When looking at tents online, it’s a real head-scratcher to figure out how a tent will feel inside. I’ve got an idea: how about 3D models that you can play with that have human-scaled mannequins inside. Click on these:
MoonLight2 With Mannequins (5'10" & 5'5") by thetentlab on Sketchfab
Moonlight 3 Tent With Mannequins 6Ft7 5Ft10 5Ft5 by thetentlab on Sketchfab
Size and weight
The size of a tent really affects its weight because the weight of a tent goes as its surface area which goes as the square of its dimensions. It’s really important to realize this when you compare tents because it’s very easy to think that two tents are comparable in size from their floor area and peak height but if the foot area is smaller, the tents will have quite different weights.
Here’s a quick example but first let me emphasize that I am NOT dumping on these example tents. Many thousands have been sold to happy customers. This is a simple size-versus-weight example. If you look at the Big Agnes Copper Spur and compare it to the MSR Hubba-Hubba — both designs based on the old Walrus Rapide frame design — you might assume that MSR just somehow blew it because their tent weighs 10 ounces more. Excluding some small differences, the major reason it’s 10oz more is because the BA tent’s surface area (and therefore its interior space) is smaller with it’s tapered floor and smaller foot area. The MSR is rectangular and symmetrical and has much more room inside. Now, bringing up the MooonLight 2, it’s 13 ounces heavier than the MSR. The ML2 has a 10% bigger floor, a little more height, even steeper walls, and a 20% bigger vestibule— all of which accounts for about 10 ounces. Add 3 ounces for all the cool features and there it is. If you want a really comfortably sized tent like the MoonLight, made from similar weight materials, it’s going to weigh about the same as a MoonLight. MoonLights ARE efficient and lightweight. It’s the goal of roominess (and strength) that makes them land where they are.
The MoonLight rainfly can be slid off the roof for stargazing and coolness. It slides right back in a flash if a storm threatens.
MoonLight 4+ pictured above
Convenience and livability features:
- Rainfly can be peeled back halfway or all the way and re-closed lightning-quick if a storm blows in
- Mostly ripstop sides with closable windows let you regulate how warm or cool the tent is
- Gigantic net roof lets you stargaze or just watch clouds go by
- Two doors and two vestibules
- Zipper-closable through-the-rainfly vents up high, to keep condensation to a minimum. MoonLight 3&4 vents can be accessed from inside through zippers in the roof AND have two more vents: one on each vestibule.
- Clear polyurethane windows in the rainfly right outside the side windows. MoonLight 3&4 also have a window on each vestibule.
- Net windows, two on every door panel and side windows that can be closed for privacy or warmth or sandstorms (ML2: 2 side windows, ML 3&4: 4 side windows)
- Lots of loops for hanging stuff inside
- Ω More loops on the outside for hanging wet gear, especially rainwear
- Door shape lets you spin your legs in or out without scrunching
- Mini-biner clips, 2 per person (it's hard to find micro-biners like these so we include them, .1oz, 2.6g apiece)
- All zipper pulls are cord so they don't jingle when the tent moves
- Reflective guylines so you don't trip over them at night, bright gold color for day
- UTX Phantom guyline adjusters – super easy to figure out and use
Open, stylish, and fun!
3 hang-ups outside each door await your wet rainwear for drip-drying. You don’t have to put them in a soggy pile in the vestibule.
