Wiggy's Freedom Shelter
Reviewed by
john ruiseco
+56
November 7, 2014
I own two Wiggy's bags, a bivy sack, a rain jacket, and six ecotats made by Wiggy's. All are over built and what I would call BET YOUR LIFE GEAR.
The temp ratings tend to be very conservative. The #10 YKK zippers are bulky but built to last. I would not hesitate to buy Wiggy's products or give them to loved ones; they are that good.
Pros
- Over built, the bearing surfaces tend to be reinforced
- The zippers are very heavy duty
Cons
- Items tend to be heavier than other manufacturers' comparable products.
- Tend to be unrefined by design, but more than made up for by the durability of the product.
The Freedom shelter (ecotat) is a very versatile item in that it is a 4-season, 1-person tent, poncho, bivy sack, sit shelter, great coat, tarp etc.
Item is very well made, but like most items that have multiple functions it performs most of those functions in a rather subpar manner, i.e. as a 1-person tent, tarp, and poncho it does a great job, but as a great coat and sit shelter I have found the item to be rather complicated and temperamental in that if you do not have the item adjusted properly your back will be exposed to the elements.
LEAKOTAT is a word I have heard in the past and it comes from people not having their ecotats adjusted properly to cover their backs. If you are on the move the easiest way to use the Ecotat/Freedom shelter is as a sit shelter if you don't have a coat or poncho. Just remember to adjust it properly to cover your back.
Source: bought it used
