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Reviews > Shelters > Tents > Black Diamond Oasis Tent > Test Report by Brett Haydin
BLACK DIAMOND OASIS TENT
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TESTER INFORMATION
I started backpacking in Wisconsin as a youth, being involved in the Boy Scouts programs. As a young adult, I worked at a summer camp leading backpacking, canoeing and mountain biking trips. I now generally take short weekend or day trips in rough, mountainous terrain, although I have extensive experience in the upper Midwest as well. I take one or two longer trips each year, where I typically carry about 40 lb (18 kg). I prefer to be prepared and comfortable, but I have taken lightweight trips as well.
INITIAL REPORT
PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS Manufacturer: Black Diamond Equipment, AG Year of Manufacture: 2008 Manufacturer's Website: http://www.bdel.com MSRP: US $329.95 Listed Packaged Weight: 6 lb 2 oz (2.8 kg) Includes tent body and rain fly, poles, stakes, stuff sack, repair kit Measured Packaged Weight: 6 lb 3.9 oz (2.83 kg) Measured Component Weights: Tent Body: 2 lb 2.4 oz (0.98 kg) Tent Fly: 2 lb 2.1 oz (0.97 kg) Tent Stuff Sack: 1.9 oz (54 g) Poles: 1 lb 3.1 oz (0.5 kg) Stakes: 4.9 oz (139 g) Repair Kit and spare guy lines: 1 oz (28 g) Floor Area: 42 sq ft (12 sq m) Vestibule Area: 14 sq ft (4 sq m) Listed Packed Size: 8 in x 19 in (20 cm x 48 cm) Actual Packed Size: 9 in x 24 in (22 cm x 61 cm) Peak Height: 44 in (112 cm) Season: 3 Persons: 3 Color: Marigold and Grey Warranty: One year from purchase on defects in material or workmanship Product Description: The Black Diamond Oasis tent is a 3-person, 3-season free-standing tent that is advertised as the lightest and strongest double wall tent made by the manufacturer. The tent floor is constructed of grey PU (polyurethane) coated fabric that comes up a few inches off the ground to create a "bathtub" of protection. The tent also has a mesh upper that allows 360 degree views of the stars and sights, when the fly is off of course. The mid-portion of the tent is a constructed of rip-stop nylon to create some privacy. The tent fly is an orange PU / Silicone fabric that clips to each of the four side anchor points of the tent body and extends past the front of the tent to create a vestibule. The doors, and there are two of them, are D-shaped to provide enough room to comfortably enter and exit. The tent poles are DAC Featherlite poles that are held together by two fast-pitch hubs designed to make the tent easy to set up. When fully laid out, the poles resemble a crude stick-figure person. Also included are ten lightweight y-shaped stakes, extra fabric (repair kit) as well as extra cordage for guy lines and to stake out the fly. INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
The Oasis arrived in superb condition all packaged in the stuff sack with one hang tag attached to the draw string. This hang tag includes brief "instructions" for a number of tents in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Japanese. This outlines just the general care guidelines for the tents and some product descriptions for several different tents. As I started to unpack the items, I noticed immediately that there is an exterior pocket designed to hold the tent stakes and repair kit. I was struck by the ingenuity, but it didn't stop there! When I opened the stuff sack, I found that there is an integrated pole sleeve inside. This seems like an excellent way to shave a few ounces or grams from the tent. READING THE INSTRUCTIONS
The instructions that are included in the tent are quite straightforward. They include written step-by-step directions complimented by visual depictions. There are also clear instructions on how to clean and maintain various aspects of the tent, including the zippers and poles. There are also recommended cleaning and lubricating products. I did notice that the website states that the rain fly and optional ground cloth (purchased separately) can be combined for an even lighter option. TRYING IT OUT
I couldn't wait to start setting up the tent to see how it looked up close! As I stated earlier, the instructions were clear, so I went to work setting it up in my backyard. I unrolled the tent, setting the fly aside. The poles clipped easily into place. I have never used a tent with a hub system before, but it looked easy enough. Lining up the five anchor points of the tent with the five pole ends, I placed the pole ends in the grommets as instructed. Once all five pole ends were in place, I went to work attaching the H-Clips to the "buttons" on the bottom of the hub. There are a number of pole clips to attach and I was impressed that they are slightly twisted to allow easier attachment. This is just another example of the creative design of this tent. The tent is free-standing and I was able to move the tent around easily. Finally, I staked out each of the anchor points. With the tent body assembled, I was able to get a closer look at the tent shape and size. The D-shaped door was easy to operate and the zippers were smooth. Climbing into the tent, I noticed three generous pockets for gear in each of the three corners near the doors. Everyone gets their own! What I did notice was that the space seemed a little snug for three people. After taking some measurements of the interior, I dragged out three sleeping pads and a sleeping bag to see how much space there was in practice. From my assessment, I think I can fit three people in the tent, but it will be very cozy.
