Six Moon Designs Skyscape Scout Evaluation

Backside Line

The Six Moon Designs Skyscape Scout 1-person tent earns excessive marks in our information to the very best finances tents. It has the proper stability of affordability and weight, clocking in at a mere 2.4 kilos.

The Skyscape Scout has a ridiculously quick setup for a backpacking tent, with solely three stakes required to pitch and your selection of trekking poles. It is also particularly designed for taller hikers, boasting over 8.5 toes in size and twin doorways and vestibules for simple entry and ample storage. 

One other neat function of this tent is its hybrid double wall design which permits for greater than 80% of the cover to be separated from the mesh. This additionally signifies that the cover may be tied again to create an nearly full bug web tent – good for stargazing and having fun with hotter nights freed from bugs.  Nonetheless, this tent will not be seam sealed by the producer. To utterly repel water, these tents must have sealer utilized to the seams earlier than use in moist climate.

Consolation

The Six Moon Designs Skyscape Scout checks the entire packing containers for a snug one-person shelter. With an immense quantity of size at 8.6 ft and a peak top of three.75 toes, it’s very roomy with beneficiant quantities of house for additional gear on the foot and head of the tent. Its distinctive diamond/pentagon-shaped footprint is boxed off on the toe and tapers on the head. Throughout testing, we seen that this allowed for extra room within the higher vestibule. As soon as staked out, the poles slip into higher bolstered pockets contained in the tent, and after lengthened correctly, merely push outward to stabilize the construction. 

Whereas arranging our gear, we discovered that we have been capable of neatly manage all of our belongings as a result of ample additional house overhead and down previous the foot. This allowed us to maintain the within of the doorways freed from litter when coming into and exiting in the course of the day. 

Come dusk, we even discovered sufficient room to convey our pack inside because of the semi-diamond form of the tent. Inching the air mat over to 1 facet opened up more room to retailer a pack inside and maintain it bug free. There’s additionally an higher hook, which we used to hold headlamps for overhead gentle and two triangular facet pockets, the place we have been capable of match a cellphone and sun shades in order that they have been protected and out of the best way.

The offset space for the poles is a delicate, but very efficient and considerate function permitting for elevated inside headroom when sitting up and mendacity down. It additionally enhances stability and rigidity when totally guyed out for additional power throughout significantly inclement climate. There’s additionally a small built-in ridgepole on the high of the tent for added stability. As soon as your selection of poles are in place, the built-in ridge pole helps to proceed the help construction throughout the roof of the tent so it’s not unfastened or saggy.

Climate Resistance

The Skyscape Scout includes a distinct offset A-frame design with steep partitions to shed any precipitation you may encounter within the backcountry. Throughout testing, we discovered that after staking out all of the man line factors and adjusting all the pieces accordingly for full stress, this tent is rock strong. The pull-out factors all have brief, pre-attached man strains and stress adjusters to cinch all the pieces down.  

Since this tent is a hybrid double wall design, correct air flow is essential in stopping the shared wall from producing condensation. We discovered that this was no situation as a result of, apart from that wall, the remainder of the tent is mesh, nearly all of the cover is separate, and it may also be totally rolled again for immense air flow choices. Because of the polyurethane coated 190T polyester, after seam sealing and getting a taut pitch, this tent received’t sag within the rain like some nylon materials does.    

The vestibules on the Skyscape Scout are very helpful with their 16 sq ft. of out of doors storage room due to the tapered head of the tent. They supply adequate house for storing packs, moist boots or the rest you’d prefer to maintain out of the inside, however protected from the weather. 

If there’s any space the place this tent got here up barely brief, it must be the dearth of sealed seams. This isn’t an enormous situation although. It’s pretty straightforward to do, but when it’s one thing you don’t wish to cope with, maintain this in thoughts when contemplating this tent.

Sturdiness

The place the Skyscape Scout falls brief on lack of waterproofing, it totally makes up for in lots of different points, together with sturdiness. The thick 190T polyester materials that includes the ground feels very sturdy, in addition to the 40D no-see-um mesh. We weren’t nervous about punctures when pitching this tent on the rougher, rockier areas throughout testing. Six Moon Designs does promote additional footprints, however in our expertise, it undoubtedly may maintain its personal with out one. 

Some semi-freestanding tents is perhaps inclined to elevated put on and tear from utilizing trekking pole help and heavy reliance on man line stress. The Skyscape Scout thoughtfully mitigates this by reinforcing the higher and decrease pole pocket areas, the pull-out factors the place vestibules and corners get staked, and the additional guyline attachment on the middle hybrid panel. The shut consideration to element on this shelter makes it an excellent selection for reliability and resilience.

