A compact two-person, three-season tent, the Black Diamond Distance Tent is an ultralight, single-wall shelter built for weight conscious backpackers, thru-hikers and mountain adventurers. On my own I can sit up with plenty of head room and only the very ends of my sleeping bag sometimes touch the tent body (the thicker the mat you use the more likely this is as it raises you off the ground). As a telescoping pole, the Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork is a far cry from the tent-style poles than can fold down to as little as 36cm. The mosquito netting at the high point has been cleverly folded forming a pocket in which you can put your torch to illuminate the inside of the tent. On subsequent nights in the Distance I have tried to pitch again with the upper vent towards the wind but not fully so, and have not had the problem of wind blown rain getting in again. Issues that arise with an ultralight single-skin tent: A major issue for a single skin tent is condensation. Sweat Bands. During the times that they weren’t used, the poles were attached to our backpacks so it was a relief that the Black Diamon poles were so lightweight. It would be a squash, and soggy at that. Finally, the pole comes with six lightweight V-stakes. A two-person mountain tent with a side-door configuration But the door to the Distance is on one of the sloping sides, so if it's raining, the rain actually falls into the tent as the bottom of the door is further out than the top. ... Black Diamond I-Tent . Weighing in at roughly 8.5 ounces each, they are not the lightest trekking poles on the market. In the morning the tent was by no means dry inside but there was not as much condensation as a few weeks earlier on the other side of Kinder where I had camped for another night of rain but little to no wind. Find hiking poles designed and manufactured to provide comfort and support for long treks, made for all terrains from high inclines to flat plains our hiking poles for sale are made to endure harsh conditions. Once I had sorted out the issue of the wind direction in relation to the vent, the Distance kept me dry and safe in a pretty foul night of wind and rain at over 600m. It may be a niche product for pole-using backpackers only, but if you find yourself in it, you might find it is quite a comfortable niche in which to spend the night! I've been using a Black's Force Ten Vitesse single skin tent occasionally for years -a bit heavier at about 1kg, "Mark IV" shaped, walking pole support (internal) but single 'traditional' door and porch setup. energy and food. Check with your Attorney General's office for flame retardancy requirements on tents in your state (or province). The Black Diamond Distance Tent is a lightweight, packable, single wall shelter that pitches using any set of adjustable length trekking poles. Designed for families looking to holiday locally or head out on an adventure, the Habitude Tent is the ideal home away from home. If you appreciate UKClimbing.com then please help us by becoming a UKC Supporter. A two-person mountain tent with a side-door configuration A spacious one-person lounge or a cozy two-person assault-style tent, the Black Diamond HiLight uses a two-and-a-half pole design for steep, water-shedding walls and a wide, high ceiling. It would be great if BD would make a tent pole that could be bought separately - I would be very happy to buy one in order to use the tent on bikepacking trips as well as when hiking. By angling the side of the tent with the vent on it at about 45 degrees to wind, it seemed I could still get some draft through the vent, but the cowl could keep the rain out. The folding Z-pole design allows them to break down to a small size for easy storage, but the collapsing technique for this style of pole takes a little practice to master. One time when I got none at all was on a cool and windy but dry night where I pitched with the upper vent facing into the wind. Leki Micro Vario Ti Cortec Trekking Poles. There is loads of space in it. Although this might not be a super lightweight summer tent, this single-walled tent provides enough protection and burly construction to keep out the toughest of weather and providing ample warmth for extremely cold temperatures. print publications. It might not be spacious, but this tent packs a performance punch for its minimal weight. outdoor retailer have them on their website at 25% off which is pretty hefty saving. In reply to. The other vent beside the ones at the apex and foot of tent is the "window" on the door. Poles for trekking, hiking, trail running, backpacking or alpine pursuits. When there is a breeze it is a suprisingly small issue. Re. But results prove time and time again that a decent set of poles by your side will take your hikes to new heights, new sights, and a newfound love