Sierra Designs Stretch Dome

Review Date
April 13, 2004

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
4.50 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by: troutn26 ,  Backpacker

Price Paid:  $299.00 at Campmor

Summary:
What can I say! I've had the tent almost ten years backpacking and camping in MT,AK, and OR in hot sun, thunderstorms, days of drizzle, wind (anybody from MT knows what I mean), sleet and about a foot of snow. I probably spend about 20 days or more a year in it. There has been no leakage after initially seam-sealing it. I think the tent is light considering it's function. Definitely roomy with 2 and gear. Big vestibule. Only wish there was another door. Easy to set up. Tent stakes were all bent and re-bent to loops a long time ago, but just bought some new ones. Door zipper is finally starting to weaken and I just patched a hole in the floor from my own stupidity. Have re-seam sealed everything this year for another season in AK-----I'm not worried. Great tent-----definitely worth my $299.00!

Customer Service:
Never needed them

Similar Products Used:
Eureka tent, kelty tent, north face and marmot.

Review Date
July 2, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: fossana(Unregistered User) ,  Mountaineer , from oakland, ca, usa

Price Paid:  $200.00 at Sierra Designs

Summary:
I bought this tent 10+ years ago while working at Sierra Designs. I have never been disappointed in my purchase. It's quick to set us, spacious, and lightweight for its size. The 3-season rain fly is somewhat brittle from UV damage (to be expected given total exposure), but otherwise the tent has held up well after many years of loyal service under sun, rain, and snow.

Customer Service:
No hassle pole repairs thru the warranty dept, but the replacement rain fly has been been on backorder for 6 months+.

Similar Products Used:
Walrus Microswift
Sierra Designs Meteor Light

Review Date
March 6, 2002

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: Molly (Unregistered User) , from Houston, TX

Price Paid:  $200.00 at Sun & Ski Sports

Summary:
I bought the last year's floor model of this tent (2000 model in 2001) for less than $200, so it was a great deal.
Extremely easy to set up, even w/out directions.
More than enough room for 2 people to stretch out plus gear. The tallest person who has been in my tent is 5'10", but plenty of foot room for taller people.
Kind of heavy for backpacking, even split up between 2 people, but not unbearable.
Haven't used it in too adverse of conditions, but it did make it through a fairly heavy rainstorm w/out a drop of water coming in.
Lots of ventilation, no condensation at all.
Vestibule is nice and roomy, plenty of room for boots + gear.

Customer Service:
The fly pole was missing when I bought it (they must have misplaced it since it was the floor model). Sun & Ski called Sierra Designs, who promptly custom built a new fly pole for me using new 2001 p

Review Date
July 18, 2001

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: Davis(Unregistered User) ,  Mountaineer , from Provo, UT

Price Paid:  $350.00 at REI

Summary:
I've used this tent at 15,000 ft in the Altiplano of Bolivia, in the desert of Moab, up in the High Uintas, and on many other great trips. I've never had a problem with this tent. I love the vestibule because it's big enough to pile in three people's gear. I've also never had problems with water in the tent despite some pretty severe rainstorms. Despite the high price of the tent I'm confident it'll last me a decade or more. I'm in love with this tent!

Similar Products Used:
None

Review Date
May 8, 2001

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 4 votes

Reviewed by: Nick(Unregistered User) ,  Mountaineer , from Anchorage, Alaska

Price Paid:  $400.00

Summary:
Wind Warning! This tent is a fine, lightweight, 3 1/2 season backpacking tent... but mine was destroyed in a high wind storm along the Bering Sea coast. My partner's 10 year old NorthFace Westwind did not budge during the storm, his tent saved my hide after my Stretch Dome exploded into shreds. Even before it was torn to shreds we could not configure it settle down in the wind... the design is too flimsy. I've since spoken with others who spend time in bad weather in Alaska and a common theme is that Sierra Designs makes great tents if light-weight is the most important consideration. But they are not very sturdy and solid in heavy weather situations. Ask around before you buy.

Similar Products Used:
North Face VE25, North Face Westwind, Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight