Sierra Designs Meteor Light 3-3 Season Tent, 3-Person Reviews
Other Picture
Sierra Designs Meteor Light 3-3 Season Tent, 3-Person Feature
- 3-person, 3-season ultralight tent with patent-pending 2-pole design
- Pole configuration creates more living space without increasing the weight
- Dye-free optic white canopy creates brighter in-tent environment
- 49 square feet of sleeping space; 19 + 11 square foot vestibule area
- Measures 93 x 45 x 76 inches (W x H x D); trail weight of 7 pounds 1 ounce
One of the most copied tents in history, the Meteor Light was the only shelter ever to win the
Backpacker "Editor's Choice Gold" award way back in 2001. The tent--which has been a mainstay in the Sierra line for two decades--is widely recognized for its utilitarian function and design, with precise details that far exceed the average tent. This version, however, includes one new feature: a patent-pending two-pole design that creates more living space without increasing the weight. Efficient, economical, and comfortable, the Meteor Light is still one of Sierra's most reliable tents. The Meteor Light 3 sleeps three people comfortably.
Features:
The Meteor Light 3-person tent with rainfly and vestibule. |
- Dye-free optic white canopy: Optic white canopies transmit light more effectively to create a brighter and more pleasant environment inside the tent. Sierra Designs produces the optic white canopy without the use of chemical dyes.
- Inline connector: Part of Sierra's patented Eye Pole Configuration, the inline connector indicates where you should disconnect the pole while breaking down the tent.
- Patent-pending pole configuration: Reconfigured pole system maintains the function of a 3-pole setup but without the third pole. The footprint remains generous--with plenty of internal space--but cuts a whole pound off the weight.
- Sew-free windows: These windows utilize bonded tape to create a stronger, lighter window than traditional sewn-and-sealed versions.
- Swift clips: This Sierra Designs innovation allows the tent to be staked out before attaching the body to the pole structure.
- Vented vestibule:
The vented vestibule allows for additional air circulation.
Specifications:
- Trail weight: 7 pounds 1 ounce
- Fastpack weight: 5 pounds
- Packed weight: 7 pounds 14 ounces
- Packed size: 21 by 6 inches
- Number of doors: 2
- Interior area: 49 square feet
- Vestibule area: 19 + 11 square feet
- Peak height: 45 inches
- Floor material: 70-denier nylon, 3000mm
- Body material: 70-denier nylon
- Number of poles: 2
- Poles: DAC Featherlite NSL, 9.0/9.6mm
About Sierra Designs
Since 1965, innovative products have helped Sierra Designs to become one of the most renowned outdoor brands in the outdoor industry. With over 40 years of experience and an intense passion for the outdoors Sierra Designs has been able to create some of the best performance products. Not only are their products reliable enough to help thrill seekers like Eric Larsen summit Mount Everest and journey to both the North and South poles, but they promote a harmonious relationship with the environment we play in as well. If that's not enough; just ask the editors of Outside Magazine, National Geographic, and Backpacker Magazine. All of whom have presented Sierra Designs with numerous gear awards.
Amazon.com Tent Guide
Selecting a Tent
Fortunately, there are all kinds of tents for weekend car campers, Everest expeditions, and everything in-between. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Expect the Worst
In general, it's wise to choose a tent that's designed to withstand the worst possible conditions you think you'll face. For instance, if you're a summer car camper in a region where weather is predictable, an inexpensive family or all purpose tent will likely do the trick--especially if a vehicle is nearby and you can make a mad dash for safety when bad weather swoops in! If you're a backpacker, alpine climber or bike explorer, or if you like to car camp in all seasons, you'll want to take something designed to handle more adversity.
Three- and Four-Season Tents
For summer, early fall and late spring outings, choose a three-season tent. At minimum, a quality three season tent will have lightweight aluminum poles, a reinforced floor, durable stitching, and a quality rain-fly. Some three-season tents offer more open-air netting and are more specifically designed for summer backpacking and other activities. Many premium tents will feature pre-sealed, taped seams and a silicone-impregnated rain-fly for enhanced waterproofness.
For winter camping or alpine travel, go with a four season model. Because they typically feature more durable fabric coatings, as well as more poles, four-season tents are designed to handle heavy snowfall and high winds without collapsing. Of course, four-season tents exact a weight penalty of about 10 to 20 percent in trade for their strength and durability. They also tend to be more expensive.
Domes and Tunnels
Tents are broadly categorized into two types, freestanding, which can stand up on their own, and those that must be staked down in order to stand upright. Freestanding tents often incorporate a dome-shaped design, and most four-season tents are constructed this way because a dome leaves no flat spots on the outer surface where snow can collect. Domes are also inherently stronger than any other design. Meanwhile, many three-season models employ a modified dome configuration called a tunnel. These are still freestanding, but they require fewer poles than a dome, use less fabric, and typically have a rectangular floor-plan that offers less storage space than a dome configuration. Many one and two-person tents are not freestanding, but they make up for it by being more lightweight. Because they use fewer poles, they can also be quicker to set up than a dome.
Size Matters
Ask yourself how many people you'd like to fit in your fabric hotel now and in the future. For soloists and minimalists, check out one-person tents. If you're a mega-minimalist, or if you have your eye on doing some big wall climbs, a waterproof-breathable bivy sack is the ticket. Some bivy sacks feature poles and stake points to give you a little more breathing room. Also, if you don't need bug protection and you want to save weight, check out open-air shelters.
Families who plan on car camping in good weather can choose from a wide range of jumbo-sized tents that will accommodate all your little ones with room to spare. A wide range of capacities is also available for three- and four-season backpacking and expedition tents. Remember, though, the bigger the tent you buy, the heavier it will be, although it's easy to break up the tent components among several people in your group. It's also helpful to compare the volume and floor-space measurements of models you're considering.
The Meteor Light has won awards over the years since its first appearance in the early '80s, the most recent being Backpacker's "Editors' Choice Gold." A double-track vestibule converts to an awning, while two poles with a Spider Hub guarantee a fast and easy pitch with weight savings. A SuperSeal Floor and an Adjustable Venting Rainfly deter inclement weather. The Meteor Light has been a standard bearer going on three decades.
Visit Store Now !!
Mar 15, 2011 22:36:04
