Sierra Designs Tents Meet Lots Of Needs

Q: Doug, I know you’re a big proponent of Sierra Designs product, so what’s the skinny on the new Divine Lightnings? I need a small solo shelter, and the bivy sacks, even the fancy poled ones like OR’s, are a pain to get in and out of.

I’ve climbed into a Sierra demo and it seems terrific, so let me know if you have any real-world performance info. It’s only 2.5 lbs!

Jonathan Donovan

Gear Guy: You’re right, Jonathan - while I don’t always think Sierra Designs tents are the “best” in any particular category, they’re certainly a tent one never will go wrong with. That goes for the Divine Lightning as well.

I had a sample a while back, and it’s a beautifully designed tent: single-wall fabric, easy setup and, as you note, a weight of 2.5 pounds.

The downside? Price, for one. At $350, it may be the most expensive tent - per pound - on the planet. It’s also not especially well ventilated, nor particularly roomy, even for one (although much better than poled bivvies).

As a result, my first choice for a super-light one-person shelter is Garu das Jalan ($365). It’s a bit heavier at 3 pounds, 6 ounces. But its also substantially larger (23 square feet versus 18.5 for the Divine Lightning) and has great warm-weather ventilation.

Having said that, though, you won’t really regret purchasing a Divine Lightning. Both of these are highly functional, high-quality tents.

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