Item: SlingFin SplitWing
Rating: 4.3
Author: Mac

The SlingFin SplitWing is an ultralight modular shelter designed for ultralight backpacking, thru-hiking, or anyone who appreciates a large degree of flexibility in their shelter.

It comes as a tarp, a mesh shelter, or as a bundle that includes a removable vestibule; an optional floor is also available and is intended to be used as a groundsheet when the mesh body is not in use. The SplitWing doesn’t include poles and is designed to be set up with two trekking poles or optional carbon poles, but if you decide to be creative with your campsite selection, you could conceivably use the environment for a no-pole pitch.

Using the SplitWing does require some know-how, and it isn’t as plug-and-play as some other (arguably lesser) alternatives. That said, it’s nothing an instructional video won’t help sort out.

Here’s everything you need to know about the SlingFin SplitWing.

Testing Conditions & Notes

I used the SlingFin SplitWing for the entirety of the Arizona Trail and the Kings Canyon High Basin Route – in addition to the occasional shorter trip. It’s currently my shelter of choice (check my current gear list to see if this has changed). I’ve only been out with the SplitWing in three-season conditions (I’ve yet to take it into the snow), but I would bring it out in colder/snowier conditions so long as I wasn’t expecting a blizzard.

Note: SlingFin has updated the SplitWing’s design. It now features a bathtub floor (i.e., the mesh no longer extends to the ground, and the floor now rises slightly up the sides), and it has adjustable stake loops at the four corners of the tarp.

Pros and Cons

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+ Modular design allows for a variety of applications
+ Impressively compact when packed and stored
+ Lightweight as a bundle or even lighter as just a tarp
+ Can be set up with trekking poles or optional carbon fiber poles (or your environment)
+ Plenty of space as a single-person shelter

– Setting it up for the first time is potentially confusing without practice
– Not freestanding means campsite selection limited
– Frequently out of stock / nowhere to view locally

The Specs

Capacity: 2
Trail Weight: 21 oz / 595 g (+2 oz / 57 g with 6 DAC stakes)
Freestanding: No
Interior Height: 41-47 in / 104-119 cm
Interior Floor Area (mesh body): 24.8 ft² / 2.3 m²
Vestibule Area (outside mesh body): 6.8 ft² / 0.63 m²
Tarp Only (pitch-dependent): 27-32 ft² / 2.51-2.97 m²
Max Area (tarp + vestibule, no mesh body): 37.8 ft² / 3.51 m²
Poles Used (not included): 2 (trekking poles or custom poles)
Tarp Fabric: 10D Nylon 66 Ripstop Sil/Sil
Tarp Reinforcement Fabric: 20D Nylon Ripstop PE 1800
Mesh Body Canopy Fabric: 15D Nylon No-See-Um Mesh
Mesh Body Floor Fabric: 20D Nylon Ripstop PE 1800
Vestibule Fabric: 10D Nylon 66 Ripstop Sil/Sil
Color: Orange, gray, black
MSRP: $335

Photo Gallery

Note: SlingFin has updated the SplitWing’s design. It now features a bathtub floor (i.e., the mesh no longer extends to the ground, and the floor rises slightly up the sides), as well as adjustable stake loops at the four corners of the tarp.

Close-up of a red SlingFin SplitWing tent corner staked to the rocky terrain. A black and orange tool rests nearby on a green tarp. A large rock is partially visible, surrounded by sparse grass and scattered pebbles.

Close-up of a SlingFin SplitWing tent corner, secured by a neon yellow rope tied to a metal stake in rocky ground. The tent fabric is red and green, with a rock on the edge for extra stability. Sparse grass peeks through the surrounding dirt.

A red and black tent, akin to a SlingFin SplitWing, is pitched on rocky terrain with a hill in the background. Secured with a red rope tied to a nearby post, it stands amid sparse vegetation under a clear sky.

Inside the tent, the mesh interior frames a red patch boasting a white triangular design and SlingFin SplitWing text. A vibrant fabric adds a splash of color on the side, set against an overcast sky in the background.

The image captures the interior of a SlingFin tent, showcasing partially opened zippers on a red base. Red zipper pulls hang down as a mesh net is visible above. A backpack is partially visible inside, hinting at an adventurers essentials tucked within this SplitWing setup.

Close-up of a SlingFin SplitWing tent corner with red reinforcement and black pole silhouetted against the clear sky. The mesh fabric resembles a bug net, while the grassy field and distant hills stretch under the expansive blue sky.

A small triangular tent set up on rocky ground, possibly a Slingfin SplitWing, is surrounded by camping gear like a backpack, water bottle, and canister. The tent is open, revealing a cozy sleeping bag inside. Pine trees stand tall in the background.

