Lightest tarptent?

“Getting ready for my next big purchase...a "tarptent". After searching the net for various offerings, so far I have settled on one of the offerings here: http://www.trailquest.net/store.html#tarps

I like the Arapaho. Other offerings there are lighter, but that one has the rear vent for cross-ventilation. My current tent (Eureka Zeus Exo 2) is a single-wall, and I know that ventilation is a must-have with single-wallers so that has crossed the lighter ones off the list (the ones with a solid rear wall).

Oh, and I like having some room for me and the gear, thus the choice of a "2" person model. Nothing quite as fun as getting stuck in a bivy during a non-stop rainy day/evening (and then trying to cook, too). I also know I could go with just a tarp, but after adding in ground cloth and bug net you are back up to the weight of a tarptent. The Arapaho is light (1 lbs, 12 oz total), has room, and has the ventilation. I use hiking poles, so I'll have them to set up the tent, no problem there.

Anyone have their own favorites that are similar to this? Post a link so I can compare, and your comments.”

“I have a Henry Shires Cloudburst.

It stood up to a wild night on the Allegheny Front on Roaring Plains and I stayed dry.”

“StoveStomper really likes his Henry Shires Tarptent. I'm even considering getting one, lol...”

“Yeah, I came across that web site in my search. I'll take another look at his stuff...”

“That's funny. The timing of this thread is perfect.
I was just thinking of ordering a second Henry Shires Squall TarpTent.
He now ships all his floored models with a zipper across the front door bottom to completely seal out the crawlies.
He's not shipping any Squalls at the moment till April I think (check the site)due to a pole shortage.
My current Squall was one without a floor. I added a net floor and use a piece of tyvex over it.
I was thinking of getting a new one with floor, zippered door, and the extended beak, and giving my 'old' one to my nephews.
I would not get the one person model. I love being able to drag ALL my stuff into the TarpTent with me at night.
The new three person model (RainShield??) looks like it would be great for a couple.”

“I'm thinking about getting the Virga with a floor. Is the beak a big advantage or not?”

“Is that you uncle stovey? I've always wanted a tarp tent. You're the best unlcle in thw whole world.”

“bit - If you can't place the rear of the TarpTent into the the wind, the extra large beak will be nice.
I have had no problems with my regular beak, but the larger one would be nice.
I don't think you will be happy with the one person model. You'll have to leave your gear outside.”

“Hmm, the Squall is comparable in weight to the Arapaho (28 oz), not quite as long, a little wider at its widest point and a little narrower at the narrowest (going by the usable floor space, not the maximum dimensions). 42 inches height on the Squall compared to 44 on the Arapaho.

But I see that you must use 2 poles for the Squall (and other models on his site), at the very least one pole if you substitute a hiking pole up front. I was hoping to eliminate tent poles.

On the other hand, I really like all that extra netting for ventilation on the Squall, and it is cheaper....”

“LOL @ Y2!”

“(still thinking aloud)

...with the Arapaho you lay parallel to the door, which may give a better view out; it also comes with a full beak AND full storm doors which gives you extra protection and a vestibule, no vestibule on the Squall...”

“I have to leave my gear outside anyway, using the LightYear. I just put a strap around a tree and use a 'biner to clip my pack to the strap. Before I go to bed, I cover the pack with my packcover,making sure that it's cinched up tight with the hole against the tree so rain won't get in. So not being able to get my gear in the tent with me isn't a big issue. Cutting my shelter weight in half (again) is, lol...”

“If I havn't welcomed you to TT yet, WELCOME!

One of the biggest pluses for the HS TarpTents is the ease of setup.
The Arapaho uses many stakes and stake weight adds up and the time and 'fiddle factor' of setting up gets larger.
With the Squall, only four stakes are necessary for set up. I can put mine up in well under 5 minutes. Site selection takes me far longer than the setup of the tent!”

“Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....

IF (and that's a big IF) I buy a new model Squall in a month or so.....

Anyone interested in buying a carefully used 'old' model????????”

