Ledge Recluse tent: "$85 Wilderness Hotel" by Nutnfancy

This is an amazingly roomy tent. It provides an 48 sq feet of living area within a very portable 7 lbs 7 oz carry weight (and that's my upgraded carry to include tarp footprint and 10 MSR "Groundhog" tent stakes too; factory weight is listed at 6 lbs 6 oz). Add even more space for the two large vestibules that are provided by the tent fly. This roominess provided outstanding livability to us three backpackers on a wilderness adventure to high altitudes (me, son, dog). Three people could fit in a more cozy manner. Mesh integration is excellent. Pole attachment is via both clip and uncoated sleeve system. Several nights spent in the tent seem to indicate a dry, well-ventilated interior. Hard core snow and rain resistence was not tested on this trip but stake out provisions are provided for better tent strength. A very useful mesh gear loft is included along with four interior pockets (albeit they are not tightly sewn. Many parts of the Recluse are seam sealed but the bottom tent seam (catendary sewn) should be sealed by the user. The vestibules are well-executed and provide an incredible amount of dry gear storage area. The chosen light Mossy Green and light grey colors are excellent are provide more subdued camping and excellent, bright light filtration inside. But remember this is a sub-$100 tent so you will give up a few things in that choice. Close inspection of the "Recluse" tent model will reveal it to be a medium quality tent with compromises made to achieve that light carry weight. The floor material is a lightweight denier nylon and will prove to be lacking in durability without the use of a tent "footprint" (I rec' cutting your own from blue tarp: lighter, cheaper, works great, and can include vesitbule areas). Other cost/weight saving measures I find: the 3000-series aluminum poles are relatively thin for this size tent, the nylon webbing is lower quality, the stitching is wider and lacks some attention to detail, the tent fly lacks bottom tie outs of ventilation staking (I easily sewed them on myself later), and the tent stakes are a joke (very thin, easily bent). At this price level however, it is unrealistic to expect the quality levels of a Sierra Designs, Mtn Hardware, REI, Big Agnes, or Marmot tent here. But for the reasonable $85 to $100 cost paid, the Recluse achieves a lot and it is gratifying to this market competition emerge for 2010. At its light carry weight, the Recluse would also make a fine BOK tent as well. So while it may not be the toughest tent on the shelf, it just might be the lightest in the 3 Person Large category. And the while those steep trail miles add up, the Ledge Recluse might be just the ticket for your next wilderness adventure.////////////// Nutnfancy Likability Scale (price considered): 8.5 out of 10 ///////////////// Music: www.torley.com