Close-up of a red and gray SlingFin SplitWing camping tent with gear inside, including a sleeping bag, a yellow sleeping pad, and cookware on the rocky ground outside. Tension straps are visible, securing the tents position.

Close-up of red cords secured by a black plastic fastener around a granite rock, reminiscent of a SlingFin SplitWing setup. The background reveals a dirt surface scattered with stones.

A red tent rope, part of the SlingFin SplitWing system, is anchored to the ground with a metal stake. A yellow loop reinforces this setup. The stake is embedded in a dry, rocky patch of soil sprinkled with pine needles.

Close-up of a SlingFin SplitWing tents corner, showcasing its red fabric with a black mesh overlay. The design features a metal grommet and expertly stitched seams, all set against a backdrop of gravel and soil.

A gray SlingFin SplitWing tent is set up on a rocky, dirt clearing in a forested area. Rocks and trees surround the tent, with camping gear, including a cooking stove, nearby. The setting is a tranquil and natural campsite.

A close-up of a SlingFin SplitWing stake securing the lower edge of a gray and red tent to the ground. The peg is connected to a strap, with dirt, small rocks, and twigs covering the area.

A close-up of a SlingFin tent wall with translucent fabric, showing a faint outline of an object or hand pressing from inside. The bottom edge features a red seam, reminiscent of the SplitWing design style, while the ground is visible outside.

The SlingFin SplitWing tent is pitched on rocky ground, its grey fabric with red trim held firm by a green stake and black clip. Surrounded by small rocks, dirt, and a looming gray boulder, its ready for adventure.

A SlingFin SplitWing tent is pitched on rocky terrain, featuring a transparent canopy and red cords secured to nearby rocks. The ground is scattered with various-sized stones, and small patches of grass are visible.

A close-up view of a SlingFin SplitWing tent corner staked to the rocky ground. The tent fabric is gray with red trim, and the stake secures a yellow and green guy line. The ground is littered with rocks and dirt.

Close-up of a gray SlingFin SplitWing tent pitched on rocky ground. The tent is secured with a red rope attached to a peg, surrounded by scattered rocks and pebbles. The scene evokes an adventurous outdoor camping setting.

A SlingFin SplitWing tent shelters a backpack partially inside, alongside a sleeping bag and towel. The tents transparent mesh offers a glimpse of the rocky ground, while a sliver of sky peeks through in the background.

From inside the SlingFin tent, the intersection of red and white fabric panels with black support poles creates a striking view. Sunlight filters through, casting a warm glow, while tree branches play peek-a-boo outside.

Inside a SlingFin SplitWing tent, a green sleeping bag and a yellow sleeping pad are visible, with a red string carefully tied. Clothes and other items are scattered on the rocky ground beneath the tents translucent wall, suggesting an adventurous camping setup.

A gray and orange SlingFin SplitWing tent footprint lies on the ground in a sparse, dry landscape with patches of grass and bushes. In the background, distant hills emerge under a clear sky at sunrise or sunset.

A SlingFin SplitWing is set up as a red and black lightweight camping shelter on a rocky, grassy landscape. Against the backdrop of rugged hills and sparse vegetation, it sits under a clear sky, offering an inviting blend of adventure and solitude.

A red and black SlingFin SplitWing tent stands against a rocky, barren landscape dotted with sparse bushes. The dry, rugged hills in the background rise under a clear sky, where the horizon gently shifts from pink to light blue.

View from inside a SlingFin SplitWing tent at sunrise, showing its orange tarp on the floor and the translucent walls softly revealing a blurred landscape beyond.

Close-up of a SlingFin SplitWing tarp or tent corner, featuring black and red fabric secured to a metal pole with a strap. The background reveals a blurred grassland landscape under the softly colored sky at dusk or dawn.

A close-up of a SlingFin SplitWing tent corner reveals a black pole supporting vibrant red fabric. The pole is secured with a matching red rope tied to a small metal hook. In the blurry background, grass and dirt subtly blend together.

Close-up of a SlingFin SplitWing tent corner secured with red cords and stakes, nestled on rocky, dry terrain dotted with small green plants. The fabric of the partially visible tent shows off its sturdy construction and zippered edge.

Red tent pegs and cords are secured into the dry, rocky soil, showcasing a SlingFin SplitWing setup. The ground is scattered with small rocks and sparse grass, highlighting the rugged terrain.

Close-up of a section of a red SlingFin SplitWing tent featuring a black toggle mechanism used for rolling up a flap. The fabric appears to be taut, with a blurry background of dry grass and soil.

Close-up of an orange tent corner, perhaps a Slingfin SplitWing, secured to a black pole with a black strap and metal ring. A red guyline extends from the top of the pole, anchored to the dry and rocky ground with a stake.

