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These are true four-season, single wall lightweight tents. Built using Bibler's proprietary ToddTex fabric which is waterproof, windproof and extremely breathable. Especially made for high-altitude conditions.

On one trip it rained constant for three days and the inside of this tent was completely dry. Not one drop of water came inside. That is good.

My latest addition for back country shelter. This tent is made of lightweight Epic™ fabric. The fabric is not very breathable, but the tent is designed with good cross ventilation to accommodate your comfort. With a pack weight of 3 pounds and 5 ounces, this will quickly become a favorite!

 

Gear Review

I have used the FirstLight on Mount Hood and Mount Rainier in 2005. The weight was the primary consideration to use this tent. I already owned the Bibler I-Tent and the vestibule, ground cloth and attic are interchangeable making this a obvious choice. Pros: Excellent weight to size ratio. This tent, when compressed is not much bigger than a Nalgene bottle! There is a rear window to help with the airflow. The door has a second layer of protection around the zipper to keep the elements out. There are wire stays located over the rear window and door which you can shape to help keep airflow passing through, even in moderate rains. Cons: Although there are opposing openings, the walls do get wet even at warmer temperatures. Although the Epic material is rated as breathable, it does not pass the moisture through the walls fast enough when there are two occupants. Unlike the I-Tent, the FirstLight does not have midpoint tie downs on the side walls. I would question its ability to handle high winds. The seams are NOT seam sealed. The Epic Material can not support adhesive seam sealing. All seams must be seam sealed using McNett SilNet SeamGrip. Summary: The floor is slippery! If the tent is pitched on a slight hill you will slide into the walls with every move. To counter this, I suggest running beads of seam sealer in parallel rows on the bottom side of your sleeping pad. This is a excellent tent for solo use. Tight for two person.

Technical Details

Construction: Sidewall : Epic by Nextec. Floor : SilNylon. Number of Poles : 2 One door. One rear window. Four tie down loops, one on each corner. Two small gear pockets. Size: Length : 87" Width : 51" Height : 43" Area : 27.3 Square Feet Weight: 3 pounds 5 ounces (1.49 kg) (tent/poles/stakes/guylines) Optional Vestibule: Snaps onto the Tent with 2 clips. Adds 13 Sq. Feet storage

I bought the predecessor, Mountain 24 in 1997 and without a doubt, the strongest tent I have ever seen. That is a bold statement! This tent is designed, and has been tested to withstand the highest winds you may encounter.

 

Gear Review

I carried this tent with me for years until I started on the Light-n-Fast trend. It is heavier, but it is also build like a fortress. Pros: Easy to setup with continuous sleeves to pass the poles through. Even in the extreme cold conditions. Large interior space, enough to accommodate two climbers with some equipment or three climbers in an emergency. The front vestibule is large enough for one backpack plus extra gear. The rear vestibule has space for smaller gear. Good ventilation through a series of doors and vents. If you are in areas of high wind, this tent is your choice. Cons: Compared to most 4-season tents, this tent weights in almost 10 pounds. Earlier models used a snap-on foam pad which is used as a separator to keep the fly off the inner wall. The snaps were hard to use, especially in the cold. If you forgot to put them on before setting up, they were almost impossible to attach. The newer models use a tie which makes it much easier to assemble. Summary: If you are ascending the high peaks of the world and you need protection against the elements, this is your tent.

Technical Details

Construction: Fly: 75 denier, 185T polyester ripstop coated with 1500 mm PU. Floor: 70 denier, 210T nylon taffeta coated with 10,000 mm PU Canopy: 40 denier, 240T nylon ripstop Number of Poles : 5 (9mm DAC Featherlite™ SL aluminum poles) Two doors. Multiple tie down loops. Gear pockets. Size: Length : 87" Width : 57" Height : 40" Area : 34 Square Feet Weight: 9 pounds 8 ounces (4.31 kg) (tent/poles/stakes/guylines) Packed Size : 7.5 x 23 inches Vestibule: Main: 9 Square Feet storage

Built on the same design as the Mountain 24 / 25, this tent withstands almost every element you can throw at it. Rated as a four person tent, I would recommend limiting the use to three plus some gear.

Two large vestibules, plus see out windows helps to eliminate that claustrophobic feeling your get during long stays.

This tent is hard to find, but some web stores still offer it. Although it is a little pricey, it is also worth the expense.

Very durable construction and great for base camp and car camping needs. Weights in at just over 20 pounds with poles and stakes.

Plenty of room to setup and even stand in. Full fly really repels a rain storm as I have found out several times. Although it is rated at 3-season, I have used this in Adirondack and White mountain winters with plenty of comfort.

Item 693151

I had wanted to fill a void in my sleeping bag selections. The need to use lighter packs in winter was always a challenge due to the size of the sleeping bag. The success of the Phantom 32 (see below) made me turn my attention to the other products in the Phantom series. I looked at the Phantom 15 and found a bag to fill those needs. The compression bag was less than a 6" x 6" size. The weight is a mere 2 pounds and 1 ounce I found the answer to my needs.

Excellent bag for those warm weather times. You can not beat this bag in area warmth, handling and compressibility. What I like to most is the fit around my frame. The +32°f is accurate for my needs.

I bought the original bag in 1982 and without a doubt, the best piece of gear I have for longevity. Originally sold as a +20° bag, now it is rated at +15°. Filled with 600-fill-power goose down. Although the Blue Kazoo has gone through several redesigns, it has retained its original goal of being the best bag at +15°.
 

The highest quality expedition bags available. All other bags should be compared to this one. Excellent compressibility and warmth to weight ratio.

Available at Feathered Friends

This bag has 800+ fill-down for superior loft. I have used it down to -35°f and I was warm. This was without extra clothing! Then again I do sleep warm. Great compressibility and weighs in just over 4 lbs 6 ounces for the long version. No longer listed in the North Face catalog, but still can be found in stores and shopping over the web.

When I took up climbing again, I wanted a backpack that would fill all my needs for winter, multi-day climbs. The North Face Badlands was my answer. At 5000-6000 in³, I had plenty of room and comfort.

The harness system in this pack delivers load balancing like no other pack I have ever tried. Yes it weights a little more, 6 lbs 11 ounces, but you would never know it. The hip belt truly does keep the weight on your hips and off your shoulders.

I liked the access panel built in this. You can access the gear in the lower portion without having to dig through from the top.

This pack is made for bushwhacking. Made from heavy denier packcloth, it is almost impervious to tears. Great size for winter day hikes. The external straps are perfect for holding snowshoes. There are two external pockets for items you want to keep close at hand.

Plenty of pack for a efficient weekend outing. I use this when I am packing fast-n-light. Total volume is 3661 in³, and weighs in at 3 lbs 2 ounces. This has become my favorite pack for long weekends.

Only has lashing point down the center of the pack, it would be a little better to have two rows of lashing points for better stability for items like snowshoes. Does have a good size shovel pockets.

Offers a balanced load through the use of a molded-foam lumbar support and a Delrin® stay to transfer the load to the hip belt.

Item 747520

The lightest pack that offers long weekend possibilities. When I am staying in a lean-to for a night, I can use this pack to get there. Mostly I use it as a day hike pack when I want to carry more gear.

Pack volume is 2746 in³, and weighs 2 lbs 9 ounces. Offers a balanced load through the use of a molded-foam lumbar support and a Delrin® stay to transfer the load to the hip belt.

Item 747515

15 ounces - need I say more? On long trips into the backcountry, even on big mountain attempts I have brought this as the summit pack. There is not support for you back or hips, but it is surprisingly comfortable.