Sierra Designs Flash 3 UL – Gear Review

Camping is always a great time to spend with friends or family. A wonderful opportunity to take in the glories of Mother Earth, listen to the splendid sounds of nature, or slam a few beers if that’s what you’re into. But it can often turn into the most uncomfortable experience of our lives if we don’t bring the right gear to protect ourselves from the elements. The tent we choose is the most important piece of the puzzle that will make the difference between a comfortable, or disastrous venture into the outdoors. This time around, we’re putting the Flash 3 UL tent by Sierra Designs to the test. Designed for backpack campers, this ultra light weight, 3 person, 3 season tent is designed to buck wind, rain, and convention. With simplicity, functionality, and comfort in mind, Sierra Designs developed the Flash 3 UL to be everything you’ll ever need on the trail.

Materials:

• Number of Poles: 3 Poles Joined by 2 Swivel Hubs + 1 Ridge Pole
• Pole Type: DAC NSL
• Pole Diameter: 9.0 / 9.0 mm
• Pole Set Weight: 20 oz. / 0.57 kg
• Fly Fabric: 30D Nylon Ripstop 298T, Silicone/PU 1500 mm, FR
• Floor Fabric: 40D Nylon Ripstop 238T, PU 3000 mm, FR
• Body Fabric: 20D Nylon No-See-Um Ultralight Mesh

Assembly: 

The first time we attempted assembling the Flash 3 UL, we put it to a test that simulates what many weekend campers are bound to deal with. We set up camp in the low light of a Friday evening, having just arrived at the sight after bolting out of work at 5:00 and hauling butt to get there. The tent was up within 20 minutes with very minimal trial and error, so once you get to know this tent, assembly will be a breeze. The 3 primary poles are all attached to each other right out of the bag, which we found to be a surprising benefit in avoiding the confusion of trying to determine what goes where. The interior wall and rain fly are attached, so even in the event of rain the inner wall remains dry during assembly.

One apparent issue was in setting up the poles that make up the door vestibule frames. Until the central pole can be locked into place, both ends rely on gravity to stand, and keeping them upright can be a task. This tent can absolutely be assembled by a single person, but it is also much easier with a helping hand.

Comfort:

At 44 inches, the Flash 3 UL has one of the higher internal peaks out there, so setting up your living area can be done with less back strain and discomfort. If you need to make some extra space for yourself while you sleep, the two side vestibules come in handy with easy access from inside. The 41.2 square foot surface area is definitely enough to fit 3, especially with the space savings provided with the dual vestibule storage area. Should you decide to sleep 3, however, be prepared for that awkward moment when the middle sleeper needs to get up for a tinkle. They will need to crawl over or around someone to make their exit.

Every seasoned camper should know to be prepared for those rainy days out, and in terms of comfort the Flash 3 UL easily provides the space needed to cut through the potential boredom. If you don’t mind sitting Indian style (as with any tent of similar design), board games or cards can be played in a sitting of 4 pretty comfortably. For those particularly dreary days, setting up an internal light source is no problem. The high internal peak provides for more light dispersal and less chance of bumping heads on whatever lantern you’re using.

Design: 

Sierra Designs made the decision to move the vestibule for storage away from the entry area on the Flash 3 UL, which gives the tent dweller open access from the front and the back without having to crawl all over shoes and gear. The rain fly is equipped with 15 inch awnings over both entryways, so the absence of a vestibule area doesn’t mean that rain water is going to have easy access in that area. Both vestibule areas are accessible from the interior of the Flash 3 UL through a zipped door in the interior wall. the vestibule can also be accessed from the tent exterior, but that requires removal of the stakes, and that can sometimes weaken the structural integrity.

The separated entry point and vestibule construction is not without a few issues, especially since this tent has been designed and marketed specifically for rain use. firstly, the vestibule area is only protected by the exterior rain fly, which is held in place by the tension of tent stakes and raised a few inches off the ground. The accompanied footprint (sold separately for $59.95) only reaches to the perimeter of the tent’s interior, so gear is laying in the dirt, and exposed by those few inches of space between the rain fly and the earth. We soon discovered that in heavy rain, any gear stored in the side vestibule can potentially catch muddy splash up, or find itself in a muddy river if there is higher ground around the tent. We also noticed that without perfect tension in the tent stakes, the rain fly holds a bit of stagnant rainwater, but not enough to cause any leaking.

We would also like to make a note here that the first night we stayed in the Flash 3 UL, we brought the dog. He’s got a good brain on him which, of course, he uses purely for evil purposes. After witnessing the zipping and un-zipping of the vestibule a few times, he quickly learned he had an escape hatch, and sure enough I awoke to one of my fellow campers yelling that he was on the loose near their tent. He actually pawed open the zipper and crawled under the rain fly, enjoying free reign of our site for god knows how long. A word to the wise…if they can get out, they can get in, so make sure you hang any open food containers up outside.

Durability:

The framework of the Flash 3 UL is constructed with DAC NSL pole technology, making it lighter than standard aluminum, but still extremely sturdy. The swivel hubs that connect the poles and clips that hold the rain fly are sturdy and secure, so they’re going to last for quite a while. The outer body and floor is made up of Nylon Ripstop material, which is ultra-light compared to most other nylon constructions, but will still keep the rain out. The interior wall is composed mostly of a Nylon ultralight mesh, which again will contribute to a light and compact tent.
We did discover quickly that during his escape, the dog managed to put a few minor tears in the mesh, so while the Nylon floor will endure, the mesh is not 100% pet proof for you dog lovers out there.

When determining the durability of an item with so many loose parts, we always like to consider the probability of misplacing some of those components. A tent without stakes or poles is no longer all that useful, so the Flash 3 UL bag has been designed to hold everything together in a nice, tight little package. As long as you tear down and pack up properly every time, you’re not going to find yourself missing anything the next time you attempt assembly.

Value:

At $324.95, the Flash 3 UL is approaching the high end in regards of pricing, but for good reason. Especially for the backpackers out there, the compact design and lightweight materials make it ideal for carrying in and out of the site over long distances. This is also ­a durable 3 season tent that will last, so getting your money’s worth should be no problem with proper maintenance over time. Add to the equation the roomy interior and available storage, we consider what Sierra Designs created here well worth it.