Big Agnes Seedhouse SL1 Tent

Comments about Big Agnes Seedhouse SL1 Tent:

This is an awesome tent. Compact, lightweight, and incredibly easy to set up. It's perfect for one. It's not so great for more than one person, and / or a dog. (The fabric is very lightweight, and the space is limited, by design.)

Comments about Big Agnes Seedhouse SL1 Tent:

I have been carrying around a huge tent for most of my backpacking trips. My back finally decided that enough was enough and I needed a lightweight shelter. This product was great and came as advertised. It was easy to setup and held up nicely in windy conditions. It was surprisingly spacious inside and I even had room under the rain fly for my pack. I didn't notice any condensation in the morning and would recommend others check out this tent.

Comments about Big Agnes Seedhouse SL1 Tent:

The only real negative so far is that the pegs don't have pull ropes. I had to add them to each peg. It came with 11 pegs and I could have used 13 to get it nailed down properly and completely. The tent has only one small storage pocket inside. Two more would have been nice.

Comments about Big Agnes Seedhouse SL1 Tent:

This tent rocks! It's really light, comfortable, and is a great size! I go backpacking a lot with my dog and I didn't want to get a tent that was too small for both of us, but not a two person. This was the solution! Both me and my big dog fit comfortably in this tent, and I can set up the tent in 2 min. normally and 1 min. if its raining. Great tent!

Comments about Big Agnes Seedhouse SL1 Tent:

This is my first 1 person tent even though I own a few 4 person tents.
I love the slimline construction design and easy set up system. The tent is sturdy and holds up well in the wind. The pole system keeps the tent taunt so there's no lost in interior space.
Space wise: It's very roomy for me as I'm only 5'1 and 115 lbs. I can keep my 40 pack inside with me. My boyfriend, who is 6'1 and 150 lbs, and I shared it in on one trip and we were able to lay on our back, side by side, without a problem. There was even room for me to toss and turn. He also had plenty of legs room as I'm much shorter. It was comfortable for us, but we usually sleep close to each other and share a double bag. He was able to sit up and change comfortably. The vestibule isn't very big. It was hard to keep gear underneath and try to get in and out at the same time. This is one of the reasons why I usually keep my pack inside the tent.

I've used the tent in the mountains, at Joshua Tree, and at El Capitan in Santa Barbara county. The tent works great in warm weather with no wind and snow. However, because of the high mesh construction, it doesn't keep warm well. When I used it in Joshua Tree, the mesh was great since I was able to open the vestibule and kept cool. On the negative side, when the wind picked up, all kinds of dust and dirt flew under the rainfly and up inside the tent even with vestibule zipped tight since there isn't much solid fabric from the floor up.
Likewise, when I camped at El Capitan this past January where the temperature at night was around 50 degree, I was freezing because there was minimum wind protection. The camp site was on a bluff, but I set up the tent near a tree and brushes to minimize being in the path of the wind blowing up from the ocean. Even then, I felt the wind blowing through underneath the rainfly all night long. I used the same sleeping gear that I used in Zion, but in a different tent, last December, where it snowed and the weather hovered around 15-30 degree with 20mph wind. I was quite warm and comfortable in Zion so I'm sure it wasn't the integrity of my sleeping gear that left me cold at El Capitan.
Base on my experience with the tent, I would say that the tent is good for summer and spring camping with minimum wind factor.

Comments about Big Agnes Seedhouse SL1 Tent:

I was surprised to read another reviewer's comments about problems using it in the High Sierras, because that is exactly where I use it annually. Maybe he camps on rocks in the SE quadrant and I camp predominantly in the central and north areas where soil is more amenable to stakes.

This tent makes many friends quite envious when I pitch it in 5 minutes. If rain is an issue, addind the fly has never been a problem for me. What I like most about it is the heighth, which allows a lot of space to sit up, change clothes, exit bags, arrange things, etc.

We camp a lot during dry seasons so I have not used the fly as much as some, perhaps. It has also come in handy 3 times in Big Bend NP in Texas.

If you're looking for a good value purchase of a lightweight 1 person tent, you can't go wrong with the Seedhouse SL1.

