Flysheet
60 g/m² 20d nylon ripstop (S10 & S22), 70 g/m² 20d nylon ripstop (S15 & S20)
X-tex coating 20,000 mm hydrostatic head
Multiple guypoints
Continuous pole sleeves
The sigma tents are defined by the X-tex fabric used for the flysheet. This is unique to Lightwave and has an astonishing ability to manage the condensation that has plagued single-wall tent designs in the past. The X-tex fabric is heavier than most flysheets due to its coating, but the result is a hydrostatic head (i.e. waterproofness) that is far higher than the standard 3000-5000 mm found in nearly all tents. The coating always feels dry to the touch and is also quite light impermeable.
The original sigma models - S15 and S20 - have a heavier fabric than the newer S10 and S22 models, even though they are all 20d.
Porch wall
51 g/m2, 20d nylon 6.6 ripstop,
Silicon-coated on both sides, 3000 mm hydrostatic head
The porch of the sigma tents uses the same lightweight silicon-coated fabric used on our hyper and ultra ranges. Silicon-coated fabrics are the most durable and long-lasting available, particularly when minimum weight is also an important criterion.
Groundsheet
70 g/m² 40d ripstop nylon
TPU-laminated with 10,000 mm hydrostatic head
Bath-tub construction with reinforced corners and taped seams
The sigma groundsheet is made from a durable 40-denier taffeta. The 40-denier fabric is a reasonable balance between the need to save weight and provide adequate protection from abrasion and moisture. With most of our tents, we don’t generally advocate the use of a footprint, but we recommend this where it is appropriate to do so – in other words, when you know ground conditions are going to be harsh, or carrying the extra weight is not so critical.
Inner wall
25g/m2, 20d nylon 6.6 ripstop, DWR treated
Mesh window
Poles
DAC Featherlite (aluminium alloy)
S10/S15 8.70 mm
S20/S22 9.35 mm
We use the DAC Featherlite poles on the sigma tents simply because these have proved themselves time and again as the most reliable of the lighter weight alloys (ie non 7001-T6 alloy which is employed in probably 90% of all backpacking tents in the world.)
Pegs
Lightning pegs, 11 g each, square section
Flash pegs, 7 g each, rectangular section
Pegs are very important – without them, no tent could withstand anything more than the slightest breeze. Sigma tents use our Lightning peg – similar in weight to most standard pegs, but substantially stronger and capable of living with some serious abuse. Costing four times as much as normal wire pegs, these are seldom seen on all but the most highly specified and expensive tents. Supplementing these for non-critical peg-points are our Flash pegs (which are literally “half a Lightning" peg).
Guylines
2.00 mm nylon, 3 m length, Linelok adjusters
Sigma guylines are made of standard 2.0 mm nylon. They work, and with our Linelok adjusters they work and adjust very well.
