The Wayback Machine

[Wandering Sagebrush]

While going through some of my gear, I found my favorite backpacking tent. It’s a Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight 2, and has to be at least 25 years old (I was surprised to learn they are still being made. I wonder if the new versions are this well made).

Sets up in about 5 minutes under ideal conditions.

It is still in good shape, and going into my solo box for times when I only want to take the Ranger.

 

[Foy]

The Sierra Designs 2-man* backpacking tent in which the Missus and I spent our honeymoon 44 years ago is still in the inventory. Hasn't been set up for at least 30 years.

Just last weekend my son and I were talking about getting it out and setting it up for our grandson, age 9.

*to qualify for "sleeps 2" status, certain physical relations are assumed to take place within the tent. It's pretty small.

Foy

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Foy, my rule of thumb for backpacking tents is to always get the next larger size than the intended people count. In this case, sleeps 2 means sleeps one, plus some gear.

 

[DavidGraves]

We still have our Eureka Timberline 4...from college days....still works fine.

 

[Wildcat]

ditto on the sierra designs clip flashlight. I'm thinking ours goes back to 1990 from REI as we bought other slightly larger backpacking tents after that but still keep the clip flashlight in the back of the closet. but it still is the lightest weight tent we own and is great emergency gear.

iirc, the downside is that it must be anchored with stakes in all the corners to provide tension on the fabric when assembling, which was a problem in certain windy and rocky environments like the California sierra mountains and parts of the Pacific coast.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

<snip>
iirc, the downside is that it must be anchored with stakes in all the corners to provide tension on the fabric when assembling, which was a problem in certain windy and rocky environments like the California sierra mountains and parts of the Pacific coast.

IMO, that’s the only flaw this tent has, if it is a flaw at all. That said, many times more than once I have seen free standing tents become airborne, then ripped to shreds with a gust of Death Valley wind.

 

[AWG_Pics]

It is still in good shape, and going into my solo box for times when I only want to take the Ranger.

Steve, I admire a fellow that can still contemplate sleeping in a tent at any age near my own.

Speaking of Death Valley wind and tent disasters, we had just finished setting up our then new North Face Summit Series Bastion 4 Person Tent at Texas Spring campground just before the wind rose. Our tent was fine of course, but we watched as the winds grew stronger and pretty much blew away the multi-tent camp site of a group of geology students. Some were merely flattened, some had broken tent poles and some disappeared all together.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Steve, I admire a fellow that can still contemplate sleeping in a tent at any age near my own.
<snip>

I did buy an Exped mattress to mitigate some of the aches and pains. It is as good as advertised.

 

[buckland]

Just gotta say I love Professor Peabody and his pet boy Sherman. The Wayback Machine ...I mean they don't make cartoons like they used to. Don;'t get me started but Rhode Island Red rooster and Yosemite Sam.... irreverent loud mouths that I loved.

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Rob thanks for that memory jog.
Yes Professor Peabody and Sherman,along with Rocky and Bullwinkle.
Oh can't forget Boris and Natasha.
Nope no cartoons like those these days.
Frank

 

[Smokecreek1]

Me-I got my old Eureka timberline 2 man tent; I bought sometime in the late 60's or early 70's. Even still have the repair kit and all the things that went with it. Lot's of good memories, hard miles and sore backs! You are right Steve, I don't think I could get into it anymore, but I still carry in my camper-ya never know !

Smoke

 

[pvstoy]

I've got a worn out Sierra Design Meteor light tent that went through 2 zipper replacements. After needing a third replaced it.. but just the tent without fly lives in the truck if need to set it up in a campsite to help reneforce the site is occupied.