Tarptent Has A New 1P: The Bowfin

Interesting, but I’d really like to see a setup video first. Also, I’m curious how freestanding it is. Need to get a better look at the head and foot before I make any judgment.

Henry, that sneaky man! I can’t wait to learn more about this. Such as was stated above, how wind stable it is, (considering how tall it is) and how free standing it actually is. But, going on his previous products, I don’t think he would release a product without knowing it worked. I, for one, will be watching this closely.

It’s Tarptent’s version of the MSR Hubba… one of my all-time favorite tents.

Looks good. Not super-light, but “lightweight” is smartly not Tarptent’s sole guiding philosophy.

I’ve had a TT Rainbow, which is a condensation collecting mutha. IMO, this is an improvement on the Rainbow.

May have to get one…

I asked Henry on FB how many stakes the head and foot would need in the event that I want to stake those out. His reply was that you do not need to stakeout the head and foot end but that there are tie out points for it.

Its double wall and 3,000mm static head for the fly which is nice. This should be a nice option over the Copper Spur or Hubba. Plus, made in America.

“This should be a nice option over the Copper Spur or Hubba.”

There is no longer an MSR Hubba.

Yes there is. The Hubba NX. Is that technical enough? :)

Weighs the same as the two-person Saddle 2, and an ounce more than the one-person Rainbow. Not sure freestanding is worth that. On the other hand, it has dual doors, which is a distinct improvement over the Rainbow, and it appears to have a lot more room for your head and your stuff than the Notch. Always fun to see what Henry comes up with next.

Like most “freestanding” tents it still needs the vestibules to be staked out.

So two stakes as a minimum .

As it is described on FaceBook , it is a cross between the Moment DW and the Rainbow.

So shaped like a Rainbow but fully symmetrical having two vestibules and two doors.

Great for views and air flow.

Yes there is. The Hubba NX. Is that technical enough? :)

LOL, forgot about that one. You’re right!

Re: wind, here’s an overlay graphic showing the Rainbow and Bowfin profiles.  The red structure is the Rainbow and the green one is the Bowfin.  Because of the symmetry and vestibules tensioning, the Bowfin is more wind resistant than the Rainbow if both are comparably staked and the overall tensioning and geometry is a lot like a Double Rainbow. More photos and videos now found at https://www.tarptent.com/bowfin1.html

-H

Henry,

In your view, comparing the Moment DW, Rainbow, and Bowfin, would the Moment be the most wind worthy of the three?

Ian, my take is the the Moment DW is the least wind worthy of the 3. All 3 depend on the arch structure and the arch is least well-tensioned in the Moment DW design. That said, the Moment DW can certainly be enhanced through additional staking of the arch sleeve and perimeter hem and the Moment DW wins for setup and takedown time.

I’m glad I asked as I would have presumed it would have some advantage from having what appears to be a lower profile.

Thanks

Thanks Henry, as I would have made the same guess as Ian did.

Looks pretty interesting, after reviewing the information on its TT page. The site claims it’s stuffable, too. Although, I’m assuming it means when the struts are removed.

Will have to keep an eye out. I am intrigued.

Thanks for catching that error, Jonathan.  It is true the struts come out but it should not have said stuffable. The dangers of cut ‘n paste. Fixed now.

-H

You are a tent designing fool Henry.    Have to say I like this one but the Scarp would fit my quiver of shelters better.

Can’t wait to find out what design fool means.

Sorry, designing fool.

I still have no idea of what it means.

(I just found out recently that over there alternate and alternative mean the same thing, they don’t here…)

Can’t wait to find out what design fool means.

Designing fool. You Aussies speak the wrong English.  :-)

I can’t wait to see how those doohickies at the ends work.

Sorry, designing fool.

I still have no idea of what it means.

(I just found out recently that over there alternate and alternative mean the same thing, they don’t here…)

It’s a colloquialism, an acknowledgement of one’s enthusiastic and persistent pursuit of or engagement in something. “My border collie is a frisbee chasin’ fool!”

I still want to know how those end doohickies work. :-)

I still want to know how those end doohickies work. :-)

Same here! I’m hoping for a setup video that has some close-up shots of the ends. :)

Henry you’re a tent makin’ S.O.B.!

Henry, what’s the main/primary aluminum pole weigh?

The pole — Easton aluminum 0.340in — is 7 oz. It’s a 128in pole, one section shorter than the Rainbow pole.