Can’t make up my mind on a tent!…… I’m at an impasse! HELP

I just ordered the Double Rainbow Li, should be here today.  Hope it was a good decision.  Don’t have a shelter with anything but aluminum poles, so hope these hold up, never realized or gave it a thought about non-aluminum.

Duane

What you want to fit your criteria is the Strat Li.

Have been going through the same decision process for several months, substitute a Stratospire Li for the DR Rainbow Li. After speaking Henry @ Tarptent and Ryan I decided on the Notch Li.

It came down to a combination of where I would be using it and weight.  I plan on some longer hikes and the weigh of the Stratospire was just to much.  Every time I looked at my preferences, it came back to the Notch, double wall, lighter weight and two vestibules but had the same concern about the interior size as you.  I will also be using a Large pad to boot.

I will be using my shelter both in the mountains of Southeast and out west.  The double wall made more sense the SE part and had no downside for out west.  I decided the smaller interior would be worth  a try, especially having the two vestibules.

Hope this helps, if you want a little more in depth as to my thought process feel free to PM me.

I agree, the Aeon footprint in the Notch design would be perfect for my needs.

Relatively new to this group and I agree, a great group.

Unless you’re particularly large, I don’t think I’d consider the DR for solo trips. Just extra weight for space that isn’t needed, or at least that’s my perspective. If you’re looking for a tent that can work for both solo and two-person trips, that’s a different story, but I don’t think you mentioned that.

For the vast majority of my trips, a double-wall tent is also unnecessary weight. But obviously that might depend on the conditions where you camp.

Will you be out in a lot of wind? I’m not a fan of ‘hoop’ (arch pole- like the DR) tents if you are going to be in windy conditions. That’s why I got rid of my Moment-DW and spent the next few years in a Duomid. I’ve been using my Aeon-Li this summer on quite a few trips and while it isn’t quite as storm-worthy as the Duomid, it uses its bug-netted living space more efficiently and is one of the easiest tents to pitch I have ever used. My only gripe is the ‘storm door’ which they have now fixed by adding a zipper. And the fact that both sides of the door can be opened wide with nothing in the way is really nice when the weather allows. Go Aeon-Li.

Evidently the DR can be guyed out at the top per Ryan’s review.

Duane

What type of trips will you be using it for? Do you expect to spend a lot of time in your shelter, or simply when it’s time to retreat?

Regarding your concern about “catastrophic failure”, have you read about things like this happening?

And on previous tent decisions, what benefit or feature have you always found yourself valuing the most? (versatility, weight, simplicity, spaciousness, etc…?)

If I am buying a cuben shelter, it means that I am looking for the lightest option available.  Yes, I know that cuben won’t stretch, but that is rarely the primary reason that someone would fork out big cash.  So my feeling is that you go with the lightest option.  That would be the Aeon.  Solo, you simply do not need the additional size of the others, nor do you need the additional weight.

My 2c….

Well… isn’t the lightest option the Protrail LI?

First and foremost thank you all for your responses and recommendations!   I should probably have led with a little more information but was at work and had to make it short and sweet.  I’m off work now and have this lovely Holiday weekend to tackle this perplexing decision so I’m going  to offer up a little bit more information for you all.  Here we go…..

1)  I Have 3 trips I plan on doing this coming year (Pending any major life events or set backs due to natural forces or our current COVID situation) they are 1) Timberline Trail in Portland, Oregon around Mt. Hood in late August maybe beginning of September.  2) Tahoe Rim Trail probably mid to late June. 3) Superior Hiking Trail in Minnesota but this will depend on my buddy who is setting up a trip and if he does I’ll have to wait on this one.

2)  I realize there is really no “perfect” tent or we wouldn’t be having these tough decisions but I guess in a nut shell mine would be the Tarptent Notch Li but with a larger floor area like the Aeon Li.  I don’t care for the tapering of the head and foot area on the notch interior.  Wish they would have kept it the width at the middle throughout like the Aeon Li.

If I can think of anything else I add some more to this post but thanks again you guys!  Happy hiking and stay safe

I’d go Aeon Li.

Notch li.

More storm worthy, double wall–a good thing all else being equal. I believe it’s a few ounce difference. Better wind resistance I think. Sure, the Aeon li would work–they’re both great tents–but given you don’t know where you might hike over the next years,and there’s always that unexpected drenching storm waiting, go with the Notch li. No condensation worries either. double wall is warmer too. fabric sides really block wind, which is great. single walls suck at this.

“Well… isn’t the lightest option the Protrail LI?”

