Black Diamond Mega Light Tent

2020-08-16T20:00:00

Love this thing in the snow. Tried and true. Take care of it and it will take care of you. Lash two ski poles together with ski straps for a more ultralight setup.

gollygeebers

Originally posted at

2020-06-05T20:00:00

Have used this on numerous ski traverses and alpine camps and it’s awesome! Great as a group kitchen or sleeping shelter. Easy and quick to set up... though I did snap one of my carbon fibre hiking poles setting it up once.

mherb

Originally posted at

2020-05-02T20:00:00

When my partner first introduced me to this tent, I thought the ease of use and weight were great... until we spent the night in it. I couldn't understand how this thing had such huge gaps between walls and ground. The wind was blowing and the tent did nothing but flap like a sail and make noise all night. Several trips later involving this tent left me feeling more and more resentful of his insistence to use it. The last fateful trip in the high desert of Utah was once again a very windy night, and we spent more time trying to find rocks and objects to seal edges to the ground than sleeping. In it's favor I will say the Mega never did blow over, but it was a struggle. I was done with it and will not go on another high desert or mountain pack trip with it. He still loves it for river trips, or back country ski trips where he spends the night, but I say if it's going - I'm not. I'd rather carry a little more weight for some extra wind and insect repellent. I can see where this tent serves a great purpose for ultra-lightweight adventures, but I can't help but think "that is one expensive rain fly" when I look at it. Don't bother in higher-wind situations, it would have been cozier to roll up in a tarp.

Kindle m.

Originally posted at

2020-03-07T19:00:00

I first used my MegaMid in 1993 on a month long backpacking trip through Arizona. We trekked and camped in 10days of straight rain in the Weaver's Needle Wilderness area then went to the N Rim of the Grand Canyon for the next 12 days. This shelter proved bombproof. We set it up with rocks on bedrock and used stakes in the dirt. Basically you can get as creative as needed with this thing setting it up anywhere. My original tent featured pretty heavy duty fabric and thus had a much bigger stuff sack. Since then, they've changed the fabric to a lighter material utilizing a carbon pole in place of my original aluminum pole. Much smaller stuff sack and half the weight. This shelter has accompanied me all over the globe on many multi-day self support kayak expeditions where size and weight are critical carrying everything with you in your kayak. At basecamp 3 kayakers chilling in here gives plenty of room. 4 and we're a little cramped but still manage just fine. I've also used it back country touring as a shelter/kitchen/chill spot. Perfect!!!! I'll be taking this to the Himalayas this year for another expedition and the crew is counting on it. Chur

Farkle

Originally posted at

2020-02-07T19:00:00

I will take it out on a winter Camp on Feb 15 to 17th. And again, Feb 22 - 23. Seems perfect for fast and light style of trekking. I will take ground sheet. I made a 7 inch octagonal "snowshoe" for the pole. (1 inch thick, 3/4 inch deep hole for pole in center We'll be below treeline. I wouldn't want to depend upon it in high winds above tree line. I also just ordered the Mega Light Bug Tent. This could become my "go to" tent for all seasons.

Jacque N.

Originally posted at

2020-01-14T19:00:00

Our adventure based program runs extended backcountry trips across the globe and has 15,000 graduates a year. We utilize a variety of shelters for a variety of courses types and seasons. The Mega Light is the most utilized and most appreciated. Instructors and students both love them. We regularly put 2-4 people in these on multi-week expeditions. I use them on personal paddling and climbing trips as well. I always take my mega light on self-support kayak trips down the Grand Canyon, Middle Fork Salmon, etc in winter and rough spring conditions. No stakes (rocks instead). No pole (use paddle instead). NOTE: I use the compression sack for the megamid to place over my paddle before using it as a pole- this way I'm less likely to cause micro punctures with sharp fiberglass blade of paddle. If I get a good camp spot I just string up a ridge line between the two trees and clip the center loop of the mega light to that. Then there is no center pole needed at all. The rest of the ridge line doubles as clothesline. I'm on my third mega light in 20 years using it frequently each year in all seasons. If you take care of these high tech pieces of gear, they will take care of you. Be gentle with your zippers (don't drop them in the sand/mud, snap the bottom fastex before zipping to take stress of zipper, etc. Don't dry your megamid for excessive hours in the blazing sun. Be smart with your gear.) Setting these up is easy but you can also do it quite poorly if you aren't intentional with rock/stake placement. I will always own several tents. If I had to keep only one of them...it wouldn't be a contest. The Mega-light. Packs up just as small as most bivy sacks yet I've got room for all my gear, my kitchen, and my sleeping set-up in side during a storm. Great ventilation. I don't like bivy sacks due to the condensation that can build between bag and bivy sack. Mega light is much more sensible. Thank you Black Diamond for keeping this gem in service for so many years. I will keep coming back for this one.

