RAB Summit Extreme vs. Black Diamond Lighthouse– Advice sought

Since you will be staying below treeline, I see no reason why the Lighthouse is not the better choice… if for no other reason than you can sit up in the thing. The RAB says what it is built for- extreme summit bids where comfort is secondary to low profile and absolute weather protection.

The foot and head of my long bags touch the walls of the Lighthouse when I fully stretch out. This causes my feet to get noticably colder than when I keep them off the wall, so I would not dismiss the extra room of the Lighthouse.

I use my Lighthouse as a solo winter tent in the Northeast. You get frost on the poles and sometimes the inside of the walls… but that occurs in any single wall tent. The floor has held up fine, but it is mostly on snow so there is little abrasion. I do use a space blanket for a groundsheet sometimes.
I hate setting it up- but that's me I guess.
I intend to push the tent more this season to see if I can use it above treeline out West next Spring.

Not sure if you are aware, but Steve House used a Firstlight in crazy exposed places on Nanga Parbat. See the slideshow at http://www.patagonia.com/web/us/patagonia.go?assetid=10109

I guess these tents are pretty tough.

"When I lie down in the extreme I have to choose between my hat or bottom of my bag touching the ends of the tent. A bit disconcerting but I can probably get used to it. "

RAB – Any tent can get condensation (or otherwise freeze up, thaw out, and wet out) when conditions are just "right". For myself anyway, I would not consider any tent so short that one or the other end of my sleeping bag will come into constant contact with the wall. The potential for getting your bag soaked is always there — and I think that's just asking for trouble. A soaked bag in winter is more than just something "to get used to". It can be lethal.

Black Diamond: This tent is fine for camping in cold and dry places. But if you camp in the Pacific Northwest in winter where you can get hours of snow turning into sleet and rain… I would be very leery about the "highly water resistant" fabric wetting through. So much depends on where you winter camp with the Black Diamond.

The RAB is a cool tent, I want one in fact, but it's pretty specific use. There is no reason to need one unless you want to park your tent in some nasty wind and weather. Mountaineering is what that tent is made for.

The lighthouse is WAY bigger and more comfortable than the RAB too.

Edit: I have a BD firstlight too. I'm going to park that thing in some nasty winds this winter too and see if it survives :)

So, the consensus is that the Lighthouse would be better for my purposes.

So, the Extreme will go up for sale later tonight.

Thanks for the advice.

Regards,

Eric

Eric,

I agree with the consensus above but have thought about selling both and buying the Bibler Eldorado or I-Tent? This would give you the room you need, especially with the Eldorado and a bit more protection from long enduring rain.

Eric:

Agree with concensus… assuming prolonged wetness is not a big issue when winter camping in NY or Vermont.

OK, I'll preamble with a description of myself as a gear junkie. I have used and sold the BD Firstlight. The Firstlight was very light; I had the fibraflex poles and was set, but a couple of wet-outs in the rain and fog in North Georgia sent me looking. I bought the Rab tent, and I think I'm in love. I'm six feet tall, and yes, when you get any thickness of pad beneath you, head and toes will touch when stretched out. I'm a side sleeper, though, and in the fetal position, I'm fine. As far as sitting up, I believe the generally available interior height measurement is wrong. As I write this, I've been playing with my Rab tent in the basement….it's Sunday, I'm on call, bored and recovering from the flu. My tape measure says from floor to crossed pole apex is 34 1/8", and I believe that translates into 86.7cm. I can sit up with my head just touching the top. Now if the fabric was soaking wet like my occasional experience with the BD, the routine brushing against the walls would be annoying/dangerous. My Rab is a space capsule for winter survival. If it's not winter, then a tarp; if more than one is going in winter, then ID MK-III with vestibule (or a Kifaru tipi); if more than one is going in summer, Hubba Hubba. I think I'm going to take the Rab on a trip to SE Alaska this October to fully test out the weather-proofness of the little beast. One challenge the Rab is not up to, though is being played with by my 4yo daughter, so I'd better go and get that sucker put up!
Don

I just got back from using one of the Rab's for the past week and in constant prolonged rain, and the Rab seemed to leak around the door.

I think that it's from water getting between the zipper cover and the tent fabric, and then working its way down and through the zipper. I got pretty bad leakage there.
I also got pretty bad customer service when I contacted Rab and suggested there might be a design flat if your using the tent in rain as opposed to snow. Apparently it's not designed with the idea of rain in mind. Can you tell I'm unimpressed with Rab's customer service?

Am in the process of seam sealing that arc over the top of the doorway to see if this rectifies the problem but I'm hoping that it will.

For Alaska, I'd be sure to seam seal that seam unless your positive that the temperatures will stay below freezing!

Thanks for that insight, I will seam seal, and the next big rain I'll test it with an overnight junket in the yard……it keeps the neighbors guessing.
Don

Donald,
The height of the Summit Extreme has been discussed before. "Curiously" it is still listed as 700mm (70cm) by Rab.
I (quickly…) measured the height at 89cm, Doug Johnson in his review reported 70cm and then revised it at 85.5. Now we have 86.7cm from you….
Interesting comment about the door design. Must have a look at that next time I go to town.
Donald/Robert : did you notice any condensation where the bag would touch the walls ? ( question on behalf of taller folk than me)
Franco

Hello all,

Yes- the measured height is 85.5 on the Summit Extreme.

I've had both of these tents and used them extensively. I'm here in the Pacific Northwest where things are wet year-round and I'll agree with Benjamin- this is not a great place for Epic tents, at least from my experience. I had bad luck with my Lighthouse in prolonged wet days.

The Summit Extreme, however, has held off huge rain storms with virtually no condensation. High winds and big snowfall are also places it shines.

That said, the Rab tent is VERY specific. It's very tight for two people- when solo I usually sleep at the angle (I'm 6'1"). It's short too.

Of my tents, the Lighthouse is long down the road. It wasn't good for my climate. But in a drier climate, it would be marvelous. My Rab Summit Extreme begs for crazier pitches than I'm usually going after but I keep it for these high-altitude summit bids. Truthfully, I usually take a lighter grade tent like my Terra Nova Laser Competition when going solo in the winter.

Best of luck with your decision!

Doug

Franco,

I did notice some condensation when the temperature was a little over freezing and raining contently. The door was completely sealed and I was alone with my head near the tunnel vent which was mainly open. Under those conditions I did notice a fair bit of condensation when I touched the tent walls in the morning, but as the temperature warmed up it seamed to clear quickly.
Interestingly enough I was using a microfiber shelled down bag and lying right up against the wall of the tent and didnt really see any evidence of my bag getting wet from the wall.

IMO its a great one man tent, and comfie for two under six feet – ONCE you get in and get settled.
Sorta like fitting pieces into a jigsaw; even space for some gear.
lol, you just don't want to get up in the night b/c you'll wake up your partner for sure!