User Review: Sierra Designs Light Year 1

Sierra Designs Light Year 1
Above: The current Light Year 1, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed March 19, 2001 by Scott Hall

Rating:
Design: Three-season solo
Sleeps: 1
Ease of Setup: Quite simple overall. There are 6 stake out points on the tent body. Then, insert the two hoop-style poles in the grommets and clip the tent body on. One more stake on the rainfly makes a modest vestibule.
Weight: 3.5-4 pounds
Price Paid: $150

I'm a tall guy at 6'4". Most of the small, hoop style tents, especially solos, are too small for me. This one, however, did great for me all summer in New Mexico. There is adequate room for sitting up and changing in the tent. A small vestibule is big enough for wet raingear and muddy boots. The head end of the tent gets somewhat narrow, resulting your sleeping pad folding, but that's not a problem at all. It is a solo tent, after all.

Great weatherproofness. I did wish the fly extended further away from the tent body to enhance splash protection (minor deal) and ventilation. Most nights were dry for me, so I would often put the fly on but leave the door unzipped or rolled up. It's right there next to your head, so battening down the hatches only takes a couple of groggy moments.

Good tent. MUCH cheaper than a bivy, has more room, and only weighs a pound or two more.