Description
Ultralight Rain Cape and Tarp Tent – Gatewood Cape Six Moon Designs
Six Moon Designs Gatewood Cape is a 310 g combination of a rain cape and a one-person tarp shelter for ultralight backpacking, hiking and fastpacking. On the trail, it functions as a full-coverage rain cape. At camp, it can be pitched with one trekking pole to create a shelter with approximately 3.2 m² of coverage.
Gatewood Cape reduces the number of separate items you need to carry because the same product works as both rainwear and shelter. Its pyramid-shaped construction encloses the shelter on all sides, providing better protection from wind and driving rain than a typical open tarp.
Please note: The seams of Gatewood Cape are not factory sealed. They must be treated with a seam sealer suitable for silicone-coated polyester before the shelter is used in rain. Seam sealer, stakes and support pole are not included.
Rain cape and shelter in one
When worn as rainwear, Gatewood Cape protects the body, arms and part of the backpack from rain. Side snaps allow the long sides to be shortened for walking, while the arm openings make it easier to use your hands while wearing the cape.
Gatewood Cape differs from a conventional open-sided poncho. Its cape-style construction closes the sides more effectively, helping reduce the amount of wind-driven rain that reaches underneath. The trade-off is that ventilation is not quite as open as with a wide-sided poncho.
Two zipper pulls at the front allow the opening to be adjusted according to ventilation and weather protection needs. The open lower hem allows fresh air to circulate underneath.
360-degree protection as a tarp shelter
When pitched as a shelter, Gatewood Cape forms a pyramid-shaped structure enclosed on all sides. Unlike an open tarp, a change in wind direction does not leave one side completely exposed.
The steeply sloping roof helps water and light snow slide off the canopy. A central trekking pole supports the structure and improves its ability to withstand wind loading.
Gatewood Cape is a three-season shelter, not a dedicated winter or mountaineering tent. Heavy snow should not be allowed to accumulate on the canopy.
Room for one hiker and their gear
Gatewood Cape provides approximately 3.2 m², or 35 square feet, of covered space. There is room inside for one sleeper, a sleeping mat and essential hiking equipment.
This is a floorless tarp shelter. When Gatewood Cape is used without the Serenity NetTent, the manufacturer requires a separate groundsheet. A groundsheet helps protect the sleeper from moisture, dirt and abrasive ground.
- coverage approximately 3.2 m²
- capacity for one person
- floorless construction
- side entry with a full-length zipper
- adjustable vestibule height
Adjustable vestibule and ventilation
The front of Gatewood Cape has a long zippered entrance and an adjustable vestibule. The height of the vestibule edge can be changed according to conditions:
- a larger gap between the ground and the hem improves ventilation
- a lower pitch provides more protection from wind and driving rain
The floating canopy allows the overall shelter height to be adjusted by changing the trekking pole length. The manufacturer recommends a pole length of approximately 114–124 cm. A higher pitch increases interior space and ventilation, while a lower pitch provides better protection in poor weather.
Gatewood Cape is a single-wall shelter. Condensation may form on the inside of the canopy, particularly in humid, cold or still conditions. Maintaining sufficient space between the ground and the hem, and keeping gear away from the fabric, helps reduce condensation-related problems.
Compatible with Serenity NetTent
The separately available Six Moon Designs Serenity NetTent can be attached inside Gatewood Cape. Together they form a one-person shelter system that provides protection from rain, wind, ground moisture and insects.
The net tent connects to Gatewood Cape with micro buckles, allowing it to be installed and removed without complicated knots. Serenity NetTent adds mesh walls and an integrated floor.
Serenity NetTent is not included with Gatewood Cape.
Integrated pocket doubles as the stuff sack
A zippered map and storage pocket is located at the front of the cape. It can be used for small essentials while Gatewood Cape is worn as rainwear.
The same pocket also functions as the stuff sack for Gatewood Cape, so there is no separate storage bag to lose or carry.
Pitched with one trekking pole
Gatewood Cape is pitched with one adjustable trekking pole or a separately available support pole. Depending on conditions, a pole length of approximately 114 or 124 cm is suitable.
