Salewa Sierra Leone

Although I haven't been able to compare the tent with others I am confident that it would hold its own.

There is plenty of room between the tent and the fly (which extends close to the ground) helping to keep the tent warm. There are plenty of anchor points on the fly, which helps the tent keep its shape in high winds. I set the tent up with my bro in mid-winter (with heavy gloves on) in gale force winds without trouble. The hardest part was digging in. Once we had it set up, all we could hear was the spindrift hitting the fly. No flapping fly.

The tent is also very breathable. There is little condensation build-up inside the tent to soak everything once the sun defrosts it. Most condensation freezes to the fly.

There are two entrances, which both have fly screens and lead to usable vestibules. You don't have to climb over your buddy if you need to get out of the tent.

I have used the tent in summer and it is comfortable and does not turn into an oven if you open up the vestibules or leave the fly off.

The clip on system for the poles works well and is easily set up. No threading of poles required. Furthermore there are fewer poles making the whole package smaller and lighter. It also packs down to a very small size if you take care to fold it up neatly.

Its only shortcommings are that the doors zip downwards. I worry about putting a hole in the screens. I find the tent a little bit short as I am about 2m in a sleeping bag. It is hard to find a 2 person tent that accomodates me in that respect (in Australia and Japan anyway). It can accomodate 3 but it is a squeeze.

I bought this tent from Germany in 1992. It provided a home from the sandy and windy Mediterranean beaches up to glaciers in the Alps and Rockies. I don't know how many times I thought that the wind will break it, but it never did. Once in an emergency four of us slept in it--not comfy for so many, but it gives you an idea of the available space. After so much abuse the tent is ready to retire--half the zippers are stuck now--but no other tent I ever had lasted so much abuse for so long. Definitely a reliable companion worth every penny spent.

Gave a review on this tent a little while ago, however, need to revise that opinion. After putting up constantly over a period of two weeks the screw on the main cross bar stripped and disabled the tent. Had it replaced with the same result again. Had it replaced three times now, appears to be a major fault with the design. Shame as otherwise a good tent if somewhat weighty for backpacking.

I've had 10 years faithful service ranging from alpine snow to Namib desert sand and storm winds on the southern-most tip of Africa. It will still serve as a secondary tent and I'm planning to purchase a Sierra Design Tiros1 as replacement.

Good tent. Is reasonably easy to erect, but it is a bit difficult if only one person. Good vestibule room each side.