User Review: Moss Tents Helix

Reviewed May 2, 2000 by Lee

Rating: rated 3 of 5 stars
Design: 3 season single pole (not freestanding)
Sleeps: 1
Ease of Setup: a snap
Weight: 4 lbs. 4 oz.
Price Paid: $220

OK, I have only used the tent once so far, but I encountered quite a bit of wind and I was snowed on overnight. The tent was pretty tight, even though it has only one pole. I wanted a one-person tent that was no more than 4 1/2 pounds but also with headroom. It ended up being between the Helix, The North Face Canyonlands and The North Face Slickrock. The Canyonlands is similar to the Helix but only about 3 1/2 pounds; but if you are 6' tall forget about sitting up without your head wedging between the sides of the tent. Plus, the Helix has more floor space. The Helix's door is a little small compared to the Canyonlands, and the vestibule is almost non-existent (boots only), kind of a drag. Slickrock is about 4 lbs. 10 oz., but can easily sleep 2. With the Helix, the floor layout is kind of rhombus-shaped and, again, a 6-footer can just barely lie lenghtwise in it, so I would forget about fitting two in there. The Slickrock has very little vestibule space but it is freestanding and has two doors. They save weight by making it partly single-wall.

Conclusion:

If you are looking for a 4 lb. one-man tent with some space, you are going to have to sacrifice some things, so I'm satisfied with the Helix so far. It's more expensive than both of TNF tents, but I was able to get some discounts and ended up paying $180, which is cheaper than the Slickrock. If you can handle the few extra ounces and aren't spooked out about all the reviews that claim the single-wall leaks, then you might want to take a look at the Slickrock. If you are small in stature and want to go cheap, the Canyonlands might be for you. But the Helix is a good tent if you can get it on sale.

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