Quick specs

Available in three lengths and with two material options.

Packaged wt: 700 - 811g | 24.7 - 28.6 oz Floor length: 203 - 233cm | 80 - 92"

Only need the rain fly ($245) or the inner ($160 - 180)?
Get in touch and we'll help you out.

Made in Montana, USA with imported fabric.

Description

We love the feeling of being inside your tent while the rain falls. Everything feels as it should. This shelter is built for that.

The Swiftline is a lightweight trekking pole shelter designed for livability. An offset pole structure, side vestibule, and double-wall design make for a comfortable, stormworthy shelter.

Offset pole structure - Balances headroom where you need it most
Side entry - Easy, unobstructed access
Double-wall design - Modularity and condensation management
Side vestibule - Keeps your gear accessible without blocking entry
Vented apexes - Enhanced airflow to reduce condensation
Recycled silpoly fabric - Stays taut when wet
Two inner material options - A more durable, standard option, or a lighter weight option
Three length options - Dial in the length to your height and needs

The original Swiftline

Thirteen years in the making

Conceptualized around 2010 and launched in 2013, the Swiftline gained a loyal following. But there were two things we always knew we wanted to address: the fully asymmetric design made for a steep learning curve when pitching it, and the complex construction made it challenging to maintain consistent quality.

We paused in 2020 to fix both. It's built today in small batches in Missoula, Montana, by us, a team of two. We're glad it's back.

Open layout

On clear nights, roll back the tent walls for a more open and connected experience. Gaze at the stars while remaining protected from the bugs.

Interior space

The Swiftline was a pioneer of the offset pole structure. The diagonal ridgeline puts headroom where you sit, plus volume above your head and at your feet when lying down.

The inner net provides about 43" of interior height along the ridge. At the head and foot, you'll find ~10" of vertical space above the floor. Check out the topo maps below to see the full profile.

Click to enlarge

Quick, intuitive pitch - fly first, pole handles up

Stake the four corners, insert and stake the poles, then stake the vestibules. Use eight stakes for maximum stability in storms, or six to save weight.

Pitching the fly first keeps the inner dry in the rain. For faster setup, you can leave both pieces clipped together and pitch them as one.

Orient your trekking poles so the tips point down. This protects the fly from punctures and keeps your pole handles out of reach of nibbling critters.

Designed for trekking poles, with optional tent poles available if you prefer.

Convenience: Side-entry & vestibule space

Enter and exit easily from the side with a zipper that can be operated with one hand. The side vestibule keeps your gear accessible without blocking the door.

Double-wall design

The Swiftline consists of two modular components: a rain fly and an inner net tent. Use the fly solo for a minimalist tarp setup, or pair them together for full protection. The double-wall design creates an air gap between layers that, along with vented apexes, mitigates condensation buildup.

Learn more about condensation here.

Material options

Silpoly fabric and aggressive curves create a taut, wind-shedding pitch that won't sag in the rain. The fly uses recycled fabric, and the inner comes in two options: a lighter recycled Sil/Sil coated floor with 0.5 oz netting, or a more durable Sil/PU coated floor with 0.6 oz netting for better puncture resistance and grip.

We use a durable #5 Aquaguard zipper on the fly and a lighter #3 on the inner. Zipper sliders are often the first component to wear out, so regular cleaning and lubrication helps extend their life - especially in dusty conditions. If you ever need the sliders replaced, just get in touch.

Tub-floor w/ 3 length options

The Swiftline's floor measures 30" wide and is available in three lengths, 80", 86", or 92" (203, 218, or 234cm). The 7 - 8" deep tub tapers outward at the top to give you more elbow room.

Notes/FAQ:

Do I need a groundsheet? Using a groundsheet will help extend the life of any floor. It's usually not necessary with either of our floor options, but the light floor option will benefit from a groundsheet more than the standard option.
Do I need to seal the seams? Yes, before your first trip. Apply Seam Grip +SIL to the outside of the fly seams. Plan for 30-60 minutes. See our seam sealing guide for step-by-step instructions. The floor corners can also be sealed the same way, though it's rarely necessary. If you'd rather skip it, our optional seam sealing service handles it before we ship.
Can I use the inner with other tarps? The Swiftline inner is unlikely to work well with other tarps, so we don't recommend it.
Do your Bug Shelters or Bivys work with the rain fly? We do not recommend it. While you might be able to set them up in a pinch, they would be misshapen and difficult to use.

