The cornerstone of any worthy backpacking experience is a dependable and trustworthy backcountry shelter. Lightweight and weather worthy, the 2-person 3-season Studio tent from Sierra Designs not only features an innovative design, but stands ready to lighten the load for your back country getaways.
On Performance and Design…
Whether you’re a seasoned back country explorer who revels in taking the road less traveled, or you’re new to the world of outdoor adventure, Sierra Designs offers innovative and technical shelters to fit your needs and budget. One of the brands latest designs, the Studio 2, is a beautiful demonstration of balance in design.
Designed to be Sierra Designs’ lightest freestanding two-person tent, the Studio weighs in at a meager 2lb 12oz. So whether you’re a minimalist backpacker or simply a weight-conscious camper, the Studio maximizes space and functionality without the excess weight for those trips where comfort is just as important as lightweight efficiency.
One of the hallmarks of Sierra Designs has always been smart and thoughtful design – and the Studio carries forth that tradition in style. The secret to the livable design and feathery weight of this model is the fin style construction (ridge down the top center-line of the tent). To add to the interior space most fin-style tents lack, the Studio features horizontal cathedral poles at head and foot to increase real estate for head and shoulders. Up front, a custom 160° aluminum hub creates a near-vertical door wall with a generous 40” peak height.
No matter how reliable a back country shelter is, if it’s complicated or difficult to put up, it falls short. Towards those ends, the Studio offers a simple two-pole setup. When it comes to this tent, the most difficult part of setting up, will be the trek into your destination. Should stormy weather come knocking once you do set up, the fly offers 1200mm of waterproof protection, and when the skies clear you can go sans-fly and rely on the No-See-Um mesh to enjoy the stars or fresh mountain air.
Notes from the Field…
We’ve been carrying the Studio 2 as part of our back country arsenal since well before it was released to the public. In that time we’ve taken it deep into the Desolation Wilderness, set up camp along the California Coastline, and even used it as a base camp for extended camping and hunting trips. Over that period of time, we’ve set up this tent in sun and rain, sleet and fierce wind. Not once did it let us down in terms of protection or comfort.
For such a lightweight package, the Studio 2 offers a surprising amount of room (28.1sq ft). If, like some of our team, you prefer a two-person tent as your one man castle, you’ll be living the dream life with this gem. For taller backpackers, we do continue to recommend the L.L. Bean Microlight UL tent which we reviewed last year. For all intents and purposes the Studio and Microlight are nearly identical in cost and weight, but the Microlight offers more shoulder room, more room at the foot of the tent and when sharing, we just tend to prefer the double door entry.
Bottom Line…
If you’re ready to forever eliminate the burden of a heavy tent from your pack, then the Sierra Designs Studio 2 is ready for you. The Studio is ready for the full range of 3-season conditions without weighing you down or cramping your space.
*Gumption Gear received this product sample from Sierra Designs at no cost and receives no monetary compensation for this or any related review. The items featured were provided solely in return for our honest views and opinions.