Tarptent Scarp 1 in bad weather

Susan, try asking here – http://www.trek-lite.com.

A UK based forum with lots of “Scarp in UK conditions” expertise.

:-)

I’ve used mine lots in bad weather.  Had it 5 years. (UK based,) it’s had many Scottish Highlands nights including a week in the Hebrides.

The supplied line ultimately slips in lineloc3s when wet and very windy.  Exchange it for a true 3mm line and it’s fine

Never felt I  needed the crossing poles even in high winds. Would be more solid, but never felt the need. many other more commonly used lightweight tent models  are flappier than a Scarp(without x poles)and folks seem to cope.

I do use  guy one lifter out to a trek pole.

<span style=”line-height: 1.8;”>Treklite is worth a look.  </span>

The crossing poles are required less for wind and more for snow load.

“The supplied line ultimately slips in lineloc3s when wet and very windy. Exchange it for a true 3mm line and it’s fine’
Fair comment.
I haven’t had the problem but others have (with that lineloc 3 and somewhat less than 3mm cords) and Henry has been looking into it for a while.
In the meantime you can secure those tie-outs using a half hitch as can be seen at about 4 min into this video clip :

maybe some other Scarp owners will find some useful tips there too.
This is a half hitch with a double half for good measure..

BTW, new for 2016 is the 9mm main pole, about 30% stronger than the previous version (from memory…) .

Add the main pole guylines (not supplied) and you can also add guylines to a guyout point above the mid rear strut.

You will notice in my video that I lean with my full weight on one of those corners. (OK , I’m only 72kg or so there) , you can only get that hold if the corners are  set correctly, so I strongly suggest to practice doing what I show in the video.

Is the Soulo too heavy for that trip? Or is that the one you had bent pole problems with? If the latter, that must have been one heck of a storm. I missed my Soulo so much I wound up buying another earlier this year.

That’s a new site for me, Catherine – thanks.  Don’t know how I haven’t seen it before.  Good info on the line size – I’ll pick up some 3mm before I go.  It’s set up in the backyard, so I can have a go at practicing the half hitch (don’t think I’ll try leaning on the corner, though…) :-)  Thanks for the video, Franco – I’ve watched several other videos of yours on the Scarp, Franco – very helpful.  Good to know the Scarp has fared well for you, Mole – that’s the info I wanted – actual extensive experience in the conditions I’ll have it in (and much worse, probably).  Thanks..  (You or someone that shares your name was featured in a trip report I was reading the other day.  There was a Scarp in the photos – maybe yours.)

I think I’ll end up leaving the poles behind.  I did read about the changes to the Scarp for the 2016 version, Franco, and they’re what ultimately sealed the deal on the purchase recently.  I considered some other tents and finally decided on the Scarp.  I’m willing to carry it’s weight for a trip this long, as I had a tent fail miserably in the the UK many years ago (ours collapsed, someone else’s blew away while we were in the pub).  Don’t care to repeat the experience.

Stuart – no, I considered the Soulo, as I still have it, but it’s just too heavy – at least a pound more, probably closer to 1.5 (although the Scarp came in more than 2 oz over spec).  I was looking at how to shave weight on the UK trip, as I was (am?) well into the 20s, pound-wise.  I decided to buy the Scarp while I was on a road trip for the past few months, so I couldn’t weight my Soulo or fiddle with ways to cut it’s weight.  I was pretty sure it’s over five pounds, so I decided to go with something a bit lighter, particularly since I’ll be carrying it for so long.  I must admit not having used Soulo above about three or four times in the years since I bought it from you – I keep hoping to get out more in the winter, but it just hasn’t happened much yet.  It IS a fantastic tent.

The bent pole problem happened with a Big Agnes Fly Creek.  It just isn’t made to handle winds of the sort I had a few times, let alone the UK.  I’d thought about taking it, as well as the Hexamid.

Oops, accidentally hit send before finished…  Anyway, I considered those other two tents, too, but I didn’t have the confidence in the Hexamid, and the Fly Creek was clearly out after my couple of January nights in Big Bend.

You can solve the line lock slipping issue simply by tying a blakes hitch with the tail back onto the guyline

tie it once and forget about it …. Easily adjustable

;)

Susan – Trek-lite.com only started up recently.

Come and join in – non-UK folks are most welcome – different perspectives = good.

Quite a few of us wander over to BPL on occasion too – you might recognise some caracters eg. Mole

:-)

Eric – thanks – I’ll try that, along with Francis’s suggestions, in the next few days, as the tent is set up in the back yard now.

Good idea, Cathy!  I took your advice and just signed up.  Thanks.

Hi Susan, ok phew, I thought the Soulo was about as bomb-proof as a 1P can get. But you’re right, it is heavy and mine only gets out in the winter or when I expect the conditions to be really hairy. Like when the chinook winds are shaking every structure in the foothills in shoulder seasons. FWIW, I don’t think there are and meaningful ways to cut the Soulo’s weight without compromising structural rigidity. I’m skeptical about the fibraplex CF poles on this shelter in particular. Good luck and have fun in the UK.

I had a scarp but unfortunately the water used to pool at one end no matter how taunt I pitched it, never leaked in but

Thanks, Stuart.  Should be a fun time.  Anthony, good to know – I’m sure I’ll have ample opportunities in the next couple of months to see what happens to my Scarp in the rain!!

“I had a scarp but unfortunately the water used to pool at one end no matter how taunt I pitched it “
I suggest that people that have problems of this kind should post photos of their set up so that the situation can be solved.

“I had a scarp but unfortunately the water used to pool at one end no matter how taunt I pitched it, never leaked in but”

Sounds like a set up issue.  Of course, no issue at all because it never leaked!

David,

I posted this photo a few years ago :

you can see from the size of the saddle on my bike that the fabric is holding several gallons of water.

It remained up all afternoon and night with no dripping.

That was the old and less waterproof fabric we use now.

However if something came into contact with it , by pressing on it, it would probably start dripping .

So having a puddle on the tent fly is less than ideal and usually it is a set up problem.