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One seriously efficient design for a gear-slim alpine vacation.

At under three pounds, the Black Diamond Firstlight 2-Person Tent soothes your minimalist pangs so you can resume your ledge-camping, alpine adventures without dreading a soggy bivouac. Designed for maximum weight savings and minimum hassle, this single-wall shelter uses lightweight, breathable NanoShield fabric to protect you and a friend from the elements.
  • Freestanding, single-wall design saves weight by eliminating the need for a fly separate from the canopy; ideal for trekking and climbing applications
  • Breathable, abrasion-resistant, and highly packable NanoShield fabric features a Silicone NanoCell coating to protect against rain, snow, and wind
  • Covered vents help prevent condensation from building up in your shelter; just position a vent in the direction of the prevailing winds for more circulation
  • Three internal DAC Featherlite poles provide freestanding structure without a back-breaking weight penalty
  • Four internal mesh pockets help keep your kit organized at night
  • Optional footprint and vestibule sold separately

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Black Diamond Firstlight Tent: 2-Person 4-Season

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Here's what others have to say...

How does this tent hold up in the wind....

J.D

Member since 
Posted on

How does this tent hold up in the wind. Like 40 mph? How many stakes are needed?

Guy Geva

Member since 
Responded on

Hi...Used all the pegs and guy line and it can take wind of 60 mph like a rock

J.D

Member since 
Responded on

Awesome, looks like a sick tent. Definitely saving up for it

wa.waunderer

Member since 
Responded on

I left my tent outside for two days in sustained 40 mph winds staked out only at the corners and watched the foot end constantly bow in significantly, then back out. The tent held and the poles were fine. That was 4 years ago, the tent is in it's 7th year.

I left my tent outside for two days in sustained 40 mph winds staked out only at the corners and watched the foot end constantly bow in significantly, then back out. The tent held and the poles were fine. That was 4 years ago, the tent is in it's 7th year.
5 5

Kaj

Member since 
  • Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer

For trips in the mountains where weight is the primary concern and I know that it isn't going to rain this tent is the bees knees.

Like most other reviews point out- you will get wet in a downpour. But for alpine use it is solid, handles wind pretty well, is light and packs well.

For any trip where I anticipate some rain, or having to spend a lot of time sitting in the tent waiting out bad weather I generally use the Ahwahnee.

Great for what it is!
4 5

yellowlab03

Member since 

I really like this tent, it is roomy for one person, cozy for two people and light weight. I am 5'11, by myself I sleep diagonal and am fine with room. With two people my head touches one side and my feet touch the other. My buddy is 6'4 and his feet hang out the door, which is fine because I have the vestibule. Condensation is a pretty big issue, so I will open up the vent, leave the door open and just zip up the vestibule, no problems after that. I have only used the tent above treeline, and never in rain so I can't comment on how it would do in rain, though I would say that I wouldn't want to. On snow, the bottom will wet out a little bit at pressure points where you lay down. It seems to hold up pretty well in the wind, I dead man the tent tie outs and the vestibule tie outs and have never had any worries. The only thing I do not like about this tent is that it just feels flimsy to me as far as the fabric. I am very cautious with it setting it up and breaking it down and where and what I place it on or around. I guess that is the price you pay for the incredible lightness of this tent though. After all was said and done, I would most definitely buy this tent again and would also recommend it to others who are looking for a seriously light tent.

Light!
Firstlight

jde4024322

Member since 
Posted on

Sapphire Lake

Very light. If it rains all day you're done. Good for Sierra summer.

4 5

Hayden Beck

Member since 

Seriously backcountry? This tent could easily be a four-season mountaineering tent.(maybe not on everest but...) Anyways this is a great tent that packs down small as your food. Love the wasabi color also.

what is better this or the hilight?think...

marcello sbrocca

Member since 
Posted on

what is better this or the hilight?think bivy ledges, big storms, and rain storms etc...

knanier

Member since 
Responded on

The firstlight would be my choice. Slightly smaller foot print and cheaper too.

Guy Geva

Member since 
Responded on

It is a very strong tent. it is a great tent for winds and snow. for the rain...you need to know it is not totally rain proof

3 5

byr4387282

Member since 

I spent one night in this tent by myself and I thought is was just right, but I would hate to have to try and fit 2 people plus gear in this thing. I love how lightweight and simple it is, but because it's so lightweight it is kinda flimsy, tearing and leaking are real issues. I would like to have this as my second tent when I go out by myself and space and weight are primary issues, but I wouldn't recommend this tent for normal situations for 2 people.

4 5

Arrak

Member since 

Has always kept me very comfortable in super cold weather in the snow. Never leaks, won't blow over even in very heavy winds.
Pretty much the best winter tent and about half as light as the competition. My only issue is that it's too short. I'm 6'3" and just barely fit.
Haven't tried it out of the snow but I've heard it leaks and gets condensation. I'd say it's not the right tool for that anyway, get a Tarptent for those trips.

I'm 6'4" tall. Is there anyway I would...

aar2450464

Member since 
Posted on

I'm 6'4" tall. Is there anyway I would be able to sleep comfortably in this tent with anothe person or is it too small?

Simon Hatfield

Member since 
Responded on

You really just aren't going to fit very well, possibly if you bought the vestibule and slept with your feet out the door. This tent has sidewalls that slant quite a bit to shed wind, and is only 82" long. By comparison, most tents for regular people are 84", and tents for tall guys like us are 88"+. If you're looking for a burly ultralight single wall that will work for you, check out the Megalight. If you want a freestanding Bibler with a similar design (but some extra weight added) get the Eldorado (its burlier too).

knanier

Member since 
Responded on

You'd be touching both ends and it wouldn't be too comfortable. Another consideration is that this tent, as with most other single walls, will have more condensation after a night than a similar double wall tent resulting in more moisture on your sleeping bag - head and toe at your height.

