Black Diamond Products?

Black Diamond are probably best known on BPL for their trekking poles (flicklock), which are well-liked (bomber but a tad heavy), and their firstlight winter tent (also popular, if you don't want/need a vestibule). They make decent stuff.

Not sure how well that tent will fit your width requirements. It is 58 inches wide right at the head area… does it say anywhere how wide it goes to at the foot? Pretty low ceiling… only 37 inches at its highest point!

If you haven't already, you can also check out the BA copper spur which is a nice (and light) tent. Might not be wide enough though.

It's also worth mentioning that you're getting very close to the weight of a BA seedhouse SL3, which is *much* more roomy:

If width wasn't a concern I would go with the BA copper spur and save a bit of weight. But if I wanted something nice and wide then it would be the BA SL3. Both of these tents are pretty popular, and reasonably priced.

ps. the peak height of the SL3 is 46 inches… quite a difference!!

Since I’m feeling particularly helpful today I’ve scouted you out a review and some “in the field” pics of the SL3 ;-)

http://adventurelogue.blogspot.com/2008/12/gear-review-big-agnes-seedhouse-sl3.html

You are begining to be one of my favorite people on here with how often you are able to spare some advice. So heres the thing, if I get the Big Agnes S3 or CS3, then Im going way over the necessary dimensions that I want with the cost of what I believe is 5 extra ounces compared to the Mirage. I see hwere you are coming from on the 38 inch ceiling, I am 5'7 and my girlfriend is 5'3. When you measure me from the bottom of my butt cheeks (the position I would be sitting in) I am 35 inches. In other words, I think that may not end up being a factor. Here is where the problem comes into play; you point it out too. It says it is 58 inches at its widest point. Now I desperately want to know how wide it is a its narrowest point. Of course they do not provide that information, because if you ask me, they a complete a-holes who like to hide little things like this so you purchase their tent. Well guess what Black Diamond, Im not buying your tent until i can get the answer to my question! So back to that question, do you knowof any sites Ashley where they debunk the actual sizes of tents? Let me know. Thanks again pal.

My opinion is this is a tent, therefore, it is evil.
What wrong with a tarp or a tarp tent?

A Henry Shires Double Rainbow is the go.

Its narrowest point is 42 inches. Jesus!!!!! How in the hell can you go from 58 to 42 that is a joke. Ha Ha Ha!

Ha, forget it! It’s 42 inches wide at the base!!

BD Mirage

I meant the copper spur 2 rather than the 3. But that probably isn’t wide enough for what you want.

Unfortunately you have to choose… do you want space or do you want lightweight. If you want both, you need to go for a single wall tent. The best “compromise” options which have decent space and are pretty light and double wall are the Tarptent Scarp 2 and the Big Sky Evolution. Sadly, you won’t find any double wall tents which are any better than these two. They will either be heavier or smaller.

I checked out all the double wall tent options earlier this year and settled on the Big Sky option. The other main contenders were the Scarp 2, The BA SL3 and BA Copper Spur 2.

I just can not bare the thought of using trekking poles to hole up my tent. I know its a novel idea, but it is soooo bizzare to me. Plus a lot of the tarp tents I have seen tend to look like they are made out of awfully thin materials. I know here at BPL we strive to get the lightest of the lightest, but I dont want to sacrific durability while aimming low in weight.

you beat me to it…

The Scarp 2 doesn't require trekking poles. It is 52 inches wide all the way along the length of the tent. The double rainbow doesn't need poles either, but it is a single wall and it is only 48 inches wide when the bathtub floors are raised.

Ya, you are soooo right :/

Yeah I hear ya. But you just need to raise your "acceptable" weight slightly, or decrease your width requirement slightly.

The SL3 has a trail weight of 3lb 15oz, it's nice and big, and it's double wall. OK, so it would be nice to stay around the 3lb mark but under 4lbs ain't too shabby if you feel you need the extra space. Sure is a whole lot better than 5lbs 11oz!

ps. in case you are only just coming to this realisation… there is no such thing as a perfect tent! ;-)

Black Diamond is well known for their alpine, climbing and ski (a lot of it is Tele and Touring) equipment. I don't see them prescribing to ultra-light, perhaps alpine light instead.

Don't overlook their Epic single-wall tent series. They're certainly worth a look unless you travel to perennially soggy climes.

Cheers,

Rick

Thanks for the suggestion, I will check them out. However, Im begining to think that I should just stick it out with my MSR Carbon Reflex 2. I have an idea about how I can make it work for me.

My wife tested this tent, so I spent many nights in it.
http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/Shelters/Tents/Black%20Diamond%20Mirage%20Tent/Test%20Report%20by%20Jennifer%20Estrella/

It has a weird shape and for as tall as I am it was a bit tight. At least it has a “long” side I could be on. But I prefer a 3-person tent for two people. I like being able to have our gear inside when it is raining or snowing.

+1 on the Seedhouse SL3 or the Copper Spur SL3. I have reviews of both, the CS awaiting edit. My wife loves the Copper Spur more than any tent I have used with her. The double doors are the ticket. (Funny I never complain if Dave kicks me in the head exiting the tent. Oh wait, I kick him. He holds it…) But we are leaving Thursday for Yosemite for 4 days and I am taking a TT Scarp 2 to for her to check out. Maybe I can sell the CS 3 after the trip. (As you know, women are the boss. Oh yeah, you don’t know that, YET!)

"(As you know, women are the boss. Oh yeah, you don’t know that, YET!)"

Not quite yet, but I get my tastes from every now and again =)

Black Diamond makes high quality, durable stuff. I own winter poles, a nice day pack, some skins (for nordic skis) and probably some other things from them (I have so much stuff it's hard to keep track). Their oriented a bit towards climbers and back country skiers, so their stuff tends to be very durable and high quality. I would not hesitate to buy from them.

Just about any tarp tent can be used without trekking poles. Most of the manufacturers supply poles you can use. If not, there are other companies that sell poles to fit any tarp tent. I own a Squall 2 and sometimes use my trekking poles and sometimes use the poles I got from them. Durability usually isn't an issue, either. The big reason folks prefer the other tents is because they like free standing tents, double walled tents or the layout just doesn't suit them. Actually, the biggest reason folks buy other tents is ignorance (your average consumer hasn't heard of these tents and you can't buy them at REI). That doesn't apply to the folks on this list (of course) but applies to the vast majority of tent buyers.

I love their double axle cams for climbing, and their summit pack Bbee.

Black Diamond is well known for design and quality of their gear. Though, over the years their packs have suffered in durability in the quest to lighten up. (I think there has been a similar complaint about their tents)

This isn't so much an issue if one isn't going to be dragging their pack through granite offwidths, abusing them on bigwall or technical ice climbing.

On the other hand, if one is looking for functional gear without the baggage and frills, BD is def a good route to go. Very well thought out designs for ice axes, crampons, the basics of what one needs without going overboard.

Their Firstlight makes me drool.

"Actually, the biggest reason folks buy other tents is ignorance (your average consumer hasn't heard of these tents and you can't buy them at REI)."

I very much agree with this assumption, he'll I didn't know what they were until my friend told me about them at work about 4 months ago…and I even think he found on what they were one here. Sad…I like know all of my opinion, as I am sure most people would as well, but never get a chance to because they are not offered at major suppliers :/

Tim,

On the rare occasions when I've dealt with BD on customer service (broken ski pole) they've been great.