Airsoft Action - September 2022

OUTDOOR
TACTICAL OUTDOOR DEVELOPMENT
right up there with some of the best; the Flysheet
is 210t 100% polyester ripstop with (5000mm HH)
waterproof polyurethane coating, whilst the Inner
tent is 190t 100% nylon inner fabric, with a 50D
polyester No-See-Um-Mesh (1600 holes per square
inch). With a high standard of outer protection the
Groundsheet is 190t 100% nylon with (5000mm
HH) waterproof polyurethane coating in a “bathtub”
style, which means that water is not going to get in
and soak you from underneath! Rounding things out
the Scorpion 3 comes with industry-leading DAC®
Featherlite NSL® Anodised Aluminium Poles with
pressfit connectors, and these are colour-coded for
ease of pitching.
The design also offers a spacious front porch for
storing equipment and cooking in really bad weather.
As it comes in simple olive green the Scorpion 3 is an
ideal, fully waterproof and windproof design that’s
ideal for airsoft weekenders, even during the winter
months.
BOTTOM LINE
On both these models I’ve gone quite heavily into
detail on the fabrics and components as I believe that
what’s used by Snugpak is currently amongst the
best you’ll find out there unless you get into full-on
expedition-level gear. I hope that this will give you a
few pointers on what to look for when it comes to
buying a really serviceable hooped bivvy or tent for
yourself.
The bottom line of course is that neither of these
models is what you’d class as “cheap”, and of
course if you’re only going to use this type of kit very
occasionally then a simple, cheap-as-chips “pop-up
festival tent will probably do you! However, if you
have any intention of using your shelter regularly
for airsoft, and indeed for other outdoor adventures
then you need to look at your shelter as a longerterm
investment.
Even an Ionosphere or Scorpion 3 is going to set
you back LESS than a baseline TM NGRS AEG, but in
the right situation will mean that you’re going to be
able to USE that cherished AEG more than you might
think, for longer durations as you visit more sites,
further away from home, and stay comfortably the
night before, and even after, a game.
And now when it comes to “camo solutions”,
Snugpak has a whole collection of products featuring
the brand’s best-selling “Terrain Pattern”. You
can now mix and match products to offer both a
simple camping setup, and a more tactical one! A
“Terrain” flysheet is now available for anyone like
me who already owns an Ionosphere so that this
really becomes an “in-game item”, and I’m hoping
that Snugpak will soon also offer an upgrade for
the Scorpion 3. I’ve just got the new flysheet and it
marries up perfectly with my existing bivvy, and at
a quarter of the cost of a new Ionosphere it means
that my old bivvy now has a new lease of life… I just
wish the same could be said of its user!
I’ll be taking a break from “TOD” next month
as we have another special issue planned, but in
October I’ll be back to talk about sleep systems that
can serve you year round, but for now, for more
information on the Ionosphere, the Scorpion 3 and
all the other great kit offered by Snugpak please pay
them a visit at www.snugpak.com AA
“... IF YOU HAVE ANY INTENTION OF USING YOUR SHELTER REGULARLY FOR AIRSOFT, AND
INDEED FOR OTHER OUTDOOR ADVENTURES THEN YOU NEED TO LOOK AT YOUR SHELTER AS
A LONGER-TERM INVESTMENT.”
www.airsoftaction.net 39