for the outdoors. Singapore 179105. The Black Diamond Distance Tent is an ultra-lightweight shelter that comes complete with a pair of Carbon AR trekking poles that create the support for this tent in place of traditional poles, minimising unnecessary bulk and weight on your travels. interesting articles, comprehensive gear reviews, breathtaking photographs and a vast and useful logbook system. This aluminium pole from Leki is … REI Co-op Trailbreak ($60) Weight per pair: 1 lb. Because of the single skin nature of the tent, it has two cowled but otherwise unclose-able ventilation points, both covered with mosquito netting, one at the highest point of the tent (just below the 'crossbar' of the fame) and the other along the full width of what I think of as the 'foot end' of the tent. Lightweight 30d polyester construction allows the tent to pack down to the size of a Nalgene bottle. I did this, so added one extra peg for that to the six that came with the tent. I've been using a Black's Force Ten Vitesse single skin tent occasionally for years -a bit heavier at about 1kg, "Mark IV" shaped, walking pole support (internal) but single 'traditional' door and porch setup. That's not to say that it can't happen - wind direction can change, or winds can pick up and rain can fall when you weren't expecting it. It got so bad, that I gave up on them for many years and only used poles with external flicks locks like Black Diamond’s Trail Poles. The inner tent of the Notch at least looks a lot smaller although having two vestibules looks great. Interestingly there is a review on Outdoor Gear Lab which I didn't see until after I had written my review, but exactly the same happened to them on a testing camp. Yes, the version of the tent that comes with the adaptor crossbar means that you don't need to buy these rather fine but expensive trekking poles specifically for the tent (BD's price is £400 for the tent and carbon Z poles, but only £240 for the tent with adaptor but no poles. Using a two-and-a-half pole design similar to the Lighthouse, the OneShot offers a full side-opening door with a built-in window and another window on the opposite side with awnings over both. A compact two-person, three-season tent, the Black Diamond Distance Tent is an ultralight, single-wall shelter built for weight conscious backpackers, thru-hikers and mountain adventurers. ...but you're obliged to go with trekking poles. Four stake-out points anchor the tent to create the ultimate fast pitch shelter—simple to set up and robust in windy conditions. Nevertheless, the Distance Tent offers much quicker protection from the elements than a tarp, and I think probably superior protection from the elements too, at least to a standard rectangular tarp of the type I've used for many years (shaped tarps like the MLD Trailstar raise their own interesting questions of when a tarp becomes a tent!). wbo2:. Even if It had hinged from the top there would have been scope to arrange some shelter with a prop or two. Eight years later I still use these poles. Indeed I've rarely used a bivi bag in recent years because condensation in them seems unavoidable and neither of the two I have are much fun in proper rain, at least without something that can be used as a tarp to shelter your head. The full side-opening door has a built-in no-see-um mesh window, and coupled with another window on the opposite side, the HiLight offers excellent ventilation. Read more.. A two-person mountain tent with a side-door configuration. I guess it is a tent, but it often feels more like a tarp. For the price, there are far better options I feel, especially for anything in the UK (surely condensation is horrendous in this?!). https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/.../trekking-poles/black-diamond-trail-back 4/5 Overall Rating. Read Full Review. Trekking poles have come a long way and made using lighter and stronger materials, with new designs making them easier to use and pack down. When used as the poles for the tent they are adjustable enough to tension the tent regardless of how soft the ground is below it. As such, the arrangement here does offer a weight saving. The alternative version of the tent has an identical body but is called the Distance Tent with Adaptor and doesn't come with the walking poles; instead the crossbar is slightly larger and has sockets with velcro straps that allows any suitable trekking poles to be used as an alternative. Or indeed, what if you would like to use the Distance Tent when kayak touring or bikepacking? payment or a more substantial payment paid monthly or yearly which includes full access to Rockfax Digital and discounts on Rockfax The canopy is built with highly water-resistant and breathable NanoShield fabric. This two-person, three-season, single-wall tent is ideal for ultralight