LIGHTWAVE S15 SIGMA
Backpackers keen to shave every gram they can from their pack weight may opt for a tarp rather than a full tent, and certainly in the right weather conditions it can be a liberating experience. But a tarp does have its drawbacks – not quite so private for pitches on campsites, and there’s also the fact that you have no protection against marauding insects.
A single-skin tent might afford more privacy and protection against the elements, but, depending on the efficiency of the design, you may also have to contend with condensation.
Foolproof pitching, minimal pegging for the majority of situations, and better than average space make this tent a joy to use. It’s not cheap, of course, but worth it when you combine the amount of space for weight with the sturdy design.
Lightwave’s single-skin S15 Sigma pitches all in one, because one is all there is! It has a single side entry and porch, which provides plenty of space for your kit – it’s bigger than porches I’ve seen on some two-berth tents.
Inside the tent, there’s a good-sized mesh pocket in the sidewall opposite the door, and a small lantern hanging loop taped to the high point in the ceiling. The liveability factor is good – it’s spacious for a solo tent, with the steep walls and that cross pole adding up to lots of headroom.
The main body of the tent is selfsupporting, so you can get it standing before deciding which way round to peg out. You may find that you don’t need to use guys – it pitches to a nice taut finish anyway, and it is pretty stable.
The fabric is black, so it’s rather darker than your average two-skin tent, and the patterned
underside has a soft and warm feel to the touch. This is Lightwave’s own fabric called X-tex. The important part is the lamination on the underside of the lightweight nylon – polyurethane impregnated with activated carbon. This provides a vastly greater surface area at the molecular level to dissipate any water when it condenses, and it’s also hydrophilic – it attracts water. It’s highly breathable, and deals with moisture even when it condenses.