Gear Review

Black Diamond Firstlight Tent

1. weighs less than 3lbs
2. flirts w/four season use
3. single-wall Epic™ fabric
4. not for sustained, multi-day rain

Black Diamond's Firstlight tent almost makes a bivy sack obsolete. This two-man, sub-three pound tent will keep you warm and dry in all but the most extreme conditions.

The Firstlight features a single-wall design; there's no rain fly, which is partly why the tent is so light. The Firstlight is constructed of 'Epic' fabric, which is basically polyester with silicon fibers woven into it. The result is very breathable and almost waterproof.

Exactly how waterproof Epic actually is remains open to debate.

If you're heading into a rainforest, Epic probably isn't for you. Over time, the fabric can become saturated.

The Firstlight should be perfectly fine for even a sustained thunderstorm downpour, however. Just don't ask it to keep you 100% dry if the rain keeps falling continuously day after day.

Since I use the Firstlight mostly for single-night summit assaults, it's just about perfect.

While the Firstlight is officially a (smallish) two man tent, it is as a solo tent that the Firstlight truly shines.

The tent is easy to set up and surprisingly roomy. Put a Firstlight in your pack, and you've got a comfortable, reliable 4-season shelter.

I expect we'll see competitors pop up in the future with similar offerings, but right now, nothing remotely compares to the Firstlight in terms of size, weight, and price.

You just can't match the Firstlight's ultralight package with a traditional, body-and-fly design. Note that some people have expressed criticism regarding the Firstlight's breathability. Epic fabric is breathable, but if you completely seal up the tent, you will experience some condensation issues, especially in below-freezing temperatures, and especially if there's more than one person in the tent.

The same can be said, however, for any tent which does not feature a generous helping of internal mesh panels. Moreover, the Firstlight's lack of mesh paneling (other than the zippable vent and door mesh) means you can use the tent in blowing dust and snow without worrying about the inside getting coated by morning.

Look, the Firstlight has become one of my favorites. The combination of low weight and high quality shelter just really pays off. If you're looking for a spacious 2-man tent, I recommend the Black Diamond Lighthouse or the MSR Hubba Hubba. If you want a minimalist 2-man tent, or a nearly ideal solo shelter—this is it.

» Bottom Line: The free-standing two man Firstlight redefines the ultralight tent

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