trekking. Access to a year's subscription to Rockfax Digital. I discuss condensation extensively in the review. Google shows me as well that if you wanted to buy the tent with poles that I reviewed, Hereford's leading (?!) Please support the following outdoor retailers who support. Even the wrist loops are a simple but comfortable and efficient design. The structure is created using two Distance Carbon FLZ-AR Trekking Poles (Accessory Ready) trekking Z-Poles and a small DAC cross pole that inserts into the accessory ready grip and connects the trekking poles. We enable our customers to have a lifetime of safe, comfortable and inspiring outdoor adventures New Zealand and overseas. The Distance tent is an interesting beast. The pole design allows for water-shedding walls, meaning the rain won’t reach the interior of the tent. They’re also a good example of how to use the same backpacking gear in multiple ways, one of the core principles of gear weight reduction for ultralight backpacking. Accessories. The point has to be made that at 820g, the Distance tent would be little more than an ineffective bivi bag because that weight does not include poles. The poles sell separately for EUR 170, reflecting their top of the range stature! Nevertheless I'm not super keen on having muddy boots in the tent with me, I just haven't settled on another solution yet. Singapore's Largest Outdoor Lifestyle Retailer, #02-20, Funan Mall The tent has one large zip opening door on one side, this has a zip-close mosquito net window in it. I received the tent literally days before the country went into lockdown so although I couldn't use it beyond my back garden until quite recently, the poles got used quite regularly for "exercise from home" - walks on hilly terrain on the edge of the Peak District - normally carrying my youngest in child-carrier, so plenty of relying on them for stability when carrying a load approaching 20kg. MSR have only gone and made the tent that Dan Bailey always wished someone would. From the best brands in the current market such as Black Diamond with their FLZ range, and Leki, who are constantly innovating and reinventing something so simple as a hiking pole. They fold up in three sections and have a collapsed length of 38cm, meaning they easily fit in many day packs if you use them for approaches to climbs. Currently you can't unless you're ready to take hiking poles along with you! Having wind protection for your stove is also important because, again, with no vestibule your stove has no shelter from the wind. This experiment was less successful. Also it literally takes about a minute or two to pitch, which means you are in and out of the weather very quickly. These seem strong and resistant to pulling out, but I found removing them quite hard - so added short tie offs to the holes in them with some yellow cord. But at 3 pounds 6 ounces and an additional $320, we find it hard to justify. I'm not saying that I wouldn't prefer the Notch, but I've not used one so I don't know if it is better or not. Walking Cane. But the main points in its favour are simply that it is both ultralight AND a tent. Trekking poles are great for hiking and walking support and for use with ultralight tents and tarps where they double as a tent pole.support Intents Outdoors and Orson lightweight tents. There is no getting away from it, condensation has been there in the morning on most nights I have used the Distance. Socks. Another issue with no porch or vestibule is that you need to cook outside the tent. Recovery and Support. All very light tents are compromised somewhere. The material the tent is made out of is described by BD as "high tenacity 30D poly", I think which means a very lightweight polyester. The zip on the door is protected by a serious storm flap that seems to stop even wind-driven rain from finding a way in. The Alpine Carbon Cork trekking poles are a reflection of that – which is why we picked it as one of the best poles for backpacking.. "It might not be light but I think the Elixir 1 is bloody great" says Toby Archer, "a clever, tough and spacious solo tent that doesn't cost silly money". Weight wise they are similar, but its worth remembering the Distance is theoretically a two person tent. The Distance is a very lightweight single skin tent, weighing only around 820g. incredible community has formed around the site - we’ve provided the framework but it’s you who make the website what it is today. This produced a noticeable draft, but it successfully meant the tent was dry inside in the morning. A well pitched tarp can provide adequate protection in poor weather but they can be fiddly and take practice to pitch well, and even when pitched perfectly, in rough weather they do not give as much protection as a tent, particularly in the British hills where an absence of trees makes