5 Things I Love about the Big Agnes Emerald Mountain SL3 Tent

When Backpacker Magazine chose the Big Agnes Emerald Mountain SL3 tent for its Editor's Choice Award, I had to check it out. I love to spend my weekends and any other time I can squeeze out of my busy life in places far, far away. In realizing this dream I have tried about every kind of tent and shelter thought up by any wilderness dwellers. Boy, the stories I could tell. Just suffice it to say they usually include wind, all forms of water and many species of God's creation!

It's been my tent of choice for several seasons now, and other then smallish doors - there's little about it I don't love. Here's my list of favorites:

1. The Length - My son and I are both over six feet tall, and we get so tired of sleeping diagonally across a tent and waking up with damp heads and feet from bumping into the tent walls. The Emerald Mountain SL3 solves this problem in two ways. First, it is ninety inches long - a full seven and a half feet - and second, the head and foot tent walls rise almost straight up. I can even sleep in my favored position with one arm over my head without bumping into anything.
2. The Width - The SL3 is over five feet wide. We spend a lot of evenings playing cards and we can spread out and do this with ease. There's even room for the dog.
3. Construction of the Fly - I love the way the shape of the fly moves falling water away from the tent. It is absolutely waterproof and within a few inches of the ground. It performs like a champ. Because it is so waterproof it does form condensation on the under side, but the fact that it sits several inches above the tent means that this has never been a problem. Any accumulated condensation easily shakes off when you break camp. The fly also forms a vestibule outside each of the side doors. This creates great space that nearly doubles the size of the tent.
4. Ease of Use - This Emerald Mountain tent is just plain easy to use. I can put it up or take it down in five minutes. The two vestibules allow us to stow stuff in one and use the other to pack, prepare food or do whatever. The mesh tent body allows us great ventilation and views while the fly keeps us dry.
5. Flexibility - I guess of all the things I like about this tent, its flexibility is about my favorite. It goes from freestanding to withstanding a real blow when staked to the max. Its mesh walls keep us cool and its fly keeps us dry. It's light enough to take with us when I camp with the little one who can't carry her own weight, and tough enough to withstand our most punishing forays.

I looked for a long time for a lightweight tent that performs well and meets all my needs. Now I'm only looking for new places to test it out.