Shelters » Six Moon “Deschutes” Cuben Fiber Tarp Tent
I just wanted to put in the good word for Six Moon Designs “Deschutes” Cuben Fiber Tarp Tent. This is a six sided pyramid tarp. I feel that “fitted” tarps give you better coverage with less material as compared to a flat tarp. The specs off the website will tell you that it is 105 inches long… 80 inches wide…. 48 inches tall. Because the pyramid it doesn’t seem quite that big as you lose usable space around the edges and the 48 inch tall doesn’t feel quite that tall. Nonetheless, it’s amongst the largest of the Cuben Fiber six sided pyramid tents on the market. I am 6’4″ and it fits me just fine plus my gear. The claimed wage is 7 ounces… My scale says 7.5…. I added the little plastic tensioners bringing the total to 8 ounces. It is also very compact….ummmmm…. About the size of a 1 L Nalgene bottle. It is designed to be supported by a trekking pole…. But I use the carbon fiber pole that is sold by Six Moon Designs which weighs 1.8 ounces and cost $30
If you look carefully at the photos one picture shows the zipper ‘open’ and the guidelines are long enabling the tarp to be up off the ground for more ventilation and for more interior space. Another photo shows it zipped ‘down’ and the guidelines are supershort…. This is what I call “Storm Mode”…less room, more protection.
This tarp cost $330… They make the same tarp out of silica nylon which weighs 13 ounces and costs $165…. Speaking in round numbers, half the price, twice the weight and bulk.
There are two other companies making similar design tarps. One is Bear Paw Wilderness Designs “Lair” which will allow numerous customizations. The other is Z-Packs “Hexamid” which also has some customization options. Cuben fiber is “THE” material for BikePacking. There are other designs using Cuben Fiber but the modified six-sided pyramid is the best (for me)
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Thanks for the review – this was definitely helpful for me!
Thanks for the review, just come back off the Tour Aotearoa and realized that my 1.6 kg tent was to big and way too heavy. So just order one so with luck will be here in a couple of weeks, just wondering how low the front comes down from the ground? Just in the picture it looks pretty high but the SMD pictures look like its level all round. Have you used it since and are your thoughts still positive.
The Top & Bottom Photos show it with the zipper “up” …also it is pitched a few inches up off the ground… the middle photo show it with the zipper “down” and tight to the ground…a.k.a storm mode…. if it were really bad I would advise clipping on a extra “door” …ummm…an extra big Tyvek ground cloth with one side closing the ‘door’ yet big enough for your pad plus bag too…….NOTE: this is the Original version…I’m pretty sure they made a Newer Version with either (1) a longer zipper (2) bigger vestibule beak…..Extra Extra NOTE: I just purchased a Mountain Laurel Designs “Trail Star” in Cuben…It is 4 oz. heavier (12 oz. total)….It is a big Pentagon with which you do “Origami” and can pitch it “small & tight for a storm….or…HUGE and open for nice weather….Super Versatile ….More protection for Epic Expeditions….Google it!….Great simple design.
Cool thanks for that will have a look at the trail star sounds good helped heaps
Hi,
The photo’s are of an older model (the same as mine). The newer version that you have seen on the website comes much lower to the ground and the zip goes nearly all the way to the apex. Hope this helps.
Paul, Peak District, UK.
I purchased the standard (silica nylon) Deschutes tarp. After over a year and a number of trips, no regrets. The Deschutes tarp is great with a bivy and sleeping bag. Good protection, easy to erect and packs up small. I strap their carbon fibre pole to my top tube.
Deschutes tarp, Terra Nova Moonlite bivy and Sea to Summit Spark 1 sleeping bag = around 1 kg total