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JDL's Review of Sierra Designs Nightwatch 2 Tent - 2 Person, 3 Season
Here’s my initial review of the Nightwatch 2 recently purchased from Campsaver. As I haven't had a chance to test it out in the woods, this review will be confined to first impressions, assessment and info not included in the description. I’ll submit a performance review after field testing.
I was looking for an affordable tent for summer canoe/backpacking camping and had researched and A/B’d a range of comparable options, finally narrowing my choice down to the Nightwatch and Kelty TN2. Despite concluding the Kelty’s pole-structure would probably be more robust than the NW2 in high winds, I went with the Sierra Designs because I've been impressed with the design, construction and performance of other SD products I’ve bought (a Zissou sleeping bag and a pre-2015 Convert 2).
The tent arrived compactly packed in a bag with external side loops securing a detachable bag containing the three 9mm DAC pressfit poles and 10 hefty pegs.
Construction Details
- Body and fly are an attractive deep green/greyish-beige and made of a substantial 70/75 D material respectively. The material feels strong and durable but the fabric isn’t rip stop which surprised me a little.
- The 20 D No-See’em mesh upper body is acceptably sturdy and provides excellent visibility and airflow. The zippered D doors on each side operate smoothly and seem durable. The interior is lofty and spacious for someone of my build (5'7”, 160lbs).
- A short clothesline (from which the Nightglow hangs) runs along the apex of the tent's ceiling. Two mesh pockets just above the floor on each side of the tent provide enough room for glasses, phones and other small items. The included Nightglow caddy is a brilliant idea for illuminating a tent. Though designed for LED headlamps it’s adjustable ‘mouth’ worked just fine with my bulkier Freeplay Sherpa flashlight.
- Contrary to the info on the Campsaver website, the Nightwatch is extensively factory-sealed, all the seams on fly, body and floor being thoroughly taped.
- Points at where the tent attaches to the short curved pole at the rear are re-enforced as are the tie-outs for the guylines at the front and rear of the tent. Each tie out features a reflective stripe that really lights up when hit by a flashlight as do the four guy lines with line-locs for staking out in winds.
- Although not mentioned in the description (but visible in a photo of the tent’s interior), the vertical wall at the tent’s low end is a panel of no-see-um mesh. While there’s no option to zip the panel shut, the acute angle at which it rises and the overhang of the rear ‘awning’ looks like it will protect it from rain.
- At first, it seemed SD forgot to put a toggle to secure the fabric panel behind the mesh on the tent's main door but when opened the panel can be rolled and secured in a fold running along its base
- The Nightwatch set up in less than three minutes. Definitely one of the easiest tents I've ever had to pitch and looks pretty cool when standing. The retractable fly can be deployed quickly although takes a little longer for one person to roll it up out of the way (although I suppose ‘shower curtaining’ it would save a bit of time). The side storage bays are an excellent and flexible feature.
- I should mention that while this tent is theoretically freestanding, the fly must be guyed out and pegged in on either side when fully or partially deployed. In full ‘Nightwatch’ mode with the fly rolled up however the can be pitched without pegs.
- When fully deployed and secured to the rear clips the fly is nicely tight with space between it and the mesh body. Can't see any issues with condensation with this design.
- While a little wary of the NW’s three-pole design the tent felt sturdy when pitched, nicely taut with no sag even without being guyed out. Having seen wind test videos of the featherlight version withstand 30 mph winds (from the front) and read reviews where the SD Lightning (basically the same tent) did well at 40mph, I'm cautiously optimistic the NW will handle okay with its low end pitched into the wind. I'll find out later this summer and post a ‘field review’ afterwards.
In summary, the Nightwatch seems well constructed and rugged enough for the 3-season camping I'll be using it for. I'm looking forward to seeing how the design fares in action but think it'll work out fine. Kudos to Campsaver for great price (with the 20% discount offered when purchased I paid under $200 US; I had to order a spork just to qualify for free shipping to Canada :-)).
