Tarptent StratoSpire 1 vs Lightheart Solo Wedge

I can agree with not needing an awning, maybe it isnt really necessary plus adds some weight. Id like to be able to have the rain fly somewhat open when it rains without it going in the tent.

Just ordered a Stratosphire myself.

Dont stress over the space for gear storage. Its a place to sleep to stay warm and dry, not a place to camp.
Your pack will be under your legs if you have a small torso pad. Your food and smellables will be hung. You will be wearing your clothes.

Just what gear do you need to store? Shoes, raingear. Takes up all of ~1ft2

Wait a minute, if your raingear is your pillow, and you put your shoes under elbows to prop them up to be more comfortable, you have nothing left to store.

" Not expecting bugs? Leave the inner at home. Not expecting rain? Leave the fly at home".

I live in Southeast Louisiana. Bugs and rain are a way of life down here. LOL

Be Prepared! I've had two week hikes and never got rained on. I've had 24 hour hikes where it rained for 5 hours straight. I've slept out where not one bug bothered me all night and I've seen shelters overrun with bees.

FWIW I do own a LightheartGear Solo Tent. It has its rain fly and tent permanently joined. I used to use a tarp and bivy. Modular yes! Fiddly another yes!

Borrowing a phrase from the military, Keep All of Your $?!+ In One Bag! I believe the Lightheart to be less "fiddly" IMPO.

Party On,

Newton

You can backpack in Louisiana?

Yes David, there are places to backpack in Louisiana. LOL

Party On,

Newton

; )

Bump

That's fantastically ridiculous, Paul!

Maybe its just me but the notch looks like it would be very hard to keep up it a side wind and looks like the strongest stakes would be needed at the sides. Also the pull on the sides appears to be more vertical or upward. If I owned one of these I would want a guyline from the top of the trekking poles on each side like the TT SS. The LH solo has a very strong design from the sides with the modified A frame (spread) poles. This design stands well on its own with side winds and the LH solo has THREE stake out points on each sides And it has plenty of headroom for me in a solo tent. Wider would be nice but not nessisary and I would rather have a tent that stays up in the wind. I think vertical poles work in mids and designs that place the poles more to the middle of the tent and better yet I like lots of stake out points.

Hi Mark, I have the Notch. It sets up rock solid with 4 pegs. You simply don't require an additional guyline at the top of the trekking pole because there is one at the bottom of each vestibule which pull the ridgeline very tight. The strutted ends also help pull the ridgeline tight. In fact, so tight that I pulled one of the pegs out on one side of one of the vestibules and the shelter stayed upright.

Poor explanation. Hopefully someone else can explain better than I.

Happy to add additional apex pullouts for anyone that wants them but as David says, they aren't needed. The Notch is strong. Also happy to add perimeter fly hem tie-outs for those who just want more stake points.

Re: wind performance/stability comparisons, a design with a pair of slanted poles inserted into a top strut is inherently more torque prone, less stable, and more subject to joint failure than a pair of vertical poles. Mark, contact me offline if you want a demo to do the comparison in a windy location.

I'll shut up now.

Henry Shires
President of Tarptent (for anyone else who didn't already know that)

Bump:

For Henry being the President of Tarptent.

Henry/Franco 2012 (Hell you'd both do better that who we have in office now).

David it is that stake that holds the two halves of the vestibule at the bottom of the zipper that concerns me I think it will be a hard one to keep in when the wind is coming from that direction and I think a guy from the top of the trekking pole to a point maybe 3 ft out from the vestibule stake would add a lot of strength and stability and take alot of pull off that stake. But then I am no engineer for TT or lightheart so I think I will go to bed and see in the morning if anyone agrees or disagrees with what I see from looking at pictures and angles and trying to guess what the wind will do to a tent. And I dont mean to offend anyone its just what I see.

Hey Mark – it is a valid concern. I haven't had it out in excessive wind yet but will report back over time.

(I would take Henry up on his offer!)

good gawd — 5 pages and 90 posts — buy a tent already!! :)

My front yard is higher than any of the flat open Iowa corn field to the west of me for miles it aint mt washington but it will do. I know who Henry Shires is Ive owned one of you tents and spoken highly of it, the forums here will prove that. And I see that the word wedge was brought into this I own a plain solo and thats all want Its sides are high enough. And I dont think Im out of place discussing the pros and cons of tent design even if you do think Im wrong. Thats whats done on this forum. Works busy in the morning I will try to get ahold of you in the afternoon. Good night Henry

"good gawd — 5 pages and 90 posts — buy a tent already!! :)"

Agreed. Buy a few. One is never enough. It's like children.

>Agreed. Buy a few. One is never enough. It's like children.

And then sell the one you don't like as much on gear swap!

"And then sell the one you don't like as much on gear swap!"

Great idea.

Bump.

I have owned 4 TT's but have only one kid…maybe I need more kids or less tents.

Apparently prices go up March 15th so better order now and save a couple bucks.

Having had a Moment, Notch, SS1, and Contrail in my hands, if you can fit inside comfortably the Notch is the ticket in my opinion. If you need/want more space the SS1 is the next step up and is palatial for a 1 man tent. Moment shines if you don't use trekking poles and maybe want ability to go freestanding. Rainbow is the next step up in size from the Moment.

I ended up with the Contrail, taking it out for the first time next weekend, wanted more shoulder/face area but lowest weight possible. If I end up not liking the negatives to the Contrail I will suck it up and carry the SS1 and have tons of room, ventilation, views, vestibule.

liking the look of the notch, with the rain fly up rain looks like itll pour right in the lightheart, however since its more verticle standing on the notch (considering winds not blowing and it falling down) I think the fly can be somewhat open. Am I right?

Correct.

Down to these two Solong 6 will not have the awning or wedge.

Thought I'd throw some pics of the Solong in there for you to check out…not the best pitch, as it was literally 10 minutes after I received it!

32 oz :)

Cheers