Tarptent Sale!

“I'm curious why more people here are getting the Squall than the Cloudburst. All tricked out, the Cloudburst looks to be 5.5 oz heavier (plus another 1.8 oz if you use a treking pole instead of the pole included with the Squall). Is it the weight difference or the extra $ for the Cloudburst?

I have read many reviews of each and it seems that the Cloudburst handles stormy conditions and condensation a tad bit better. But its real advantage is the extra usable floorspace.

I wanted some feedback since I will likely be getting an additional tarp-type tent that is bigger than the Lunar Solo. Maybe the Rainshadow, at 1.0 oz more than the Cloudburst, is the way to go?”

“I almost bought the one person Vigra?? but I like a little extra room for my gear and such. I already have the Bat Ray 2 which doesn't weigh that much more than the Squall, so that is why I didn't even look at the Cloudburst”

“Ewker, you are getting to be as much of a gear whore as Gemini! LOL!”

“naw, just gettin my pack weight down.”

“The cloudburst is definitly worth it imho. A tad heavier but as Stove says the Squall is really a very big one person tent... the Cloudburst is a true two person tent. I would love to see a 1.5 person cloudburst... I don't need all of that extra space :) One part of the cloudburst you don't hear mentioned much is the little side flaps that are not on the squall. Those little flappy things rock :)”

“What, is there an extra flap on each side that directs rain off of the netting on the Cloudburst???”

“At 5'7" I'm not the tallest person around, but I get myself and all of my gear into the Virga quite easily. I put the pack at the foot end and all my personal stuff on either side with no problem. The only space problem comes when I blow up my inflatable doll, but at that point I just start tossing stuff out.”

“Yes, the Cloudburst has side flaps that you pull down to cover the netting in the event you get caught in a pisser of a storm and really need to batten down the hatches.”

“I have a squall.
Nice tent. Personally I'd like to trade up to a cloudburst.”

“I got an email telling me my Squall shipped today. I will have it next week!!”

“THE TARPTENT'S HERE! Holy sheeyat!! Unbelievably lightweight!!!!

Ewker, have you set your's up yet? I'm probably stuck waiting for the weekend to put it up outside.”

“And it's all slickery!!

How do you guys put it away? Do you just stuff it into the stuff sack, or roll up?”

“All of my stuff-able stuff gets stuffed, not rolled. Silnylon tarps/ponchos/hammocks, sleeping bags, jackets, etc. Just stuff it in. Undo the zippers though, so you don't put excess stress on them.”

“Stuff it woman!

Sorry, couldn't resist.

I stuff my tarptent.”

“I haven't received mine yet. UPS has it coming in tomorrow.

I noticed SS folds then stuffs it into the sack.”

“Stuff it, bass turd.

LOL! ;-P”

“And I've got your beer waiting. Where's dessert? ;-)”

“I I roll it up around the polls and shove it in there. YOu have to roll it tight or it ain't going in though. Rolling it this way makes it much easier to set up since you don't have to fiddle to figure out which was is up or down or front or back.”

“I had it out in the office (after hours) seeing how it works. I rolled it up around the poles, but certainly didn't fold it in any one area, just kinda mushed it together.”

“beer and dessert wasn't really a good combo was it? After hauling the dutch oven into Sipsey in March I'm not sure I can do that again. If so, it'd be peach cobbler. I found a recipe for tiramassou back in teh day when I took backpacker mag though. Ahh, look at that peach cobbler, think I'll drink a bud. Just doesn't sound right.

I've had my tarptent 3 years now and haven't had any problems with stuffing. I sewed velcro on it instead of a zipper, but that should be the only difference. I put my poles in the center of my thermarest. I also put my rain gear in the stuff sack with the tent. That way all items likely to get wet and stay wet are together.”

“Just stuff it in. As it gets more groddy with use, it becomes less slick...I think the same thing happened to me.

Don't forget to put some seam sealer on the floor or you'll be sliding around all over the place.”

“well... beer and dessert can -- and HAS -- worked. Just depends on desire... and length of hike. :-)

Good idea on stufing. I have a Cabela's mattress and always roll it up around the Thermarest chair kit and its poles. So it'd be natural to put these poles in there, too. Plus, the Cabela's bag is good-sized, a little bigger than the corresponding Thermarest one.

Next question.... They gave a suggestion on seam sealing, mixing some GE silcone, I think, with mineral salts. Did you guys go with their advice, or use the regular old stuff?”

“I used McNeels (sp?) silicone sealer. I bought it from thru-hiker.com. I'm sure it's available other places. I seam sealed it once and that's it. No mixing, just straight from the tube.”

