Coming Soon: Tarptent StratoSpire

Nice vdieo. It'll probably clear up confusion about the design.

Henry, I'm not sure if it just makes everything more complicated in terms of building it, but the seam I was referring to would run from the top of the v-strut across the panel to the tip of the apex where the trekking pole meets the roof (it is right along the "faceted" fold of the side panel that the V-strut and trekking pole create). The seam would work much the same way that the seams in the Shangri-La video work, keeping the panel from bowing in during strong winds.

Miguel,

The "faceted" fold is already a curved seam. That's why I didn't understand your suggestion. When viewed from an end strut toward the dual apexes, there are two curved seams. This design would just never work well without seams there to internally tension the fabric.

-H

Henry,
Kudos. The SS2 certainly sparks some interest from this quarter. A full double layer tent for two at barely over 2# (or presumably close to 3# with poles). Nice! Of course would be interested in cuben if that ever became an option. I will continue to watch with interest.

Obviously these two tents use very different design concepts, but it's worth a comparison. Here's my take:

Stratospire advantages:
Vestibule size and flexibility
Full double wall
Greater headroom at the sides
Probably better ventilation

Solong advantages:
Greater usable (12"+) floor area enclosed by mesh (both length and width)
Smaller footprint
Lower weight (26 vs. 32 oz)

It's a draw:
Headroom along the middle 10 inches.

Questions:
Wind worthiness?
Utility of TT vestible versus Solong wedge (which adds 1.5 oz and requires a stick or pole)?

Lookin good. I sure could have used a tent where the inner doesn't have to be set up first last night.

Another request for a fabric inner please, maybe with a bit of mesh at the top of the panels. I'm in the UK and had thought a Scarp 1 would be ideal for me, but the Stratospire 1 with a fabric inner would be absolutely perfect.

RE: Stratospire 1

I watched the videos and looked at the sketches in the thread. i.e., the "pitch demo" video got me thinking and I really like the 2 peg pitch of my Moment.

Your thoughts, please: would it be possible to pitch it similarly to the way I pitch my moment. That is, tack down one of the "triangle" corners, put the poles into position and then peg the other "triangle" corner. Then peg the "square" corners. I don't think that's what was shown in the video. I get a little "Eschered-out" with these new tent configurations ! ! ! ! !

Comments, please.

Thomas
The Moment is the fastest shelter to set up that I know of.
However if you look at my two You Tubes videos (about 56sec on one and 49sec on the other) you can see that I don't do it the same way .
Sometimes I insert the pole first, if there is a bit of wind then I prefer to peg one end down first.
(in the real world it takes me about twice as long except for an embarrassing long session on a snow platform this winter , had to re-do that "platform" three times before I had enough room for it…)

The StratoSpire is a much more complex design. I hinted at that on my second post and then spelled that out in my third one.
It needs 6 pegs and like most mids/modified mids , placing the pegs in the correct spot is crucial.
The way Henry does it in that video is probably the best way because you start with having one side correctly pegged in , then you do the other side by pulling the fabric out to the correct spot , then you do the pitch lock ends.
Maybe there is an easier faster way but I will not know till I get one.It isn't going to be anywhere close to the Moment's times, just a bit faster than Henry's.
Franco

Someone had to bring it up :-)

Any thoughts Franco.

Cheers,

Stephen

In any bit of wind, you would be wise not to rely soley on two pegs….

First I think that the FG comment is about the Moment.
And yes, that type of tent should have the pole guyylines in place to remain stable in the wind.
I prefer to pitch it with the pole into the wind and almost always use those guylines anyway.