Yes but that isn’t on his list….; )

I believe it’s a few ounce difference … Sure, the Aeon li would work–they’re both great tents–but given you don’t know where you might hike over the next years …

It’s always interesting to hear perspectives from other people, because this is exactly the opposite of the way I think about things now.

I don’t carry any extra weight anymore “just in case” I might eventually need it (except for emergency life-saving items). That mindset always caused me to add 5 oz here, 4 oz there, etc. Double wall tent, extra fuel, backup batteries, etc. It all adds up, and it led me to carry things that were almost never used. So when I catch myself thinking that way, it’s a red flag.

My approach now is to carry enough to handle 95% of what I’ll likely encounter. And if I run into something extreme, well I just get creative and find a way to get by with what I have.

Dan, when it comes to a few essentials, like a functional shelter, I suck up the extra three ounces when the advantages add up; especially since I’ll be spending 8 plus hours living in it every day–or 24…In any case, I DO consider my tent to be one of my “emergency life saving items”. Actually, the primary one.

Since we buy a tent for use beyond the one trip we have in mind, I don’t think my approach counts as “packing my fears”. Have you never encountered bad conditions you didn’t plan on? Have you never decided down the road to take a trip in conditions you hadn’t considered when you bought a tent to accommodate a pleasant summer jaunt?

I remember one trip where I’d brought enough insulation for the night, but didn’t factor in high winds blowing all night. It wasn’t just me;  my friends were freezing as well. So, now I privilege a fabric inner wall for help with winds. Experience.

Notch li; 21 ounces with stakes

Aeon Li: 19 or 20 ounces with stakes

Leave a third of a powerbar at home and call it even.

@jscott, thanks for your perspective. I’m happy with my approach at this point, so I’ll stick with it for now.

Very kind and diplomatic Dan! I’m listening to you as well.

Ok actually my perfect tent would be a Tarptent Stratospire 1 in DCF.  I would write the check tonight. It literally has everything I’m looking for in a tent.  Make this happen Henry!

I don’t see how the Notch would be better in the wind unless you have tested it with the Aeon.  Pure conjecture.

No reply.

Duane

Anthony,

I also “bounced around” between the Aeon Li and Notch Li but Ryan’s winter fail experience  in the Aeon Li changed my mind.

I got the Notch Li with the partial “solid” interior because here in the mountain west I have been surprised by early October snows and wanted The Notch Li’s double wall and solid side panels to keep out the spindrift that abruptly ended Ryan’s Aeon Li winter excursion.

Additionally I added 4 fly hem edge stake loops by reinforcing them with both the Dyneema repair tape circles Henry sent with my tent (at my request) and overlapped with Tenacious Tape circles, both folded over with1/2 of the circles on each side of the hem edge. In high winds these stakes reduce flapping to almost nothing and make the tent more secure.

Finally I dyed the inner tent green with RIT DyeMore dye for synthetic cloth. This gave me a bit more shade and privacy.

Hi Anthony I spent months debating the same and had the Strat Li in the mix as well.

As per the comments above it really depends on your use case for the majority of the time.  You can live with the cons for a few nights a year if needed.

• Small, light, quick to pitch and spacious – Aeon
• Better condensation management and warmth in fringe seasons – Notch with Solid interior (lighter)
• Better wind protection and space – Rainbow

If you are regularly above the tree line in 50mph winds I am not sure i would rely on this selection.  Get a pyramid.

In the end I decided to start with the Aeon as the majority of my backpacking is fast and light and less inclement weather (if i can plan it).  The Aeon packs down a few inches smaller which was important in my frameless pack.  It pitches with one pole.  As I carry carbon trekking poles, I do not have to worry about one of them shattering as i have redundancy.  It is crazy quick to pitch – less than 2 mins the first time.  It can be pitched lower to give it a little better wind protection.  I love the pitch-locks they really open up the space inside.

But that decision was made in the context that

• I am pretty sure i will buy one of the others for fringe season use – i now cannot decide between the Notch Li, Strat Li (probably) and the Rainbow Li.  I think in fringe seasons you need the warmth and the space.
• I have winter bomb-prof shelter and tarps.

I love the Aeon and can live with the cons of condensation occasionally and needing to find sheltered pitches in high winds.

All that said, having seen your list of planned trips, whilst it does not have floor space of the Aeon – I would go with the Notch Li.  For a few extra ounces, you are covered in more conditions, especially if the temperature drops a little.

Mark,  Do NOT buy the Notch Li if you want space B/C the is barely enough room in it to change your mimd. It is narrower than my TT Moment DW which I use for winter camping with a Crossing Pole (shortened and run under the fly).