Gossamer Gear SpinnShelter with Front Vestibule Deployed
This is a one a kind gear closet raffle of a mint Gossamer Gear SpinnShelter, one of most famous classic ultralight tarps ever made, featuring both a front vestibule and back door for full 4 sided coverage in case of stormy weather.
This shelter is made from a material called Spinnaker Fabric which is lighter weight than silnylon and and lower cost than cuben fiber. Unfortunately, manufacturing inconsistencies in the quality of waterproofness of Spinnaker forced Gossamer Gear to pull it from the market this year, when it recalled all of the SpinnShelters made with the latest 2012 batch of the material.
The SpinnShelter being raffled off here is from the last batch of Spinnaker Fabric that did NOT suffer from any manufacturing or material defects. This might be the last mint SpinnShelter available that is made out of Spinnaker fabric, since Gossamer Gear has no future plans to reintroduce the fabric.
SpinnShelter Description
The SpinnShelter has a computer-designed catenary ridgeline, for optimum pitch and tension with minimum fabric stress, and to minimize flapping in winds. The front doors can be pitched open, one side closed to provide a windbreak, with a beak on the open side to provide additional overhang, or fully enclosed as a vestibule. For meal breaks in inclement weather, the SpinnShelter can be set up as a lean-to or fly. The sides of the shelter can be pitched to the ground for severe weather and breezy conditions, or with line to allow better ventilation in humid conditions. The peak height allows an average hiker to sit up in the shelter.
To save weight, the SpinnShelter is designed to set up with trekking poles. The poles do not need to be adjustable, though the use of poles shorter than 115 cm. will affect your ability to set up at a minimum ridge height. The User Manual covers techniques for installing a duct tape “stop” on a pole and the use of a clove hitch to use a tall pole for the short end of the shelter. Backpackers who don’t use trekking poles may select a set of aluminum or carbon fiber tent poles to use with the tent. Eight stakes is the minimum number of stakes recommended for most setups.
Features
- Lineloc buckles at each corner and the middle of both sides for easy line tensioning
- Provides COMPLETE protection from the elements
- Overall tarp/door design allows multiple pitching configurations
- All three doors (2 front, 1 rear) can be closed or pitched open independently
- Large main tarp area and immense vestibule provides generous living space and abundant storage capacity.
- 10-inch front door overhang
- Front peak height allows average-sized hiker to sit up inside
- Five stake out points per side (on main tarp) extends pitching options and minimizes fabric stress
- Convenient Red (front peak) and Blue (rear peak) pull outs aids pitching efficiency
Weight:
- 8.8 oz. (250 g.) – Tarp before seam sealing
- 0.4 oz. (11 g.) – Stuff Sack (included)
Size:
- 35.4 sq. ft. (3.3 sq. m.) – Complete tarp area, staked down position
- 27.8 sq. ft. (2.6 sq. m.) – Main tarp section
- 7.6 sq. ft. (.7 sq. m.) – Front vestibule
- 101 in. (256.5 cm.) – Length of tarp ridgeline, not counting overhangs or vestibules
- 96 in. (244 cm.) – Total width of front of tarp (48″ per side)
- 54 in. (137 cm.) – Total width of rear of tarp (27″ per side)
- 10 in. (25 cm.) – Front entrance overhang
- 4 in. (10 cm.) – Rear entrance overhang
- 40 in. (102 cm.) – Height at peak under standard setup
- 55 in. (140 cm.) – Front entrance width (staked down position)
- 38 in. (97 cm.) – Rear entrance width (staked down position)
To Enter: Blister Prevention
In a comment below, describe the best product or technique you use to prevent blisters.
Here are a few examples to give you an idea of what I’m looking for.
Before I go hiking I cut pieces of moleskin and put them over my heels to prevent blisters from forming in my leather boots.
I don’t get blisters. Instead I keep my feet hard and callused by hiking every week.
