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Sierra Designs Lightning Tent

Sierra Designs Lightning Tent

Item # 732070
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This item is currently sold out or unavailable online.

For your reference, this page contains historical product information.

Sierra Designs has created this two-person, freestanding tent from the lightest materials available--its trail weight is less than two lbs. per person

  • Whether backpacking, touring or traveling, the Sierra Designs® Lightening tent will feel like home.
  • DAC Featherlite® NSL poles are the latest iteration from DAC and have an even greater strength-to-weight ratio than their other Featherlite poles
  • Specially designed pre-bent pole sections maximize livable space without adding weight
  • Nylon ripstop rainfly has a dual coating for waterproofness and excellent UV protection: silicone on the outside and polyurethane on the inside
  • Two-pole design with Swift Clips™ for easy setup; Clip-Locs™ lock poles in place, increasing strength by 60% without adding weight
  • Mesh panels around the tent allow good ventilation in hot weather
  • Features an integrated vestibule for storing gear out of the weather
  • Stash Doors™ can be opened from the side or bottom and stashed out of the way in internal pockets
  • SuperSeal Floor™ combines the benefits of catenary and bathtub floors; raised side seams are taped for complete waterproofness
  • Treated with Tent Guard with Ultra-Fresh™ to help prevent the growth of odor-causing fungus and mildew—a Sierra Designs exclusive!!
  • Color-coded webbing makes pitching this tent easier than making your bed!
  • Reflective guyout loops enhance night visibility; reflective noiseless zipper pulls are easily seen in the dark and eliminate annoying jingling sounds when the wind blows
  • Optic white tent canopy offers increased light transmission for a brighter living space
  • In mild weather, set up just the rainfly and poles over the footprint (sold separately) for a very lightweight shelter; weighs just 2 lbs. 7 oz.
  • Average minimum weight specification is based on tent, rainfly and poles only

Imported.

Item 732070

Sierra Designs Lightning Tent Specs

Specification

Description

Season3-season
Design typeFreestanding tent
Sleeping capacity2
Average minimum weight3 lbs. 15 oz.
Average packaged weight4 lbs. 5 oz.
Average weight - metric1.96 kilograms
Floor dimensions84.5 x 53 inches
Floor dimensions - metric215 x 135 centimeters
Floor area31 square feet
Vestibule area9 square feet
Peak height40 inches
Peak height - metric105 centimeters
Doors1
Canopy fabricNylon ripstop
Floor fabricCoated nylon taffeta
Rainfly fabricCoated nylon ripstop
Number of poles2
Pole materialAluminum DAC Featherlite NSL
Pole diameter9.0 millimeters
Packed size7 x 25

Sierra Designs Lightning Tent Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews
Sierra Designs Lightning Tent
 
4.5

(based on 23 reviews)

91%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

  • Easy to set up (23)
  • Lightweight (23)
  • Sturdy (19)
  • Comfortable (18)
  • Fly works well (14)

Cons

  • Poor fly design (6)

Best Uses

  • Backpacking (22)
  • Hiking (14)
  • Beach (5)
  • Mountaineering (5)
  • Car camping (4)
  • Reviewer Profile:
  • Avid adventurer (15), Casual adventurer (8)

Reviewed by 23 customers

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Sep

21

2007

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

 
4.0

Lightweight and fun

By Env_edukat

from Oregon, IL

About Me Avid Adventurer, Casual/ Recreational, Professional Guide

Pros

  • Easy to set up
  • Fly Works Well
  • Lightweight
  • Sturdy

Cons

  • Too Cramped

Best Uses

  • Backpacking
  • Hiking

Comments about Sierra Designs Lightning Tent:

I bought this tent during the summer of 07. While working as a canoe guide in northern maine, i found that the lightning was great in the fact that it was light, and it took up less space in my dry bag than my sleeping bag did.

The only negative thing I would have to say about this tent is that there aren't any inside pockets, so it was hard to stash anything inside the tent without fear of rolling over on it.

Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

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Sep

13

2007

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

 
4.0

Today's Forcast: Lightning

By Mad Life Crisis

from So Cal

About Me Alpine Junkie, Avid Adventurer, Backpacker

Site Member

Pros

  • Easy to set up
  • Good ventilation
  • Lightweight
  • Sturdy

Cons

  • Poor Fly Design
  • Vestabule is too small

Best Uses

  • Backpacking

Comments about Sierra Designs Lightning Tent:

This is the second Sierra Designs tent tht I've purchased, and like the first, I'm happy overall with the quality, design, functionality, and workmanship of this tent.

SD has managed to engineer a tent that's very lightweight for a double-wall tent over 30 square feet. Although, I did find that SD's listed weights are a little optomistic by about .25 pounds. The "Fast pack" (fly/poles/footprint) option shaves about two pounds off for all of us ounce-counters. It packs pretty darn small too...

The SD Lightning is a breeze to set up with a simple, yet effective, two-pole, clip design. While not as bomb-proof as my SD Stretch Dome, it still managed to shed about 4" of suprise snow that fell on me last winter in a 3 hour window! Not bad for a 2 pole, 3 season-rated tent. The fact that it's free-standing is also a bonus, but plan on using stakes and guy lines for optimum performance.

Ventilation is great with its mesh body, and any rain or snow intrusion is repelled by its "bath tub" floor. Floor space and dimmensions allow enough sleeping room for two average adults up to about 6' or so.

My only real complaint with this tent is the fly and vestibule design. The fly's zipper placement is offset, creating fabric tension that causes the zipper to bind when entering/exiting. I've expirimented with different stake placements and tensions, but I haven't been able to improve the situation.

Some may find the overall size of the vestibule a little disappointing too. Not much room for anything more than your boots and a sub-30L pack.

These few shortcomings aside, this is a GREAT tent from SD in both value and function.

Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

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Sep

12

2007

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

 
5.0

Great Tent

By ropin ron

from Placerville, CA

About Me Avid Adventurer

Site Member

Pros

  • Comfortable
  • Easy to set up
  • Fly Works Well
  • Lightweight
  • Sturdy

Cons

    Best Uses

    • Backpacking

    Comments about Sierra Designs Lightning Tent:

    This tent is lightweight, easy to set up and sturdy. It's light enough to take by myself and use the extra room for weather proof storage. I'm 6' tall and the length is perfect.

    Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

    (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

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    Nov

    20

    2007

     
    4.0

    Fast setup but condensation is an issue

    By rockch1x

    from Atlanta, GA

    About Me Avid Adventurer

    Site Member

    Pros

    • Comfortable
    • Easy to set up
    • Fly Works Well
    • Lightweight
    • Sturdy
    • Waterproof

    Cons

    • Collects Condensation

    Best Uses

    • Backpacking
    • Hiking
    • Mountaineering

    Comments about Sierra Designs Lightning Tent:

    This tent is really light and it was incredibly fast to set up. The construction was sturdy but the stuff sack that held the tent wasn't. I had my tent on the outside of my backpack and leaned back on a tree to rest and there were some tiny holes in the stuff sack. It was a normal tree trunk with nothing prickly sticking out. We were camping at 35 degrees at night and felt some drafts from the wind. The tent collects condensation too easily. We had little bubbles of water near where our heads were resting.

    • What Is Your Gear Style:
    • Minimalist

    Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

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    Oct

    28

    2007

     
    5.0

    Great fast pack tent!!

    By Bosun

    from St Louis

    About Me Avid Adventurer, Casual/ Recreational

    Site Member

    Pros

    • Comfortable
    • Easy to set up
    • Fly Works Well
    • Lightweight
    • Sturdy

    Cons

      Best Uses

      • Backpacking
      • Car Camping
      • Hiking
      • Mountaineering

      Comments about Sierra Designs Lightning Tent:

      I bought this tent to use while I back backed this summer in Yellowstone. It is lightweight and easy to put up. It stands alone quite well and is wonderful when it comes to rain.

