When I had the tent set up in rain, I did my best to keep it under cover of trees and with the prevailing winds coming at it from the side opposite the entrance. This worked well to keep to rain from entering the tent.

• Does the vestibule reliably keep the area underneath dry?

In light rain, I would occasionally keep my shoes under the vestibule with the heels towards the supporting hiking pole in the center of the vestibule. There was some splash up onto the toes of my shoes. (My shoes are a very long men's 13.)

• Does the ventilation keep condensation at bay in the humid eastern US states?

No. In a single wall non-breathable tent, even keeping the sides up as far as possible will not prevent condensation. Keeping a small Packtowl around to wipe the walls when I was preparing to move around was small price to pay for the convenience of carry a lightweight tent. That and a water resistant shell on my sleeping bag.

• Do the preattached guylines present a problem when hiking where the ground is unforgiving? I am used to searching for a spot to sink a stake and with the premeasured guylines, will I be frustrated in my attempts to pitch the tent? If so, will some additional line solve the problem?

The flexibility of the stretchy cord in the guy lines was enough to enable me to easily pitch the tent in most places. There was one instance where I did have to shift the entire tent to find good anchor in the ground. Additional cord would have given me greater flexibility and allowed me to set up exactly where I had originally placed the tent.

• With my long bag pressing against the mesh at the head and foot of the tent, will I have any problems with moisture transfer through the mesh from vegetation just outside the tent?

I did not have any problems with moisture transfer from external vegetation. That said, I do try to avoid campsites where that could occur. I did have condensation wet both ends of my bag from the walls of the tent. Once again, while the Pertex shell of my bag felt wet, it provided enough resistance to shrug off any water that would have otherwise soaked through and wetted the down.

• Ron is aware of many of the issues surrounding the manufacturing process of the tents.
• The crinkly hand of the fabric that I had mentioned and the corresponding fold marks are likely a result of the fact that the fabric used in the test tents was not the 1.1 ounce fabric as advertised, but a 1.4 ounce fabric. This fabric substitution was apparently inadvertent.
• The guy lines for the test tents were also cut a bit short.

• The tent is longer and higher.
• The floor is now a bathtub floor.
• Guylines are cut longer and should now accommodate secure knots.
• The vestibule now closes along the front guyline with a full strip of Velcro.
• The manufacturing process for the grommet that holds the hiking pole tip has changed and the tip should now be prevented from slipping out to come in contact with the SilNylon.

• Ease of getting in and out of the tent.
• Weight

Reviews > Shelters > Tents > Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo > Mara Factor > Long Term Report