The Gelert Solo is a lightweight, 2-skin tent which is great for cyclists or walkers. It is also good for those campers who enjoy the group camping but not the sleeping in a big tent. You can think of this as a, seperate sleeping space once all the festivities have died down. The inner-first construction can be seen as a disadvantage seeing as the inner is almost completly mesh and would get incredibly wet if you were pitching it in adverse weather conditions. On the otherside of that remark, however, the inner can be used alone in hot climates to keep insects off but a cool breeze blowing through. The outer isn't incredibly easy to attach correctly. It has ribbons to tie to the inner to hold it all up nicely. I personally, have never tied these as they are hard to get to with the flysheet flapping in the wind and are also too short to tie any decent knot. As a result the inner tends to droop a little and in a storm can collapse. As for stability, the wind doesn't flow right past it like it isn't there but this tent can take a beating! In a breeze and low wind the tent does nothing. In a full on mountain gale the tent ripples with such ferocity I was sure it must tear apart. But, come morning, my Gelert Solo was in one piece whereas my companions Gelert Mongoose (basically the same tent just a 2-man version) had sustained damage. The groundsheet will keep dampness out from the ground, and although cnodensation is a big issue in winter, in the summer it's not so bad. One unpredicted advantage must be that the mesh inner is a great way to ease you out of a phobia of creepy-crawleys! Knowing they can't get you is wonderful and you can just flick them away! The tent's height isn't great, you won't be able to sit up, and possibly not even lean up far on an arm. But, you can get used to this, and the cosyness is part of the charm of backpacking/ cycling and camping. It fits well onto a bicycle pannier rack for that matter too! Any backpack might need to stay outside of the tent, but, with a squeeze, you can fit it all in. You just have to be weary of letting the inner tough the outer as with all tents.
To conclude, the Gelert Solo is a light tent which packs down wonderfully small. It is stubborn in a storm and, with a decent sleeping bag, won't get you too chilled. Despite the low headroom and small amount of storage space, it is good for the lone camper or the walker/ cyclist. For winter I would recommend a larger 1 man, or a 2 man tent as the Solo is not a tent you will want to spend a day in if the weather gets tough. I see my Solo as a tent for the hot or still nights when I'm, travelling light. It is a place I retire to when I want to sleep or listen to music. But It is not a space I would spend time in doing anything which you can't do lying down straight. The person of taller-stature might not be able to fully stretch out in this tent, especially with storage. But that said, for the price it is you are getting a brilliant tent which will raise eyebrowns (in the best possible manner) at the camping ground and blend seamlessly into a wild landscape. You can't really loose when it is only £20 - 30.
Enjoy!
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Sep 6th, 2009
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