Zoro

Originally posted at

2020-01-14T19:00:00

Our adventure based program runs extended backcountry trips across the globe and has 15,000 graduates a year. We utilize a variety of shelters for a variety of courses types and seasons. The Mega Light is the most utilized and most appreciated. Instructors and students both love them. We regularly put 2-4 people in these on multi-week expeditions. I use them on personal paddling and climbing trips as well. I always take my mega light on self-support kayak trips down the Grand Canyon, Middle Fork Salmon, etc in winter and rough spring conditions. No stakes (rocks instead). No pole (use paddle instead). NOTE: I use the compression sack for the megamid to place over my paddle before using it as a pole- this way I'm less likely to cause micro punctures with sharp fiberglass blade of paddle. If I get a good camp spot I just string up a ridge line between the two trees and clip the center loop of the mega light to that. Then there is no center pole needed at all. The rest of the ridge line doubles as clothesline. I'm on my third mega light in 20 years using it frequently each year in all seasons. If you take care of these high tech pieces of gear, they will take care of you. Be gentle with your zippers (don't drop them in the sand/mud, snap the bottom fastex before zipping to take stress of zipper, etc. Don't dry your megamid for excessive hours in the blazing sun. Be smart with your gear.) Setting these up is easy but you can also do it quite poorly if you aren't intentional with rock/stake placement. I will always own several tents. If I had to keep only one of them...it wouldn't be a contest. The Mega-light. Packs up just as small as most bivy sacks yet I've got room for all my gear, my kitchen, and my sleeping set-up in side during a storm. Great ventilation. I don't like bivy sacks due to the condensation that can build between bag and bivy sack. Mega light is much more sensible. Thank you Black Diamond for keeping this gem in service for so many years. I will keep coming back for this one.

Nostis

Originally posted at

2019-12-27T19:00:00

All I really want to say is if the manufacturer could advertise the correct size they might sell alot more tents it's much bigger that 86" x 86" probably 8'6" is correct read the backpacking light reveiw. Next time I set it up at home I'll measure it for Black Diamond

Mark

Originally posted at

2019-12-05T19:00:00

This is an excellent tent for the weight conscious. It is spacious and is fairly comfortable for 4 adults. It can handle 5 plus a dog in a pinch but that might not work well in heavy rain! The tent packs down small and while I prefer the included center pole, it can be rigged with treking poles fairly well. It is nice to be able to sit up in the center of it which is tough in some other light weight options out there. Interestingly, while we bring bug head nets just in case, even on nights with noticable mosquitos we rarely see them in the tent. Finally, it is easy to cook in due to the high center- something I prefer not to do but sometimes weather makes you bend a few safety guidelines! The only cons are that, after a few summers of heavy use there are a few tears starting to manifest around the apex point where the pole attaches to the tent top. Also, be aware there is a little learning curve with dialing in setup. Overall, this is a great light tent option and well worth considering.

Jmm40

Originally posted at

2019-09-04T20:00:00

I bought this a while back (after my original nylon fly failed and had a chance to spend a week living in it. It is a much smaller (stuffed), harder to handle silicone fabric but that isn't a negative, just different. It has an improved vent system and simplified tension system to connect the mosquito net interior tent that I always use, much easier to set up. We had some heavy rain and the fly did it's job. Love the carbon fiber pole with optional gizmo to use trekking poles if you have them. I will reserve judgement on the sustainability of the silicone coating, I had a Huba Huba silicone fly fail this year as well but other things seem to last if given the care they require.

Boggie

Originally posted at

2019-08-17T20:00:00

This is a solid pyramid tent. It's a do-all sort of shelter. It has a burly but lightweight center pole, lightweight fabric, and it's easy to set up with more than one person. It works for 3 people in rainy weather with enough room for each sleeper to have some space, and a fine 4 person fair weather tent. I bought it for a 3 person bike tour and it worked great! I look forward to using it on some ski trips this winter. The criticisms I have is that it doesn't come factory seam sealed (seam sealing is a pain and is pretty much expected from a large company these days), and there is no adjustment mechanism on the line for the stakes. Being able to close the gap from ground to tarp with a line tensioner would make a difference in windy/rainy weather.

