User Review: Sierra Designs Sirius 3

Sierra Designs Sirius 3
Above: The current Sirius 3, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed March 5, 2006 by seahiker

Rating:
Design: 3-season freestanding combo single/dbl wall
Sleeps: 3
Ease of Setup: Easy
Weight: 5 lbs 4 oz packed
Price Paid: $120 at REI

This tent has one considerable advantage and a number of compromises to achieve it. It is about the lightest tent for its size, with lots of space for two (this being a three-person model).

Its drawbacks are small interior room for three; it is really not adequate for three grown people. I'm 6'3" and do fit, taking the whole length. Its combination of single and double wall construction means that it ventilates okay but will leak some spray in driving rain.

I use the three-person version as a two-person tent when I am backpacking with one of my boys in fair conditions. In this case there's lots of room for two plus some gear, and the low weight is nice as dad has to carry the whole tent at this stage of duty. Having two side access doors is also nice.

In very rainy conditions some spray or drips will get past the flap where the fly overlaps the single wall area (be careful when pitching how the floor aligns to the wind if rain is expected). Another nit is that the door zippers snag the tent's zipper flashing (there to keep out rain). The vestibules are adequate for boots but not packs.

I recommend this tent if you want a fair weather full enclosure tent for two with comfortable elbow or sitting room and wish to pack lightly. You'd have to go with a pure single wall tent to get a lighter combination with this much space, and then bug-proof ventilation would be your issue. I like this tent's compromises, though if expecting foul weather or high wind I prefer a different one.