Over at the Sierra Designs blog I just published a design history of the High Route Tent 1FL. From my initial primitive sketch, it took four major prototypes to get it right.
If you are interested in shelter design or want to better understand how the High Route Tent came to be, have a read.
My primitive sketch of Generation 1.0. With this as a guide, Casey and I strung it up (literally, using string) in the office, before requesting the first prototype from our Asian partner factory.
Are there any tweaks to the High Route for 2017?
None.
Hi Andrew, will there be any tweaks for the High Route in 2018?
No changes. For what it is, we’re all very happy with it.
Not even a High Route Elite model in 2018?
No, not even an Elite edition. That doesn’t offer much value: it’d remain waterproof longer, but it’d be more expensive, not seam-taped, and probably no lighter (after accounting for the seam-sealing that you will have to do). Meanwhile, from a production standpoint, SD is on the hook for 2x the inventory (and cash).
I have finally decided to try out a 2018 High Route because I really like the design, but I hesitated for quite some time, solely because of the red color. The muted tones of the experimental versions looked much better! Why does SD use such bright gaudy looking colors?!!