In its new redesigned version, the FirstLight is lighter, stronger, more breathable and offers better weather resistance. Lightweight gear you can trust at a price you can afford! During some initial rain storms I experienced some wetness inside the tent, and I attributed it to condensation, but then I experienced a 12 hour rain and wind storm. Everytime there was a gust of wind I could feel drops of rain fall inside the tent. Our take Alpinists will love the updated FirstLight ’s simple-yet-sturdy construction. You need to look at the hydrostatic head measurement to determine how waterproof a tent is. The first step in the seam sealing process is to gather together the materials you need: Caution: Seam sealing should be done is a very well ventilated location, preferably outdoors. I had to bail water out of the tent several times that night. Curious. -I need the homemade sealant recipe for Todd-Tex if anyone cares to share?? Black Diamond Firstlight Tent Review. I should have done a little more research before I purchased this tent. A compact three-person, four-season tent built for weight-conscious climbers, the Black Diamond FirstLight is based on the I-Tent's expedition-specific design with steep walls and a simple floor shape to optimize living space and increase headroom. A compact two-person, four-season tent built for weight-conscious climbers, the Black Diamond Firstlight is based on the I-Tents expedition-specific design with steep walls and a simple floor shape to optimize living space and increase headroom. We share the same experiences that you do on rock, ice and snow and these experiences push us to make the best gear possible for our worldwide family of climbers and skiers. Call BD if you want more info. Seam sealing it does not water proof it. HYPERLITE-MOUNTAIN-GEAR: Shop our Bestsellers. 4. Here at Black Diamond it's all about climbing and skiing. I figured that a 4 season tent should be able to handle a downpour of rain, but my tent didn’t. It is a single-wall, totally free-standing tent that is a snap to set up, which is critical in freezing climate when you want to get out of your cold damp clothing and into warm dry ones. Here is a quote from the BD website: “The canopy is constructed with water resistant, breathable NanoShield fabric.” If this fabric was waterproof, I think that the manufacturer would say so. For interior organization, the FirstLight has three interior mesh pockets. This includes the seams where thread stitching is visible and where it’s not. SUMMARY: The Black Diamond Firtslight tent is a bit of a controversial product. The Black Diamond Firstlight is based on the I-Tent’s expedition-specific design with steep walls and a simple floor shape to optimize living space and increase headroom. Description; This fits your?. I know, I know … I’m sick, I love winter camping, I love ski touring in the mountains, I love alpine climbing, and I love covering big distance, fast. No duplication of photos, maps, or text without permission. I suspect that it’s just because you need to seam seal it, not that the fabric does not meet it’s stated hydrostatic head. Other than it not being waterproof I really like the tent. Black Diamond FirstLight 3P Tent Based on the I-Tent expedition tent, it is designed with steep walls for a roomy living space, a well-proportioned footprint and plenty of headroom. Because it’s a winter tent and far less drafty than the tents you list. Squeeze the silicone sealant into the can and dilute it about 50/50 with paint thinner. Black Diamond Firstlight 2 Person Tent. I will reach out to them to see why they changed it and update my content accordingly. I guess in the end, I’m not sure how you can say that this particular tent is waterproof, when the manufacturer doesn’t even claim that, but of course you can say what you want. Lasts for 70 Washings. INSECT-SHIELD.COM: Insect Shield Your Clothes Before Bug Season Arrives. I patched it with some extra FirstLight floor material I had and GearAid adhesive sealant. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. When mixed, wet the tip of the foam brush and run it slowly along all the exterior, exposed seams on the FirstLight Tent. There’s no need to seam seal the corners of the bathtub floor since these have been factory seam-taped on the latest FirstLight model. It is a tent meant for quick setup and that is a compact and light … Disclosure: Black Diamond gave the author this tent for a future review. A Firstlight on the PCT…yeah, you really should have done more research. Once you’ve seam-sealed the FirstLight, it is will be fully waterproof and should remain so for the effective life of the tent. Firstlight Tent. Black Diamond Equipment, Ltd. 2009 BLACK DIAmOND fIRSTLIGHT l’arceau dans la tente si vous passez son extrémité au centre de la porte avant qu’il ne soit complètement courbé plutôt que l’inverse. With two equal length DAC Featherlite poles that fit inside the tent with hook-and-loop wraps, it's easy to set up-even from inside. Black Diamond Firstlight Tent BD810151WASAALL1 - SunnySports Your email address will not be published. When you are finished, you’ll want to let your tent or tarp dry for 24-48 hours. but it will appear a little darker. (Not valid on DCF Tents). 