NF12

Originally posted at

2019-06-18T20:00:00

Purchased mine in 2006? and has been my go to choice ever since. Multiple trips to the Sierras, New England, Alaska, even snuck it over to Afghanistan and set it up in the Panjshir valley. Summer and winter, driving rain and snow. High winds are interesting, but have never come even close to collapsing. The zipper failed after 7 years so I put in a YKK #10 and I sewed a 12" strip of no-see-um netting along the bottom edge to keep out bugs, yet still look for bears. Pound for pound this is the best tent out there.

obi96

Originally posted at

2019-01-31T19:00:00

We took this tent on the Tour Du Mont Blanc, at high camps and in some dreadful conditions. For many years I had used a couple of Firstlights, but in order to save weight we took this to the Alps. We were not disappointed, yes it is flappy in high-winds but stays up. A trick to keeping stable in high winds is to lash together some trekking poles and run them under the ridge lines of the tent on the windward side. Lash them together with a ski strap, job done. Seam sealing is a bit of a chore but no leaks after three years. Yup Fits two adults and two kids who are teenagers.

Grumpyhighlander

Originally posted at

2018-07-23T20:00:00

I've been a tarp and mid user for a long time and had the older mega mid for several years before getting the mega light. The mega light is one of my favorite shelter options and comes with me on most trips for both work and play. I use it as a small group shelter or cook tent on canoe trips or winter outings and even carry it as a palatial solo shelter on backpacking trips. It's easy and quick to pitch with the included pole or trekking poles or hung from a tree/ridge line. The main drawback of this type of shelter is that condensation can be difficult to manage. Careful pitching can help but with the hatches battened and the tent pitched low condensation is going to be an issue. When used as a solo/2person shelter it is big enough to leave the door open even in wet weather to increase ventilation and views. I typically only close the door when I really need to. This shelter is very simple and it is intended to be that way, but there are a couple small things I think would improve the functionality. Guy out loops on the center of the side panels would be nice for increasing sit up room for groups, but I don't really think they are needed to improve the strength of the shelter. A buckle located along the zipper about 1/2-2/3 of the way up from the ground would also be nice to allow for partial opening of the door in poor weather without risking a zipper failure. One thing i would love to see BD add to their mid collection is a half pyramid bug shelter for the mega light. It would allow for bug protection for 2 people while still keeping open floor space for muddy gear, cooking, and for leaving door open without worrying about the inner tent floor getting rained on. I don't own the full bug insert but I'd buy a half one tomorrow if they'd make it. Over-all this is a really great shelter.

chad

Originally posted at

2018-06-11T20:00:00

This tent is super easy to pitch and packs down small, easy, and light! The contraption to hold trekking poles together as the center pole is simple to use and works well if you don't want to carry the already super light center pole that it comes with. I also love how you can essentially open up one entire wall to get a great landscape view out of the tent - just choose the most picturesque direction! A few drawbacks or things to be aware of. Factory taped seams would be a huge improvement. I don't mind DIY stuff at all but the factory taping would last longer and make it ready to use right out of the box. Additionally, this tent is LOUD when it's windy. It whips around quite a bit and there's no additional loops for guy lines. Some loops robustly stitched into strategic places for guy lines in windy/wet weather would be a big plus. Then there's the classic issues with any non-self-supporting tent that if you're trying to pitch on rock/hard ground that isn't receptive to stakes, you're gonna have a bad time. I'd also recommend upgrading the stakes to something a bit higher quality - but that's just something I do with all my tents anyways. It's really the non-factory taped seams and how loud this tent is that keep me from giving it 5 stars. Of course you need to know this is essentially just a rain fly so either bring a ground tarp along or be comfortable with your pad/gear just resting on the ground. Overall though, this is an excellent options for going lighter on group backpacks when you're worried about a bit of weather or as a UL shelter for a group. I'll likely carry this as an emergency shelter for a small team while working SAR operations later this year.

brendan

Originally posted at

2018-05-09T20:00:00

We switched over to these for all of our backpacking programs and love them. I highly recommend them. The weight to size ratio is perfect.

Chachi a.

Originally posted at

2018-04-14T20:00:00

I have been using one for years thru various outdoor programs, they are easy to set up and versatile, and pretty much bomb proof, I have weathered some nasty storms in one of these. Make sure to grab some seam seal and your set!

Cpnt_waller

Originally posted at

2018-03-26T20:00:00

The tent is very good but is a bit hard to set up especially when in the wind.

Calvin

Originally posted at

2018-03-25T20:00:00

I had my first mega light for 7 years and it endured heavy use and a few repairs and re-sealing treatments. I just picked up a new Mid and am happy to spend another 7 years with this shelter.

kmchugh

Originally posted at

2018-02-13T19:00:00

I love the mega mid! We used it on ski traverse and winter camping as a cooking shelter! I love the simple design.

