Sierra Designs Divine Lightning

OWNER REVIEW

Review Date: April 9, 2004

Reviewer Information

Name: Edward Ripley-Duggan
Age: 50
Gender: Male
Height : 6' 1" (1.85 m)
Weight: 215 pounds (98 kg)
E-mail: erd@wilsey.net
Catskills, New York State

Product Information

Type: Single shell, four-season
Year of manufacture: 1997
Manufacturer website: http://www.sierra-designs.com/
Base weight, tent shell only: 1 lb 14 oz (.85 kg)
Weight with stuff sack, poles, pegs (4) and peg bag: 2 lb 8 oz (1.13 kg)
Poles: Two shaped Easton 7075 T9 anodized aluminum poles with natural rubber shock-cord
Pegs: Four lightweight aluminum
Bagged dimensions: 14" x 5" x 5" (36 x 13 x 13 cm)
Doors: One
Vestibule: None
Vents: One high, at peak; one low, at foot; one adjustable, in door
Height at main hoop (maximum): 3' 0" (.91 m)
Height at foot hoop (maximum): 10" (25 cm)
Length: 7' 8" (2.34 m) along longest axis
Maximum width: 3 ft (.91 m)
Floor area: 18.5 sq. ft (1.72 sq. m)
Original MSRP: $350

Introduction

The Sierra Designs Divine Lightning is among the lightest true four-season tents ever made. I have found that its low, ground-hugging profile enables it to ride out high winds, and it sheds snow well. I have not had occasion to use it in a heavy blizzard (I usually prefer to sit those out at home). In construction, it is a hybrid between a hooped bivy (foot end) and a dome (head end). Although the floor area is quite small, there is adequate room to distribute a winter pack load around the sleeping area.

It is indeed as a winter tent that this shelter comes into its own, as there are few that can come close to matching its minimal weight. It has one door, to the left of the occupant, and it should be noted that using the tent with a right-zip bag would likely prove awkward -- most of my winter bags are left zip for this reason. Unlike a true dome, it is not free-standing – it needs a point of attachment at head and foot. As I use this only in winter, I use ski or hiking poles, crampons or snowshoes for pitching, which enables me to dispense with stakes, thereby reducing my load by an ounce or two. The quality of sewing and craftsmanship are first-rate.

Though this tent was withdrawn from Sierra Designs' line several years ago, used models may still be found. It is, in my experience, an ideal winter tent for a lightweight backpacker seeking full protection from the elements.

Testing environment

My Divine Lightning has been used in the Catskill Mountains of New York State at elevations to 3500' (1070 m); in gusty winds to approximately 40 mph (64 kph), which barely shook it; and down to 0 degrees F (-18 degrees C). It has been pitched exclusively on snow, or snow and ice. The only time it gets pitched on dirt is in my back yard when I have occasion to demonstrate it!

Construction

Side view of tent

The tent canopy, a greenish yellow in color, is made of a polyester-like synthetic (exact fabric undetermined) with a nap to the interior to improve wicking, somewhat like Bibler's Todd-Tex. Earlier versions of the tent used (I believe) Gore-Tex. The floor is blue, made from 70-denier 3 oz. nylon. It does not have a bathtub construction, and is stitched at ground level. If adequately seam-sealed (as mine is) I suspect that, given the careful manufacture, seepage would not be a problem, but can't speak to this issue directly. The tent is fire-resistant to CPAI-84 standards, that is, it is will retard burning but can ignite. It is also (not atypically for a single-wall tent) not air-permeable, so venting is important. I would not cook in this tent (one is not supposed to cook in a tent in any case, but these things have been known to happen in winter).

The hoops are designed from shock-corded lightweight Easton poles, each section of which is shaped. They fold down to a manageable bundle, and are extremely lightweight. Though not especially fragile, replacements are available in the aftermarket. The pole at the foot end of the tent is external, and is housed under a short awning and slips through grommets at the end of short piece of webbing. The main pole is internal, and runs through a series of Velcro sleeves, and is seated in a pocket at either side. These sleeves have a tabbed construction and may be opened if desired, but this is not normally necessary for setup.

Foot of tent, showing awning and strap

The head and toe of the tent have a strap that is easily attached to a snowshoe tail or pole as well as a peg. For pitching on dirt surfaces, there are webbing tabs into which pegs can be inserted across the width of the tent (or a tie-off could be made to another snow anchor) although in practice I don't use these. Finally, there are two loops for guys for use in very high wind conditions.

Door, screen & interior

The door is on the left side (the tent may be used in only one orientation). It has a no-see-um mesh insert. It is possible to pitch the fabric door in the open position using a guy (supplied), a stick or a pole in order to form a small vestibule/awning (there is a loop for this purpose). This may be used for extra storage or even (exercising care) for cooking. The door may also be latched shut using a snap, although the lower edge is always open to encourage ventilation and should be pitched out a few inches. One can also raise both door and screen to air the tent, using two small buckles to hold the door-roll in place.

Pitching the tent and other comments

If done properly, this is one of the easiest tents imaginable to pitch. The poles are carefully assembled, the foot of the tent is staked and the foot hoop is lodged in place. The door is fully opened and the tent is turned partially inside-out to expose the Velcro loops and end pockets. It is threaded through the loops and carefully placed in the pockets, at which point it is under mild tension. The fabric of the tent (starting at one end of the pole) is rolled back over so the pole is once again on the inside. It is now exceptionally snug. If insertion of the pole is attempted from the inside of the tent the task is well nigh impossible. Finally, the head of the tent is staked. Other staking points may be used as conditions demand.

In using the tent, it is imperative to avoid blocking the foot vent. This can be something of an issue with a taller person in a long bag, although I find I can usually avoid any serious problems in this regard. It's not a bad idea to prop this awning open with a Y-shaped stick for maximum aeration. In winter use, it's typical for there to be a fine layer of rime on the interior where exhalation freezes, but I've not found this worse than with other winter tents.

Summary

This is an innovative tent, even a little ahead of its time. Even today, it is rare to find a four-season tent of such low weight. It has the substantial additional advantage of packing down (without the poles) to a very small size. The speed of setup commends it for winter use and it is fairly easy to set up while wearing gloves. Unfortunately, users attempting to insert the main pole from within the tent found the task understandably awkward, which appears to have given the Divine Lightning a reputation as being "difficult." It is not.

My only reservations are the ease with which someone of my height can block the foot vent – care is required. In addition, in sitting up, one tends to brush into the icy coating on the interior. However, once up, I can happily sit cross-legged or lean comfortably propped up against a partially filled pack. Though I would not wish to spend several days within the relatively small confines of this tent in a storm (and never have) it would be perfectly manageable, provided one cooked outside the door.

Reviewer Background

I hike regularly year-round in the Catskills, with occasional excursions to the Adirondacks and elsewhere. A hiker since my teens, I was born and grew up in rural Hertfordshire in England, moving to the US at age 19. Given the harsh winters of the region where I make my home (and the need to keep active or perish of boredom) I make frequent ascents of local peaks on snowshoes and crampons, with an occasional foray on cross-country skis. Nothing could be further removed from the landscape of my childhood.

I enjoy walking in all its manifold forms, from a simple stroll in the woods to multi-day backpack excursions. I through-hiked the Northville-Placid trail over ten days in 2003. Though by no means an extreme ultralight enthusiast, from spring to fall my preference is to carry a packweight of 12 pounds (5.5 kg), more or less. In recent years, I've rapidly moved to a philosophy of "lighter is better," within the constraints of budget and common sense.

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Owner Review by Edward Ripley-Duggan