Sierra Designs Clearwing
Bargain
Our take At this price, you wouldn’t be wrong in expecting the Clearwing to skimp on features, but this two-person shelter nails the livability test. Double doors and gigantic vestibules (12 square feet each) make tent life easy, and the 33-square-foot floor is more than plenty for two adults. Two hoop poles and a ridge pole create nearly vertical walls, but come at the cost of stability: The tent shudders in winds over 15 mph. The Clearwing’s 93-inch-long floor meant even our 6’6” tester had no problem sprawling out.
The details A durable, 68-denier poly-taffeta fly and floor held up well to rocky campsites in Washington’s Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest but add weight. The 15-denier nylon mesh walls on the interior help offset that and enhance breathability, but two testers still experienced noticeable condensation on a 40°F night. Bonus: The burrito-style stuffsack makes the Clearwing easy to pack and go.
Trail cred “Even with the fly open, the tent kept out heavy rain in the North Cascades, due to the vestibule’s generous overhang,” our tester says.