FX G.

Originally posted at

2017-11-08T19:00:00

Super lightweight basic shelter for winter camping. Makes a great kitchen for basecamps and can be used without the carbon pole by strapping two skis together. Highly recommend.

Robert

Originally posted at

2017-09-28T20:00:00

I had been needing a solid tarp that I wont have to worry if snow, rain, or wind blow under and swoops it away. The Mega Light is exactly that shelter. It is sturdy, incredibly easy to set up, and relatively inexpensive. Its pros are obvious: strong, easy to set up, lightweight, and plenty durable for the applications it is intended for. For some cons: It is not seam sealed (though I haven't had a problem in the rain because it is such a steap pitch), the tent steaks are terrible, upgrade those immediately, and the chord adjusters used to tighten the tent are----inadequate? It's the only shelter/tent I have seen that has that system and it has a poor application compared to how many vestibules tighten up. Since this tent has to be steaked out, pitched, and then re-steaked out for a fine tune adjustment, it would be helpful if the chords used to steak down were adjustable. Other than those minimal quips, its a great shelter. These comments are found on several other reviewers as well, so it is a bit shocking BD hasn't done anything about them yet. Overall - bombproof shelter.

JBSPACE

Originally posted at

2017-09-19T20:00:00

If you have never used a "Mid" style shelter you don't know what you are missing. light, stable and dry - perfect for 99% of situations. so versatile in its set up for all weather conditions and surfaces. Forget the bivys, class it up and sleep better with a mega light!

POND

Originally posted at

2017-07-28T20:00:00

I've used these on Rainier, Denali, camping in the San Rafael Swell, and for hunting in Colorado and I've never been disappointed.

suma

Originally posted at

2017-03-21T20:00:00

I first used this tent on a short backpacking trip and loved the simplicity. When it came time to buy a new tent several years ago, I chose this one and got the mega bug as well. I mostly use this tent for backpacking and it has always been great. It is light enough to bring on a solo trip but still has plenty of space for multi-person trips. I recommend this tent to everyone.

Mike

Originally posted at

2017-03-13T20:00:00

This is a great lightweight tent for backpacking with a group. If you're traveling in rainy and windy environments, getting the Mega Bug is pretty essential to stay dry (there is a small gap between the ground at the Mega Light when you set it up that the base of the Mega Bug covers with its mini side walls). Every time I've traveled with just the Mega Light and a group of three or four, I have gotten wet when it rained if I'm sleeping on the outside. I would also say that it's better for a group of three than four if you're going on a longer expedition (20+ days) and don't have a separate gear tarp. I have been out in windy alpine conditions with it and although it sounds like it's going to fly away like a parachute, it never has. Make sure you put some heavy rocks on the stakes just to be safe, though! The bummer is that the zipper is likely the first thing to break on this tent. You can usually help mediate this problem by religiously clipping the bottom buckle. However, it would also be awesome if Black Diamond made it with a bit of a burlier buckle. It likely wouldn't add much weight and would increase the overall durability of the tent!

Annie

Originally posted at

2016-11-17T19:00:00

This tent kicks some serious utility for the size weight that it costs you to carry it. Huge floor space that you can wear your shoes into and out of, plus you can cook inside, (although the manufacturer likely doesn't recommend it, this is the safest tent to do that inside of)

Ryan

Originally posted at

2016-07-24T15:46:11

I bought this mega light tent 2yrs ago. Me and my friend use this tent for hiking in Anchorage area. It is light weight , compact and strong for wind. This tent works for good shelter in cold windy days. this is our another essential item for hiking. So I decide to buy another one for my own traveling.

JONG S.

2016-05-31T20:00:00

Light, durable, roomy, very packable, versatile. I'm on my 3rd one over 15 years and I use it in all kinds of weather, 50 - 100 nights/yr. Watch out for heavy wet, snow. (I've snapped the enclosed pole at the joint). Love it for ventilation here in the SE US. Right, no floor or screen so you have to be OK with a few crawlies. Mosquitos and gnats tend to congregate at the top peak. Not an issue inside sitting comfortably on my Crazy Creek watching storms with one side completely pulled back. Maybe I'm careful but I've never had a rip or tear. Use BD trekking poles which double as the center pole away from car. Adapter included. Whew! Highly recommended!

Robert

Originally posted at

2016-05-20T20:00:00

A classic BD staple of everything from ultralight backpacking to ski mountaineering, the Megalight is super versatile. Truly, the only downfall is high winds (can be mitigated with some well-built snow walls) and bugs.

Joshua

Originally posted at