My Tarptent NOTCH Li upgrades

[Eric Blumensaadt]

As some here know, I like to modify my gear to better suit my needs. Below are my mods to my TT NOTCH Li.

1.) FOR MORE PRIVACY/SHADE->Dye inner tent with RIT DyeMore (dye for synthetic fabrics). This must be done WITHOUT letting the Dyneema floor touch the hot dye water. Gather the tent floor just above the floor wall and tie it with a cord. Yes, you will get a “tie-died” look near the floor, old hippies rejoice!. I used a “Parrot Green” shade. (see photo)

2.) FLY HEM STAKE LOOPS-> At 4 points on the fly (2 on each side) I measured and marked the locations, wrapped the edges with a circle or Dyneema repair tape and a larger circle of Tenacious Tape then sewed on a nylon grosgrain loop and added a woman’s elastic “hair circle” for some give. (see photo)

3.) I also ordered with the tent the optional “pole handle pockets”, Cordura fabric pockets tied to the two tent apexes so I can insert my pole handles and wrap them tightly with the Velcro strips on the pockets. I absolutely don’t want my pole handles and straps down in the dirt and mud. My poles wear rubber tip caps so they should not sink into wet ground much.

My next upgrade (well, I like to think they are upgrades) will likely be a guy anchor point on the fly halfway between the apex of the Pitch Loc struts and the peak on each end. I’ll place a circle of Tenacious Tape on both inside and outside and sew a circle around near their edges. Then I’ll sew on some narrow nylon webbing with 3 lines of stitching. Finally I’ll seam seal everything with Seam Grip inside and outside. I’ll carry 2 lengths of reflective tent cord long enough to clove hitch around a 3 ft. stick and then down to a stake. Gotta use a stick at each end B/C my hiking poles are holding up the tent! Tarptent puts guy anchors like this on their Moment DW so why not on a Notch Li?

[Mark Messonnier]

Ooh. I like that idea to dye the inner tent. I may have to do that for my Rainbow Li.

[DWR D]

“a woman’s elastic “hair circle”

Have Zero Idea of what that might be or look like…

 

[Brad Rogers]

@DWR D – It’s a woman’s hair rubber band.

[Brad W]

@Eric interesting upgrades. I will be curious how you like the pole adapters. I with TT would add from the factory a tiny loop about halfway up the mesh in line with the poles as to help pull out and widen the inner.

 

[Brad W]

Has anyone tried using shorter end struts on the Notch for bad weather? That might lower the belt line and help with splashback and wind.

[AK Granola]

Since this is getting resurrected… I like the green, but it’s too much work for me. I haven’t minded the transparency as much as I thought I would. I really like seeing the trees through the dyneema fly ceiling though! If the inner gets wet, does the dye run at all? Not sure about that fabric.

For splashback, I’ve found with the poles at 110 I can pull things low enough that the inner solid panel catches most of it and it doesn’t get into the tent at all. And the end flaps keep stuff from blowing in.

I like all Eric’s mods, but i’m not a diy person at heart. I just do the poles tip up, guy it all down as well as I can, and it works “well enough.” But if you like tinkering, there are some good ideas here!

[Brad W]

I think I will buy some similar diameter dowels and mess with it. I will also try lowering the poles to 110cm.

[Eric Blumensaadt]

BTW, I made the floor level loop for the pole tips smaller so I could pull the floor wider. The one and only real complaint I find with the NOTCH design is that the floor is too narrow. It needs to be about as wide as my TT Moment DW. Yeah, more weight but likely very little for more comfort.d

[Brad W]

I agree Eric. I would sacrifice a little bit of vestibule space for interior width. I find myself pulling the bottom of the poles outward to stretch the inner wider, but it can only go so far.

[Author]

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