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Sierra Designs Mach 1

rated 3.5 of 5 stars

The Mach 1 has been discontinued. If you're looking for something new, check out the best three-season tents for 2024.

photo: Sierra Designs Mach 1 three-season tent

Great tent, sets up relatively easy, and is a good quality product. Plenty of interior floor space for me, my pack, and my boots, as well as a nicely sized vestibule for cooking on those chilly mornings when you want a little extra time in the bag. Weight can't be beat (especially with the footprint/fly option). I have a few complaints though.

At 6 feet tall, I find that there is not quite enough room for me to lie without either my head or feet brushing the sides.

The headroom (or lack thereof) makes this tent low profile and wind shedding, but makes changing inside, or relaxing in your tent difficult. I find myself propping up the vestibule with trekking poles and sitting outside the tent if I need to spend any time out of the rain.

One final nit-pick... With the footprint/fly option, there is not adequate velcro inside to keep the poles in the proper position, which further lowers the headroom in this option.

Again, all in all, a great, low cost/sq.foot tent with fantastic wind and water shedding capability and high quality of manufacture. Be advised if you're tall...

Design: Three-season freestanding solo
Sleeps: 1
Ease of Setup: Easy, although poles fit very tight.
Weight: under 4 pounds

Although nice quality (most SD tents are high in this area), the Mach 1 was a "miss" for me. There is a decent amount of space but three primary caveats.

First, there is very limited head room. The peak is at 30 inches without a sleeping pad, which would lower usable height. In addition, this height is only a one point as the tent slopes down dramatically toward the back.

Second, the tent is far to short for anyone over 5'6" or so. It is seriously cramped with a sleeping bag (I am 6' even).

Third, it is not that light for a solo tent. At 3 lbs, 10 oz, you could get yourself into a Bug Agnes SL1 or Sarvis SL1+ for just over or just under a pound less, while packing a lot smaller as well (the Mach 1 poles are long). Both allow one to sit up and are 10 inches longer. The Sarvis is 3.5 square feet bigger as well.

Just my 2 cents worth...

Price Paid: Returned

Took this tent on the Appalachian Trail for 6 days new right out of the store. Small but fine for 1 man AS LONG AS THERE IS NO RAIN!

While in Ga during the torrential downpours twice rain was dropping through the rain fly on to my face and sleeping bag. One night for 6 hrs, the following for 9 hours of rain, both times after about a half hour rain was coming in in great globules! Nothing touching the tent. I poured at least 4 cups of water out of the thing each morning, and that's only because my sleeping bag hadn't soak that water up!

I would not recommend this tent to anyone. As a matter of fact my buddy is going to the AT this weekend and I told him don't EVEN CONSIDER IT!

Design: three-season freestanding dome
Sleeps: 1
Ease of Setup: great
Weight: 4-5lbs

It took me awhile to get used to it -- but I like this tent for long distance hiking where I'm not spending too much time in the tent. The light weight can't be beat. There is lots of room to store stuff -- the vestibule is great.

The only problem is the height of the tent. It's not very high. The tent is wide -- one side goes out and the other faces the vestibule. It works great, but if sitting up in a tent is what you are looking for, this is not the tent. I'm very short and sometimes can sit up in the tent.

Great rain and wind protection. Overall, I like it.

Design: three-season freestanding tent
Sleeps: 1
Ease of Setup: Really easy
Weight: I don't know - -very light - -3 lbs. something?
Price Paid: I don't know

This is a great tent. It is very roomy inside and has a large vestibule. There are one person tents 5-6 ounces ligher, but they do not have near the room. It goes up easily and a howling wind didn't even make it flap. It is well made and rain sealed up tight. It ventilated well but I haven't had it out in freezing weather yet.

Design: three-season free standing
Sleeps: 1
Ease of Setup: easy set up
Price Paid: $180

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Price Historic Range: $125.00-$219.99
Reviewers Paid: $180.00

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