Mountain Hardwear Light Wedge 3

Review Date
August 15, 2005

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: danielguip ,  Mountaineer

Price Paid:  $250.00 at California

Summary:
This is an excellent tent that I have owned now for over 7 years. We used it to camp in California, in Glacier National Park, in the Alps in summer and more recently in Madagascar. It is very sturdy and always performed well. The only two negative points are :
* the absence of panel door which may be a problem in alpine conditions (in the Alps even in summer subfreezing temperature are common)
* the absence of a true vestibule. So the best option is to have a backpack cover to store the bakcpacks outside while the shoes are stored in the vestibule.

Similar Products Used:
SkyView 4. Best for winter camping but heavy...

Review Date
June 30, 2004

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: FemmeFeat ,  Backpacker

Price Paid:  $115.00 at wholesale deal

Summary:
I purchased this tent late last fall and use it primarily as my car camping tent. It's great, easy to set up, roomy and well vented. The first time I used it was an early winter trip to Joshua Tree. The weather was extremely windy and cold. I could have used a warmer bag but that's an easy fix, I'd rather have good ventilation. It withstood the winds very well and remained taughtly pitched - no flapping fly. I like to have a storm door and mesh door on my tents so I asked around and priced the addition of a storm door. Turned out Mountain Hardwear had the best deal - only $50. A great tent!

Customer Service:
Fast, accommodating, very professional. They did seem puzzeled when I asked to add the storm door - figured their tent was perfect as designed, I guess.

Similar Products Used:
SD Meteor Light, Eureka Zephyr, MH Hammerhead II, Walrus Windsheer, (I like to test tents, looking for that "perfect" one)

Review Date
June 9, 2004

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Reviewed by: ander420 ,  Car Camper

Price Paid:  $225.00 at Hilton's Tent City

Summary:
I purchased the LW3 over the winter. I did not get to try it out over the winter, but took it up to the Presis in NH in early May. I was car camping. I found the tent easy to set up, it was waterproof (got poured on one of the nites), and allowed plenty of ventilation.

In regards to the ventilation, if you are planning to use this tent in cool climates you should take a bag rated for colder temps. The air flow is excellent and I was actually chilly This was the first time I can remember being cold in a sleeping bag and I have used this bag in the winter before. Granted, I slept in boxers and a teeshirt and the temp dipped down into to 29 degrees.

I am taking it out backpacking in a couple weeks and am very sure it will acquit itself well.

Similar Products Used:
Eureka dome

Review Date
September 1, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: DangerousDave(Unregistered User) ,  Paddler , from Arlington, VA, USA

Price Paid:  $105.00 at Prodeal

Summary:
I've used this tent to camp out for several weekend kayaking trips where the weather was great for kayaking (It poured). The inside stayed dry every time. It's reasonably lightweight and compression stuffsacks will make it pack smaller for backpacking. It goes up very easily, even with one person setting it up. The ventillation is great for warm weather camping. It's performed flawlessly for what I've used it for. My only question about the tent would be why is it called a 3 person? If 3 people are going to get into this thing, they'd better be rather cozy with each other.

Customer Service:
not needed

Similar Products Used:
REI Half Dome Plus, bunch of cheap ones.

Review Date
July 22, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: Chris Palmer(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Denver

Price Paid:  $200.00 at the bent gate,Golden

Summary:
I have owned this tent for 5 years and have been quite satisfied with it. It's light weight enough for me to carry it when I go solo for the weekend and is perfect for 2 people. Great ventilation and waterproofness. I have used it for winter backpacking in +4 degree windy conditions and occasionally you do get a breeze / draft thru the front mesh door.
I used 2 other tents since this one for different uses and still love this one the most.

Customer Service:
One reason I am writing this review is to completly applaud the customer service practices of MH. The floor in my LW3 seemed to allow water to seep in after the first time I was using in in the rain. When packing it away I noticed water seeped thru the floor. I contacted MH and advised of the problem, they asked me to return it to them, they tested it and sent me a brand new tent which I received back in 5 days!! Wonderfulllll

Similar Products Used:
Walrus, Eureka Zeus