8-). I suspect that if BD tents have a bad reputation for not being waterproof, it is because they ARE NOT WATERPROOF. It is highly water resistant and it … Setup: You have to first climb inside the tent, stretch out the poles, criss cross them inside the tent and with a bit of luck and practice you eventually will succeed in raising it. You couldn’t pay me to use them. I think you should read this article about hydrostatic head. Ne courbez jamais excessivement les arceaux. Weight, floor, entrances, structure and more other filters For a greener planet, we empower your outdoor choice. Here are some of them. For cross ventilation, both the small rear window and the door are covered with no-see-um mesh. Black Diamond Firstlight 2 Person Tent. Black Diamond Firstlight 2 Person Tent A compact two-person, four-season tent built for weight-conscious climbers, the Black Diamond FirstLight is based on the I-Tent’s expedition-specific design with steep walls and a simple floor shape to optimize living space and increase headroom. You mean, you used a product completely contrary to its intended use…and you are complaining about it? HAHAHAHA!!! And it also packs down so much smaller than the cuben fiber tent. Sleeping Pad, Feathered Friends Flicker 40 Quilt Sleeping Bag, HydroBlu Versa Flow Water Filter w/CNOC Reservoir, 1″ wide foam brush (much easier to work with than the brush included with the seam sealer), Paint thinner (a paint thinner substitute or white gas will also work), Mixing can (a tunafish or catfood can work well), peaks above the front doors and rear window, the seam between the sidewalls and the bathtub floor. The tent worked out great, but I didn’t experience any significant rain storms to check it’s waterproof properties. Required fields are marked *. The Black Diamond FirstLight Tent uses High Tenacity 30D poly fabric that keeps the tent strong while eliminating fabric sag and stretch in wet conditions. 1. 3lbs. Whenever you sew two fabrics together, you create many needle holes and that can leak water when it rains. My experience with this tent (which was seam sealed) let me know that it is not waterproof. I figure that there were at least 2 or 3 liters of water that had to be bailed out. GOSSAMER-GEAR.COM: Take 15% Off Gossamer Gear Ultralight Backpacks, Tents, Trekking Poles, and Accessories with Coupon Code "SECTIONHIKER". Then toss in your gear – all of it – and have yourself a cozy winter nest with room enough to hold all your gear at hand. In which case my claim stands. It’s a single-wall, free-standing tent that is a snap to set up, which is important in freezing weather when you want to get out of your cold damp clothes and into warm dry ones. Black Diamond Ultralight 2-person 4-season tent Two-person tent designed for mountaineers who want to wear light to the nearest gram. For the mix. The breathable nano shield fabric will wet out in prolonged heavy rain but ideal for anything else or above the snowline conditions. by entering ... TentandTable 20-Foot by 40-Foot Heavy Duty 14-Ounce Vinyl White Canopy Pole Tent Set with Storage Bag for ... and Events; $69.47; Cabin Tent with Instant Setup | Cabin Tent for Camping Sets Up in 60 Seconds; $67.78; SEW IN THE KNOW. Then let the tent dry for 24-48 hours, before packing it away or using it in the field. Testing the Black Diamond Firstlight Tent. This video is a rundown of… Fortunately I was camped on a slight angle and the water puddled at one end. Share. Black Diamond Firstlight 2p. The specs on the tent states that it is water resistant. 4.6 out of 5 stars ... Pacific Pass 6 Person Family Dome Tent with Removable Rain Fly, Easy Setup for Camp Backpacking Hiking Outdoor, 118.1118.174.8 inches, Navy Blue. Info. What was the old Bibbler tent made of, wasn’t it breathable as well? A compact three-person, four-season tent built for weight-conscious climbers, the Black Diamond FirstLight is based on the I-Tent's expedition-specific design with steep walls and a simple floor shape to optimize living space and increase headroom. Do that twice, from the outslde entrance, and you will not get any serious weather into the tent. It was a siliconized breathable fabric called Epic. 2 lb, 9 Oz…….Geez…..My tents are: Duplex 19.42 Oz…Lunar Solo 24 Oz… SW Tarptent Moment 28 Oz and my Lanshan 2 is a whopping 39 Oz…….. Hi Philip ! They told me that it was not meant to be used in a heavy rain environment like I was using it in. Disclosure: Black Diamond gave the author this tent for a future review. The canopy is constructed with water resistant, breathable NanoShield fabric. Watch later. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a862b329dbf15b76c11e4512a85087c8" );document.getElementById("je705695a8").