UKC

Anyone got any experience of the two man, Davie tense epitomise by the two companies above?

There is a review here that may be useful

https://feedingtheratexpeditions.com/single-skin-alpine-tents-comparison-re...

I spent 3 weeks in a crux single skin in Patagonia back in 2020. (Free loan from crux, had to give it back after - no chance I'll ever get any kit of them again so this is as unbiassed as I can be).

Pros: very stable and bombproof. Adequate length for 6". Fancy material that was surprisingly good at breathing....when it was dry outside.

Cons: in bad weather you get wet inside. Condensation runs down and pools in the base. I suspect mine might have had a slight leak at a seam but it was hard to tell. No porch, so it's either a 1 person (billed as 2), or your kit needs to stay outside. It was a bit scary to put the poles in as you had to flex them so hard. 

It was an interesting experience to try something I was intrigued by, but mildly sceptical of - the whole "single skin" thing. I'm not convinced by it at all, except for some quite niche scenarios. If I did a lot of 2-3 day hits in, say, chamonix. Or himalayas stuff (but I think this particular crux was too much of a tent vs bivvy for that - better with a firstlight.) basically, I kind of think if you need a single skin, you'll already know it....

I thought I had notes from the time but can't see any. If I find them I might be able to add more. 

I've used one quite a lot over the years, but not for its intended purpose - we use it for one night carpark camping (because you don't need to peg it out) before winter routes. The one I've got is a Mountain Hardware one I was given.

If it stays dry you are fine.

If it snows you are fine.

If it rains you are not fine.

Enough room for two to sleep in, but not with additional kit.

From my 'not what it's intended for world experience' I'd say it would be good on routes as a bivi tent if any precipitation was snow not rain, which is, as I understand it, its intended use. It is good for what we use it for, but we only use it for one night at a time.

If I was going to spend any more than a couple of nights (max) in a tent in a more conventional camping situation I'd not use it. 

Brilliant thank you guys. Yep have a BD Firstlight but nearly destroyed in a storm bivying on the Cuillin. It was surprisingly waterproof but the wind battered it.

So I was thinking about a more stable design. Crux look stronger? Samaya seem to be strong but interested if anyone has used? I think as you say re condensation that a bivi bag/waterproof outer is needed regardless. 

I see em as a winter/alpine bivi in poor weather just for the admin space inside. Kit stored outside if there’s 2 of you. 

The others look not as good?

Rab latok summit is a great bit of kit. No bug mesh, though you can add one.

Need to be friendly with your partner though. 

Samaya is too expensive for me, I'd be scared of putting a crampon through a corner or something. I'm also 6'7" tall.

I have used a Rab Latok Mountain though, which is eVent and I surprised how well it breathed, in all conditions, and was 100% waterproof in heavy rain and terrifying hail (at 5000m in Ladakh). I've used Biblers, FirstLights etc many times over the years, in cold/dry and normal temps and never found they breathed well at all.

Is Crux still going? Seemed most of their tents were never available and the products I did have off them never lived up to expectation.

decathlon one is very good.  half the price of Samaya

I atill have , and sometimes use an old Direkt2 .  Can't argue with the weight, free standing and easyish to get up.  Obviously you don't use it when you expect rain, and not great when it's very cold as it doesn't have much insulation ( so rough for winter camping Norway).  

But plenty of times it's just the ticket.