Black Diamond Firstlight Tent 2-Person 3-Season

used this tent twice; first time in the snow around 6,000' and 30 degree temp. i left the window as well as the door unzipped about six inches hopeing there would be enough air flow so there wouldn't be any moisture in the morning on the inside of the tent. no luck. the walls were as wet as the outside (rain/snow off and on throughout the night). second time around 6,500' with temp around 50 degrees. no rain that night but plenty of condensation inside the tent (i would have slept under the stars but the mosquitos were killers). ALSO - i am about 5'10" and i have to sleep diagonal and the end of my 6' sleeping bag touches the bottom corner. unless you're shorter than 5'9" and aren't concerned about moisture on the inside of the tent in the morning, i would not buy this tent. crazy light but just not worth being cramped and wet.

Was totaly pumped to find such a lightweight well reviewed tent. So I snatched it up at the last minute. Ooops. I used this tent for two on a 50-mile loop in the Sierra with a cross country foray to bag a remote peak. It was CROWDED in the tent with two guys who are only 5'10" and about 170lbs each (gear definitely outside). Minor rain a couple of nights. But every morning there was a mini shower inside the tent. Maybe I don't *get* the single wall tent concept, but I'd warn folks not prepared for the morning dew inside their bedroom to expect wet, wet, wet. And you better like your tent mate.

If lightweight and low volume packability rates high on your selection criteria, the Black Diamond Firstlight Tent is a great choice. Though considered a 3 season tent, I've used this in snowstorms and temps down to -30 F at 7000 meters. Considering the Firstlight packs down to the size of a football and weighs about half of its nearest rival, it might be unique as an alpine climbing shelter. It's a steal at half the price of other single wall tents. Don't expect a roomy experience especially if taller than six feet. I also wouldn't suggest this for a rainy trip, but when weight and packed volume outweigh comfort and room, this might be the only functional option available.

I love his tent. It is so light and easy to put up. OK it has its drawbacks -- I am over 6 feet tall and would prefer the tent to be just a little longer. Also it only fits two small people comfortably. But I am a huge fan and enjoy using it as single person tent. The groundsheet/footprint is essential because the floor material could tear easily.

This tent is good for one person in dry weather. If it rains, however, the walls will get damp. If it rains a lot, there will be puddles of water on the floor. In damp, cool weather, with the flaps closed, expect condensate inside. Also, I'm barely 5'5" and I could use more length to the foot print. And don't plan on a second person unless you don't mind them sleeping on top of you (not a bad idea, maybe, depending on who your with). Having said all that, it does keep the mosquitoes and black flies out, is extremely light and compact, is quick and easy to set up and take down, is bright and pleasant inside, and is suprisingly durable - i've had mine for three summers and have used it extensively with only mild stretching to the tent walls and only a few small holes in the flap. Again, maybe a good choice for one-person summer dry weather camping.

This has been my go-to climbing tent this year. I've used it on most of my overnight climbs, and brought it up to Mt. Rainier twice. It's seen warm nights, snow, and rain throughout the Cascades. My conclusion: as long as it's NOT raining this is the best tent I've ever used. It sheds wet, sticky PNW snow due to the steep walls, and it stood up to 50mph guests on Rainier (it did move around quite a bit, but held strong). If it's raining you'll get noticeable condensation and if you're taller than 5-10 you'll hit the wall. Otherwise, this tent does it all at half the weight.

This tent is super light and super easy to set up. With a little practice you can literally have it up in about a minute or less. I took this tent on a kayaking trip. It fit the kayak storage port without any problems. It held up well in a few thunder showers and it was quite comfortable on a warm stuffy night. The hook and loop closure pole fasteners are easier than the clips in my Bibler. I much prefer the hook and loop closure. This tent is the one I will use most often.

