Golite Shangri-La 5 review

[Lizzy]

Hi all,
Just recently added to my tent collection the Golite Shangri-La 5 in the hopes of family hiking/camping with my husband & 2 boys (4 & 6). It arrived just in time to take for a trip down Kosci NP- but unfortunately the nest didn't make it so some improvisation was needed...
The tent is a pyramid style tipi tent that is advertised to fit 5 (which it probably could) but 2 adults & 2 kids was great with lots of room. We could all lie next to each other with 2 on either side of the pole & plenty of room at either end. When I bought the tent it came with the floor included & I was trying to get the nest seperately of a different site. The tent is put up with a single collapsible pole in the centre. 1st attempt a few sides were nice & taut & opposite were a bit dodgy- but we soon learnt to peg out nice & tight & square for a great pitch
The floor clips in once the outer is up- it is bathtub style but we had trouble getting this right- we later discovered that if you add guyout to the side this helps raise ythe sides up
Seeing as I didn't get the inner bugproof nest in time we bought a big mossie net perfectly sized from BCF & the clever hubby sewed on some elastic to attach to the tents toggles. This did a pretty good job but I still want the nest for smaller bugs like sandflies & to be totally sure. I think it will also provide a vestibule & a better bathtub floor (I think).
It certainly got a testing when we were hit by a thundersorm with very heavy rain- the tent sagged a bit but was easily tightened up. We also got a few drips inside- its seams are taped but the drips seemed to come from attachment points so I have since added some seam sealer to these spots. We also propped the bathtub flooring up with our swimming gear, towels etc. With the floor there is no vestibule but with the nest part of the floor is chopped away to create a vestibule.
Tent is 824g, pole 368, pegs 113g = 1.3kg. Nest is 1.22kg or floor 870g
Overall I was very impressed- it appears well made, is lightweight, spacious & did the job nicely. It is worth playing around a bit with the setup to get it right
Cheers
Lizzy

[Nuts]

Good score Lizzy!
If anyone uses them, you can join two walking poles with a tube the same diameter as the handle section for a great tent pole. This can then be extended in fine weather to give even more walk-in room.
The Shangri-la 3 (like np is selling) is the strongest of the set but they all will take some weather. Golite (for some reason) have stopped making them bigger than the 5 but their 6 and 8 were excellent group shelters.
Happy Camping

[ninjapuppet]

Hi Lizzy, nice review.

Depending on your trekking poles,

get these:http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/product443.asp?PageID=106

Or these: http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/product463.asp?PageID=106

and leave the main pole at home. Ive got the carbon and it weighs 41g

heres a short little video you've probally seen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-skvfa6RCE

[RodLawlor]

Hi Lizzy,

I'm wondering if that's a red SD Spark/Nitro sleeping bag in your pics. If so, any feedback on what it's like?

I've been using a BD Megalight with the family for a few years now, and have found that a silnylon 8x10 tarp out the front makes a HUGE difference to liveability when the weather craps out. It gives you a sheltered cooking area, and means you can keep the doors open for better ventilation.

Having said that, I think I've just scored a Golite ShangriLa 6, so the BD may get retired.

Rod

[Lizzy]

Hi Rod,

Nice spotting: The red bag is a SD nitro 30 degree (800 fill) bag. I bought it for the hubby fairly recently so it hasn't gotten much use yet. That trip in the photos was dwon Kosci NP Jan so not a real temperature tester! Looks like it will be warm, nice baffles & fitted hood.The bag looks well made. It only has a 1/2 zip but also has a little foot zip for venting. It incorporates stretch into the bag (Montbell patent) which the hubby likes. It comes in a fairly large stuff sack so can compress alot more then the specs given. Will have to wait for some cooler weather for more comments.
http://www.campsaver.com/nitro-30-sleeping-bag-800-down

The blue/black bags are SD diamond spring 30 degree (600 fill) bags I bought for my boys. They were new for this trip- I was looking for something not too expensive, not too heavy or bulky that would suit the boys- hard work. Anyway thought I'd give these a shot- they are about 1 kg, also have the stretch, the bag they come in is also roomy - I could easily pack their PJ's in too. One of my sons was rolling around touching tent edges so I have since given the bag a spray with DWR so hpoefully this will keep a bit of the moisture off. I got the womens version as they are a bit shorter fitting 5"8 but they are still way too long for a 4 & nearly 7 year old.... oh well. The zips are a bit fiddly/easy to get caught for kid but we are always shoving them back in the bag / covering /uncovering them anyway!
http://www.campsaver.com/diamond-spring ... ag-600-dwn

The 4th bag (greenish/blue) in the picture is my montbell UL Spiral 30 degree bag- this is the most expensive, lightest & smallest. I will be interested to see if the nitro is warmer???
Thanks for the tip on added a tarp porch.
Cheers
Lizzy

[ninjapuppet]

just saw a video of the Shangri-La 5 claimed to be standing up to 60mph (100kph) winds

now I usually take most claims on the net like these with a pinch of salt, but I would not doubt these claims.
When fully staked down using nice fat juicy steaks and using the supplied thick metal pole, it feels every bit as stable as a Hilleberg jannu.
My only wish is that they provided an option for a full solid inner tent with it too, otherwise i'd be selling the hilleberg if Golite offered a high quality solid inner.

However, add a titanium goat heater to it and no 4 season tent in the world can compete with this for warmth.
I just bought the cylinder stove ready for winter, but sewing this stove jack on is going to be abit tricky with my unco sewing skills. dont want to screw it up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S2Ci_doWLA


heres another video of the crazy winds, but you can only just make out the reflective guys on the tent
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIAO_qEXbl4&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

[passerinum]

Thanks for the review and the videos of the tent in strong wind. Looks like we are going ultralight after all