“How much might you be wanting for it?”

“Thanks, SS. I actually checked out your web site a long while ago when I started getting serious about dropping the pounds. I think I found you through backpacking.net. After touring your site and others I decided to ignore all my friends who literally laughed when I brought up the subject of "pepsi can stove". Now? I carry a complete kitchen setup that weighs less than just their stoves - including my pot, spoon, stove, windsheild, etc. Their packs are still near 50 lbs while mine is quickly nearing 20... now I laugh.

This tent decision is my next step in dropping that weight from around 24 lbs (cold weather, total packed weight) to below 22. This summer I think I'll be around 16 lbs... and I laugh harder.”

“I love mine Tarptent. My mother-in-law made it for me and it's worked great for over 2 years now. The first time I had it out I got 2" of rain. I hadn't seam sealed it at that point and only got a faint mist through the ridge. I've also had it in high winds up on Roan Mtn. I just staked everything except the entrance directly to the ground and had no problems. The only time I'll use a tent from here on out is family camping and when I take my son out. He's 4 and wants to use his own "big boy tent" that we bought for him. I can squeeze in with him.”

“You should have gotten the Cloudburst SS... it's da bomb! It's more robust in the wind then the poled models from my experience. Then we could have match on the AT... unless it's warm enough to take a hammock. I just mailed my Cloudburst back to H to get the zipper added to the floor. Now I don't have to drag my boots in the tent any more to get a good seal on the floor/door. I can have mine up in less then 2 minutes, SS must be slow. I bet since you already have a Squall you could go ahead and order it and have H send you the pole once they get in stock. You can only use one Squall at a time, right? ;)

The winds were gusting so bad on top of blood mountain I had to go chase my Titanium cup because it tried to blow away. The Cloudburst was nice and sturdy, wind gusts were ~30-40mph. If you get one I'd suggest throwing at least one flat V or X style stake in you stake bag for the single point rear loop. That one loop sees a lot of stress and the thin Ti stakes can pull out in loose soil.


”

“A zipper across the bottom of the screen door would be nice.”

“Henry now adds a zipper across the bottom of the door and will add one to yours for $15. See the website.”

“I had 30-40 mph gusts on Roaring Plains in October and the tent was reaching down and touching me!

The Y or X stake for the rear is a good idea.

DeoreDX, is that an extra long beak?”

“"How much might you be wanting for it?"
bitpusher
10:15:51 AM

I'll get back to you on that bit....
I just posted a question of it's worth over on backpacking.net.
I would sell it to a fellow TTer cheaper than market. The price might be high, as a used one has not been for sell on backpacking.net in the past year and these things are in high demand. I did a search on their 'Buy and Sell Gear' forum.”

“Oh, ok. I just sent you email asking the same question.

I'm impatient today, lol...”

“Sometimes I wish I had the Cloudburst. Mine was built before you could buy them, so that's all I had to choose from. I like the beak at the foot, the curved design that provides a greater volume inside, and the parabolic design that lets the ridge stay taut. When this one wears out I'll probably build a Cloudburst clone.”

“You guys are persuasive. I am now leaning towards a Squall with extended beak and no floor - I'll make my own out of silnylon, edges turned up in some way to get a bathtub effect. If it gets trashed it will be much easier to replace than a permanent floor.

Someone said they weren't shipping due to a pole shortage - you are right, no shipments until April 12th.”

“That's the standard Cloudburst beak. There is not an option for an extended beak on the Cloudburst, unless things have changed since I ordered my Cloudburst.”

“This is Not quite a tarp tent question, But knowing all the expertise that is in on this thread, What should I do as far as fabric treatment with my new hennessey hammock before I take into the field? thanks for the help...

PS
Good thread, very interesting, if my hammock is does not work to my liking I will look into one of these HS's”

“I don't have a HH, but I would think it would be ready to go.”

“Yah aren't they silnylon or some waterproof fabric already?”

“OK, Thanks.
Remember I'm kinda newbie still...LOL”

“OK snaf, we'll only take one kidney...”