Clip Flashlight 2

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1. The Classic, but Better

   I inherited an old Sierra Designs tent with a similar design from my mom, who had bought it heavily used at a Montana State Outing Club sale years before she had even met my father. After withstanding two generations of use and abuse by college kids, it finally gave up the ghost in a particularly brutal thunderstorm in Northern Maine the summer after my senior year of college. I probably could have prolonged it's life even longer with some patching, re-weatherproofing, and seam sealing, but I let it go to the alpine meadow up in the sky.
   
   After a couple years running a tarp and a used bivy, I finally decided to pony up and buy another 2-person tent, and after a good amount of research settled on the Clip Flashlight 2. Couldn't be happier that I did.
   
   Crazy simple setup, lighter than you have any reason to expect a tent at this price point to be, and has kept me dry so far in variable conditions. Took it out for it's inaugural backpacking trip this past weekend, so I can't comment on durability based on experience, but it feels as rugged as I would expect based on the last Sierra Designs tent I had. Plenty of room for 2 people and gear between the interior and the vestibule.
   
   Also--the Night Glow headlamp diffuser is something I never knew I wanted but wouldn't want to go without now. You can ditch the headlamps and read, play cards, or if you're fortunate enough to have the right tent mate fool around basked in a romantic glow. Unknown on Jun 21st 2017

2. Amazing!

   This was given to me from casey, Shawn, and Candyce. This tent was amazing in the wind and rain but in 100% humidity you might get a few drops of rain and it's not the most breathable tent.
   
   Travis Travis Cohan on May 29th 2017

3. A Classic Returns!!

   I'm so excited to see the reintroduction of the Clip Flashlight 2! I purchased a Clip Flashlight 3 back in 1992 and I have pitched it more than 500 times on as many overnight/multi-day/week-long outings, from the Rocky Mountains, to coastal beaches, to desert, and most other places in between. It has weathered rain storms, blistering heat, desert hail storms, and incredibly high winds. The aluminum poles have NEVER given out! I have replaced both the rain fly and tent door zippers (after nearly 25 years of use things do wear out) but this tent has never leaked or given out on me, even in the harshest storms. It is still my go-to tent! Probably still one of the lightest, easiest to pack 3-person tent out there. Garrett M. on Dec 9th 2016

4. Since you asked...

   Since I contributed a comment on this tent just a few weeks ago I have received about a gazillion emails asking me questions. Here is an answer to most of them:
   No, I do not work for Sierra Designs. I only contacted them once about five years ago to get some advice on seam sealing which is necessary after about 200 nights. I was expecting either a poser or an outsourced phone operator and got neither. In that single experience the guy I spoke to had first-hand experience of the tent and was obviously a hardened outdoorsman. Nonetheless I became disgruntled with the company when I learned they had discontinued the Clip Flashlight 2 and resigned them to the category of penny-loafered number crunching fashion designing traitors until they-re instituted it.
   Yes, some of the other tents Sierra Designs make are more expensive. I don’t have any personal experience with them so I can not attest to their function. On general reputation I would guess that they are well made and designed.
   No, I have not had this tent in weather that it could not handle. I have extended its recommended usage far beyond what it was designed for and it was a dandy. I think that if I was in weather that this tent could not handle I would want to go home anyway to make sure my house was ok.
   Yes, this tent does set up very quickly but you have to do it properly, and I do intend to make a Youtube instructional on how to do that.
   Marc Lawson
   ContactMarcLawson@yahoo.com
   Marc Lawson on Oct 7th 2016

5. From hot to cold to monsoons

   I was hitch hiking to Alaska in 2008 and needed something better than the cold, wet, crap $30 tent I had. Onto the scene came my first Sierra Designs. Im not a cold weather camper but I got down to -5*C a few times, both dry and coastal wet. Then I took it to New Zealand and lived in it. 5 days straight rain, 3 if them so torrential we were slogging through mush and still not a drop inside. Then battered it with the crazy UV rays of NZ.
   I packed it up and had it in storage in extreme temps of Canadian winters and summers so I had questionable faith when years later I needed it for a festival circuit... but yet again, no problems.
   Tough and still lightweight and with a lot of room to move around.
   Still my go to tent! And will be for a long time ... But when I'm not carrying the two person tent I still use a Sierra Designs, one person.
   Adventuress42 on Oct 5th 2016

6. Old-School transistion

   In 1988 I began a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail at Springer Mountain. At the time I set forth with metal-framed backpack and a 2-person, four-season tent from another manufacturer. At the first few campsites I was the envy of the hikers around with a roomy and large tent. On the Third day I woke up to steady rain. As I broke down the tent and tried to stuff the oversized behemoth, which now weighed about 12 pounds, into my pack, I realized that I needed to find a better, lighter, and more practical tent. At my very first opportunity I purchased the Clip Flash light at an outdoor shop in Knoxville. This tent provided a dry and sturdy shelter for the entire Trail and has been a workhorse ever since. My eyes were opened to lightweight backpacking practices and the Clip Flash Light was my go-to product for any future backpacking need for over 20 years. The years have taken their toll on my old friend but I still keep it hanging in the gear closet. stuart cowles (SoarFoot'88) on Oct 5th 2016

7. Tents

   Tents are needed for outdoor survival in the most violent conditions. Sierra Designs' the best tent for just that purpose! Michael Martinek on Oct 3rd 2016

8. Sierra Design Lightyear CD tent

   Sierra Design Lightyear CD Tent
   
   Although I don't remember the year I purchased my Sierra Design Lightyear CD tent. It has certainly held up well. I've hiked the Appalachian trail 2003 and Adirondack state parks 2001. In 2004 I have been to many places throughout the Mark Twain National Forest. In all the tent and I have traveled over 2500 miles. In all this time, I did three things to maintain the tent. First, every morning I hung the tent from a tree branch to dry and air it out. Second, I used seam sealer every month while hiking. Lastly, I made sure the tent was place on ground that would not puncture the floor. Over the years I have replaced the tent stakes as I lost some of the original ones If you find one on the East Coast it might be mine. I lost one of the clips that connects the stake straps, I think in Georgia. This tent is no longer made, so I have not tried to replace that part. I believe my tent will last my entire life. It was well worth the money to buy a quality tent.
   
   William Vogt William Vogt on Oct 3rd 2016

9. Amazing product

   I have tried camping with other tents from other manufacturers but nothing beats my Sierra designs tent. It's tough rugged design gives me ample room for all of my gear. Unknown on Oct 3rd 2016

10. Dry, comfortable, time-tested and bullet-proof and lite.

    I have used incarnations of this same tent since the eighties in every possible condition and it has served me like a true friend. Sierra Designs had discontinued this product for the past few years and hard core outdoorsman in the know, myself included, became so disgruntled and enraged that we turned our backs on the company until they brought it back.
    I am in my fifties now but started extended hiking meanderings over thirty years ago. This is the kind of thing that crusty old farts really know best about, and if you are in the market for something that will protect you while your buddies carry around leaky, goofy, expensive monstrocities, this is the creature your looking for. ContactMarcLawson@yahoo.com on Sep 23rd 2016