I love this tent! It's an extremely light weight hotel room for 1, is easy and quick to set up, and vents so well that there is little condensation considering it's a single wall tent. There is plenty of room to stash all of my gear inside, and any minimal condensation stays inside at the top because of the venting high at the back of the tent. I usually leave the door open, so that helps keep the condensation to a minimum. The tent sets up easily like a free-standing tent, but it's so light weight that you must stake out the four corners, otherwise it will blow away with the slightest puff of wind. However, once it's securely staked out, it holds up just fine to wind and rain. This tent is very comfy and cozy!

This is an exceedingly well made, well designed tent that offers a bit of comfort in your pack without weighing it down. Two storm worthy bivy sacks weigh as much as this tent sans vestible, and the tent is much more comfortable. Set up is simple. I'm 6'3" tall, and bought this tent understanding that I am too long for it. Laying parallel in the tent, I can almost stretch out if I am willing to put my face in the fabric. It is still more comfortable than a bivy sack and much faster than digging a cave. Condensation is considerable, even with good venting. Friends have used this tent on Denali and Blackburn and put it through some serious tests.

bought the tent it took it right up mt. wheeler in early april 07. love the setup, poles, weight/size, and guylines, etc. It's a fantastic 1-man tent, which is how I used it. Wasn't psyched to seam-seal on my own, but did - haven't seen it in any precip yet. My only small beef was the 'flappy-ness' in fairly high winds (30-40) of the long sides. I sewed additional guyline loops above the logos and in my windy-city backyard, it looks very promising.

Sealing seams is long, painful and uncertain, silicone included insufficient. A tent should be sold ready. Jan 2007, Alps, 2000 m, warm (+ 2C / 35,6F), one person, windows open: tent not transpiring, inside walls wet with moisture, would have been frost at normal cold temperatures in place. At morning tent is damp/frozen, difficult to take down and pack. Not suitable for severe mountain environments. Poles should have been outside, not inside the tent! The tent must be open to insert/remove the poles: if it snows with wind, the tent is soon full of snow, annoying, could be dangerous. Needs more bottom staking points or snow-band. Very bad, only quality is the light weight, but...

I couldn't be more psyched with this tent, but you have to realize its limitations. Floor space is limited but headroom is good. Its superlight, not super durable. You have to be careful with the fabric, and it’s not very breathable so don't zip it up completely and consider having a tiny section of sponge with you to wipe up condensation if you use in cold or especially humid weather.

It was not good. It was hot and the tent provided little, to no circulation. In fact, I borrowered someone else's tent and just folded up the Firstlight Tent.

Let's face it, you're going to pay a lot of frogskins for this tissue tent, so be sure it's what you're looking for. I was quite pleased with it on a recent 10-day solo trip, but I had to be very careful. It's super delicate, so be sure to buy the ground cloth, and don't snag it on a tree branch. The venting is fantastic (you can feel a breeze inside), yet each morning I had significant condensation, whether it was a dry warm night or cold wet one. I'm 5'9" and had to sleep diagonally to keep my head from touching the screen. For backpacking, it's comfy for one, too tight for two. The wind will try to steal it or flatten it, so stake it down tight. Seam-sealing was a holy terror: 5 hours of painstaking work, yet worth the watertightness of the end product. It packs ridiculously small; I was truly impressed.

I took the Firstlight with me on a trip in which I injured my back and was still able to set it up very quickly and easily. Easy to carry and fits into a side pocket in my backpack. Weighs in at 2lbs 15oz with stuff sack, but without spare pegs etc. Didn't rain on this trip, but when I tested it in my yard after seam-sealing, there were no problems with simulated steady rain from a hose.

Yes, it's for ridge. It doesn't perform well under humid weather and heavy rain, it leaks :) But it is really super light. I am satisfied with the performance with this weight. The thing I don't like is the waterproof handling at the seam place, it adds extra work.

I used this tent on my Appalachian Trail thru-hike, and found very few negatives. In the cold, warm, rain, and dry, this tent performed well. I used it for six months, and it became my home. I did need to seal the seams well. I think I sealed it about 4 times on the entire trip. For its weight, size, and ease of setup, no other tent comes close. And I've owned quite a few.

