An age old tent of mine, which I love the most for its absolute stealth ability and all-weather bivi ability… Jack Wolfskin’s Gossamer, discussed according to WikiHow’s guidelines for reviewing hotels.
(Hey, tents are hotels too!)
STEP 1: Chose a website
I’m summing up Step 1 already because I’ve already chosen a website to post my review on.
STEP 2: Introduce myself
Introduce myself? Well you know me, I’m that Outdoorsy Girl who loves hiking and camping. I take wildcamping trips all the time using various tent hotels, then write a review for you: the hungry reader. I’ve reviewed loads of gear for your perusal.
STEP 3: In what room did I stay?
I’m staying in the one person, Jack Wolfskin Gossamer (1 million star bivi tent). It’s a backpacking tent with a compact footprint enabling it to be pitched in just about any nook or cranny. Pitching comprises of a minimum two poles and four pegs. Two optional guy lines and three additional pegging points really glue the tent to the ground. Thus the room is completed.
An olive green colour really helps it blend in to the landscape… Good luck finding this room!
STEP 4: Detailed review
Ah finally…
What I love most about the room/tent is the fly can be rolled up out of the way to expose a completely mesh inner. It’s excellent on warm (dry) starry nights. Ironically, its also the thing I dislike the most about the tent: this particular model has the fly sewn into the mesh which means its easy for pitching but not possible to remove an often unwanted fly.
Inside, the floor space is generous, however due to the low pitch, stealth style of the tent, there isn’t room to sit up, hence the term ‘bivi tent’. There’s also no alcove (but your gear can be stored around the edges between the mesh and fly). Two side pockets help to keep a book, phone or light from slipping under your sleeping mat.
There is a toggle to hold both doors open – together or separately – as well as toggles to secure the rolled back fly. It’s possible to roll either the head section only or the body section only.
If I was to stay in this room again, I would certainly make sure I had the exact same arrangement…
STEP 5: Specific highlights
I was left to my own devices the entire night. At around 6am I had to get out and close the fly up due to a rather heavy shower of rain. It was wonderful laying there listening to the drops fall over the tent, knowing with 100% certainty I’d stay dry. I always appreciate how the tent stays so airy with the mesh inner.
STEP 6: Photos
STEP 7: Location information
In this remote location, there are no amenities to be found at all (which may offend some!). I didn’t expect to find a restaurant or pub down the road – and there certainly was none.
All night long I could hear the ocean crash on the distant rocks – bliss – however as the morning drew on, there was a lot more traffic passing by on the water on the way to fishing grounds.
STEP 8: Amenities
Scores 1/10! This room has no EnSuite, television or wardrobe. There are no chairs or benches…. I was even reduced to using my head torch.
One thing it does have is a kettle to brew fresh coffee in the morning – thank goodness for that!
STEP 9: Services offered
Well the Gossamer is going to keep you bone dry with its torrential downpour-like Hydrostatic Head rating of 4,000 for the fly and 10,000 for the groundsheet. It handles high winds better than a lot of other tents due to its low pitching design, the assistance of quality 8.7mm DAC aluminium poles, and two guy lines.
The no-see-um mesh offers little privacy however, I didn’t see anybody else staying anywhere near this hotel so it was OK.
Due to a complete mesh inner, the tent weighs a lot less than a solid inner would: a respectable 1.6kg: It won’t be dragging you down.
The Gossamer comes with a nice roll top stuff sack which clips together. It helps compress the tent for portage.
STEP 10: Overall experience
With time as my advocate, I’ve kept the Gossamer because I still love using it. It isn’t the most popular in my selection – I’d usually opt for a bivi and tarp combo – but the tent is so easy to pitch and I know I’ll stay warm and comfortable inside.
It has its limits; bad weather being its biggest downfall due to no alcove or sitting space – but I will always appreciate how well it holds its own.
The end!
OUTDOORSY GIRL 
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