“But Snake Eyes, slippery/slickery could be fun, couldn't it?? *said with innocent look*
last edited: 11/11/04 5:46:31 PM”

“geesh lizs, your a reporter..do some research ;)”

“I AM researching.... hence, questions. lol!

I like to say I ask the stupid questions so YOU don't have to. ;-P LOL!
last edited: 11/11/04 5:48:58 PM”

“Speaking from a guy's perspective, you at least got to get a toe hold, lol.

Lizs - from your early posts, "cheap date...easy" and now seeing the advantage of a slippery floor...why don't you post a break in trip? Ha!
last edited: 11/11/04 5:53:53 PM”

“I made a silnylon stuff sack that's squatty, not long and thin. Fits in the pack better.

Dayhiker, I like your idea of all the wet stuff together.”

“I used the suggested GE Silicone II (or any other 100% silicone in clear) diluted with the mineral spirits and applied it with a sponge brush. IMHO is easier to apply then the McNeet? stuff. Also makes plenty extra to use to stripe your floor. Make sure you allow it proper time to cure.”

“I'm thinking this probably can't be done till spring? Cuz it's too cold out now and since it's not free-standing, how would you keep it upright otherwise.

DDX, how long to cure?”

“Just set it up inside your house.
Use chair legs or bed supports to tie off the lines or else drive a small nail into the carpet where needed. I do this all the time in my spare bedroom.

GE Silicone II (or any other 100% silicone in clear) diluted with the mineral spirits (the same as DDX used) can be used and I did for my first TarpTent. The second TarpTent I used SIL'NET silicone seam sealer. You may not even need to seal the ridgeline. Many people have not without leaks. You WILL need to add some seam sear strips to the silnylon floor. If you are ever on a slope, you will slide right out.
I would give the seam seal a couple of days to cure. If not, it will glue everything together.

lizs - email me your shipping address. I have something tarptent related for you.
last edited: 11/12/04 1:19:12 AM”

“liz - DDX is referring to stripping the floor of the tent with the seam sealer as well. This will provide friction between the floor and your mattress and hold you and gojo in place.

I hung mine tarptent from my garage door hangar system indoors and brushed it on that way and let it hang for a day or two. No problem.”

“LOL, Stovey!! When you sell that house, I'm ratting on your small-nail-hole-pocked floor in the spare bedroom.

dayhiker, no garage door contraption in the 1-BR apartment. But that Stovey, HE has all the answers. lol....

Yeah, I know what it said about putting the seam sealer on the floor. But shouldn't a person take it for a ride first, test it for its SL, slippery level?

oh geez, Ewker will be getting his today. Expect slippery report ratings by Monday!!”

“lizs, want to get slippy with me”

“Well since I'm younger and more active then these old fellers I have to say friction applied in the correct manner is a very good thing.

of course... if you have a Prolite sleeping pad those little bumps on the bottom won't cling to silicon stripes either... which is why I'm abandoning my 12.1oz prolite 3 for something else.”

“more active my butt, your to busy out buying shoes ;)”

“Actually i bought a new golf club last night :D”

“that can double as a trekking pole, nothing like a multi use item”

“mine just arrived. I will try to set it up this evening after I move the kayak around to make room for the tent”

“WOO HOO!”

“Liz gets excited Ewker is pitching a tent....”

“bring on that pink thingy babe”

“but will it stick to the slippery floor????”

“It won't if you keep it in a stuff sack.”

“we can make it sticky ;)”

“Sweeeet...super light.

Henry ships FAST.

Not real fond of the shape of the stuff sack, but I will have a go at set up/tear down first to see how it works. Maybe a more pack shaped stuffer.

I have a floorless silnylon tent (hex 2 with net curtain) and never really thought about that material as a floor. Maybe I will leave it alone and rig a quick release for high speed emergency exits.... mmm-maybe not the gription of the treated floor has to many applications.

I used Kenyons Seam Sealer 3 for seams on the hex. Very light as opposed to seam grip and the water based formula penetrates seams as good or better than others. havent had a leak yet.

Cant wait for a test run.
last edited: 11/12/04 11:53:25 AM”

“How's everyone doing that got the tarptents??

I still haven't set mine up and surely haven't seam-sealed it yet? (did I mention "Winter storm warning," with 4-8" snow expected here??? ugggh)”

“Went to Henrys website.
Saw tent.
Nice.”

“I tried to set mine up in the living room. It took up more room than I had esp with the kayak laying there. I do think I can do it but I have to move some furniture around.”

“My Virga 2 will be shipped tomorrow and should be here Wed/Thurs. Just in time to seam seal it, give it a trial run and leave for the AT.”