Moving on to the rain fly, I spread it out over the top of the tent. The fly attaches to the four side anchor points by a quick release buckle that has a cord to pull for tensioning. The fly also attaches to the poles by hook and loop attachments that hold it securely to the frame. I used the enclosed extra cordage to create loops that allowed me to anchor the fly from the side and the rear as well. With the extra guy line cordage that is enclosed, I should be able to keep this tent sturdy in windy conditions. There are three separate vents incorporated into the fly; two in the vestibule and one in the rear. The vents are held open by a firm but flexible material sewn into the fly. One vent seemed crooked, but with a little maneuvering, I was able to get it to shape like the other two. These vents should allow trapped heat and moisture to escape, but if the temperature drops, I might be a little concerned that too much heat could escape. I experimented with the fly quite a bit once the tent was set up. I was able to "peel back" the fly to allow for excellent star gazing. It will be interesting to see how well this plays out in the field. One interesting feature on the vestibule door is that the normal elongated bead that I would normally expect is replaced with a spring-loaded slider that can be easily adjusted to secure the door when it is open.
SUMMARY
I have to admit, I am very excited to get this tent into the woods and mountains. I have taken the liberty to purchase the optional ground cloth as I would with any tent I own. I really like the marigold color as well as the shape of the tent. I am a bit skeptical of the size, but my family includes two adults and one eight year-old child. FIELD LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS
JANUARY 5, 2009 PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD
On my first two trips with the Oasis, I traveled short distances of under 5 mi (8 km) to the campsite on solo trips with my only companion my dog, Flash. On the second of the two trips, I took both my dogs for company. Setting up the tent has proven to be a breeze! I can easily get the tent set up, staked out and the fly assembled in less than five minutes, perhaps even faster if I was racing the weather. In fact the first night was in the dark. SUMMARY
Things I like so far: LONG-TERM TEST LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS
White River National Forest Colorado: Booth Falls Trail - February 7-8, 2009 PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD
The Oasis has continued to perform quite well through the long term testing period. During this time, I was able to use the tent on a winter trip outside of Vail, Colorado. The temperatures were quite warm for the time of year, and with winter sleeping bags, my partner and I were comfortable overnight. I use a synthetic bag rated to 0 F (-18 C) and had absolutely no problems. The tent itself has held up exceptionally so far. However, the storage sack has started to rip at the closure. This happened as we were pulling the cord to close the storage sack. Actually, only one of us was pulling the cord but who needs to place blame? All other seams on the fly, zippers and tent body are in perfect shape. The photo above shows the top portion of the storage sack where the fabric has torn. I chose to carry the whole tent myself on the last trip and it fit easily inside my pack, listed at 5,187 cu in (85 L). While I noted earlier that the storage would be better suited with a separate pole sleeve, it was convenient for me to carry the tent this way. SUMMARY
I am extremely impressed with the high quality of craftsmanship of this tent. I have successfully used this tent in a variety of settings and seasons, including a mild winter overnight. The advertised 3-person configuration is a little tight, but it does sleep three. I continue to be impressed with how easy the Oasis is to set up. CONTINUED USE
I plan to use this tent as my primary tent from spring through fall for years to come. It has plenty of room for my family of three and is well constructed. I will likely replace the stakes as I have found some that are just as solid, except that each has a loop of cord making it easy to pull out. Read more reviews of Black Diamond gear Read more gear reviews by Brett Haydin Reviews > Shelters > Tents > Black Diamond Oasis Tent > Test Report by Brett Haydin |