This tent is perfect for a trip up Emmons route on Rainier. One warning however—although it could take winds of 25mph or so without guylines at 9500 ft. I had to get up in the middle of the night to add the guylines, which I didn't need below treeline. Incredibly lightweight, a tiny bit tight for two, but it's worth it. Get a footprint, I poked a small hole in the bottom of my tent on a rock.

The one thing I wish this tent did better is keep out the water. Even after sealing the seams well, drips came occasionally. The thing is lighter than I imagined, and easier to pitch too. It stands up nicely, even with no lines. Keep in mind I’ve only used this baby in the rainforest, but a few cool nights it kept the cold out nicely.

This is an amazing lightweight tent. It packs down to a very small size. For a light weight minimalist, this is the perfect tent. It is a little small for two people, and if you are over 6-feet tall it well be an even tighter fit. My first trip with it I went to the Sierra Nevada and it rained throughout the night. The tent faired well with only a small amount of condensation getting inside. Overall, this is an excellent tent and I am very happy with it.

If you’re looking for a lightweight tent, as opposed to a shelter, shop no further. Materials and construction are first rate, and set-up is easy. However, read the instructions before you attempt pitching! When set-up, the walls are tight and there is no flutter in the wind. Ventilation is good with a small window in the back, and a screened door in the front. The companion footprint, which fits the tent very nicely, is highly recommended as the floor of the tent is paper thin. With the footprint, you’re looking at 3.25lb total, which is about half a conventional tent of this size.

I am very pleased with my first week of camping in the Firstlight. I had some problems with condensation on the first night, in a downpour and very cold, but figured out the venting was not opened! By keeping the venting opened no I have had no condensation problems even in very hard rains. Overall, very pleased with the size, weight, and performance to date.

This is a great tent. I bought this tent for four-season backpacking and camping. I needed lightweight, two person tent for use in the winter, and I was also looking at bivys. With this tent you can leave the poles at home and use it as a bivy - since it is made of EPIC and SIL/NY floor (same as other bivys) it is waterproof enough and has a lot of room for a bivy. Or I can take the poles and use it as a 2 person tent if needed. And is weather proof enough for Colorado winter camping.

This tent does not work well in cooler temperatures less than 40 degress when there is moisture in the air. I was very disappointed. I later find out that it was supposedly designed for dryer alpine country. It may work well in that type of climate, but it did not work well for me in Alaska.

This is an incredible product. I just stuff the tent in the bottom of my pack along with the poles that fold up small, rope and stakes in a ziplock and it hardly takes any room at all. Put up is simple and fast. Maybe a couple of minutes. The tent is plenty for one, tight for two but it was built for mountaineering on narrow ledges anyhow. For stuffing in your sack and carrying it is light and easy. It does not leak. The design is really simple with the minimum of seams. You seam seal it yourself with the silicon and a plastic gizmo that is easy to use. 8 seam lines and you're done. No condensation in cold and warm so far. Reason is plenty of cross ventilation with the top of the door open and screened and back window ajar...all covered with a nifty stiffened peak over them. This is definitely worth the bucks..

I gave this a five even though I'd suggest a couple of improvements because it is simply the lightest and nicest 2 person real tent available. There's other "shelters" that are slightly lighter but they have pretty big tradeoffs. For a real tent this is the best. It is easy to set up although I stil get a bit nervous about the possibility of putting the poles through the tent. Hasn't been a problem so no big deal. It rolls up easily and always fits in the stuff sack with little problem unlike some other tents. I wish it were 6" to a foot longer. I'd be OK with the extra weight. The velcro closures for the tent poles are kind of a pain. The color is good and lets in cheery light so you don't get claustrophobic. Tent internal height is really good. With two people there is little room for gear. Overall a great tent.