View Full Version : LL Bean Microlight
cyclendo
07-05-2009, 16:00
http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?page=microlight-tent&categoryId=53421&storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&parentCategory=500105&cat4=1096&shop_method=pp&feat=1096-sub2&np=Y
Does anyone have any experience with this tent? It's not super light, but it's cheap as all heck. So far reviews all seem very positive. Any other suggestions for lightweight, free-standing tents?
Thanks.
I have one and it set up is easy roomy and here's a pic of it on the trail
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/8/8/0/0/p6290048.jpg (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showimage.php?i=34733&original=1&c=member&imageuser=18800)
superman
07-05-2009, 19:22
I bought one in the beginning of my AT hike. It was before they corrected the problems. One problem was the zipper, which was over my face, leaked like hell. After that year they added a flap to protect the zipper. That tent was when I concluded that I didn't like tents that I had to crawl in over the pillow area. I prefer side loading tents. I'm looking at that light Hubba tent for next year.
looks like sierra designs clip flashlight but more mesh!
mine didn't leak in a heavy downpour, but I spray all the seams with a sealent prior to having it in the field
http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?page=microlight-tent&categoryId=53421&storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&parentCategory=500105&cat4=1096&shop_method=pp&feat=1096-sub2&np=YDoes anyone have any experience with this tent? It's not super light, but it's cheap as all heck. So far reviews all seem very positive. Any other suggestions for lightweight, free-standing tents?Thanks.
Your LINK is not working...my guess is that LLBEAN is discontinuing the tent...& took down the page...
BUT....if you are looking for an inexpensive tent...in the 3lb range check out the TEXSPORT KNOLLWOOD BIVY 2-man tent (http://www.trailspace.com/gear/texsport/knollwood-bivy-shelter/)
I bought one for our weekend hiking & have since carried it on 3 A.T. section hikes...works very well...& less than half price of any other decent tent.
cyclendo
07-06-2009, 22:01
Sorry it's not working for you. Link still works fine for me... I don't believe they are discontinuing it - it's fairly new. Thanks for the other link though.
Toolshed
07-06-2009, 22:10
worked fine for me (the link that is)
superman
07-06-2009, 22:54
mine didn't leak in a heavy downpour, but I spray all the seams with a sealent prior to having it in the field
You have the new and improved virgin.:)
I had the earlier model with less mesh. Well made and relatively roomy. Too many stakes for tent platforms.
http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?page=microlight-tent&categoryId=53421&storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&parentCategory=500105&cat4=1096&shop_method=pp&feat=1096-sub2&np=Y
Does anyone have any experience with this tent? It's not super light, but it's cheap as all heck. So far reviews all seem very positive. Any other suggestions for lightweight, free-standing tents?
Thanks.
Similar tent, but freestanding, is the Alps Mountaineering Zephyr. I recommend that tent all the time here, I love it.
Price is about the same too: http://www.alpsmountaineering.com/ALPSMountaineeringZephyr1.htm
Here's mine set up on my SHT hike last year:
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/6/8/6/8/013_13a_thumb.jpg (http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=26666&c=member&imageuser=16868)
jbrecon2
08-23-2009, 23:22
i own one and used it for a month on the AT. the fly can get a little sticky if not completely dry when packed. i called asking LL bean if i could purchase just a fly for the tent becasue i really liked it and the damage was probally my fault. they asked me to send it in.....and they replaced it with the new version absolutely free of charge!!
boarstone
08-24-2009, 08:57
I have a ALPS mountaineering Mystique 1 AL tent. 3lbs from Overstock.com $89.
Has vesitbule over front door, no leaks, other than that, same design as the LLBean tent. Check it out and do a search to see who else has them.
XCskiNYC
08-24-2009, 12:17
Similar tent, but freestanding, is the Alps Mountaineering Zephyr. I recommend that tent all the time here, I love it.
I hike with a Zephyr also and am happy with it. For the weight it's pretty roomy, even enough for two friendly people. The rated max weight is actually the same as the Microlight (though my scale, of maybe not the greatest accuracy, shows it being a couple of ounces higher than Alps claims). The Zephyr is freestanding but of course you have to stake it to get max coverage from the fly and really you just need to stake it period. In a pinch though it would stand up fairly well with just the poles. Overstock has it for $102 shipped. The only thing is I have not used it many times so do not know how it holds up. Have you put a lot of use on yours?
There are a lot of similar one-man non-freestanding tents. I think the Sierra Clip Flashlight might have been one of the first. That means companies can copy it and pass the design budget savings on to you. One of the less expensive AND lightest is the Eureka Spitfire which you can find for around $100 (actually $95 on Amazon) and its rated weights are very nice, "minimum 2/12, package weight 3/2." A guy has a video of his Spitfire on youtube. There's a good youtube video of the Zephyr also showing the setup and interior in detail.