Portability

The Skyscape Scout ranks proper on the high of our lineup by way of sheer portability as a result of it’s solely 2.4 kilos. Though not the entire tents on this class are geared in the direction of light-weight backpacking, this one earns excessive marks for low weight. 

As with every semi-freestanding tent, pitch time can take a bit longer and relocation may be tougher. Nonetheless, with solely three crucial stake-out factors for the poles, the Skyscape Scout has the least quantity of anchor factors required to pitch or relocate if want be.   

It simply matches right into a backpack with negligible weight acquire and leaves loads of  room for the remainder of your gear. Throughout testing, we discovered that it was simpler for us to maintain the tent rolled up in a backpack slightly than making an attempt to continually take it out and in of the included stuff sack.

The carrying sack is a primary cinch sack with a pinch lock to maintain the opening safe and a grommet to maintain it from tearing. Nonetheless, there’s not a lot additional room for looser pack jobs, so in the event you do plan to retailer it within the included bag, make sure to roll it up very tight to make sure it matches.

Ease of Use

The Skyscape Scout had an easy setup. Its distinctive A-frame design and built-in apex ridgebar permit the poles to face freely as soon as the three foremost anchor factors are staked down. It’s because they’re truly on the within of the tent and assist push the perimeters out, appearing as de facto anchor factors and eliminating the necessity to pack two additional man strains and stakes. We thought this was a extremely distinctive design function that differentiates itself from others within the lineup which have the poles positioned on the skin.

As soon as your poles are set and the three foremost anchor factors secured, there’s solely the 2 vestibules and the additional man out level on the hybrid panel that may be staked out. After we have been tenting and pitching the tent, we didn’t must make the most of the additional man out level on the hybrid panel, however in the event you wished to additional improve inside house and stress, make sure to convey an additional stake and man line to make use of it.

Ought to You Purchase the Six Moon Designs Skyscape Scout?

If you happen to’re a tall backpacker over 6’ on the lookout for a roomy, extremely light-weight, fast-pitching shelter to calm down in after miles on the path, this tent is for you. If you happen to prioritize light-weight gear, ease of use, and ample inside house in a one-person shelter at a surprisingly inexpensive worth, make sure to take a look at the Skyscape Scout. It’s a worthy finances purchase that comes totally outfitted for any demanding backpacking journey the place low weight and safety from the weather is high precedence. 

It comes filled with nice options like prolonged size, a hybrid double wall design, glorious stargazing and air flow, and tons of additional room to stretch out or stash additional gear. Twin doorways, vestibules, and inside pockets add to the superior storage and accessibility attributes. Of the 4 backpacking tents within the Finances Tents Class, this was solely one among two that weighed in below 3 kilos. We might undoubtedly advocate this tent for longer backpacking journeys the place weight and mileage are priorities. 

What Different Finances Tents Ought to You Think about?

Six Moon Designs Lunar Duo Clothes shop Evaluation: When you have a barely greater finances for backpacking tents and are on the lookout for a bit extra inside house, take a look at the Lunar Duo Clothes shop. One other nice finances purchase from the Six Moon Designs group, this 2-person tent includes a bigger width and peak top because of curved roof bars that get inserted above the doorways. Additionally created from the identical price efficient 190T polyester and 40D no-see-um mesh because the Skyscape Scout, it additionally wants separate seam sealing to be totally waterproof.  

TarpTent Stratospire 2 Evaluation:  The Stratospire 2 is one other finances backpacking tent to think about in the event you’re out there for light-weight shelters. Though notably costlier than each the Skyscape Scout and the Lunar Duo Clothes shop, The Stratospire 2 is a workhorse of a tent outfitted nice options and very good material comparable to 30D double ripstop silicone nylon 66 ground, a 20D nano ripstop silicone coated polyester fly, and 15D nylon no-see-um mesh. At 2.7 kilos for a 2-person shelter, it’s not that a lot heavier than the Skyscape Scout and undoubtedly value trying out.   

Naturehike CloudUp 2 Evaluation: If you happen to’d slightly stick with smaller freestanding tents which might be nonetheless gentle sufficient for shorter backpacking journeys and also you’re below 6’, then undoubtedly peruse the CloudUp 2. Weighing in at solely 3.7 kilos, it’s actually gentle sufficient to hold backpacking and in addition has good high quality supplies. Manufactured from 20D silicone coated nylon rated at 4000 mm, it comes with factory-taped seams for added moist climate safety.