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); BACKCOUNTRY.COM: First Time Customer Discount - Take 15% Off Your Order at Backcountry.com! In which case, it’s 50% silicone sealer (hardware store) or Gear-net, and 50% paint thinner. The Black Diamond Firstlight Tent uses High Tenacity 30D poly fabric that keeps the tent strong while eliminating fabric sag … a piece,do-able!Because of the material that this particular tent is made of,it is advisable that you completely seam seal the entire interior prior to any outing.All-in-all this is These seams can be factory seam-taped on conventional tents that are coated with polyurethane, but you can’t seam tape tent walls that are made with silicone-impregnated fabric, like those on the FirstLight. Black Diamond FirstLight 2P Superlight Mountaineering tent. You just pop one end of a pole into its pocket at a far corner, push it up and into its near corner. Weighing in at 2 pounds 11.6 ounces (1.24 kilogram) for a complete setup, the https://www.trailspace.com/gear/black-diamond/firstlight-2p For durability, all seams are double sewn, and the stress points are reinforced. £392 approx. Really just depends on how thick you put it on. Les The following year I hiked the PCT. The Black Diamond Firstlight Tent is an extremely water-resistant, ultralight, breathable single-wall four-season tent for weight-conscious mountaineering. The website link that I had included in my original comment above that reviewed this tent (apparently you removed that part of my comment) also stated several times that this tent is not waterproof. Mix well. Features Of The Firstlight Tent: The Black Diamond Firstlight tent has some interesting and useful features. Philip Werner October 24, 2019 Gear Repair and Maintenance. The pros of not being waterproof mean the fabric is more breathable, lighter weight and more packable. Why? Once you’ve seam-sealed the FirstLight, it is will be fully waterproof and should remain so for the effective life of the tent. The paint thinner will thin the silicone sealant so it seeps into the needle holes more readily than undiluted silicone sealant. Hi Philip, I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree. I have been using the Firstlight and sibling Hilight for about 5 years in varying instances. How to Waterproof a Black Diamond FirstLight Tent. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device. https://sectionhiker.com/how-waterproof-silnylon/. Black Diamond HiLight Tent Review | Smart Camping Tent Reviews Insert a pole through the door and slide the end into the corner (snap) at the opposite end of the tent … Carefully unfold the shock-corded poles and make sure all joints are fully engaged. © Copyright 2007-2021, SectionHiker.com and Fells Press LLC. But the FirstLight has always gotten a bum rap as not being waterproof, even though the fabrics it’s made with are. The Black Diamond "Firstlight-2P-4Season tent w/ vestibule affords the minimalist hiker/camper the best of both worlds.Weighting in at 5lb.5oz. You REALLY took this tent on the PCT?? Up Next. Two-person design with single door entry and optional vestibule for gear storage Really bad choice, if only for the lack of ventilation. Todd Bibler called his material “Todd-Tex”. I thought at first that I actually found a website that was going to enlighten me on how to waterproof my BD First Light tent. Then let the tent dry for 24-48 hours, before packing it away or using it in the field. A t raditional four-season dome or similar tent would be much more efficient for that type of use…if at twice as much weight or more versus the Black Diamond Firstlight. For durability, all seams are double sewn, and the stress points are reinforced. Even the author is pushing it a bit, as this tent is primarily designed for an on-route alpine climbing bivy. $67.78. Prior to doing the PCT I seam sealed the tent. I love that I can insert the poles into the tent without having to get inside, myself. I’ve been using a FirstLight for nearly 10 years for winter backpacking and camping and haven’t come across any other tent that’s as lightweight and convenient to use. The entire process should take well under an hour. The Black Diamond FirstLight Tent is a four-season, two-person tent that weighs 2 lbs 9 oz. Needless to say I was very disappointed. Some Exclusions Apply. That’s is more waterproof than many of the mainstream backpacking or camping tents sold today. For durability, all seams are … I think my old firstlight (yellow) might still be made with it, but they don’t claim it about these new green ones. To reduce their manufacturing cost. (tent,poles,footprint and vestibule) divided by 2 hikers is less than 3lbs. I placed my rain gear on top of my sleeping bag to help keep it dry. The Black Diamond FirstLight Tent (updated for 2019) is a two-person, freestanding, single-wall tent for winter backpacking, backcountry skiing, and mountaineering. 2 person, 4 season tent; Lightweight Nano sheild fabric single wall construction; Packed weight approximately 3 pounds 5 ounces; Dimensions: 82″ X 48″ X 48″ X 42″ One door located in the long end of the tent Free economy shipping for orders over threshold. These need to be filled with silicone seam-sealer which can bond with the silicone-impregnated walls. I’m pretty sure it’s silicone-based. Finally, while the tent claims space for two, it would be a tight fit. For durability, all seams are double sewn, and the stress points are reinforced. I have a BD First light tent that I used on my cross country bicycle trip. If you apply a little extra to the fabric on either side of the seam, that’s ok too. In this day and age why would ANYBODY want a SP Tent that is so small and so darnn heavy. While it may have been described as a 4 season/2 person tent, if you