SNUGPAK IONOSPHERE
The Ionosphere by Snugpak is an extremely compact and
lightweight two pole, one person tent. The Ionosphere has
an extremely low profile and is great for those looking for
a stealthy sleeping solution sturdier than a basha, tarp, or
bivi bag but not as bulky and heavy as a traditional tent.
The Ionosphere flysheet is a lightweight 210t Polyester
RipStop pu with a 5000mm waterproof polyurethane
coating, whilst the inner is constructed of 190t Nylon and
50D Polyester No-See-Um-Mesh; all seams are tape sealed.
Both poles are high-quality DAC Featherlite NSL anodized
models with easy and quick to use pressfit connectors,
made from TH72M aluminium, and there’s also some
great alloy stakes included. Both inner and outer feature a
single, angled door with two way zips. There’s also a small
Repair Kit included should you need to make repairs can
be made on the move
The weight of the basic tent (Fly, Inner Tent & Poles) is
a measly 1.2kg/2.64lbs with the total weight (Fly, Inner
Tent, Poles, Stakes, Repair Kit & Carry Case) coming in at
1.52kg/3.35lbs. The Ionosphere takes up little space in
your pack but offers a luxurious 240cm x 111cm x 96cm
sleeping space once erected.
The black inner is pitched first, and can be used on its
own in dry, hot weather environments where you still
need protection from biting bugs and nasties, and it’s
simply a case of pushing the two individually marked
poles through corresponding, colour coded pole sleeves
and then pegging it out with the alloy stakes. If the fly is
needed it has velcro attachment points which are affixed
to the poles, and then this too is pegged out as well. Once
you’ve practiced a few times you can get the whole thing
up in a matter of minutes.
Once up this is exceptionally sturdy, and although I
haven’t yet used it in very high winds, given the low
profile and amount of pegging/guy points I guessing that
it would stay put once properly set. The angled inner and
outer doors make ingress and egress straightforward, and
there’s even enough space to drag in your pack with you.
The minus side of the low profile though is that you’re not
going to sit up straight once you’re in, but there’s certainly
enough length for me to lay out flat, and I’m 6’3!
This is a very impressive small compact tent by anyones
standard, and the design allows a free flow of air, negating
condensation build up; for this reason only I’d have to say
this is a three rather than four season design, but the fly
certainly shrugs off even the heaviest of rainstorms as I
found out in the Brecon Beacons on a recent trip!
The Snugpak offers excellent value for money given the
standard of materials and construction, and is very highly
recommended for those looking for a lightweight overnight
shelter, and as always the Ionosphere shows
Snugpaks adherence to finding the best and
neatest solutions that they possibly can!
For more information on the Ionosphere
and all the other great kit offered by Snugpak
please pay them a visit at www.snugpak.com
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