Black Diamond FirstLight 2P
Best tent for mountaineering
Our take Alpinists will love the updated FirstLight’s simple-yet-sturdy construction. A smaller-than-average 27-square-foot floor cuts weight, but the steep walls and 42-inch peak height make the cramped quarters passable (it fits two standard-size sleeping pads), even for our 6’3” tester and his 5’11” son. Single-wall tents always see condensation, but Black Diamond added dual vents in the canopy to encourage airflow. These significantly cut down on moisture buildup during a 15°F night in Alaska’s Talkeetna Mountains. Tradeoff: The water-resistant polyester walls are best suited for snow and wind; they wet out (although they didn’t leak) in heavy rain.
The details The 70-denier polyester floor and walls remained scuff-free after a full season of use, but the door flap routinely snags in the zipper. Caveat: Unless you spring for the optional vestibule ($150; 1 lb. 6 oz.; 13 square feet), gear sleeps outside.
Trail cred “It’s hard to find a bomber mountaineering tent that’s so portable,” one tester says. “But this one packs down to about the size of a loaf of bread and neatly slips into your alpine pack.”
3 lb. 3 oz.