A close-up of a SlingFin SplitWing tent setup features a red tension line secured by a black plastic line loc on a metal stake. The background is an artful blur of grass and dirt, enhancing the focus on the robust outdoor gear.

Close-up of an orange tent corner, showcasing a black tent pole and gray fabric, designed with SlingFins precision. The background features a blurred outdoor setting with dirt and grass for the perfect SplitWing adventure.

A triangular orange and gray SlingFin SplitWing tent is pitched on rocky, barren terrain with sparse bushes. In the background, distant hills rest under a twilight sky painted in soft pink and blue hues.

Close-up of an orange and gray tent corner, like the SlingFin SplitWing, secured to the rocky, dry ground with red ropes and stakes. Small patches of grass peek through a scattering of visible stones.

Inside the empty tent, intersecting mesh and solid fabric panels frame your view, with a pole standing vertically. An orange accent graces the top section, capturing the essence of a SlingFin SplitWing shelter. Daylight gently filters through, illuminating this serene scene.

Close-up of an orange fabric patch inside a SlingFin SplitWing tent, attached to the ceiling with a loop and toggle system. The patch is sewn onto a mesh material, with light filtering through the tent’s fabric.

Close-up of a SlingFin SplitWing tent wall with orange trim secured to the ground. The fabric showcases a grid pattern and a reinforced patch near the bottom. The dry, rocky ground is sprinkled with small stones and sparse vegetation.

Close-up of a SlingFin SplitWing tent wall with black netting and an orange fabric loop secured by a black clip. The bright orange contrasts with the tents neutral tones, and the angles create an abstract composition.

The Good

The Compactness

The SlingFin SplitWing is an impressively compact shelter. It’s so small and compact that I don’t need to consider its size when packing my backpack (I generally give special consideration to larger items such as my sleeping bag and food bag when packing). When packing it, I separate the SplitWing into parts (i.e., I pack the body, tarp, floor, and vestibule individually). Even if you were to pack the entire shelter into a single stuff sack, it would hardly take up more space than a 32-oz Nalgene. And the optional poles, if you’re not using trekking poles, are small enough to easily store them down the side in an interior corner of your pack or slip them into an outside side pocket.

The Versatility

Because the SlingFin SplitWing can be used in a variety of setups – tarp only, tarp plus floor, mesh body only, mesh body plus tarp, or mesh body plus tarp plus vestibule, you’re getting much more than a single shelter with the SplitWing. This makes it a great option if you want to have a single shelter for a wide range of conditions or environments, or if you are tarp-curious but aren’t ready to fully commit to buying a standalone tarp, which the SplitWing tarp can be when used alone or in conjunction with the floor.

The Weight

The SlingFin SplitWing is a truly ultralight shelter. Not only does it pack down incredibly small, but it has a trail weight of just 21 oz / 595 g. Want to use just the tarp? You’re looking at 7.9 oz / 224 g plus the weight of your stakes (minimum six). Just the mesh body? 11.2 oz / 318 g plus stakes. Adding the vestibule to the body plus tarp? Tack on 1.9 oz / 54 g. And if you add the optional poles (if you aren’t using trekking poles), they’ll only add 3.9 oz / 110 g (or 4.6 oz / 131 g for an adjustable pole). Adding six DAC stakes (the minimum number of stakes needed to pitch) will raise the weight by another 2.4 oz / 68 g. That’s a lot of numbers, so here’s a chart. Too much information? Just know that if you’re looking for one of the lowest-weight shelters available, the SpligWing has you covered.

SplitWing Piece	Weight
Tarp	7.9 oz / 224 g
Mesh Body	11.2 oz / 318 g
Vestibule	1.9 oz / 54 g
Floor	3.4 oz / 96 g
Fixed-length Poles	3.9 oz / 110 g
Adjustable Poles	4.6 oz / 131 g
Six DAC Stakes	2.4 oz / 68 g

The Responsiveness

SlingFin is a small company based in Berkeley, California, that takes pride in its products. The SlingFin SplitWing has been around for a while now, and one of the biggest complaints (evident in the reviews on SlingFin’s site) has been the lack of a bathtub floor. So what did SlingFin do? They added a bathtub floor. The folks at SlingFin aren’t just out to make a buck (evidenced by the awesomely competitive price tag of the SplitWing) and take their customers and their feedback seriously.

The Okay

The Leaning Curve

A price to be paid for the SlingFin SplitWing’s versatility, compactness, and weight? It’s a bit trickier to set up than your “regular” tent. If you go out and try to set up the SplitWing for the first time without educating yourself first, there’s a chance you may not have a great time, and your pitch will leave much to be desired. This is easily rectified with a bit of pre-trip education. SlingFin even offers an instructional video detailing how to set up the SplitWing properly.

