by Allen Teal

Created on: November 11, 2008

The Wild Oasis shelter by Six Moon Designs is as light weight as you will find. At 13 ounces, it fills the need for an ultra-light tent. For the serious hiker who does not mind leaving any trace of luxury behind, this tent will surely exceed expectations. Before covering the true advantages of this shelter, a couple of words need to be noted about the downside.

It is definitely a one-person shelter.

If you are looking to cheat and squeeze two people into the Wild Oasis, you will be disappointed unless you are the size of hobbits. This tent was designed to give protection to one person without being a burden to carry.

It is a no-frills tent.

When you buy this tent, you need to be aware that it does not come with a floor. You will need to provide your own ground covering. The Wild Oasis does not come with stakes included or steaks either for that matter. It requires you to furnish your own tent pole. A Wild Oasis does not have a window for your viewing pleasure while waiting out a rain storm.

Now for the good news.

Since most people who buy this tent are into seriously difficult hiking and trail blazing, the negatives will not come close to matching the positives. The Wild Oasis is designed to fill a niche, and it does it very well. This shelter will be a great purchase at $175 if you are looking for durability and utility.

It will not weigh you down.

The Wild Oasis weighs only 13 ounces including the guylines. When compared to carrying a tarp and bivy, this means the Wild Oasis will seem almost invisible in your pack. It folds up to a 6 inch by 5 inch bundle when not in use and stores in its own pouch. Some have commented that it can even be hard to find in your pack because of its diminuitive size.

The Wild Oasis is big enough for you and your gear.

When fully opened and staked, the tent reaches a hexagonal size of 5 feet and 8 inches by 8 feet and 9 inches. The total floor space is 35 square feet. The height of the tent is a little variable depending on the tent pole used to support it. It can be hung from a tree limb if available and desirable.

This tent flies up in a hurry.

A somewhat experienced camper or hiker should be able to put this tent up in about 5 minutes including getting out of your backpack. It uses six stakes and a center pole, but the lightweight material means that it is easy to handle. Once up, you can open the flap and stow your gear out of the weather and out of sight.

The color gives a measure of camouflage.

The gray exterior blends with many outdoor settings. At the very least, it means that you will not look like the only circus tent at the campsite. For hunters, you will not have to worry about your tent drawing unwanted attention from your prey. For hikers, it gives a little security from knowing that your tent is not the most obvious thing in the woods.

The Wild Oasis gives you what you really want from a tent.

Hikers worry about bug and mosquito bites. This tent does an excellent job of protecting you from these pests while you rest. The high grade exterior also sheds water with the best of them. With a little care, you will not have to be concerned with leaks and wicking. You will get a good sleep without worrying about the insects and the elements.

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