Sierra Designs

High Side 1 £260

Very lightweight and compact, unique design, excellent awning feature, packability

Mesh inner can feel cold and draughty, outer not flush to ground, low hydrostatic head ratings

This tent from Californian brand Sierra Designs is probably a bit Marmite-y for the UK market. Some will love its ultralight weight, excellent packability, tarp-esque awning panel and mesh interior; others will hate the minimalism, airiness and inability to batten down the hatches when it starts raining cats and dogs.

Our take is that it’s great at what it’s designed for – fast and light adventures in fair weather. We wouldn’t take it up a mountain in a storm, but for a long-distance trail in summer it might just hit the spot.

The High Side 1 weighs 1110g (or 880g with a minimum trail setup) – the lightest on test – but still provides a good living space and a reasonable vestibule. Pitching is inner-first, with two pre-bent poles creating the structure. The bends in these poles are asymmetrical, creating a ‘high side’ over the door (hence the tent’s name) for improved headroom and liveability.

The mesh inner provides great ventilation, while using trekking poles to raise the awning is a nifty feature. Less positive are the huge cut-outs in the flysheet, which prevent pegging out flush to the ground, and the minimal clearance between fly and inner.

Internal dimensions (LxWxH) 224x86x81cm Packed size 34x13cm Weight 1110g

Verdict

A lightweight and airy tent that’s great for minimalist adventures – but it’s not the most weatherproof.