Excerpt from the site http://www.bdel.com/

“The largest of the Superlight tents, the Lighthouse is quite roomy for two people, while still only weighing in at just over three pounds. Built on the Bibler Eldorado footprint/Ahwahnee canopy and using the innovative fabrics EPIC and SilNylon along with strong and light DAC FeatherLite aluminum poles, this tent is great for minimalist travelers who embrace the “light is right” ideology. The Lighthouse boasts a full side-door opening with screen netting, a ceiling that tops out at 43 inches and a small back window for ventilation. The EPIC fabric canopy breathes and repels water well while the SilNylon floor keeps the water out. An exceptional tent if space and weight are your primary considerations.

* EPIC fabric, SilNylon and DAC Featherlite poles are the right light-and-tough combination
* Roomy for two and well-ventilated
* Best choice if space and weight are of primary importance”

Kit Supplied:
Out of the box, the Lighthouse includes a storage bag, poles with separate bag, stakes, seam sealer with applicator, and owner’s manual.
I purchased this tent specifically for a 5-day trip through the Sierra Nevada mountain range of eastern California. I wanted to pack “light and fast” and had researched many a tent before deciding on this particular one. I tried shipping this tent to a CA address, but since it is not CA certified to be fire retardant, the manufacturer would not ship it. It will ship to UT though. I am unsure whether other states have as strict fire laws as CA. This tent has accompanied me on many overnighters and multi-day trips ranging from desert to alpine environment.

I also purchased the optional vestibule which comes with a storage bag, 2 poles, stakes, seam sealer with applicator, and owner’s manual. Info from manufacturer states:
Weight: 1lb 5oz (605g)
Area: 13ft2 (1.2m2)
MSRP: $139US

Seam Sealing:
In my fury of a packing job I neglected to seam seal the tent before leaving on my initiation trip. The owner’s manual advises greatly on seam sealing the tent. However, to my great relief during our 5-day trip where it stormed for several hours each afternoon, the tent did not leak at all. Upon returning I seam sealed the tent for next time, just in case.

Weight/ Packability:
The Lighthouse weighs just over 3lbs (1.36kg), a remarkable accomplishment for a 2-man tent, and fits easily in my backpack. In fact it’s so light that when set up, I had to put my pack in it to keep it from blowing away. The tent poles and vestibule each pack separately from the tent itself. I prefer to have my tent all in the same place.

Quick Drying:
I’ve taken this tent on several alpine overnighters and trips into the desert. Weather ranged from afternoon thunderstorms to severe heat. Temperatures sank to 35°F (1.67°C) at night and ranged up to 90°F (32°C) during the day, though the tent was never up in the heat of the day. As for the morning dew, with a bright sun the tent will dry rather quickly, though the floor does takes a bit longer. I like to hang in on my pack as I hike to conserve time.

Set-up:
During these sudden alpine storms, I was greatly impressed by the quickness and ease with which the tent could be set up. The tent is set up from the inside and I can do it single-handedly in under a minute. Set a stopwatch, it's fun! This helped greatly in keeping us from quickly becoming drenched. Inside, Velcro loops help to stabilize the poles. They hold very well, almost too well in that it takes both hands to get them apart, but that’s minor.

Stability:
I’ve only had to use the stakes one time, and that was because of wind. There are extra guy line loops on the tent exterior for extra stability, though it is not a feature I have used yet. These loops are also reflective, making it easy to find camp at night. I have spent roughly 50 nights in this tent, but the winds I have experienced have not been severe enough to require use of guy lines.

Internal Features:
As the manufacturer’s website claims, the tent is roomy enough for 2, though I have on several occasions squeezed 3 of us skinny people in it, packed as sardines. We slept comfortably with 3 packs and out wet boots contained in the vestibule.

The tent door encompasses an entire wall of the Lighthouse, making ventilation seem as if we were in no tent at all. Choose from the screen-door option, or close the wall up for a little more seclusion. Ventilation is increased by the adjacent wall’s small window, which allows a gentle cross-breeze. The tent is tall enough to allow me to sit straight up in, even to squat if necessary. This provides a roomy environment in which to wait out those alpine storms.

Getting in and out of the tent is a snap. With the vestibule attached however, it is a little more difficult. The vestibule door is quite small. I would have perhaps created a door on the bigger side of the vestibule instead of on the front.

The floor has been durable enough to withstand backyard lawn, forest floor, and even desert sand with poky elbows. My dog has even paraded around inside without puncturing a single hole.

Maintenance:
Cleaning is a snap: I wipe it down, inside and out, after each trip with a wet rag in my living room. Since it sets up and dries so quickly, cleaning can be done in no time.

Summary:
The Black Diamond Lighthouse has accompanied me on single and multi-day trips ranging from 3,000-14,000ft (900-4200m) in elevation. These have included a 4-day Sierra Nevada initiation trip, a 3-day kayaking trip in southern Utah, a 4-day desert hike in Buckskin Gulch/ Paria Canyon (Utah/Arizona), and many overnighters around the Wasatch front in Utah. It has performed well in alpine, desert, and urban environments. I do not intend to use it as a 4-season shelter. It’s been in a backpack and a dry bag. It’s seen heat, rain, hail, wind and beautiful clear skies. With its spacious interior, I never dread the rainstorm that causes me to rush inside to hide out. I’ve been able to set it up in howling winds and rain in less than 5 minutes. I’ve been able to pack lighter per person by fitting 3 of us inside. The vestibule is worth the little extra weight and price if expecting bad weather because I do not like muddy boots in the tent with me.

Likes:

*Lightweight
*Quick set-up
*Quick entrance/exit
*Well ventilated
*Durable construction

*Vestibule door is small
*Velcro can be hard to work with

Reviews > Shelters > Tents > Black Diamond Lighthouse Tent > Owner Review by Erin Callahan