Stephen
It has to do very much with personal preferences including location and aptitude.
A pyramid or modified mid relies very much on having a strong pole or two (that is stronger than the average tent pole) and well placed stakes.
So if you do not use trekking poles there would be, maybe, better alternatives.
On difficult (rocky) ground or a platform the Scarp (or the Rainbows for that matter) would be easier to set up, particularly if using the freestanding option.
Franco

My point was only that to measure the pros and cons of two tents based on a 2 peg minimum set up v.s. a 6 peg set up ignoring the vast differences between the two tents, most notably the sheer size of the StratoSpire and double walled configuration, seems somewhat superfluous. Especially in inclement, windy weather.

Hi Franco,

I am using the Scarp 1 at the moment myself in the UK, I do use trekking poles sometimes in the Winter (BD Flicklocks).

With the Cross poles in place would you think the Scarp would be more wind worthy than the Stratospire.

I think I recall seeing a photo from you where you used the Trek poles with the Scarp to beef it up further.

cheers,

Stephen

Hi Stephen
I fiddle around a lot (for fun) but some of it is just to give others ideas of what could be done if…
The StratoSpire has been in my head for a while but till I start playing with it I would only be guessing.
So first we need to wait till it comes out.
One point to remember is that people tend to make what they like (shape/brand/colour…) work for them , the converse is true also.
Franco

I hear you Franco :-)

I am so happy with the Scarp 1 and I would buy another TT product mo questions asked.

I'm thinking the 2 person model will likely be my next tent, if the price is right. (I'm a med student, aka no money) Any word on the eta?

On the other hand, Ryan, the delta increase in your total debt, should you buy the tent, whatever it costs, will be an infinitesimal percentage.
The great enabler

There’s going to be 2 versions of the Stratospire.

Stratospire 1: Sleeps 1-2, 32 oz
http://www.tarptent.com/stratospire1.html

Stratospire 2: Sleeps 2-3, 40 oz
http://www.tarptent.com/stratospire2.html

Price is still TBD.

Available in Fall 2011.

But at 32" wide, the Strato 1 would be overwhelmed by two people, especially trying to get a couple of sleeping pads side by side in there. So the 1-2 occupants that the website indicates it'll hold should be taken with a rather large grain of salt.

This is the inner of the solo :

this is the inner of the duo :

The bathtub floor is pushed outwards to accomodate the extra mat.

Franco

Well, that is wider than noted on the site. Cozy for two, but doable in a pinch. And a palace for one at just two pounds. Not bad. There's nothing like photos to set the story straight.

Having never owned a sil nylon tent i'm curious. Will the double wall of this tent be able to help with condensation. Basically, would i notice a difference in misting, or condensation compared to a standard double wall tent. IE, MSR Hubba Hubba

The MSR Hubba Hubba doesn't do very well with condensation because it doesn't have any vents, but since it's a double wall the mesh inner protects you from contacting the condensation. The Stratospire would protect you like the Hubba Hubba does, plus it would acquire less condensation in the first place.

Firstly, love to see TarpTent attempting a double wall. I think it shows you are really after making the best tent you can, and being innovative, rather than being too attached to any one concept (not that there is anything wrong with the single wall TarpTents!). Looks like a great design too – can't wait to see one in person. My question: looks like pitching the fly (over the mesh inner, not instead of it), after the mesh inner is already pitched, would require re-pitching. Is that correct? In essence what I mean is that it seems you can't just throw the fly on top of the inner, as you do with most double wall tents, but would have to un-stake the inner, and then stake out the fly instead, with the inner cliped up to it. Is that so?

Best,
-Abe

PS Apologies if this was covered already somewhere in the thread (I don't think it was, but I only scanned some parts of it)

"Firstly, love to see TarpTent attempting a double wall."

We've been making true double walls for several years: Scarp 1, Scarp 2 and Hogback

"My question: looks like pitching the fly (over the mesh inner, not instead of it), after the mesh inner is already pitched, would require re-pitching. Is that correct?"

Technically, one could pitch the fly right over the top of an already pitched interior. To do that you would just need some elastic loops tied to the floor clips so that the interior floor corner stake points extended the correct distance from floor edge to support the normal fly stake points.