Sierra Designs

Lightning 2 Tent: 2-Person 3-Season

You could be climbing in the desert one week and backpacking across the Tetons the next—the Sierra Designs Lightning 2 Tent thrives both ways. Its unique hybrid wall construction blends the benefits of both double-wall and single-wall constructions so you get a tent that's as light as a single-wall but still weather-protective like a double-wall. This innovative design also helps you set the tent up quickly in bad weather, and it gives more space than conventional backpacking tents without any added weight. In fact, this tent has a single drop door that—when opened—is large enough for you and your buddy to sit side by side and cook some food or enjoy the view when the weather's too harsh for you to leave the tent. The gear closets store your gear on the sides of the tent (away from the door) so you don't have to climb over your shoes and packs each time you get in and out.

Sierra Designs built this tent's floor out of ripstop for durability, the fly out of polyester taffeta to keep it as light as possible, and the body out of no-see-um mesh for ventilation. Not only do the walls provide a lot of ventilation, but a tunnel between the end of the tent (where your feet are) and the door maximizes airflow in order to keep you cool while you sleep on a warm summer's night. The single shock-corded pole helps you set up this freestanding tent, and the short fifteen-inch integrated awning poles maximize the door's opening without the added weight of more poles.