Pros:
• Spacious, flexible and airy design
• Freestanding with fly rolled up
• Packs relatively small and light; fast set-up and tear down
• Multiple entry points/storage bays
• Well-constructed; superfluously taped and made of heavier gauge materials than comparable tents
• comes with Nightglow and line-locs
• Fantastic price and fast, free shipping,
Cons:
• Fly and body aren't rip-stop
I was looking for an affordable tent for summer canoe/backpacking camping and had researched and A/B’d a range of comparable options, finally narrowing my choice down to the Nightwatch and Kelty TN2. Despite concluding the Kelty’s pole-structure would probably be more robust than the NW2 in high winds, I went with the Sierra Designs because I've been impressed with the design, construction and performance of other SD products I’ve bought (a Zissou sleeping bag and a pre-2015 Convert 2).
The tent arrived compactly packed in a bag with external side loops securing a detachable bag containing the three 9mm DAC pressfit poles and 10 hefty pegs.
Construction Details
- Body and fly are an attractive deep green/greyish-beige and made of a substantial 70/75 D material respectively. The material feels strong and durable but the fabric isn’t rip stop which surprised me a little.
- The 20 D No-See’em mesh upper body is acceptably sturdy and provides excellent visibility and airflow. The zippered D doors on each side operate smoothly and seem durable. The interior is lofty and spacious for someone of my build (5'7”, 160lbs).
- A short clothesline (from which the Nightglow hangs) runs along the apex of the tent's ceiling. Two mesh pockets just above the floor on each side of the tent provide enough room for glasses, phones and other small items. The included Nightglow caddy is a brilliant idea for illuminating a tent. Though designed for LED headlamps it’s adjustable ‘mouth’ worked just fine with my bulkier Freeplay Sherpa flashlight.
- Contrary to the info on the Campsaver website, the Nightwatch is extensively factory-sealed, all the seams on fly, body and floor being thoroughly taped.
- Points at where the tent attaches to the short curved pole at the rear are re-enforced as are the tie-outs for the guylines at the front and rear of the tent. Each tie out features a reflective stripe that really lights up when hit by a flashlight as do the four guy lines with line-locs for staking out in winds.
- Although not mentioned in the description (but visible in a photo of the tent’s interior), the vertical wall at the tent’s low end is a panel of no-see-um mesh. While there’s no option to zip the panel shut, the acute angle at which it rises and the overhang of the rear ‘awning’ looks like it will protect it from rain.
- At first, it seemed SD forgot to put a toggle to secure the fabric panel behind the mesh on the tent's main door but when opened the panel can be rolled and secured in a fold running along its base
- The Nightwatch set up in less than three minutes. Definitely one of the easiest tents I've ever had to pitch and looks pretty cool when standing. The retractable fly can be deployed quickly although takes a little longer for one person to roll it up out of the way (although I suppose ‘shower curtaining’ it would save a bit of time). The side storage bays are an excellent and flexible feature.
- I should mention that while this tent is theoretically freestanding, the fly must be guyed out and pegged in on either side when fully or partially deployed. In full ‘Nightwatch’ mode with the fly rolled up however the can be pitched without pegs.
- When fully deployed and secured to the rear clips the fly is nicely tight with space between it and the mesh body. Can't see any issues with condensation with this design.
- While a little wary of the NW’s three-pole design the tent felt sturdy when pitched, nicely taut with no sag even without being guyed out. Having seen wind test videos of the featherlight version withstand 30 mph winds (from the front) and read reviews where the SD Lightning (basically the same tent) did well at 40mph, I'm cautiously optimistic the NW will handle okay with its low end pitched into the wind. I'll find out later this summer and post a ‘field review’ afterwards.
In summary, the Nightwatch seems well constructed and rugged enough for the 3-season camping I'll be using it for. I'm looking forward to seeing how the design fares in action but think it'll work out fine. Kudos to Campsaver for great price (with the 20% discount offered when purchased I paid under $200 US; I had to order a spork just to qualify for free shipping to Canada :-)).
Pros:
• Spacious, flexible and airy design
• Freestanding with fly rolled up
• Packs relatively small and light; fast set-up and tear down
• Multiple entry points/storage bays
• Well-constructed; superfluously taped and made of heavier gauge materials than comparable tents
• comes with Nightglow and line-locs
• Fantastic price and fast, free shipping,
Cons:
• Fly and body aren't rip-stop
This review was written in the old system and had content requirements that are different than reviews written today.
Would Recommend:
Yes
3 of 3
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