Tarptent ArcDome Ultra

[Monte Masterson]

Coming soon. Weights are still yet to be determined. You’ll be able to choose aluminum or carbon poles and solid or mesh inners. https://www.tarptent.com/product/arc-dome/#tab-id-2

[JCH]

Interesting. I’m guessing that UltraTNT handles those mid-panel pullouts much better than DCF.

[nunatak]

On the IG they say maybe 3 lbs w carbon poles; and 3 lbs 8oz with alu poles

[Alex Wallace]

Cool, I like it. I’m a huge fan of fly first pitching tents. TT’s website says that they plan to make a woven fabric version too.

Dimensions:
Interior Height: 40 in / 102 cm
Floor Width: 52 in / 127 cm
Floor Length: 92 in / 234 cm
Packed size: 18 in x 6.5 in / 43 cm x 16.5 cm

[Bill in Roswell]

52″ wide x 92” long floor is very nice. 40″ Tall is good. Fly first pitch is a big Plus. Looks pretty nice.

[JCH]

Will be interesting to compare the TT and Durston “offset domes” when they arrive.

Do you prefer a right offset or a left offset :)

[Dan]

Do you prefer a right offset or a left offset :)

Probably depends on whether you’re in the Northern or Southern hemisphere.  ;-)

[Chris K]

Seems like they are hitting all the right notes here.

And wow. 3 lbs… That’s a nice surprise.

[JCH]

I’m loving the XMid Pro 2, but if I were looking for free standing I’d be all over both of these.

[jscott]

I wonder about a solo version….

It’s interesting that my two favorite tent makers are coming out with free standing tents. Seems so old school! in a good way. Like a mullet hair style.

(wait. let me rephrase that.)

[Monte Masterson]

Please dear God stop me from buying another tent!

I think Henry really hit it out of the park with this one.

A silnylon/silpoly version in OD green would be hard to resist.

[Diane “Piper” Soini]

3lbs is too heavy for me. I only backpack in spring/summer/fall.

[Sam Farrington]

Agree.  3lbs is too heavy to compete with the more expensive laminate.

[jscott]

“too heavy…”   Hence,  the solo version.

[Alex Wallace]

For the type of shelter and its use case, I think ~3 lbs is good. Remember it’s 2-person, with realistic dimensions for 2, so a split weight of only ~1.5 lbs. each. The only other shelter with a similar build that comes to mind is the BSI Revolution 2 (fly first pitch, double-wall, freestanding), which also weighs ~3 lbs.

It’s a prototype so it might change, but I’m curious about the small opening for the inner.

[Henry Shires / Tarptent]

> It’s a prototype so it might change, but I’m curious about the small opening for the inner.

The zip goes higher up than we opened/is shown in the photo/video. Also, there will be both mesh and solid fabric interior options.

[Alex Wallace]

Thanks for the clarification, Henry. Looking forward to see this come to market.

[Mike]

If the X-Dome wasn’t coming out I would be more than likely buying this. Hope they make it in DCF!

[bradmacmt]

I really like this design – and the prototype weights are light for a 4season tent. I’d love to see a 1P version!

Question for Henry et al. I noticed this tent, like the Rainbow 2 and 3P tents, has the doors on opposite sides of the tent space, rather than parallel to each other. What’s the point of this? Do folks really like sleeping next to their tent-mates feet? Undoubtedly I’m missing something…

Thanks.

[Todd T]

As owner of a Durston X-Mid 2, which has the most useful vestibules I’ve ever seen, I’m a bit nonplussed with the arrangement on this (and also Durston’s freestanding prototype).  What makes the X-Mid’s space so useful is that the vestibule extends beyond the door a bit and you can lean your pack against the pole in the very high, vertical space there.  Under a dome, the cockeyed floor thing loses the space beyond the door, the height, and the pole to lean on.  Looks to me like anything stored in the vestibule will be right in your way for ingress/egress.

I also think Henry’s put the doors at the wrong ends.  Most sleeping bags (not all) are left-zippered, and I think we prefer our heads next to the door.  So I’m curious…is there a headroom reason to prefer one’s head in the obtuse angle of the floor?  Even if so, the parallelogram could be shifted the other way to move the doors.

[Henry Shires / Tarptent]

> Question for Henry et al. I noticed this tent, like the Rainbow 2 and 3P tents, has the doors on opposite sides of the tent space, rather than parallel to each other. What’s the point of this? Do folks really like sleeping next to their tent-mates feet? Undoubtedly I’m missing something…

It’s a good point and it’s certainly the case in geometries with shallow wall angles that there is a preferred sleeping orientation. I think it’s certainly much less of a concern with this one than in an offset trekking pole one but I am / we are  concerned with entrance/exit utility as well as manufacturing cost/complexity. I can say that the final version will likely have a few changes and we’ll do our best to make the final one easy and pleasant to use.

-H

[Henry Shires / Tarptent]

> Under a dome, the cockeyed floor thing loses the space beyond the door, the height, and the pole to lean on.  Looks to me like anything stored in the vestibule will be right in your way for ingress/egress.

Agree that it’s not perfect and that everything is a tradeoff. The goal is viable storage space under cover without the next for explicit vestibules and it will certainly be possible to get in and out without tripping  over a pack.

> I also think Henry’s put the doors at the wrong ends.  Most sleeping bags (not all) are left-zippered, and I think we prefer our heads next to the door.

Point taken.  The design isn’t final yet so we have time to tweak some things.

 

 

[Mole J]

@Bradmacmt
Do folks really like sleeping next to their tent-mates feet? Undoubtedly I’m missing something…

I can’t speak for others, but unless it’s my partner or child, I’m always going to want to sleep top to toe when sharing a tent . I really don’t want “Fred’s” snoring face just 12″ from mine all night!

And often, I sleep top to toe even with my wife, because if the ground is at all sloping, she prefers her head uphill whilst I sleep more comfortably head downhill. (I often wake with sciatic pain if I sleep legs pointing downhill).

[bradmacmt]

I can’t speak for others, but unless it’s my partner or child, I’m always going to want to sleep top to toe when sharing a tent . I really don’t want “Fred’s” snoring face just 12″ from mine all night!

And often, I sleep top to toe even with my wife, because if the ground is at all sloping, she prefers her head uphill whilst I sleep more comfortably head downhill. (I often wake with sciatic pain if I sleep legs pointing downhill).

Interesting – you’re the first person I’ve ever heard preferring it this way. Vive la difference :)

[Mike M]

Four months later and I’m still only hearing crickets; Henry any ballpark idea when the Arc Dome might makes its’ debut?

[Author]

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