Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight 3

This was an amazingly durable and reliable all-purpose tent for me for over 15 years. I bought it in the early '90s, used it dozens of times a year, and would still be using it today if it hadn't been destroyed (w. all my other gear) in a house fire last year. Plenty of room for 2, plus gear - that's really the best use for most "3 person" tents.

I camped in it a lot solo as well, and when stuck inside for a couple of days of driving rain, it was nice to have the extra room to not get too stir-crazy. The tall front end is really nice to have extra head room. And this is a tent you can learn to set up in the dark without even a flashlight.

Maybe mine was just charmed, but I never had any damage whatsoever, kept me dry about 97% of the time (there was that one ill-fated pitch on the stormy coast of Washington's Olympic peninsula in January, buckets of rain and spray, but even then fared pretty well...) got caught out in the snow any number of times, and tent held up fine.

I'm sorry that it's gone, and thought I'd share this little testimonial to a GREAT, well designed and well made shelter.

I bought this tent in 1992 and after using it that year, didn't go camping again until 2009. At that time I bought a new tent which was a different brand but took both of them out and discovered that the Clip Flashlight 3 was not only still viable, but more comfortable than my new tent.  

I especially like the clip set-up and the roominess of the Clip Flashlight. Also, there haven't been any problems with water entering the tent.

It truly amazes me that after being stored in the trunks of various cars over a period of 17 years, that the tent held up so well. I think that the shape and color of the old Clip Flashlight create a peaceful feeling so that it's very pleasant to be inside of the tent.  

I used this tent yearly for two-three week camping trips. The zipper to the entrance broke after a couple of trips -- SD replaced it free. The same zipper, and then the fly zipper also broke in the field a few years later. Other than that, it's light, roomy, reasonably well ventilated, comfortable to sit up in, and otherwise quite sturdy and well built. You will need extra 'grip clips' for strong winds - it sometimes pushes the tent in your face.