Sell me on a perfect Shelter for 2 people.

Pretty much what you mentioned were my concerns with the SS2 as well. However, we set up the copper spur last night and we figured out that the main thing that was driving us crazy was the tapered floor plan. As for the loose netting, we are planning on doing a little DIY with that if we like everything else with the tent. Our plan is to order the SS2 and just see if we like it. If it doesn't really do it for us, we will probably just go up to the copper spur ul3. Then maybe the taper won't bother us so much.

Yes, that is the exact reason we migrated to a UL3 from the UL2. However, we did learn, when we went ultralight with the Zpack Tarptents (Duplexes), that the loss of the taper really didn't solve our problem. That is why we are moving up to the Triplex…..lots of floor area.

Looks like you have a good handle on this…didn't mean to second guess. I know someone with a lightly-used UL3 that can be had for a bargain :)

No worries! We need all the advice from experienced users as we can. It would be incredible if we could see all of our options from cartage industries in person. But we know that won't happen. Since we hike together all the time, never separate, it's hard to find a balance of things we both like.

The only other advise I could give you is that tarptents will not expose their real disadvantages until you get them out into the real camping conditions and use them (not just setting them up in your yard).

I think this is where you will discover the huge difference between any tarptent and one of those Copper Spurs. Setup, moving the tent- post setup adjustments (rotate 38 degrees), partial deploy of fly on nice evenings and a five second snap down when you get that late night shower. For you in Southeast, moisture with resultant condensation is major one.

If you hike during shoulder conditions, when the rain, wind, and snow rears up, a super-engineered 3-season like the Copper is a confidence builder. Three weeks ago we went snowshoeing in Colorado, camping on 4 foot snow base and the weather kicked up. The Duplex (tarptent) held up well, lots of work on proper stake-out in deep snow and battening down the hatches. We quietly missed the Copper Spur.

Again, we will never go back to the Coppers. The ONE massive advantage of tarptent, the ONLY driver is we can have all the space (a Triplex) for about 1/3rd of the weight. Without the weight advantage for a tarptent, the Copper wins not just marginally, but massively.

p.s. the Copper UL3 is not tapered like the UL2, it is rectangular and 70" wide. It is REALLY a castle.

p.s. 2: despite the published specs on floor size "seem" similar between Copper Spur UL2 and the SS2, the reviews for the SS2 are outstanding and all claim terrific spaciousness. I could be wrong on my assessment of that tent on size, and, wrong on lumping it into a generalized tarptent category. It may well be a superior tent!

Please follow up with us on your experience!

"If you hike during shoulder conditions, when the rain, wind, and snow rears up, a super-engineered 3-season like the Copper is a confidence builder."

Huh? Good luck pitching that thing in wind and RAIN. Think about that for a minute and tell me how you pitch it without the inner becoming a soggy mess. Conversely, a shelter like the SS2 pitches with the outer waterproof fly first, which protects the inner from rain during setup. I would also argue that the pole set for the CS series is more prone to failure during high winds compared to a stout vertical strut (e.g. trekking pole) used by the SS2.

Don't get me wrong, I think the CS series are great, but the two points above are what have kept me from purchasing one.

Certainly, all traditional double walled tents are a bit challenged setting up in rain. Usually, we build under trees somewhere, then carry fully built tent to area to stake out, and are prepared with cloth in-hand to do a wipe down once built. Also, have built upside down, but that is challenging. Definitely, advantage goes to tarptent here.

Concerning structural integrity, completely agree. However, the CS failure mode is fixed to strength of the arched poles. The tarptent structural is also highly depend on the quality of the pitch and stake out. Lots of room for user error, especially with lightweight stakes in tow, and belief that weather will remain perfect when you first set up. Not happy to wake up in middle of night warm and toasty, and brave elements to do a re-stake with wife chuckling inside.

I guess my "confidence" statement really goes to isolation from "elements," especially if you need to close vestibules, and yet seek some circulation for internal condensation. The Duplex tarptents pitch up with a 6-8" screened gap between bathtub ground and fly for this circulation….giving some exposure to wind and elements. You can pitch the fly close to the ground, but tradeoff with ventilation and lots of condensation.

With the CS, you really never deal with condensation, as you are so isolated from it, and, with vestibules closed, you just feel pretty isolated from wind and wind-whipped moisture/snow too.

This condensation issue is really the biggest thing for me. I really have no idea how isolated the SS2 is between inner mesh and outer fly. Often, we have to set up on a slight slope. Always try to set tent up such that head is at highest point, feet at lowest. Inevitably, you slide down, and your feet press against the wall of tent. If there is no structural separation, the end of your down bag will be wet by morning from condensation on the outer wall.

How does the SS2 fare in this situation?

Josh,

Take a look at my set up video on the SS2.
It’s very easy that way, less than 2 minutes to do :

Tarptent SS2 set up

BTW, the SS2 and the Duplex are not all that similar in reality:

My video clips are on You Tube under my name.
So just type Franco Darioli in the search box.

Inevitably, you slide down, and your feet press against the wall of tent. If there is no structural separation, the end of your down bag will be wet by morning from condensation on the outer wall.

The solution to this, often mentioned on BPL, is to put your rain shell over the foot of the sleeping bag/quilt.

That's why if it's warm enough to rain I'll be using my EE Prodigy 40°F, 17.7oz. With its synthetic insulation I hardly notice moisture unless it is extremely damp.

