As stated on Black Diamond’s website, the Black Diamond Mega Light Tent is an “ultra-versatile, floorless [tent] for nearly anything you can dream up.” A true Swiss Army Knife of tents, it remains a staple in our packs to this day. Originally denoted the “Megamid,” this revolutionary tent has evolved ever since its first release in the 80’s.
Trapped in an unexpected storm? Use it as an emergency shelter. Planning a trailside dinner for your significant other? Pop up the Mega Light and your dinner is protected from the elements. Heading on an epic thru-hike with some buddies? You got it, Black Diamond has the perfect piece for your gear collection.
One Tent, Endless Opportunity…
We have used this tent in all four seasons across the United States and in a wide variety of terrain. Without a doubt, its versatility is what makes this product so special. Built to last, it can handle brutal winter snowstorms, block the beating sun, and protect from biting wind.
Especially when traveling above treeline, we love to bring this tent for quick changes in weather. One minute you’re tanning your toes in a cute new pair of Chacos, the next you’re layering up in a parka and three Smart Wool base layers. Yup, we’ve all been there. Having a quick and sturdy shelter can be a literal lifesaver.
Pros
- Four-season use: comfortably pack it along for hot and sweaty summer treks and bone-chilling winter excursions.
- Floorless: dig your own footprint in the snow underneath to create insulation and shape your bed.
- Quick and easy setup: simple enough to setup without packing the instructions…
- Lightweight & packable: if you’re an avid hiker, this is likely the bullet point you came looking for; its ability to pack down leaves space for other important valuables (like Annie’s mac and cheese).
- Floor space: for an ultralight tent, it has a surprising amount of space! Great for sprawling while sleeping solo or packing up to four adults inside.
- Shelter above treeline: When hiking above treeline, the Mega Light can be set up without needing trees for securement. We have found ourselves struggling with tarps and no trees in sight…. not a great situation. Simply tie the cords to rocks, boulders, or other terrain for instant protection. Of course, if there is snow or dirt for your stakes, you can also pitch the tent as usual.
Cons
- Floorless: if you’ve ever camped in Minnesota during July, you know the pain of swarming mosquitoes at 2am… a floorless tent allows bugs in (Black Diamond does have a bug tent at an additional cost – you can find it here. Although spendy, many Midwestern hikers may find this splurge worth every penny).
- Single-walled: thinner walls are more packable, but provide less waterproofing in prolonged rain storms. Although notable that the Mega Light can withstand rain, it is not our go-to when heavy rain storms are in the forecast.
- Seams are not sealed: you will need to seal the seams yourself for complete waterproofing. (You can use a seam sealant like this from Gear Aid.)
- No factory installed LineLocs, which allow you to easily adjust the tension of each tie-out. These can be added, which we did. These make adjusting the tent’s tie-outs much easier, once it it is setup.
Technical specs:
For our fellow gear nerds, we have included the specs from Black Diamond’s product details. Enjoy…
| Season : 4 Capacity : 4 Doors : 1 Average Packed Weight : 1.27 kg (2 lb 13 oz) Minimum Weight : 1.05 kg (2 lb 5 oz) Dimensions : 218 x 218 x 145 cm (86 x 86 x 57 in) Packed Size : 13 x 25 cm (5 x 10 in) Outside Height : 170 cm (66 in) Usable Height : 145 cm (57 in) Usable Floor Space : 4.7 m² (50.7 sq ft) Total Coverage : 7.2 m² (81 sq ft) |
What are similar tents?
A variety of brands now have similar tents to the Mega Light such as:
- MSR – Front Rangeâ„¢ 4 Person Ultralight Tarp Shelter – $279.95
- Sierra Designs – MOUNTAIN GUIDE TARP – $349.95
- HYPERLITE- ULTAMID 4 – ULTRALIGHT PYRAMID TENT– $890.00
Our final verdict:
The Black Diamond Mega Light Tent remains one of our favorite tents of all time. It has traveled across the country with us, providing a home base from sea level to 12,000+ feet.
Disclaimer: We purchased the Mega Light as our first winter tent; we personally find it very helpful to first invest in a classic 3-season tent (with a built-in floor) before a floorless tent like this one. In general, we pack our other tent when there are bugs or high chances of rain, and bring the Mega Light for all other conditions. That said, we love having both as options and use our Mega Light year-round and know many people who solely use floorless tents in all conditions!
We would highly recommend this tent to friends and families looking for an addition to their gear collections. Our fellow camping friends swear by the design and have fantastic stories of how useful their Mega Light has been in all sorts of terrain, weather conditions, and group sizes.
Leave a comment or send us a message if you have other questions & comments! We’re happy to help.
📸: Featured Photo by Jake Peterson (@icewaterplease) while camping in Western Wisconsin.