Specifications

Size Recommendations

Your height	Recommended length The rain fly stays the same between sizes; inner floor length is what changes.
Under ~5'8"< ~173cm	Short · 203cm / 80"6" shorter than Medium and 1" lower in height
5'7" – 6'2"170 – 188cm	Medium · 218cm / 86"for most people
6'1" – 6'8"185 – 203cm	Long · 233cm / 92"6" longer than Medium

Swiftline size comparison: Short, Medium, and Long

Material Options

	Standard option More durable floor and less snag prone netting. Best option for most people.	Light option Go with this for weight savings or if you plan to use a groundsheet regardless.
Floor fabric	20D Silpoly, Sil/PU	Recycled 20D Silpoly, Sil/Sil
Floor HH(water resistance)	~4000mm	~2000mm
Canopy	0.6 oz/yd² noseeum	0.5 oz/yd² noseeum
Weight savings	baseline	60–71g lighter

Detailed material specifications

Rain fly

Silpoly absorbs less water than silnylon, reducing added weight, and lower sag ensures the tarp stays taut through the night.

Recycled, 20D Silpoly

Weight: ~44 gsm | ~1.29 oz/yd²
Hydrostatic Head: ~2000mm
Outer face coating: Silicone-based
Inner face coating: Silicone-based
PFAS Free: Yes
Seams: Not taped; seal before first use (see FAQ)
Color: Cirque Blue

Guyline

Diameter: 1.8mm
Core: UHMWPE
Cover: Polyester
PFAS Free: Unknown
Color: Yellow w/ reflective tracer

Light inner

Materials chosen to prioritize weight savings with good durability.

Recycled, 20D Silpoly Floor

Weight: ~44 gsm | ~1.29 oz/yd²
Hydrostatic Head: ~2000mm
Outer face coating: Silicone-based
Inner face coating: Silicone-based
PFAS Free: Yes
Seams: Not taped; seal before first use (see FAQ)
Color: Brown

10D Noseeum Canopy

Weight: ~17 gsm | ~0.5 oz/yd²
Material: Nylon
PFAS Free: Unknown
Color: Black

Standard inner

PU-coated on the inside for improved puncture resistance and reduced slipperiness. Heavier netting for less snagging.

20D Silpoly Floor

Weight: ~48 gsm | ~1.4 oz/yd²
Hydrostatic Head: ~4000mm
Outer face coating: Silicone-based
Inner face coating: PU
PFAS Free: Yes
Seams: Not taped; seal before first use (see FAQ)
Color: Black

10D Noseeum Canopy

Weight: ~21 gsm | ~0.6 oz/yd²
Material: Nylon
PFAS Free: Unknown
Color: Black

Packaged Weight

	Standard option	Light option
Short203cm / 80"	755g / 26.6 oz	695g / 24.5 oz
Medium218cm / 86"	790g / 27.9 oz	721g / 25.4 oz
Long233cm / 92"	806g / 28.4 oz	735g / 25.9 oz

Reduce trail weight up to 42g (1.5 oz) by removing some non-essential items

Component weight breakdown

Rain Fly

Tarp: 368g | 13.0 oz
Rigging: 38g | 1.3 oz
Stuff Sack: 9g | 0.3 oz
Total: 415g | 14.6 oz

Rain Fly Rigging Breakdown

Guyline: 24g | 0.85 oz
Tensioners (6): 7.0g | 0.25 oz
Fastline Clips (2)*: 7.0g | 0.25 oz
Total: 38g | 1.3 oz

Inner Rigging Breakdown

Corner rigging: 14.5g | 0.51 oz
Apex rigging: 7.5g | 0.26 oz
Grommets (2): 7.0g | 0.25 oz
Total: 29.0g | 1.0 oz

Inner Net-tent (Short)

Light Option: 239g | 8.4 oz
Standard Option: 298g | 10.5 oz
Rigging: 35g | 1.2 oz
Stuff Sack (Sil/Sil): 8g | 0.3 oz
Stuff Sack (Sil/PU): 11g | 0.4 oz
Total: 293 - 352g | 10.3 - 12.4 oz

Inner Net-tent (Medium)

Light Option: 265g | 9.3 oz
Standard Option: 333g | 11.8 oz
Rigging: 35g | 1.2 oz
Stuff Sack (Sil/Sil): 8g | 0.3 oz
Stuff Sack (Sil/PU): 11g | 0.4 oz
Total: 319 - 387g | 11.2 - 13.7 oz

Inner Net-tent (Long)

Light Option: 279g | 9.8 oz
Standard Option: 349g | 12.3 oz
Rigging: 35g | 1.2 oz
Stuff Sack (Sil/Sil): 8g | 0.3 oz
Stuff Sack (Sil/PU): 11g | 0.4 oz
Total: 333 - 403g | 11.7 - 14.2 oz

Consider removing some or all the following items to save up to 42g (1.5 oz).

