THE GEAR:
The Vapor Light 1 from Sierra Designs is a 1 person ultralight backpacking tent. Designed for 3-season use, the freestanding Vapor Light 1 features Jake's Foot pole attachments, Ball Cap Connectors, and a Spider Hub for easy set up. The tent has a SuperSeal floor, 7 square feet of vestibule area, 15.5 square feet of interior space, and a trail weight of 2 lbs 14 oz.
THE TEST:
I'll start by mentioning the fact that I'm a bit particular about tents. The list of "must haves" and "can't stands" is indeed a long one. I like tents that are easy to set up, freestanding, and ultralight. I also prefer tents with mesh walls so I can see the stars and breathe easier. And of course, I'd like to have all of this while being adequately protected from the elements. So for me, the Vapor Light 1 seemed like a viable option.
All of my trips utilizing the Vapor Light 1 have been in the summer and fall; but in Portland you can get a pretty good taste of 3 or more seasons during that time. Out of the box I knew that the Vapor Light 1 aligned with my preference for ultralight mesh construction. The tent exceeded expectation in the quick and easy set up category, however, taking about 2 minutes to set up without the rainfly. The Ball Cap/ Jake's Foot/ Spider Hub set up works to perfection and is easy and intuitive, yet sturdy.
There is plenty of room to sit up, but in true ultralight fashion there isn't room for much else. When I set up the entire tent including rainfly for wet weather, the vestibule was a bit on the small side. But then again, that is a concession often made with ultralight gear and hopefully you didn't over pack. At 6 foot 2, I used every last inch the tent had to offer. I would recommend another option if you're taller than me, unless you don't mind your toes touching the tent.
One chink in the armor was getting in and out of the tent in the rain. I'm generally not a big fan of tent doors that are located at the head instead of the side of the tent. It's kind of a cumbersome way to get in and out. In the case of the Vapor Light 1, the way the vestibule and rainfly are set up over the door makes it tricky to enter and exit without getting rain in the tent. However once in the tent, it never leaked and did well when the wind kicked up.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
The Vapor Light 1 from Sierra Designs meets or exceeds expectations in most categories, including ease of set up and weight. The vestibule is a bit small and the door placement and rainfly make it tricky to keep the inside of the tent dry in pouring rain. That being said, as a warm weather backpacking tent, you couldn't ask for much more.
Vapor Light 1 features and specs:
• Spider Hub™
• Ball Cap Connector™
• SuperSeal Floor™
• Jake’s Foot™ Pole Attachment
• Trail Weight 2 lbs 14 oz
• Fastpack Weight n/a
• Packed Weight 3 lbs 7 oz
• Packed Size 19" x 4"
• Number of Doors 1
• Interior Area 15.5 sq ft.
• Vestibule Area 7 sq ft.
• Peak Height 38"
• Floor Material 40D Nylon Taffeta, 3000mm
• Body Material 20D Nylon Ripstop
• Fly Material 40D Nylon Taffeta, 1500mm
• Number of Poles 2 Hubbed
• Poles DAC Featherlite NSL, 8.5mm
$249.95
For more of Adam's writing, reviews, and photography, visit AdamSawyer.com
Comments
Looks like a pretty cool tent, and I'm a lot shorter than 6'2".
I like the features of this product.
I'm with Kimberly, I'm a full foot and 1 inch shorter than 6'2"..;). This would probably be a good tent for me :)
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