Virga/Squall – without floor?

[David C. Menges]

Hi, I’m about to order a Virga or Squall, but would like opinions on a few things (big wins; I’m up on the details). I’ve read Henry’s web and talked with him; it’s not that I don’t trust him, it’s because my wife is skeptical so I have to get this right.

1. The main question by far is “Why is everyone buying WITH floor?”. I understand the benefits, but being a minimalist and seeing all of you are, I’m surprised. “Everyone” is based on 2004 BPL staff picks and Henry saying 95% of customers buy with floor.

2. Our son, 15 years old and 6′ 7″ (we believe he’s topped out), will be using this. He fits (barely) in a SD Light Year. The numbers say he’ll fit; Henry says “yes”.

3. Does side netting wear out (being in the dirt)? I haven’t heard any reports, and Henry says “no”.

4. Some blown-rain, wind concern, but not really. Btw, I didn’t realize, but all of his tarps come with extended beaks now (good).

Thanks! My tarp experience is limited to using a BD Pyramid (predecessor to Megamid) in snow long ago, which worked well.

[paul johnson]

First off, be aware that I don’t own a HS tarptent.

Second, have read many, many posts on these fine shelters in the Forum threads over nearly a year’s time now. So…

Most of the comments I’ve read in this regard, i.e. floor vs. no-floor, the floor is preferred NOT to handle flying buggers, but rather the creepy-crawlies that can find their way under the bug netting.

Also, perhaps how rainy one’s climate is might also have a bearing on whether or not to choose a floor.

My guess is that most people are so happy with shedding so much weight over a more conventional tent (as cp. to the HS TarpTents), that they don’t mind the extra few ounces a floor adds.

Before you buy the Virga or Squall, if you haven’t done so already, check out the Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo ‘e’ (88″ long & 15″ of bug netting so bag won’t contact walls, & great overhangs to combat driven rain, plus a fully retractable vestibule) & the larger two-person SMD Europa. After you read the Six Moon Designs webpages, come back to the BPL Forums & use the Forum search function to search for Threads & Posts that talk about these other two fine shelters. Both have been vastly improved since BPL did their testing/reviews of the SMD tarptents.

Hope this info helps.

[Brian Griffith]

I DO own a Tarptent Squall w/ floor.

I purchased it in January and decided on the floor because you have to carry a ground cloth anyway… Why not have it integrated into the shelter and pickup some advantages: save on setup time, better sealed against bugs, won’t forget the ground cloth, etc.

AFA your 6’7″ son fitting. I’m 6’2″ and there is plenty of room for me. YMMV

Does the netting wear out? Everything wears out and UL gear probably faster than heavy gear. That said, I don’t envision any problems with the netting wearing out any faster than anything else. It’s not really a stressed member of the structure.

My Squall really is an amazingly cool shelter. Before this I was using either a traditional backpacking tent or a Goretex bivy sack. The Squall is miles ahead of either of those IMHO. I love it.

B

[paul johnson]

How is at handling wind driven precip. (assume that the wind has changed direction & the wind is no longer coming from the rear of the shelter as it was when it was pitched – a side is now faced into the wind.)

Do you just lower it closer to the ground & sacrifice a bit of ventilation? It doesn’t have side overhangs does it? Does having a floor prove to be a drawback in this case since the rain will collect on the floor instead of the ground like in a floorless version of the Squall?

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks,
pj

[Richard Nelridge]

Hi Paul,

Many of these issues regarding rain coming in and changes in wind directions were addressed by the Cloudburst with the sidewall storm flaps (which roll up and down) (I presume that this feature is on the the new Cloudburst II). The Cloudburst II weighs 4 oz more than the Squall II and is considered the only 3+ season Tarptent (however you must use both hoop type tent poles and can not substitute a hiking pole as a tent pole).

Rich

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