Gatewood Cape

In its first year, my Gatewood Cape explored California coast, Alaska tundra, Colorado shoulder season, and the Grand Canyon. I love it. It survived and thrived in a hail storm where my friends’ DCF tents got shredded, winds above Colorado treeline, and 48hr July snow storm in the Alaska tundra.
It is more finicky to set up and a touch smaller than the Solo Lunar but it’s also lighter, sheds water better and is more versatile to use with or without the serenity net.
I have yet to use it as a cape, but I’m sold on it being my go to shelter down to 20F and most weather conditions.

The Gatewood Cape has been my go-to shelter for more than 13 years and it has never once let me down or failed in any regard, across multiple continents during through-hiking, mountaineering, field work, travel, casual backpacking, cross-country and international hitchhiking, climbing trips, car camping, campouts, backwoods keggers, you name it. My guess is that this tent and I have had more than 300 nights together in total and it is still working very well, with the exception of a slight bit of fraying at the bottom of the zipper panel against the zipper, where all of the stress is when taughtly pitched.

The convenience of this piece of gear cannot be overstated. As a primary shelter and primary rain gear+pack fly, including dedicated carbon fiber pole, ground cloth, guylines and tent stakes, the whole thing comes in well under 3 pounds and consumes a total pack volume comparable to a large water bottle. This means that it comes with me pretty much everywhere, conveniently living in the outer avalanche shovel pouch on my old patrol pack.

Not to be understated, this badboy can be set up while you are still wearing it. That means that I don't even have to take my pack off during a storm to get it pitched. This particular maneuver takes some practice, but trust me, with the longevity of the tent in mind, you will have plenty of time to perfect this art. It also makes a great conversation piece, as everyone is curious and a little skeptical to start, followed by intrigued, followed by sold in pretty much every introduction that is made.

I've finally upgraded my setup, but I can promise you that this little guy will continue to accompany me on all of my ultralight missions, or anything wherein my discreet low-volume pack is the travel companion of choice. Thank you Six Moon Designs for developing such an ingenious piece of gear, it has truly enhanced my life for over a decade!

Used it once after seam sealing myself. Held up great as a poncho/pack cover and later rainfly under unexpected rainy conditions. Left it standing the next day while hiking (w/ Serenity net tent inserted and guy lines deployed) and came back to find it unphased by 20+mph winds (and even stronger gusts)! The transition from poncho to rainfly will leave you wet but that's something you should anticipate when purchasing and not a fault of the GWC. With the SNT, this is probably the best ounce-for-ounce single-trekking pole, double-wall shelter out there. About me: 5'10 and broad shouldered. Used with S2S Ether Light XT pad (4"), Nemo Fillo pillow, and EE 20 quilt. Highly recommend for anyone 5'10 and under.

Lightened my load by 7 oz!!!! And also is multifunction!!!!! Love it!! Simplicity of setting it up!

Purchase and delivery was stellar. The product is clever but not quite big enough for an every day shelter, as I was hoping. That silnylon reminded me why I told myself that I'd never use anything other than DCF for a shelter. I just couldn't make this pitch nice and provide a storm worthy structure. I'll keep it for emergencies though.