Big Sky Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - Big Sky International - Light weight & Comfortable Outdoor Gear for Backpacking, Camping, Hiking, and Trekking

Big Sky International

FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- When does Big Sky charge my credit card for my order? - Does the shelter need to be seam sealed? - Which is better - pole sleeves or pole clips? - Which is better - aluminum poles or carbon fiber poles - The internal area is not listed, please explain. - The internal length seems short, please explain. - Which is better - Evolution or Revolution/Convertible series? - What is the difference between 4-season and 3-season Shells? - Why can't I use the 3rd HD pole with the Convertible's 3-season Shell? - What is the difference between Breathable Fabric (BF) and Mesh Netting (MN) Interiors? - Can you tell me more about the fabrics Big Sky uses? - Is silnylon fabric waterproof? - How should I store my shelter? - Where are Big Sky's products made? When does Big Sky charge my credit card for my order? > Big Sky will charge the credit card just before shipping. Does the shelter need to be seam sealed? > It is ready to go out of the box... it was seam sealed where necessary at the factory before being shipped. Which is better - pole sleeves or pole clips? > It is mostly personal preference... pole clips are lighter and less expensive, while pole sleeves add some structural strength... but if a pole breaks, e.g. carbon fiber pole, it will probably tear a hole in the pole sleeve... we have not noticed that one will last longer or wear out sooner than the other one... also there is not much difference in setup time between sleeves or clips, both are quick. Which is better - aluminum poles or carbon fiber poles? > Aluminum poles are less expensive and will take more abuse, while carbon fiber poles are lighter... aluminum poles usually bend before breaking, while carbon fiber will give no warning before failure (breakage)... it recommended that those using carbon fiber poles carry duct tape and a pole splice for field repair (The pole splice is an aluminum tube slipped over the pole break and held in place with duct tape.)... the first sign of failure in carbon fiber poles will be a hairline crack, usually where the pole join, once this happens it just be a matter of time before the pole fails (breaks)… so we recommend inspecting carbon fiber poles occasionally to try to prevent failure at an inopportune time. The internal area is not listed, please explain. > Big Sky uses advanced design techniques others do not use. Big Sky creates very roomy ergonomic interiors by designing around the geometries of a human body and its motion. Most other company's "numbers", such as "internal area", make them sound larger, but they are usually not as comfortable or as roomy as Big Sky's designs due to inefficient design practices that were used. The best way to see this is actually experience it by getting in, laying down, sitting up, and getting out of Big Sky's products... we also create better designs by doing such things as making sure a person can open/close vents from the inside without having to go outside in the rain... Big Sky puts an extreme amount of work and effort to make our designs very comfortable, roomy, and user friendly. The internal length seems short, please explain. > Big Sky's products are designed differently and are measured differently that most other products. Big Sky cuts off the unusable corners so the inside ends have straight walls. The distance measured is the internal length from the foot end straight wall to head end straight wall, rather than pole tip to pole tip. This length is entirely usable and does not include the unusable corners some others include in their measurement. Click here to see drawing for clarification. Which is better - Evolution, Revolution, Convertible, or Mirage series? > It is mostly personal preference... they all have the same interior dimensions... - pick the Evolution if you want to remove the outer fly and only use the mesh netting body and poles; the poles attach to the inner body and the outer fly covers the body and poles... - pick the Revolution, Convertible, or Mirage if you want to be leave the interior attached so it can quickly and easily be set up or taken down as a one piece shelter, which is especially nice when it is raining since rain will not get into the interior. The interior hangs from the outer shell and the poles attach to the outer shell. - pick the Revolution or Convertible if you want to remove the interior. The Mirage interior is permanently attached and can not be removed. Some Convertibles have options not available on other models, such as breathable fabric interiors and outer shells with sod/snow flaps. Since the poles attach to the outer shell on the Revolution/Convertible/Mirage series the structure is stronger and more storm worthy than the Evolution series... and on some Convertible models there is an optional 3rd pole for even more storm worthiness.... also, the Revolution/Convertible interiors can be removed to create a very storm worthy single wall shelter since the poles attach to the outer shell. What is the difference between 4-season and 3-season Shells? > The dimensions are the same - 4-season Shell has pole sleeves while the 3-season Shell has pole clips - 3-season Shell as a window while the 4-season Shell does not - 4-season Shell has roll up sod/snow flaps while the 3-season Shell does not - 4-season Shell has the option to add a 3rd pole for more storm worthiness - 4-season Shell on the Convertible has a "cap" to help snow slide over 3 poles and off shell Why can't I use the 3rd HD pole with the Convertible's 3-season Shell? >> The 3rd pole is for additional storm worthiness, such as winter conditions but the 3-season Shell uses pole clips that are not as storm worthy as pole sleeves… so that would have required more pole clips and they may needed to be re-enforced more, adding weight and cost… if we added an option for third pole, then we probably should also add the “cap” to keep snow from building up on poles, which would add even more weight and cost to the 3-season Shell… we think people wanting a 3-season Shell would rather save weight and cost, then have an option to use a 3rd pole so we made the decision that the 3-season Shell not have the option to use the 3rd pole. What is the difference between Breathable Fabric (BF) and Mesh Netting (MN) Interiors? > The dimensions are the same, they both have waterproof tubs - Breathable Fabric (BF) interior has breathable fabric above the tub. People prefer Breathable Fabric (BF) to keep cold wind, sand, and/or snow spindrift from blowing into tent. - Mesh Netting (MN) interior has mesh netting fabric above the tub. People prefer Mesh Netting (MN) for more ventilation, and lower cost and weight. Can you tell me more about the fabrics Big Sky uses? > Here is link to a table comparing different fabrics. Is silnylon fabric waterproof? > The silnylon fabric (silicone coated nylon fabric) we use is waterproof under "normal" conditions. Extreme weather, such as wind driven rain or an extreme downpour may cause light "misting" inside. How should I store my shelter? > We recommend that it be stored clean (wet sponge/rag), dry (to prevent mold/rot), and un-compressed (prevent “hard” folds/creases) Where are Big Sky's products made? > Big Sky opened its own Design Studio in 2012, so now most of its products will now be handcrafted there. Big Sky's products used to have more USA content, but the quality of materials made in USA continued to decline even after telling our suppliers we wanted higher, not lower, quality. We were forced to find a higher quality supplier so our sourcing decision was made to improve our product’s quality… our costs increased 10-20% by using South Korea, etc., but we feel quality is more important than country of origin. Big Sky's Let-it-Por™ fabric is a product of the USA.