Franco: Wow. Great video. Learned more from that video than the mfgr's web site. Yes, this is very different from the Duplex and tarptents in general. It looks like great separation between inner mesh and outer fly for condensation. Also looks like very little room of user-error on the pitch and stake game too!

So one-on-one, against something like the Copper Spur UL2 at similar weight, this thing looks like a spacious contender for sure.

For us gram weenies, 2.75 lbs is a show stopper with tarptents out there at under half the weight. Where is the Cuben Fiber version?

Again…..I apologize for making assumptions on this SS2!!!!!

The OP seemed to make a great decision with the TT SS2 – I've almost bought one a couple times. Here is a good option that prioritizes large space, price, and weight and price, in that order. It's about 12 oz more than the SS2 when the inner net is included, but it's positively cavernous and can be pitched in different configurations and heights, or hung from a tree with no center pole.

Ignore the fact that MH markets it as a '4 person' shelter; it's huge for two people + gear + a dog (we've done this with it). It would be fairly comfortable for 3 people as long as one person is under 5'10" or so. You get the 4 season capability of a 'mid with the headroom of a free standing tent. The hoop ring seems gimmicky and does weigh 6 oz, but it makes a difference big time. I've pitched it without the hoop and it's still very doable for two people.

It's steeply discounted at a lot of places so you can get the whole kit new for half MSRP I think.

David, I think you believe the Tarptent SS2 is single walled. It is not. it is a full double walled shelter like the Copper Spur with one big difference. You can set it up both fly and inner tent at the same time. You do not have to deal with condensation soaking your sleeping bag either.

Yes, I see that it is "marketed" as a double wall. However, draping a loose mesh screen under a tarp alone "doth not maketh" a double wall. Physical separation would seem to be mandatory between walls to be truly fit a "comparable" double wall definition.

The few pictures I saw were not clear, and almost looked loosely draped inner mesh. Franco's video really clarified this physical separation. I stand corrected!

It doesn't hang. The inner is staked using the same stakes as the outer fly. Hilleberg has had this system for years available in the US. It works well.

We love ours. Is it heavy? Yes. Is it wonderful and spacious and tried and true? Absolutely sensational tent.

Sam

BTW several of the tents discussed have fairly large footprints that limit where you can camp.

good point about the large footprint.
The StratoSpire 2 has very large vestibules however you don't have to use them so, if one wants, the footprint can be just a bit larger than the rectangular inner (52"x86")
You need to use the apex guylines for that but I use those all the time anyway.
So in fact the SS2 can be set up in a smaller place than most side entry "freestanding" tents.
This is how it would look with only one side done :

That right side could be against a bush or rocks, so you use the other as a vestibule and entry point.

If you carry poles, the SS2 is a no-brainer over the Copper Spur if you are willing to put in time to learn the pitch. It's more space for the weight, and a good set of poles makes it sturdier in bad weather.

In good weather, rolling up the doors on each side of the SS2 is nearly as good as having a freestanding shelter with the fly off, and it's much easier to close up if the weather turns bad.

Me and my girlfriend use a kifaru sawtooth

"Is it heavy? Yes."

backpackinglight.com

I bought a TT Scarp 2 with a "solid" ripstop interiors so I could use it as a 4 season tent.

>double wall
>2 doors & vestibules
>crossing poles optional for more wind stability
>side and end guy-out points
>lots of ventilation options, both high and low

(See the "Winter Hiking" forum for photos of how I "winterized" our Scarp 2.)

Lots of talk of the CS UL2 on this thread, so I figured I would add my thoughts on mine. Ultimately, I find it is a pretty tight 2 person tent and would only recommend it for family…. I am fine with the floor space, and fine with the headroom, but oddly enough it's the space in between that is limiting. What I haven't noticed mentioned on here is that the middle of the CS UL2 tent is squeezed, like so ) (, and is a bit narrower than either the headroom or the floor space. While the head and foot walls may be a bit vertical, the side walls where the doors are located is not… This is kind of odd, but to me is the area with the most limitations.

I don't own one, but would like to eventually get a ZPacks Duplex for a 2 person tent. I figure the space may be about the same as the CS UL2, but the side walls will be more vertical, although the end walls will be more sloped… If I wanted more space, I think the Triplex would be the next best option.

I'm going to disagree with some folks who said the CS UL2 is a better shoulder season tent than a TT tent. As an owner of a Notch and a CS Ul2 (2011 version) I can say that TT structures are much more storm worthy. This is because TT uses double-sided silynylon while Big Agnes uses a one-sided silynylon for easy seam taping. This works out to making the fabric on a TT have 3000mm HH vs. ~1200mm for the fabric on a CS. I can tell you from personal experience that in wind driven rains the CS will have much more water push through the fabric than a TT. Also, structurally the trekking pole supports in a TT shelter and the stiff pitch makes them much more wind worthy and minimizes flapping. The weak point of TT shelters is that they tend to have high tension and few stakeout points – so very solid stakeouts are required to get the benefits mentioned above. I carry MSR Groundhogs as they have the best holding power in the widest range of soil types.

Now, all that said I've still never pulled the trigger on a SS2 because the weight savings are minimal and the freestanding nature of the CS UL2 means you can utilize more marginal camping spots. If only it had a cuban version….

I think in terms of weight, it's probably more appropriate to compare the CS2 with an SS1. The SS2 can fit 3 standard width pads across. It's a much larger shelter.