Arrak

Member since 
Responded on

Barely. I'm 6' 3" and I've used it on several long winter trips. My head and feet both bulge out.
That said, it held up to 80 mph winds and had very little condensation. I love this guy but either I need to shrink or he needs to grow!

tim_hawtho259084

Member since 
Responded on

It might help to take along the bottom half of a kitchen garbage bag to put over the foot of your sleeping bag. That seems to keep the sleeping bag dry for me but i am only 5'-11". Then, use the garbage bag to pack out your waste on the last day.

Guy Geva

Member since 
Best Answer Responded on

I hope it's help

I hope it's help
5 5

Ian Ferguson

Member since 

I spent two months sleeping in this tent while hitchhiking through europe with a buddy.
For light weight, ease of setup and take-down, functionality, durability, and simplicity, this is the greatest tent i have ever had the pleasure of sleeping in. The tent took a beating (we pitched it everywhere from Irish mountaintops to Spanish parking garages) with nary a tear or loose thread. The zippers pulled snag free every time. The ventilation was effective - I never felt like I couldn't breathe in the tent, as I have in many single and double-walled tents. I have a hunch the bright interior played a role in keeping our morale up throughout the two months. By the end of the trip, I was questioning the value of houses: why not live in a tent for the rest of my life? I would live in no other tent but this one.
I'm 5'11" and my buddy is 6'. We were able to sleep in the tent with our backpacks on rainy days (which there were a lot of). It was admittedly cramped, because our backpacks were huge, but cramped can equal cozy with the right mindset, and I think backpacking in general requires a certain psychological shift that makes you more open to discomfort in exchange for freedom/exploration/escape/whatever reason you are camping to begin with.
The tent leaks in heavy rains. We dealt with it, but some may not want to. Those who say this tent is meant for alpine-style summit assaults are correct-it's better at sheltering you from dry snow than rain. However, if you're not afraid of a few drips, this tent is great for extended backpacking trips. A waterproofing fabric treatment is something else you could look into, however do your research because chemicals in waterproofing treatments could theoretically compromise the integrity of the fabric.

BD Firstlight

red4024327

Member since 
Posted on

Before the green
My favorite in the right conditions.
Try the carbon poles.
No Heavy rain.

5 5

northfacejmb

Member since 

For a climber or aspiring alpinist, the firstlight is the best tent on the market.

Regardless of what people may have said in previous reviews, the firstlight does NOT leak as much as they would have you think. I've used mine in the rain and each time have stayed completely dry. There was even a small stream of water running under the tent all night and still we stayed dry.

That said, in heavy rain this tent may not be the best choice because the fabric is only "water resistant" though Nano shield is considered "waterproof" by european standards. Nano shield may be less waterproof than other "waterproof" fabrics but it is much more breathable. This means you will have less condensation in the firstlight than a similarly designed single wall "waterproof" tent.

If you're coming from a super comfy backpacking tent you will have to adjust your mindset transitioning to the firstlight.
The firslight is not designed to be a comfortable tent to spend a week in. It is a lightweight assault style tent for people who value their legs on the hike in, more than having a roomy tent.

This tent represents the bare bones of what a tent should be and it has no added features you don't absolutely need.
It doesn't have a vestibule for your packs/boots because people who are trying to save weight (ie people buying this tent) usually have 2/3 length sleeping pads and they use their pack and boots to insulate their feet-- eliminating the need for a worthless vestibule. This also means you need a smaller pack which will also weigh less. Also, climbers in cold, windy conditions often cook in their tents anyway using a jetboil (not recommended), so why do we need that vestibule again?

The firstlight sets up completely from the inside. This means that in bad conditions it is possible to throw your tent on the ground, jump inside with your stuff and set it up protected from the elements. Is it easy to do this--No, can it be done if need be--Yes, how many other tents could you do that with? It also has a very tall profile meaning that snow will just slid down rather than collecting on top.

This tent has a narrow profile. This means you don't have to have a very big ledge to be able to get a goodnights sleep. It also means you will be more cosy with your partner and sleep warmer. For those who think this tent is two small, I once used this tent without sleeping bags during a bivy with two 6ft+ guys last winter and we were just fine. Was it comfortable--No, was it superlight-weight and what we needed--Yes.

The firslight excels a being light wight, easy to pitch, area efficient (small footprint), and exactly what you need in the mountains. What more could you ask for? There is a reason that the firslight is used on peaks around the world and is the first choice among the worlds best alpinists.

James Jenden

Member since 
Responded on

Thanks for the review, it was awesomely thorough. I ended up paying a bit more and going with the Hilight for some added comfort, but you made me confident in the tent design and the fabric. Cheers!

law2674974

Member since 
Responded on

I agree with "northfacejmb" on their tent review and lightweight philosophy! The less weight I can carry while still getting a dry, bug-less good night's sleep within adequate shelter, the better. And I'm not a super Spartan/ascetic climber-alpinist--just a weekend backpacker trying to keep it simple and fun, and this tent has certainly contributed to that goal.

4 5

jocajoja313465

Member since 

2 words seam seal. bd recommends it and after following their instructions this tent is dry as as a popcorn fart

Is this the same fabric at the 07...

Owen

Member since 
Posted on

Is this the same fabric at the 07 edition?

knanier

Member since 
Best Answer Responded on

Nope...believe that one was made of Epic fabric and this is made of Nanoshield - which is supposedly supposed to be a bit more waterproof. Either way though, its really not designed to take on a lot of rain. Great in sub-freezing temperatures though.

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