Grommets - optional pole anchoring to floor
Fastline clips* - replace with tensioners or knot for inner-only setup
Stuff Sack - use larger sack for both pieces
Tub corner rigging* - remove tensioners, shorten cords
Rain fly tensioners - replace with tensioning knots
*These items make it easier to pitch the inner without the rain fly.

Dimensions

Floor width: 76cm / 30" Interior Ridge Height*: 109cm / 43" Tub height*: 20cm / 8"

*Short inner is 1" lower in interior ridge height (42" vs. 43") and tub depth (7" vs. 8").

Full dimensions by size

Short

Interior Dimensions

Floor Length: 203cm | 80"
Floor Width: 76cm | 30"
Top of Tub Length: 213cm | 84"
Top of Tub Width: 86cm | 34"
Interior Ridge Height: 107cm | 42"
Tub height: 18cm | 7"

Medium

Interior Dimensions

Floor Length: 218cm | 86"
Floor Width: 76cm | 30"
Top of Tub Length: 229cm | 90"
Top of Tub Width: 86cm | 34"
Interior Ridge Height: 109cm | 43"
Tub height: 20cm | 8"

Long

Interior Dimensions

Floor Length: 233cm | 92"
Floor Width: 76cm | 30"
Top of Tub Length: 244cm | 96"
Top of Tub Width: 86cm | 34"
Interior Ridge Height: 109cm | 43"
Tub height: 20cm | 8"

Packed size

Complete Shelter

Light Option:
~25cm x 16cm x 13cm | ~10" x 6.5" x 5"
Standard Option:
~28cm x 18cm x 15cm | ~11" x 7" x 6"

Components

Rain fly:
~23cm x 16cm x 8cm | ~9" x 6.5" x 3"
Light Option:
~23cm x 15cm x 64cm | ~9" x 6" x 2.5"
Standard Option:
~25cm x 18cm x 9cm | ~10" x 7" x 3.5"

Click to enlarge

The dimensioned drawings below show the LONG inner. Subtract 6" in floor length for the Medium, and 12" for the Short. For the Short, also subtract 1" in height.

Click to enlarge

Required items (not included):

Seam Sealer: Seal the fly's seams before your first trip. Use a sealer made for silicone-coated fabrics: we recommend Gear Aid Seam Grip +Sil. Or use our optional seam sealing service, and we'll handle it before shipping.
Trekking Poles: About 120cm (~47") for full height of the shelter.
Or use our optional tent poles.
Stakes: 6 (8 for better wind stability)

Pitching

How to pitch

Prep: Set your poles to about 120 - 122 cm (47 - 48").
Stake corners: Stake out the four main corners in a rectangle.
Insert and stake poles: Pass poles under the fly, grab through the vent and nest the handle in the pole cup. Then stake out the apexes.
Stake vestibule: Stake out the remaining two corners.
Adjust: Adjust guylines and stakes to acheive a taut and balanced pitch.
Attach inner: Clip the inner to the fly at the apexes and corners. Shorten connecting cords to tighten.

Tip: When breaking camp, leave the inner and outer connected so your shelter is ready for a quick, seamless setup next time.

How to pitch just the inner

When the weather is nice, you might want to pitch the inner without the rain fly. Here's how to do that.

Prep: Unclip the rainfly's apex guylines (2) from the fly. You'll use these for the inner.
Stake corners: At each corner of the tub, extend the shock cord to nearly its full length and clip it to the tie out at the bottom corner of the tub. Stake out all the corners, fairly tightly, in a rectangle.
Raise and stake apexes: With pole tips pointed up, wrap the guyline around the poles' baskets, then stake out and tension. The guyline should run roughly inline with the ridgeline direction. Alternatively, use our pole cups (sold separately) to pitch with your trekking pole handles up, or our guyline grommets to secure tent or trekking pole tips.

Tip: If you're having issues with stability, it's likely due to either insufficient tension on the floor, or to the angle at which the guylines are running with respect to the inner.

Complete Systems