Sierra Designs Night Watch

The Perfect Backpacking Tent

The original blue and white Nightwatch from the 1990's is BY FAR the best tent I have ever experienced. I loved that thing almost to death and then it was stolen in a USPS distribution facility while in transit. Haven't found anything I like as well.

This was the perfect 1-2 person 3-4 season backpacking tent for ALL terrain, ALL weather, ALL season. I miss it so much I am now trialling a Nightwatch CD and 2.0 CD also both from the late '90s/early 2000s. So far they both have certain likeable features, but as a whole package, neither come even CLOSE to the simplicity, intuitiveness, and functionality of the Original Nightwatch.

If I could dream up the perfect tent, it would be this exact tent all over again.  That tent saw a lot of action! I miss that tent...

Background

Park Ranger, Forest Firefighter, extensive backcountry, extensive BurningMan. Winter survival, high desert, rainforest, snow, extreme heat, cold, high winds, Dusty, soggy, snowy, you name it. Months and months of use over 20 years.

A great backpacking tent with a zip-out roof that reveals mosquito netting, so you don't sweat your $%^ss off during the summer. The three shock-corded aluminum poles lend to a pretty stable design even when snow-loaded. Pitching this tent takes all of about 5 minutes and is pretty straight forward. My only complaint is that the rain-fly does not give a very large vestibule. If you've got to cook while waiting out a storm, you've got just enough room for a couple of pots and a white gas stove...not much else! Forget about storing backpacks and the like in the vestibule, there just isn't the room. However, the short vestibule does cut down significantly on the weight. For an extended 3-season/4-season tent, without going to an expedition weight tent, 5lbs is hard to beat.

Nature has thrown a lot at this tent while I was in it. Needless to say it kept me VERY dry and comfy. I love it! It's my baby!