• Thursday, September 30th, 2010
Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight 2 Two-Person Ultralight Tent
- Strong and Light DAC Featherlight Poles
- Non-Rotating Elbow Connector increases strength in wind and Swift Clips make for a fast and easy set up even with gloves on
- Super Seal Floor fully taped and waterproof maintains a tighter pitch with a better wind line to prevent flapping
- Lightweight Fly Material
A best-seller, year-in and year-out, the Clip Flashlight features a hoop design for less weight, a generous vestibule, and Swift Clips for easy set-up. Tent Guard with Ultra Fresh, a SuperSeal Floor, Cam-Locs, color-coded webbing, reflective guy-out
Rating: 
(out of 3 reviews)
List Price: $ 199.00
Price: $ 179.95
Category: Backpacking
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Review by Scott Burgess for Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight 2 Two-Person Ultralight Tent
Rating:
First the bad news: this tent is a tunnel design, so it is not free-standing. This means that you have to pull stakes to move it. In all my backpacking I have *never* had to move a tent before I was ready to leave (though my companion and I awoke one morning to find our Clip-3 had been in the middle of a storm-started stream all night–the seals held, and we both slept through it!). Also, I have only occasionally camped where the ground was so rocky I had trouble putting the primary stakes down. I camp mostly in the Pacific Northwest–your mileage may vary, so ask friends who camp in your area. My conclusion: “free standing” means little to me.
So why buy a tunnel design instead of a geodesic? Because tunnel designs offer the best interior space to weight ratio. In human speak, you get more space and less pack weight. You can reduce the ~4 pound pack weight further by purchasing some premium titanium stakes from aftermarket manufacturers. Many newer “ultralight” tents from Sierra Designs and others cost twice as much and weigh over 6 pounds.
Some tunnel tents from Stephenson’s offer even lower weight, but are custom made–cost is very high, you may wait several weeks to receive it, and I would worry about availability of replacement parts. Sierra Designs is common enough that most outdoor chains can quickly sell you spare poles or parts should accidents occur while traveling.
This tent is a breeze to set up–takes only a few minutes, and regularly garners compliments and amazement from other campers who watch.
I only wish that Sierra Designs would offer the very similar but larger Clip-3 tent again. Mine packed under 5.5 pounds (with spare stakes), and had 42 square feet of interior space. That’s less weight than most two-person geodesics and more space than most three-person tents! And I find the three person version a lot less claustrophobic.
Before purchasing a tent, I suggest you consider carefully how you will use it. This piece of gear is one of the most expensive and heavy you’ll take into the wilderness. Each feature adds weight, and you may decide some are not worth carrying. Backpacker Magazine has excellent annual reports on tents–compare features there (it is often available in public libraries).
Review by John Locke for Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight 2 Two-Person Ultralight Tent
Rating:
I own an earlier model of this tent and bought it in 2001. First of all this tent is very well made, as evidenced by the fact that I have owned it for over nine years and that my tent has easily seen over 100 nights of use. The thing does not leak, period. The outer tent (only the inner is shown, it comes in two pieces) is completely water proof and keeps water vapor and condensation from entering the inner tent, where you sleep. Mine came with a bottle of seam sealer, which I applied nine years ago and have never had a problem with. I have used this tent in snow over a foot deep with no problems and have also slept in it during 12 plus hours of downpour with no leaking. I’m an Eagle Scout: I have seen A LOT of tents and believe me when I say half the tents out there cannot make it through a typical rainstorm without leaking, let alone a downpour or snowfall. This tent is on par with the best out there and is worth every penny. Only complaint I have is that it is difficult to put up in the rain, I would recommended practicing erecting the inner tent under the outer one so it can be deployed in a storm.
Review by Ellen Risbarg for Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight 2 Two-Person Ultralight Tent
Rating:
If the Clip 2 is anything like the old Clip 3, it is a terrific tent. I bought my Clip 3 in 1992 and after not using it for 18 years and buying a new tent by a different manufacturer, I decided to see if the old Clip 3 was still viable. Not only is it viable, but it is roomy and comfortable. After putting up both the new tent and the old Clip 3 and alternating sleeping in them, I chose the Clip 3 over the other tent for comfort and a general sense of well-being that I felt while in the tent. From what I have read about the new Clip 2, the ventilation is superior to the older Clip tents. It would be wonderful to have the Clip 3 back with the ventilation of the newer Clip 2.