Comments about Big Agnes Seedhouse SL1 Tent:

I purchased this last minute, on the eve of my first solo backpacking trip (4-days on the the Northern Loop in Mt Rainier National Park). I initially went to REI to buy the T1 but wanted to compare it to at least one or two other tents before making a purchase. The Seedhouse 1 was far simpler to set up then the REI tent and much more elegant in design. Yes, the REI tent is roomier, but at 5'6" and 118 lbs, the Seedhouse was all I needed in terms of space. My delight continued once I got on the trail. There do seem to be more stakes than you would think necessary but it gives you a beautiful, sturdy--incredibly sturdy--pitch every time.

I can sit up inside and have plenty of room for my gear, which isn't much, admittedly. I never had a claustrophobic feel when inside, even with the fly zipped up. I found the space to be very comfortable.

The fly zipper does get caught but I don't think I've owned a tent where this didn't happen.

I had very minor condensation on 1 of my 3 nights out, but the other two nights were stone dry.

I was very happy using this tent on my short trip, so happy that I want to get out on another trip as soon as possible to break it in some more.

Comments about Big Agnes Seedhouse SL1 Tent:

This tent was my choice for a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. It sheltered me in all kinds of severe weather hot/cold/and wet. I found it to be the perfect size for me, I am a 130lb. female at 5'6". I even stored a few gear items inside the tent with me. The fly was a bit irritating at times, but it is designed that way to be light weight. The zipper of the tent door would sometimes catch and I'd have to work it for a few minutes to fix it, this ultimately led me to have the tent body replaced by Big Agnes around the halfway mark of my trip, but that did not become a problem until 3 months and 1000 miles had passed, and so I believe that was due to simple wear and tear. Condensation was sometimes an issue if it was partularly humid outside, but I usually solved that problem by leaving the fly door open for ventilation. And in inclement weather I would leave it cracked and there would be small amounts of condensation. Nothing a camper can't handle. Overall, this is a fantastic tent and I am now loyal to Big Agnes and would recommend their product to anyone.

Service and delivery comments:

Big Agnes was an outstanding company to work with out on the AT. When I needed to replace my tent body for a broken door zipper, I let them know where I was and they immediately wanted to help me get it replaced. All I had to do was send my old tent back to them. They were prompt and in days I had a brand new tent.

Comments about Big Agnes Seedhouse SL1 Tent:

Have used this tent on about 400 miles of the Appalachian Trail. First time was at tail end of a hurricane that was passing over the Mahoosucs in Maine. Waterproof. Fly can be adjusted tight to the ground to stay dry and warm or higher up for cool breezes. Room for me (5' 6") and my entire pack. Can really sit up and move around, especially compared to some other light tents. It is nearly free-standing and can compensate for the stake issue. Taking it on the PCT next.

Comments about Big Agnes Seedhouse SL1 Tent:

I am very satisfied with this tent. We all know it is a balancing act when you go with lightweight tents. For the money, this tent is a good value. Lightweight, easy to set up, reasonably roomy.
It does take stakes to get the fly tight and away from the tent body. That's why it comes with 11 stakes. Shouldn't be a surprise. (I replaced mine with titanium stakes). In good weather, you can put it up with no stakes, but the foot of the tent will sag on to your feet. You can also just use 2 stakes and stake the foot. I never used more than 8 stakes, even in a storm. No problems.
It is a small, 1 man tent, so be prepared to do some Houdini like moves to sit up and change pullover shirts, but it can be done.
I am 6 ft, 185 lbs. I use my tent in Appalachia. I've never gotten wet in it. I can fit my backpack inside and boots, etc in the vestibule.
I do worry about the fabric pole loops on the top spine giving way, but no signs of it. I've used my tent for a total of about 6 weeks in the backcountry. It is still like new.
Here is why I don't give it 5 stars:
If it has been wet, the vestibule fly door WILL drip on you when you open it. Of course, you can hit it a few times to minimize, but you are still going to get dripped on. The fly door zipper gets stuck on the zipper flap often. Never tears the fabric, but requires two hands to get it unstuck. Sometimes this happens while it is dripping on you, so some cussing is required.
Other than that--perfect.