GoLite Hex 3

Ever since the class at Briar Patch I've had my eye on a tipi. The canvas kind are fairly expensive and quite a bit bigger than I would need for most situations and the Finnish laavus I'd seen online were rather expensive and would also cost me a pretty penny for International Shipping and probably Customs.

Then I found the GoLite Hex 3.

This is a SilNylon four-season shelter designed to sleep three people if you pitch it with a line hanging from overhead or two if you use the included shock-corded adjustable pole.

Pitching it couldn't be easier. You stake out the six adjustable loops (there are also six non-adjustable loops for additional tieout points,) unzip the door, and put the pole up. There may be some additional adjustment of the stakes needed but mine went up on the very first try.

In clear weather you can run the pole up higher to raise the bottom edge of the tipi to get some additional ventilation and in poor weather you can set it down lower.

I fired up my Swedish Army Trangia inside and ran the burner to see just how effective it would be at heating the inside of the tipi and it did an adequate job. I wouldn't say it got "hot" inside but it did seem to affect the internal temperature.

The neighborhood kids (and Laura) seem to think it's about the neatest thing they've seen in a while and have been all over it doing some stress-testing of materials and the Hex 3 has come out unscathed.

The weight on the tent and pole is only a couple of pounds and it packs down small enough to fit into my pack.

I haven't yet had an overnight in the tipi but plan on doing so relatively soon. Last week's temperatures were much warmer so this may be the week for a temperature-suitability test. We're also expecting some real snow again this week so I should be able to see how well the shelter sheds the weather.

Thanks for reading,


B