Deschutes Plus

This is the lightest 1 person shelter that provides rain and bug protection that is also long enough for me (6'5"). I have used a lot of tents and bivy's over the years, and this thing is the way to go. It does take some practice to build the setup muscle memory but when you do, it is just as fast to pitch this than it is by BD bivy sack that requires a pole and 4 stakes for it to be comfortable. I have successfully stayed dry in rainstorms (and wind), cool on hot nights, and kept some horrific mosquitoes at bay. I am impressed with the durability of the material, although care must be taken with the bug netting. I recommend this shelter to anyone looking for a single person shelter for 90% of their camping needs; but I will list a few things to consider for anyone looking to make the leap from a traditional tent or bivy to this tarp-like shelter: 1) When camping in areas with large populations of rodents, which I do not, the bug netting will not keep them from crawling on you while you sleep! I've had two not-so-pleasant nights where a more protective shelter, like my bivy sack, may have been more appropriate. 2) Condensation will build up on humid nights. This is pretty much a fact of life for any light weight shelter so I do not consider it a con. Also, if you are under 6'5", you can easily sleep so than no part of your sleeping bag is touching the wall. There is plenty of ventilation when there is any breeze. 3) Since there is no floor, if you intend to use the shelter with no tarp or groundsheet underneath it you will wear out your sleeping pad faster than in say a bivy sack. I am careful about clearing rocks and stick before I lay down and carry a robust pad repair kit; but I must admit I have caused some leaks in my ultralight pad. I probably ought to use a ground sheet of some sort but some lessons are slow to be absorbed by me... The only time I would consider using my bivy or tent anymore is in rodent infested areas, on sand, or if there is an extended forecast with lots of rain, in which case I would use my bivy and a 10' x 10' tarp, which would be over twice the weight of this thing.

I camp a lot in Florida and I'm accustomed to using a tarp style shelter. This worked well until I start pushing the boundaries of the camping season here in Florida. Mosquitoes are a huge problem in the summer and early fall; so recently I purchased the Deschutes plus with the hopes of extending my season. I took it out to a 26k acre preserve in Southern Florida and it worked amazingly well. I slept all night shirtless and on top of my liner without a single mosquito bothering me. Their numbers were so great that you could here a constant buzz in the night air. I slept soundly and will continue to use this shelter on all my Florida outings. I'd also like to mention that I did not have any condensation issues and my 6'2 frame fit comfortably inside. I'm really impressed with this product!

I upgraded to this shelter from a very heavy 2-person tent. In addition to the weight savings, I also love how easily this sets up and how much protection it provides with the attached bug netting. I am 6' tall and have no complaints about interior space. Paired with a polycro ground sheet, I'm still in shock at how little space this takes up in my pack. One other (important) note. I somehow managed to lose the hook clip that attaches to the webbing loop on the front vestibule area. I emailed Six Moon Design's customer service asking if I could purchase a replacement for an upcoming trip. To my surprise, several days later I received a package in the mail containing this piece. To summarize, great shelter and excellent customer service!

I use this in the Southern Appalachians: not exactly the best environment for tarps in general, given the absurdly high humidity, April through October insect pressure, frequent downpours, and muddy ground. That being said, the Deschutes Plus has been a fantastic shelter through some serious weather thus far. It's withstood 65+mph winds and moderate rain (campsite selection is key in this situation, but I've found layering polycryo over the mesh to be a passable solution as long as it's not flooding), and I've found it to knock down the wind enough for shoulder season/southern winter camping. The side tie-outs are helpful to give a bit more headspace if you're taller than 6', but I've found they aren't needed even in stronger winds. My quibbles are minor: first, the mesh could use a couple more inches of perimeter at the bottom as to not be spread so tight that it's essentially flat when set up; second, I've found it difficult to manage condensation without perfect campsite selection; third, I'd prefer silpoly for its stretch resistance at a slight weight penalty, so I don't have to re-tighten the guy lines after a couple hours. All-in-all, however, this is essentially comparable to a Zpacks Hexamid at 1/3 the price (and it wasn't blown over in the aforementioned windstorm like my friend's Hexamid). Good shelter; I'm sure a cuben version would sell like hotcakes.

I used this trap tent for my 2017 A.T. thru hike. I only got wet twice while sleeping over night in this tent and that was because of tent placement, and not the fault of the tent. Twice I have been awaken in the night because a mouse that had gotten in and could not find it's way out...Over-all, a great shelter! Light weight, lots of room for one, keeps you dry (just be careful where you pitch it), kept me comfortable, and bug free. It held up great, highly recommended.