The Interior Space

The SplitWing offers a good deal of floor space (for one), but you won’t have much room to move about the interior mesh shelter, at least while upright. It’s a “lie on your stomach and go about your things” shelter. There is plenty of space to sit up, but you won’t be able to move around much without dragging your head or face on the mesh. The maximum interior height achievable is 37 in / 94 cm; however, you can achieve a pitch of up to 47 in / 119 cm using just the tarp.

The Capacity

Although advertised as a two-person shelter, I would rate the SplitWing as a 1.5-person shelter at best. Is it possible for two people to share a single SplitWing without being literally on top of one another? Yes, I have seen it done on multiple occasions. Would I be comfortable sharing the SplitWing? Not really. Could I make it work in a pinch? Sure. That said, there’s plenty of room for one person to spread out with their gear.

The Bad

The Supply

SlingFin is a small company, and as such, it’s not guaranteed you’ll be able to get your hands on a SplitWing at a moment’s notice. Your best bet for finding a SplitWing is on the SlingFin website, but they’re also available (sometimes) via Garage Grown Gear. In this same vein, there’s nowhere to go locally to check out a SplitWing before purchasing one. That said, SlingFin’s return policy is as follows: “Tents that have only been set up indoors and can be resold as new may be returned for a refund, minus shipping cost. Buyer pays return shipping. Credit card/PayPal transaction fees (3%-4%) may be lost for returns since Shopify and PayPal won’t refund them”.

The Pockets

One thing I love in tents that’s noticeably absent from the SplitWing? Pockets. There are zero interior (or exterior, for that matter) pockets on the SplitWing. Could it be said that this is a weight-saving measure? It could be. Would I be mad if my SplitWing weighed an additional 10 g and came with an interior pocket? I would not. Would some people indeed be mad? Probably. That said, if you’re using the tent by yourself, you will (should) have plenty of floor space to spread out your belongings.

Popular Alternatives

Shelter	Price	Weight	Floor	Freestanding	Capacity
Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2	$500	2.69 lb \| 1.22 kg	29 ft² / 2.7 m²	Yes	2
Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL2	$370	1.94 lb \| 879 g	28 ft² / 2.6 m²	Semi	2
Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2	$400	1.88 lb \| 853 g	28 ft² / 2.6 m²	Semi	2
MSR Hubba Hubba NX	$480	2.87 lb \| 1.30 kg	29 ft² / 2.7 m²	Yes	2
Gossamer Gear The Two	$375	2 lbs \| 907 g	26.3 ft² / 2.44 m²	No	2
NEMO Hornet Elite OSMO 2P	$599	1.45 lb \| 657 g	21.8 ft² / 2 m²	Semi	2
Six Moon Designs Lunar Duo Explorer	$385	2.81 lb \| 1.27 kg	34 ft² / 3.2 m²	No	2
SlingFin SplitWing	$335	1.31 lb \| 595 g	24.8 ft² / 2.3 m²	No	2
Zpacks Duplex	$699	1.19 lb \| 539 g	28 ft² / 2.6 m²	No	2

Wrap Up

The SlingFin SplitWing is a fantastic shelter that’s evaded the ultralight community for some time. If you don’t need a freestanding shelter and are looking for something lightweight, compact, and versatile, look no further.

With the SplitWing’s variety of options – including purchasing the SplitWing pieces individually or as a set – and SlingFin’s attention to both detail and customer feedback, I only expect that we will see future iterations and applications of the SplitWing continue to improve.

Questions, comments, or personal experience with the SlingFin SplitWing? Please leave a comment below or get in touch to let me know! Check out the SlingFin SplitWing here.

Affiliate Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive small commissions for purchases made via these links at no additional cost to you. This helps pay the bills and keep the site up and running. Thank you for your support!

4 Comments

Keusti says:

September 19, 2022 at 09:10

I spent the last month checking a loooot of different tents/shelters to buy a new one.
I was super interested in the Splitwing for a lot of reasons…buuuuut…
82″ (208cm) length unfortunately blocked me, as I’m tall (190cm). Would it have been 10cm longer (even if a bit heavier), it would have been my go to !

1. Mac says:
  
  September 19, 2022 at 10:47
  
  Dang! Maybe they’ll come out with a long version soon.
  
Stephen Marsh says:

September 19, 2022 at 09:09

Typo. You have Oz in the weight table for the SW when you mean lb.

1. Mac says:
  
  September 19, 2022 at 10:40
  
  Thank you – fixed!

SlingFin SplitWing UL Shelter Review

Testing Conditions & Notes

Pros and Cons

The Specs

Photo Gallery