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Backpacker Magazine – 2010 Editors' Choice/Gear Guide
Gear Review: Mountain Hardwear Skyledge 2.1 Tent
Mountain Hardwear Skyledge 2.1 (Brooks Freehill)
Best All-Around
This three-season workhorse just got even better: It dropped three-quarters of a pound for 2010. It’s the perfect choice for hikers who want serious weight savings, durability, and unflappable storm protection. The floor is a bomber 70-denier nylon, and in Idaho’s City of Rocks the wind-shedding design stood strong through violent thunderstorms. Testers also praised the new corner attachments, which secure the poles, fly, and stake-down loop—all in one piece, which improves convenience and shaves weight.
The 50-inch width (tapering to 40 inches at the foot) just fits two sleeping pads, but the near-vertical walls provide ample headroom; the 85-inch-long floor is adequate for all but the tallest campers. Two doors and vestibules are generously sized, and the brow pole creates a drip-free door, since it holds the fly away from the opening. Large swaths of mesh enhance ventilation and “made this tent a joy, even during steamy Adirondack nights in black-fly season,” reports one tester.
Bonus: six pockets, a generous number for such a light tent. Nitpicks: The drab fly color gives the interior a gloomy tint (but blends into scenery), and testers wished the brow pole ends attached more securely to the fly to keep them from inconveniently slipping out of place during setup. $350; 3 lbs. 7 oz.
FULL PRODUCT SPECS: SkyLedge 2.1
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Reader Rating:
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Editors' Choice 2013
412 trail-tested products
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READERS COMMENTS
All you need to do is adjust the fly after pegging. Works like a charm.
"After reading all the positive comments I went out to buy this tent, but was disappointed at the dealer when I had a closer look.
The short pole that crosses the top of the tent is held in place by to connection straps to the tent.
But the fly just lies over it. This meant the the pole was in the correct place keeping up the fly on one end, but at the other, it was sticking out at the zipper. I couldn't get it fixed properly.
How to deal with this, and keep the short pole in the proper place on the fly??
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