The tip of the trekking pole is inserted into the grommet in the harness attached to the hood. The lower end of the pole is positioned inside the vestibule at a slight angle so that the shelter tensions evenly and the entrance remains usable.
Gatewood Cape requires six stakes for its basic pitch. Stakes and support pole are sold separately.
How to pitch Gatewood Cape
- Choose a level campsite where rainwater can drain away.
- Remove sharp stones, branches and cones from the ground.
- Attach the colour-coded harness to the hood of Gatewood Cape.
- Position the rear of the shelter towards the prevailing wind.
- Adjust the trekking pole to approximately 114–124 cm according to conditions.
- Stake corners 1, 2 and 3 first, with the line adjusters set near their maximum length. Leave some slack for inserting the centre pole.
- Insert the tip of the trekking pole into the hood harness grommet and place the lower end inside the vestibule.
- Pull the front guy line beneath the vestibule taut and stake corner 4.
- Stake rear corners 5 and 6.
- Attach the webbing loop at the lower edge of the vestibule to the hook that slides along the front guy line.
- Adjust stake positions and guy-line tension until the canopy is even.
- Check the pitch after approximately 30 minutes and retension if necessary.
Tips for a successful pitch
Stake position and trekking pole height directly affect interior space, ventilation and canopy tension. The guy lines should follow the direction of the canopy seams and roof lines.
If the shelter remains loose or the usable interior space is reduced, check:
- the length and angle of the trekking pole
- the distance of the stakes from the shelter
- the direction of the guy lines in relation to the seams
- that the front and rear corners are balanced
- that one corner has not been tightened significantly more than the others
There is an additional tie-out point on each side for windy conditions. Using these extra tie-outs improves stability and can also pull the canopy farther away from the sleeper, creating slightly more interior space. Extra guy lines are not included.
Seam sealing before use
The seams of Gatewood Cape are not factory sealed. The shelter is not fully rainproof until the seams have been treated.
Use a seam sealer designed for silicone-coated polyester. Treat the seams and tie-out points indicated in the manufacturer’s instructions and allow the sealer to dry completely before packing or using the product.
Conventional seam tape or adhesive intended for polyurethane-coated fabrics may not adhere properly to silicone-coated polyester.
Who is Gatewood Cape suitable for?
- hikers building an ultralight gear system
- long-distance hiking and fastpacking
- an emergency shelter for day hikers
- hikers who want to combine rainwear and shelter
- one-person, three-season tarp shelter use
- hikers who already use a trekking pole
- use as an outer shelter for Serenity NetTent
Who is Gatewood Cape not suitable for?
- users looking for a freestanding tent
- use without a trekking pole or separate support pole
- users who want an integrated floor
- dedicated winter or mountaineering use
- users who do not want to seal the seams before use
- locations where the shelter cannot be secured reliably with six stakes
Technical specifications
- Product: Six Moon Designs Gatewood Cape
- Product type: ultralight rain cape and tarp shelter
- Seasons: 3
- Shelter capacity: 1 person
- Weight: approximately 310 g, excluding stakes and support pole
- Packed size: approximately 25 × 20 × 4 cm
- Required stakes: 6, not included
- Required pole: 1 × approximately 114 or 124 cm, not included
- Entry: side entry
- Coverage: approximately 3.2 m²
- Canopy: 15D silicone-coated polyester
- Hydrostatic head: 1,800 mm
- Zipper: YKK #3
- Colours: green or grey, depending on the version
- Floor: none
Package contents
- Gatewood Cape rain cape and tarp shelter
- removable hood harness for the centre pole
- guy lines
- integrated pocket that doubles as the stuff sack
Stakes, trekking pole, separate support pole, groundsheet, Serenity NetTent and seam sealer are not included.
Our thoughts
The main advantage of Gatewood Cape is its versatility. At approximately 310 grams, it functions as both rainwear and a one-person shelter, potentially removing the need to carry a separate rain jacket or tarp.
The system requires slightly more planning than a conventional tent. It has no integrated floor or insect mesh, the seams must be sealed by the user, and a good pitch requires careful adjustment of the stakes and centre pole. When these characteristics suit your hiking style, Gatewood Cape provides an extremely lightweight and highly packable shelter system.
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