      • What Is Your Gear Style:
      • Comfort Driven

      Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

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      Oct

      27

      2007

       
      5.0

      good little tent

      By mau

      from Olathe, KS

      About Me Casual/ Recreational

      Pros

      • Easy to set up
      • Lightweight

      Cons

        Best Uses

          Comments about Sierra Designs Lightning Tent:

          We bought this tent instead of a self-standing mosquito net since it had all the open window space and included the rain fly for not too much more. We took it on a trial run this past week for some fall camping up north. Worked excellent. We love the light weight and super simple set-up. Probably would not recommend for winter camping with the huge windows/door, but it stood up very well to cool autumn nights in the north.

          Comfortable sleeping with two of us, but don't plan on bringing in any packs/other gear into the tent itself

          Great value for too compared to others in the category!

          Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

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          Oct

          4

          2007

           
          5.0

          Many nice features

          By Pat J

          from Canby, OR

          About Me Casual/ Recreational

          Site Member

          Pros

          • Comfortable
          • Easy to set up
          • Fly Works Well
          • Lightweight
          • Sturdy

          Cons

            Best Uses

            • Backpacking

            Comments about Sierra Designs Lightning Tent:

            This is a great little tent. It is the perfect tent for myself. It may be cramped for 2, but it is great for myself and my gear. It is easy to set up and I love the big side door. It held up well in a rain shower. My son also loved it and wished that he had one.

            Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

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            Oct

            2

            2007

             
            3.0

            I Like...but

            By Mountain High

            from Rocklin, CA

            About Me Avid Adventurer

            Site Member

            Pros

            • Comfortable
            • Easy to set up
            • Lightweight
            • Sturdy

            Cons

            • Door Construction
            • Poor Fly Design

            Best Uses

            • Backpacking
            • Beach
            • Hiking

            Comments about Sierra Designs Lightning Tent:

            I like this tents design and lack of weight. It is relatively easy to setup and breakdown and get into bag.

            The door is wide open, however the full opening is a little strange and affects the sturdy construction. I would prefer two entry points. The vestibule is a waste of space and weight since you can barely get one pack in/under it. It also has a poor opening so any water build up on the fly runs into the wide mouth opening. The ground cloth is a little large/loose (not taunt at pole points) so bunching/slippage can occur. I had a lot of water build-up under the tent after a trip where it moved outside the underside due to the slack.

            Got a great deal, so I can tolerate shortages.

            Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

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            Oct

            1

            2007

             
            5.0

            Could not be happier

            By erock

            from Olympia WA/ Chicago IL

            About Me Casual/ Recreational

            Site Member

            Pros

            • Comfortable
            • Easy to set up
            • Fly Works Well
            • Lightweight

            Cons

            • Only one interior pocket

            Best Uses

            • Backpacking
            • Beach
            • Car Camping
            • Hiking

            Comments about Sierra Designs Lightning Tent:

            I could ask very little more of this tent. It is extremely light weight and amazingly easy to set up. There is just enough room for two people, and it will be extra tight if you try to squeeze your gear in the tent with you. This tent is perfect for spring and summer adventures, but you will be in trouble if you try to use this tent in the winter. The very large windows are not going to be good for keeping out the winter elements. But for rain the tent is great. The fly goes on easily and the whole tent packs up small.

            Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

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            Sep

            29

            2007

             
            5.0

            freestanding is the way

            By Franny

            from Cambridge, MA

            About Me Casual/ Recreational

            Site Member

            Pros

            • Comfortable
            • Easy to set up
            • Lightweight

            Cons

            • Poor Fly Design

            Best Uses

            • Backpacking
            • Hiking

            Comments about Sierra Designs Lightning Tent:

            All is well except the fly, does not really live up to the expectations you will have since everything else in the tent works so well.
            I don't agree with others that have complained about lack of pockets, I prefer that to be an option, more stuff = more weight. The days of the heavy 2 person tents are finally over.

            Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

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