Design Methodology
The outdoor industry has changed since the early days...
Back then, people worked at and owned the companies they founded. Everyone involved was equally passionate about making the best products possible. Goals were driven by the lust for great gear, solid connections, and like-minded people. We have seen many of the companies we once respected for delivering kick-ass gear devolve into less passionate, more finance-driven corporate entities.
The methodology at SlingFin is design and quality driven. The end goal is to bring to market the most well-designed, and highest quality outdoor products ever created, for the most serious users in the world.
Utilizing our innovative designs, the best materials available, and extensive research through hands-on product testing, we make sure our gear is tested under the harshest conditions to ensure a quality and trustworthy product.
"There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad gear". – Masta DB.
"The heaviest tent in the world is a lightweight tent that failed". – Phil Scott
Tents are tensile structures.
Tensile structures are formed with tension and compression members. The pure form of tensile structures can be seen with tensegrity sculptures in which tension members (wires), and compression members (struts) operate simultaneously for the structure to hold its shape (see photo below). If any single strut or tension member fails, the whole structure is weakened, and can even fail completely. Individual parts must work together to maintain strength and stability.
The same is true for tents. Any failure in a tension member (fabric) or compression member (tent poles) results in a weakened, or even failed structure. Liken tents to chains where any weak link may render the whole chain unusable. Designing a tent where all components are equally strong is a tremendous challenge, but is the key ingredient to making a tent or structure as strong as possible.
Many companies attach webbing (with a tensile strength of 500 pounds) to a tent using fabric with a tensile strength of 5 pounds. This is not an efficient use of resources because the tent is either out of balance, being either heavier than it needs to be, or not as strong as it could be. Using ingredients that are proportionately strong will create the strongest tent for the least amount of weight, and when you're out on the trail, the last thing you need is a broken tent. At SlingFin, we put design and efficiency at top of our priorities, because our team of hardworking outdoor enthusiasts and gear junkies knows just how important it is to be able to trust your tent every time you hit the trail.
