The Sierra Designs Alpenglow 6 Person Tent is a dome style easy to use dark rest shelter that blocks 98% of the daylight, and with a very high waterproof rating.
Key features & benefits
- Easy to use dome tent.
- Dark rest design.
- One door & one vestibule.
- High waterproof rating for full protection.
- Fiberglass poles.
- E-port to pass a cable.
Overview
This Sierra Designs Alpenglow 6 Person Tent is a very simple dome type structure supported with two main X-crossed poles shown in the picture below. This is how the tent looks without the fly:
The base is a square as you realize from the aerial view below. Note that there is only one door on the canopy. For a dome tent, it is quite tall with its 72 inches (183 cm) peak height.
The fly is a full-coverage type and it also creates a large vestibule supported with one extra pole. The vestibule door can be rolled to the side and fixed with toggles.
They describe it as fully freestanding but this applies only to the inner tent. When the fly is on, you have to stake it down to have the vestibule functional.
Dark rest design
As far as I remember this is the first tent of this brand with a dark rest design. They use what they call the Twilight Tech design so the tent block 98% of sunrays. This means that its interior is completely dark even during the day. So I would say it is on the same level as the best Coleman’s dark rest tents.
With this you can take a nap after lunch, and this is also convenient for families with babies that have to sleep even during the day. I have included it in my list of best dark rest tents.
Materials
The poles: There are three of them, two for the dome and one for the vestibule and this is fiberglass. This material is not particularly durable but it is rust and corrosion proof.
The picture below shows the long sleeves on the roof. This is good to spread the wind pressure on a larger area. At the base you have the usual grommets for attachment, and clips in between.
The fabric: The fly is a moderately durable 75D polyester taffeta with a 3000 mm waterproof rating DWR. The canopy is the same material combined with a breathable no-see-um mesh.
The floor is a catenary cut style polyethylene, they do not give information but such materials are highly waterproof. The tent’s package includes guy out loops, guylines, and stakes.
Other features include an E-cable port and a gear loft, both shown below, and you also have several storage pouches for storage. This all packs in a burrito-style bag which is typical for this brand.
Ventilation
You have already seen the mesh on the canopy so this looks great. They have added a vent on the rear side of the fly and this you need when you have to keep the vestibule closed.
Please see more in this video:
Lifetime warranty
On Sierra Design site they write the following: “Sierra Designs branded products (tents, backpacks, sleeping bags, and apparel) purchased only from authorized retailers are warranted to the original owner against manufacturing defects in materials and workmanship for the lifetime of the product. This does not mean your lifetime, but the reasonable lifetime of the product, considering its age and how you have cared for and used it.”
Who is it for
Regarding the area, the tent is officially for 6 people. The aerial view above shows that there is place for 6 sleeping pads on the floor. So the capacity is based on the backpacking principle but this is not a backpacking tent.
There is also a vestibule for gear, they did not provide the numbers for its area. But it is best to downgrade the number of users to 4 maximum. But note that its floored area is still much better than in the Kelty Discovery Element 6 Tent built in the same style.
Regarding seasons & climate, the tent is ventilated, with high waterproof rating, very aerodynamic and moderately tall. With so much mesh, it is best suited for the warmer part of the year.
It will protect you in almost any weather conditions, and it will perform well even in windy places. There are enough guyout points as the picture shows.
Regarding the weight, with its 18 lb 5 oz (8.3 kg) the tent moderately light. But this not for the trail, there are much lighter 6-person tents for such a use.
Regarding the price, I would say it is fair for such a nicely built dark-rest tent. You have seen its warranty as well.
Specifications
- Weight: 18 lb 5 oz (8.3 kg).
- Official capacity: 6 people.
- Dimensions: 120 x 120 in (305 x 305 cm).
- Inner area: 100 ft² (9.2 m²).
- Inner area per person: 16.7 ft² (1.53 m²).
- Vestibule area: around 18.3 ft² (1.7 m²).
- Peak height: 72 in (183 cm).
Final thoughts, rating, pros & cons
In summary, the best feature of this Sierra Designs Alpenglow 6 Person Tent is its dark rest design. So it is perfect for people who do not like waking up at the crack of down, and also for families with small kids.
The waterproof rating is high and you will never need more, and its shape is such that it will perform well in any weather. The official capacity looks a bit unrealistic but it can indeed accommodate 6 people.
Its vestibule provides a dry entry point and a protected external storage space. But you also have several storage elements inside. The price is appropriate for the value. This tent is in my list of best Sierra Designs tents for camping.
Below you can see how this tent stands against my standard rating criteria that I apply consistently to all the tents here in the site so that you can easily compare:
Sierra Designs Alpenglow 6 Person Tent
Pros
- Very easy to use.
- Dark rest design.
- High waterproof rating.
- Reasonable price.
Cons
- Fiberglass poles.
- Not really for 6 people.
BEST PLACEs TO BUY:
Note that this brand has yet another very similar tent on the market under the name Sierra Designs Tabernash 6 Person Tent.
Let me know if you have questions, there is a comment box below. Bookmark this site and come again, this will keep you informed, as you realize I add texts here on a regular basis. Thank you for reading.
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