what else is better than the TT SS2?!

If finances are tight and you need to dump the SS2 before getting a potential replacement, then I guess you have no choice. But if you really want to play it safe and yet still try some other models, keep the SS2 until after you have purchased and are sure you love whatever may be replacing it. I am looking forward to using my Moment DW again after taking a different tent that was supposedly lighter and higher tech along on some trips this summer, but which I ended up hating with a passion.

Sometimes you don't know what you got till it's gone. Luckily my Tarptent is not gone.

Hi Nathan,

Been using my SS2 for around 6 months now, it's been used from a 4 day trip where it didn't stop raining for 10 mins, to a hot summer trip where the temps didn't drop below 30c.

Can't say as i've ever worried or noticed a problem with "consistent spacing"

What problems are you experiencing please?

Yeah–I love my SS2. It's gotten consistent, regular use for the past two seasons. I keep toying around with something like a Supermid, but so far that's seemed a little foolish given my needs.

Right now, the SS2 is where it's at.

I switched from an SS2 to a Supermid with perimeter mesh for one reason: dogs. But having made the switch, I have no regrets in taking it on human-only trips.

The two shelters have a similar footprint, and for two adults I would argue that the two have equivalent living space. Add a third person, and the headroom tips in favour of the SS2, although there's less elbow room inside its bug free area.

My two ~70lb dogs were not happy being kept in the vestibules – apart from their humans and apart from each other – so we switched to the 'mid.

I've looked at the Supermid innernet and it works well for two adults, but is a little tight for the plus factor: a 7 year old child and two dogs. Ron now offers a Supermid bathtub floor and I'm seriously considering it for wetter conditions. Set up appropriately it might help keep my active rotisserie son from rolling off his pad right into the fly. I'm stressing the word 'might'.

On paper, the SS2 appears to have the Supermid beat with two doors (and a cross breeze) vs one, and a lower wind profile. In reality, the perimeter bug mesh lets me pitch the Supermid high and condensation has yet to be an issue. And once the midpanel guylines are deployed, the Supermid has proved to be stable and quiet in the wind.

Thanks for tempting me Stuart. Like I really need to start considering the Supermid as a potential shelter acquisition.

That said, the perimeter bug netting you use would be a problem for me, as I would also want to use the Supermid in winter (with the very possible addition of a wood stove). The inner-net for the SS2 is also a non-negotiable for my wife in any season she'll hike in, and for my other hiking buddy, it's a serious fear-reliever (though, I'm not convinced that we need it 90% of the time).

So, for the time being, the SS2 still wins out. But, of course, that doesn't keep me from occasionally looking at the Supermid a little longingly.

Aside from subtle and subjective ergonomic issues, the only semi-rational advantage in a BA Copper Spur, for example, would be the fact that it is more "free standing." It is good when a stake pulls out and the tent remains standing. Last trip I had to set up my Notch from the inside when the wind kicked up. Previous trip, I had to move the whole thing when a couple stakes landed right on top of bedrock.

These things can be dealt with, but life is easier with a truly free standing tent. I make the trade off for my Notch, since it's a pound lighter. That's not the case with the Stratosphire.

I own a Copper Spur UL2 and have used it extensively. Having just got back from a solo hike of the JMT with a TT Notch I can attest to the need for very strong stakeout points on any TT that isn't freestanding in order for it to withstand wind well. I managed to leave behind my set of MSR groundhogs (I highly recommend) mid-trip and had to weather a storm with rocks and 2 loner stakes as my anchors and had a stake pull during a very high gust. That said, the rainfly on the Notch is superior to the CS UL2 in that it is much more resistant to wetting out during prolonged rain.

Since I've been back, I've been considering a SS2 as a replacement just based upon how much quitter the TT is in wind when staked out well and how weather resistant it is. But, getting six good stakeout points is going to be difficult and six MSR groundhogs are not light.

Maybe the 2-person Moment is the right compromise here?

I'll post a picture when i'm back in town of my tent set up and what i'm talking about.

The spacing along the ridge line is fine but the side edges (for me) have a problem of not touching the fly on occasion. This isn't a big problem b/c i usually set it up in its lower configuration to avoid that hassle.

This is probably and most likely user error on my part.

Adding a longer ridge line rope than the stock rope and tying it out helps a lot with form and function.

I'll take take some pictures when i get home.

But no i agree with everyone on this post that the SS2 is very hard to beat.

Its hard to justify getting a new/different tent.

No direct experience but would a zpacks duplex not be in the running as a lighter competitor?

It's not double walled but then the SS2 inner is only bug mesh, so not what I would consider true double wall in any case.

Jim,

Good point on the zpacks duplex. I've condered getting the tarp version and making my own inner tent of solid nylon.

If I recall correctly I think the SSE inner is available in (mostly) solid mesh and it adds a few ounces to the weight.

Sure the SS2 does have an inner with more nylon it's true.

Another alternative could be a SMD Haven Tarp-plus-Inner combo.

The SS2 can be had with either the mesh or fabric (solid) inner, or both.
An SS2 owner can also purchase a inner afterwards by contacting orders@tarptent.com
This is the SS2 with the fabric inner :

Looking forward to see Nathan's photos of his set up so that we can fix that walls touching problem.