User Review: Sierra Designs Assailant

Sierra Designs Assailant
Above: The current Assailant, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed April 18, 2007 by Oblong

Rating:
Design: 4-season
Sleeps: 1
Ease of Setup: Easy
Weight: 1.5kg about
Price Paid: $319 REI

I bought this tent because I liked the look of it. It's a good looking tent so that's one star.

It pitches easy (another star), has some nice features (one more star) such as the vents and has great build quality (star).

Now I've only used so far in situations it wasn't really designed for. That is hiking on Dartmoor in the UK during spring with humidity in the 90s at times. But then again off design use might interest you.

First night very little breeze and camped near a stream with rear of tent up against a small hill. Night time temp above 32F and a bit more. Ground around camp was marshy. Left open all vents but closed up door fully. In morning inside of tent felt very clammy and some condensation had pooled on to floor. However it wasn't enough to soak a hiking towel.

Second night a little more breeze and camped near a stream but out in the open. Night time temp just below 32F. Ground around camp dry. Left open all vents and top of door. In morning inside of tent felt just a little clammy and no condensation. Where the floor meets the walls there were slivers of ice which I knocked off and through out the tent.

Third night was breezy and I camped on the slope of a Tor. Night time temp above 32F. Ground around camp dry and lots of boulders. Left open all vents and top of door. In morning inside of tent was completely dry. Repeated camping in open on top of Tors for next three nights with all vents open and top of door. A little less breezy, overcast, 90s humidity. Never any condensation in morning.

One star for performing very well out of design spec.
Lose a star for zips snagging often, daft pole bag, cheap guy rope material, pegs.

Hope to use it in the rain sometime. Don't miss having a vestibule cause I don't often bring stuff in with me.
(By the way I have an Arc'teryx Naos 55 which you can leave out in the rain and a Mountain Hardware Spirit Sl which has a waterproof breathable membrane.)