tarps trickier to use. This is fine in decent weather, in fact you can sit in your sleeping bag on your mat and make your morning porridge just outside the tent whilst you remain comfortable in it. This two-person, three-season, single-wall tent is ideal for ultralight trekking. It would be proportionately less for the cheaper model but I can't see how it would be cheaper. It is an issue when there is not a breeze but I wouldn't say "horrendous". Tarptent's website says they are USD 314. Ultralight Outdoor Gear Limited Registered office Unit 2 Tees Valley Court, Glenarm Road, Wynyard Business Park, Wynyard, TS22 5FE, United Kingdom Company … After contemplating this for some time and judging whether I could be arsed to do something about it, I decided I really had to. This is covered in netting so you can have it open during the night for extra ventilation and not get midged BUT because of the sloping angle of the side of the tent, again, if it rains it will come through that netting, so you have to zip up the waterproof part again, losing that ventilation. 107 North Bridge Road Have you used them both? The structure is created using two Black Diamond Carbon Distance AR (Accessory Ready) trekking Z-Poles and a small DAC cross pole that inserts into the accessory ready grip and connects the trekking poles. So, in conclusion: the Black Diamond Distance Tent with Z-Poles is clearly a rather niche product. Weeks later in the dark, mist and a strong wind and rain, at about midnight on the Kinder plateau, I tried to reproduce this by again pitching the tent with the vent into the wind. Please help UKClimbing continue to provide varied and free content by becoming a UKC Supporter, or UKC Supporter Plus which But what if you don't currently hike with poles and don't feel any need to? © UKClimbing Limited. For more info see eu.blackdiamondequipment.com. Black Diamond's website says the Distance tent is a "2 man, 3 season shelter". Hydration Bottles. This bloke bought the more expensive dyneema one, https://wildwalkinguk.com/2020/06/24/tarptent-notch-li/ and paid 50 bucks extra for delivery plus "customs duty of £42.25, VAT of £78.86, and a ParcelForce handling fee of £12. A head-height family tent that's light enough to carry miles from the car, yet built to stand up to kids and at least a bit of weather... too good to be true? Alternatively, Black Diamond sells a compatible mesh inner tent with a bathtub floor separately (called the Mega Bug), which boosts the shelter’s weather-worthiness. They are adjustable between 105 and 125cm so will be comfortable for the majority of adults. https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/reviews/camping-and-hiking/ultralight-tent/black-diamond-distance-adaptor-tent Nice to know that it's not only on Kinder that you get annoyingly angled rain, but in the US mountains too! It may be a rather small niche, but if you find yourself in it, you might find it is quite a comfortable niche in which to spend the night! Black Diamond trekking poles are industry leaders in terms of producing the highest quality and performance. There is one other pocket attached to the sidewall of the tent. The structure is created using two Distance Carbon FLZ-AR Trekking Poles (Accessory Ready) trekking Z-Poles and a small DAC cross pole that inserts into the accessory ready grip and connects the trekking poles. For keeping track of the little things, the HiLight has two interior mesh pockets. Just a wee note! The final and perhaps most obvious weakness with the Distance tent is what happens if you don't use trekking poles? 1 oz. It doesn't make a lot of sense currently for anyone other than pole-using lightweight backpackers. There are guylines attached to the sides about halfway up parallel to the poles. The poles supplied with mine weigh 380g according to BD (although my kitchen scales suggest 403 g). At the foot end there are two little permanently sewn-in poles about 15cm long, which hold the end of the tent up, allowing the vent to remain open and minimising the end of your sleeping bag touching the otherwise sloping tent roof. https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/reviews/camping-and-hiking/ultralight-tent/black-diamond-distance-adaptor-tent, https://wildwalkinguk.com/2020/06/24/tarptent-notch-li/, Average Packed Weight : 820g (tent) + 380g (trekking poles), Comes with two Distance Carbon FLZ-AR Trekking Poles, Vents at peak and foot allow for cross ventilation, Mesh door provides additional ventilation, Headlamp pocket in peak for easy illumination, Stronger reflective guylines—Polyester sheath with Dyneema core to minimize stretch, High tenacity 30D poly fabric improves strength and doesn't stretch when wet. Because the tent has no porch or any other covered area you find yourself bringing things like boots and packs into