REASONS TO BUY
Lightweight
Compact
Long
REASONS TO AVOID
Limited headroom
Not enough stakes
Single door
Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight 2 Review
This lightweight tent is the right move if you want to move fast and light
Credit: Sierra Designs
Our Verdict
The Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight 2 is a lightweight budget tent that requires stakes to achieve livable volume. Its single front door is large, and its mesh canopy allows for stargazing. The flashlight pocket is a little gimmicky, but the cord that holds it up can also be used as a clothesline if you need to dry out small articles. There isn't a ton of headroom, and it feels pretty cocoon-y. If you are into the lightweight single door tent, there are some freestanding options out there as well. We had a few issues with the Clip Flashlight 2, but if you're on a budget, it could be right for a backcountry adventure for two.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight 2 scores big for low weight. It also has a decent packed size, however, its comfort score and set up pull down toward the bottom half of this review.
Performance Comparison
This tent is a good budget model for the backcountry.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Comfort
Overall, we have to say this tent has a cozy feel. It has average or slightly above average dimensions; its 89" is sufficiently long for six-foot sleepers. At 52" inches wide at the head, it also offers enough shoulder room, and the 42" peak height is also right on par with what we would expect in a budget tent. However, to keep the weight so low, this model has to taper pretty dramatically from head to toe. There is a narrow plane near the door where you can actually sit up comfortably.
You have to scoot back after you sit up if you don't want your head to rub up against the mesh.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
The single head end door is large, but it isn't as convenient for two people as the double side doors that you can find on some award-winning models in this review. The vestibule space can accommodate two packs, but it won't leave a whole of room for getting out of the tent.
This tent's namesake feature — the flashlight holder at the head — is fine, but it sort of feels like it is included just because. It's nice to the extent that having a holder for your headlamp or flashlight overhead is a good convenience feature, but the design of the pocket itself with the opening on the bottom makes directing the light more of a hassle than it needs to be. One thing that we did appreciate, though, is the extra cord that holds up the flashlight pocket. This can be strung through the loops at the top of the tent to make a clothesline.
Our makeshift clotheslines with the flashlight pocket in the background.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
There are two decent-sized pockets near the door, one on each side. We do really like the vestibule awning that can be pitched with a couple of trekking poles. It dramatically increases ventilation and creates a space for cooking or organizing outside of the tent.
The side pockets can hold plenty of small items to keep close at hand.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Weather Resistance
The Clip Flashlight 2 has decent weather resistance for a non-freestanding model. The fly keeps moisture away from the tent body when it is properly tensioned, but we found that it was difficult to get to that point. The front vestibule is long and sloping, so there is just a lot of fabric that can sag and flap in the wind. Because of the vestibule door design, if the fly is wet, you are almost certainly going to get wet getting in and out of the tent. There's just not a good way around it.
The flappy door is an obstacle to navigate when getting in and out.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
The amount of mesh makes for good ventilation, improved even more by the roll-up vestibule. However, there are no external vents, and the vestibule side flaps can really whip if they get caught in a crosswind.
We like that the vestibule runs low to the ground for weather protection but a stiff breeze makes it flap quite a bit. The Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight 2 is one of the lightest tents in our budget category.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
The hex-shaped hook stakes are certainly sturdier than the typical silver hook stakes of many other budget tents, but since so much of the weather resistance of this model relies on its ability to stay staked out, we would consider upgrading to some shovel stakes that offer more gripping power.
Ease of Setup
This tent is easy to pitch, but it is not freestanding. Two poles horseshoe around the head and the foot to create the structure, and the corner stakes provide the tension to volume it out. The fly and tent have a color-coded corner, so you know everything is oriented correctly, and then the fly clips into place. There are a variety of points to stake out the tent. The bummer is that between the four corners of the tent and the seven stake points in the fly, we were left a couple short with the nine stakes that the tent came with.
This tent comes with two poles that provide rigidity. Here they are attached to the tent on the sides but not yet clipped to the main body.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Durability
The 68D polyester floor and 70D nylon fly are a unique combination of materials for a tent. We think that with the regular care this tent can last for years to come. This tent does have a high proportion of mesh, which is great for ventilation; it also just increases the probability of snagging it on something and starting a run.
We found that the vestibule zipper got caught quite a bit on the flap meant to keep out precipitation.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Though not explicitly about durability, we aren't huge fans of the circus tent feel that the fly colors and pattern bring to the table. They are just decidedly not stealthy.
These stakes are certainly better than those that come with many budget tents but since it's a non-freestanding model and relies so heavily on them, we would consider upgrading right off the bat.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Weight
Coming in at 3 pounds, 14 ounces, the Clip Flashlight 2 is the lightest tent in this review, making it a nice option for the backcountry. Split between two people, each is carrying less than two pounds each — a very reasonable load for a budget tent. You will need a couple of extra stakes, though, if you want to tension out every point on the fly, which will nudge up the weight.
Packed Size
It has a packed size of 6.5" x 19.5", which is also smaller than most of the other tents in this review. We usually ditch it when we go on an adventure, but for what it's worth, it has a unique frontloading tent bag with compression straps that make it easier to store than the typical model.
The Big Agnes C Bar (middle) compared to the Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight (left) and the ultralight backpacking tent Big Agnes Tiger Wall (right).
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Value
This tent is one of the pricier models in the budget category. With that in mind, we think it is a fair, but not exceptional value.
Conclusion
The Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight 2 is a lightweight non-freestanding tent. It's a good inexpensive backcountry companion. It lacks some of the comfort features of many other less expensive (albeit heavier) models. It doesn't offer a huge amount of versatility, but it may just meet the needs of a couple of backpackers who want to keep it fast and light on a budget.
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Ben Applebaum-Bauch