I lubricate my feet with HikeGoo before I hike to make them more slippery and reduce friction in my hiking boots
I wear synthetic liner socks under my wool socks in order to elminate the moisture built-up which causes hot spots and friction burns (blisters) from forming.
Deadline to Enter
The deadline to enter this raffle is Tuesday, November 6th, at midnight, PST. Don’t delay! Enter now.
Double and Triple Your Chances to Win
You can double or triple your chances to win doing one or both of the following:
- Go to the Hiking-Blogs.net Directory and vote for at least one of your favorite hiking blogs or gear manufacturers listed in the directory. To learn more about the directory and why I set it up, read about it here. Share the love and vote for all of your favorite sites!
- Tweet the following message on Twitter: “ Gear Closet Raffle: Gossamer Gear SpinnShelter @philipwerner http://bit.ly/Sh4wVI Ends midnight 11-6-12 ” – (don’t include the quotes)
Raffle Rules (the fine print)
- This raffle is open to US and international entrants with a postal address. Sectionhiker.com will pay for shipping expenses only and not additional duties or taxes.
- A winner will be picked randomly from entrants.
- Raffle prize may take up to 4 weeks to arrive (often less.)
- Raffle winner much respond to an email within 2 days after notification or a new winner will be randomly selected.
- Entries must follow raffle rules or they will be disqualified.
- Raffle prizes come with no product warranty and are provided as is. Some prizes may show minor wear or blemishes incurred through product testing and review by SectionHiker.com.
Good Luck!
Disclaimer: Gossamer Gear provided Philip Werner (SectionHiker.com) with a complementary SpinnShelter for product testing and design feedback.
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Usually two pairs of socks if I feel it necessary, but my feet have been toughened from years of use.
I alternate between two pairs of socks to keep my feet dry and I choose footwear for ventilation rather than waterproofness. I’ve only ever had hot spots, never had a blister.
I carry about 3 feet of duct tape wrapped around my tooth brush. The second I get a hot spot or any discomfort, I put duct tape on it. I don’t wait any longer because if the skin gets rubbed off then it’s going to be really bad.
Usually nothing, but when needed, I use medical tape.
I prepare my feet the night before with Hydropel.
I also use synthetic liners in combination with thin wool socks.
All the ideas here are great. I’ll add one of my own that I think is unique. I walk and run barefoot (with no small amount of care) throughout the year to condition the skin on my feet. I rarely get hotspots when hiking now. The main blister potential that remains is the AT area above my heel.
Authur your comment really hits home with me. I used to have a ton of problems with my feet until I went barefoot. Well not completely bare more like faux barefoot. I got rid of most of my supports but kept the shoes. Other than some initial soreness of getting used to it I haven’t had any of the issues I had before. The book Born To Run really opened my eyes and helped me step back and take a more objective look at why my feet and knees hurt.
I try to keep my feet dry and wear good fitting shoes, typically running shoes that have used up their life as a running shoe work pretty well. I sacrifice a few ounces carrying extra socks and occasionally some foot powder. Nothing fancy but it does the trick.
The switch I made from boots to running shoes all but eliminated my blisters. They are more flexible and move with my feet instead of rubbing and chafing the way boots inevitably did. Hydropel does wonders when my feet are likely to stay wet either from precipitation or sweat. Switching to sandals after the day’s hiking is done lets my feet air out and recover from the demands of walking with the added weight of a pack.
Thanks everyone for such a HUGE turnout for this raffle! I’ve just sent an email to the raffle winner, so check your email in box pronto and claim the prize if you are the winner!
ok – the winner is Brandon Reed, who spends most of his time hiking and backpacking on the North Sylamore Trail in the Ozark National Forest near Mountain View, Arkansas.
Congrats Brandon!
And stay tuned for *another* gear closet raffle on Friday-next Tuesday, as I continue to raffle off hiking and backpacking gear in order to reduce the clutter in my house….this could go on for a while!
Congrats Brandon! and Thank you to SectionHiker for great raffles :)
I don’t get blisters. Instead I keep my feet hard and callused by hiking every week.