really want to get the best out of the Firstlight, you should use it for a single person and in dry conditions or snow and wind, but not heavy rain. For anything else it's terrible. Those are really cold tents to sleep in winter, with the mesh between the walls and the ceiling. So what is the Black Diamond Firstlight meant for exactly? A compact three-person, four-season tent built for weight-conscious climbers, the Black Diamond FirstLight is based on the I-Tent’s expedition-specific design with steep walls and a simple floor shape to optimize living space and increase headroom. Sell Your Own Gear For Cash! Take 15% Off with Coupon Code "SECTIONHIKER". The Black Diamond FirstLight Tent is a 4-season, two-particular person tent that weighs two lbs 9 oz. Tarptent, Six Moon Designs, Mountain Laurel Designs…they all push this task onto consumers. All Rights Reserved. Free Shipping over $200. Condition is "Used". Three-person design with single door entry and optional vestibule for gear storage, Zippered mesh panels at rear and door for ventilation, Proprietary NanoShield™ single-wall fabric and 70D poly floor in Carbon color way, Stronger reflective guylines—Polyester sheath with Dynex, Sil-Net seam sealer required (one tube included, additional tubes sold separately). I have purchased the Black Diamond FirstLight tent but have not sealed the seams. https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/.../black-diamond-firstlight Six Moon Designs Minimalist V2 Backpack Review, ZPacks.com Arc Blast Ultralight Backpack Review, 10 Best Two-Person Backpacking Tents of 2021, Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest Backpack, Sea-to-Summit Etherlite XT Ins. The part of the FirstLight that is not waterproof are the seams, which need to be sealed if you need to use the tent in the rain. Tents | Camping Tents | Mountaineering Tents | Black Diamond 3oz. Weighing 3 lbs 1.3 oz (after seam sealing), it has a wind-resistant wedge shape that sheds snow well and packs up small. Well, it depends. You have to really know how and when to use it to benefit from it at full capacity. You can always add more later if you need it. I also was sleeping on an air mattress so that helped keep my sleeping bag dry. THX!!! Copy link. For alpine conditions: Dry, windy and lots of snow - it's perfect. Seam sealing isn’t a surgically precise process although you want to avoid making a mess. It’s intended to for alpine conditions and low temperatures, and when the small size and low weight are more important than comfort and storm protection. The Firstlight is waterproof, but not to the level of some other tents, although it is more waterproof than most Big Agnes tents. Especially if bulkier winter gear is brought. Should I use all of the silicone sealant? Places where you want to focus your attention, are: If the mixture begins to thicken as the solvent evaporates, you can add more and mix it in. When I contacted BD about my experience, they told me that the First Light tent was not made for real wet environments, like I had used it in. Looks like black diamond has changed their marketing to not claim that the tent is waterproof. : ). Packs tiny and light but provides 4 season shelter for two looking to travel high and fast. Tap to unmute. Why doesn’t BD just make this tent out of a PU coated fabric so it can be taped? It’s not a versatile tent, and isn’t intended to be. Your email address will not be published. Répétez l’opération avec le second arceau (c, d). I am a bit disappointed by this article. Compare Black Diamond I-tent 2 people among other tents from other brands. When you’re finished, carefully inspect all the seams and touch up any spots you missed. I can even fit it into an external crampon pocket on my pack! That’s why Black Diamond includes a tube of silicone tent sealer in every new Firstlight tent. You’ll have to ask them. For example, the current FirstLight’s walls have a hydrostatic head of 1500 mm, while the floor is rated at 3000 mm. Some soil, but had only one defect: A "pencil-size" hole near one of the corners. Ok, the black diamond is not the worst tent available, it's bad but not the worst. Get a clue! Description. They provided me no advice on how to actually waterproof it. See the last two photos. For durability, all seams are double sewn and the stress points are reinforced. It’s also fully freestanding, so you don’t have to stake it out, and wait for your tent stakes to freeze in place so your tent won’t fall down. A smaller-than-average 27-square-foot floor cuts weight, but the steep walls and 42-inch peak height make the cramped quarters passable (it fits two standard-size sleeping pads), even for our 6’3” tester and his 5’11” son. GEARTRADE: Buy Gear Cheap. Shopping. It is made of Black Diamond’s Nanoshield fabric which is “weather proof”, but not completely waterproof. PARIA OUTDOORS: Carbon Cork Tri-Fold Trekking Poles, just $60/pair. Exactly. BLACK DIAMOND FIRSTLIGHT SET UP Spread your tent out and open the zippered door completely. I would like to know once you use the sealant does it dry clear or does it remain a darker shade from the tent? After I got back I contacted BD about this, and they told me that the First Light tent is water resistant, NOT WATERPROOF.