the tent, things that I wouldn't normally have in the inner of a normal two layer tent. But if you fit that category, it actually makes a lot of sense, being lighter than most tents, more spacious than lighter tents, far more comfortable than a bivi bag and easier and faster to use than most tarps. condensation, I use a single layer tent quite often (MH Direkt 2) and it's a factor, but not terrible, and you live with it. Condensation IS an issue in the tent at times but the photo titled "Condensation is definitely an issue" isn't condensation, that was rain being blown under the cowl over the upper vent - it was when as I say in the review I had to get out and change the angle of the tent. Type: Telescoping (lever lock) Shaft material: … But two years ago, I went back to a trekking pole with an internal locking mechanism because I really like the handgrip they use ( see Pacer Poles ). What's great about an ultralight single-skin tent: Having read all of the above you may think, why bother? The Notch doesn't come with poles so is comparable to the Distance Tent Adaptor which a top UK backpacking shop is selling currently for GBP 219. Belt and Hydration Bag. Retracting to a length of 61cm, the pole may (just) fit into some larger backpacks but should have no problems being … The version of the Distance Tent reviewed here comes as a kit with the aforementioned poles. In damp British conditions I'm not sure the Distance would be my choice for multi-day trips, or at the very least you need to be well aware of its limitations and have good 'gear management' skills to work around them. The Distance Tent is far roomier and more comfortable than a bivy bag but at no extra weight. Yes; managing condensation is part of using it, but it's far from an insurmountable issue, and that should be weighed against a spacious shelter at considerably under a kilo. Shop Black Diamond trekking poles. There is one additional point to attach a guyline at the foot end. A compact two-person, three-season tent, the Black Diamond Distance Tent is an ultralight, single-wall shelter built for weight conscious backpackers, thru-hikers and mountain adventurers. Condensation is present but manageable but the biggest advantage over this BD is that the conventional tent door can be open for ventilation, cooking, or just looking out without the rain running in. I also compared prices and thought the notch pricier. An uncompromising, two-person alpine tent with a minimal foo.. After much to-ing and fro-ing I splurged out and bought a pair of Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z Trekking Poles. Beyond the two different versions of the crossbar, the two models are the same. The vents should produce an airflow through the tent, stopping condensation. One- or 2-person design with single door entry and optional vestibule for gear storage, Two-and-a-half-pole design provides twice the strength and a drip-free awning, Mesh window on door and back wall for ventilation, Proprietary NanoShield single-wall fabric and 2000 mm floor. In reply to. Packed up I doubt the Distance Tent is much bigger or any heavier than my old bivi bag, yet the amount of protection and comfort it gives is huge in comparison. Where to put wet stuff was one of the big issues I had with the Distance. Four Season, 1 person Tent The OneShot is a three-season, freestanding solo shelter that is roomy enough to sit up in, yet packs down small and weighs less than some bivy sacks. Trekking pole tents use hiking poles for setup instead of tent poles as a weight-saving measure for backpackers. Leki Micro Vario Ti Cortec Trekking Poles at a Glance: … There is a headlamp pocket located in the peak for easy illumination. It could be described as a squared-off pyramid in shape, has pegging points at all four corners, and for a frame uses trekking poles (thus saving the weight of carrying an extra set of tent poles). These are superb - light (380g), seemingly strong, and rigid without feeling harsh. The same is sort of true for your pack and waterproofs if it has been raining. As climbers we strive to make UKClimbing.com the kind of website we would love to visit, with the most up-to-date news, diverse and Leki Micro Vario Ti COR-TEC. Considering where the lower ventilation port is, this isn't a tent to use in snow, but in three season conditions, including it seems quite strong winds, the Distance seems strong. But take it down, shake off any water and stuff it in its bag and, at 820g (with an extra peg, guyline, the pegs in a plastic bag, and the provided bag for the whole tent and smaller one for the crossbar and pegs, mine weighs 832g - so I suspect BD were actually being a bit conservative with their stated weight) and the package not much bigger than a liter water bottle, you are putting something much more like the size and weight of a tarp in your pack. Black Diamond tents each maintain waterproof, sturdy structures for usage in all type of environments. Bivouac Outdoor provides quality outdoor clothing, camping gear and outdoor equipment from the world’s best brands for camping, climbing, tramping, training, snow sports and travel. I don't see how it can be cheaper though. Please accept cookies to help us improve this website Is this OK? So condensation is definitely an issue, but other moisture in the tent (from wet gear) also adds to this issue. The combined weight of a bit over 1.2 kgs is heavier than quite a few double skin one-person tents (although I doubt many would have the space inside of the Distance Tent), but of course many people carrying such a tent will also have walking poles weighing similar or more than the Distance poles, as additional weight. Four stake-out points anchor the tent to create the ultimate fast pitch shelter—simple to set up and robust in windy conditions. If Cooking outside is therefore a bit miserable in rain. I put my shell, boots and headtorch back on and headed back out into the rain. Mountain marathoners will be used to that sort of thing, but for the rest of us, much better to consider it a rather spacious one-man tent. Fortunately with only four corners plus two guys being pegged down, changing the pitch direction of the tent is a short job. BOTTOM LINE: At only nine ounces, the Distance Carbon Z-Poles are Black Diamond’s lightest trekking poles. wbo2:. The structure is created using two Distance Carbon FLZ-AR Trekking Poles (Accessory Ready) trekking Z-Poles and a small DAC cross pole that inserts into the accessory ready grip and connects the trekking poles. Umbrella. That BD door design is a deal breaker for me multi day use the UK. I guess you could leave your boots outside turned upside down or have a carrier bag to put them in outside, but neither of those options give them any chance to dry. includes discounted products from Rockfax. Lightweight, spacious and breathable, the MSR Zoic Tent Series is perfect for backpackers looking to add comfort to their lightweight kit this summer. For cross ventilation, there are vents at both the peak and foot area. Run (110) Running Shoes. The poles have a little cover on the top of the handle which pops out to reveal a hole, into which the crossbar piece goes. The strong wind drove enough rain under the cowl of the vent and soon I could see the mosquito netting getting wet, and droplets of water starting to roll down the inside of the tent towards the hood of my sleeping bag. It's interesting that Black Diamond decided to use the word "tent" in this product's title. Walking on average 20 miles per day I felt that the walking poles really helped to make sure we completed our charity task. As a result, an You could fit two people in there - it's 104cm at its narrowest point, enough for two sleeping mats side by side but two people would likely be pushing against the sloping side walls where condensation collects (see below). Plastic clips on the tent body hook onto this, holding the tent up. But even then I didn't fancy seeing if a pool of water would accumulate through the night, or whether my sleeping bag would mop it up! 2 layers is nice, but the notch also looks flappier. This can be a one-off single annual With the Habitude, MSR extends it's renowned backpacking and alpinist tent line to cater for lovers of the outdoors seeking to share their... Toby Archer enjoys the living space on offer from this summer-oriented backpacking tent, but he's not sure it's the best choice for the UK's full-on wet weather. This gives you something to grip to pull them out and helps find the pegs in tufty grass or heather! Find the Top Black Diamond Tent Lights with the MSN Buying Guides >> Compare Products and Brands by ... Black Diamond Trail Pole Women's ... Trekking Poles Hiking Mountain Walking Sticks 8.7 ), so you can use the Distance Tent with whatever poles you already have. Can't see BD elbowing in on the likes of the Tarptent Notch, which is both cheaper, lighter, and better. Weighing just 725g, it's ideal for the weight conscious. Sort of yes. Utilizing more than two poles, the tent will stay in place on windier days. I've been using a Black's Force Ten Vitesse single skin tent occasionally for years -a bit heavier at about 1kg, "Mark IV" shaped, walking pole support (internal) but single 'traditional' door and porch setup. Isn't the Distance Tent a sweatbox that doesn't do very well at protecting you from wild weather if pitched in the wrong direction? Trekking and Hiking Pole. you appreciate the content we offer then you can help us by becoming an official UKC Supporter. The model I've reviewed comes with Black Diamond's Distance Carbon FLZ-AR Trekking Poles: very, very nice poles that I'll deal with separately later.