Bushwalk Australia

I'm looking at buying a secondhand Tarptent scarp 1, but it doesn't come with cross poles. I've emailed TT, but I'm not hopeful of a response before I go inspect it.

How much snow/exposure would the tent handle without them?

Can anyone tell me roughly how long they are so I can price some? I'm guessing around 3.5 metres? (or even better link some so I can be lazy)

They are :
144 in / 3.7 m (8.6mm) = Bowfin 1S, Double Moment, Rainbow / Double Rainbow, Scarp 1 crossing pole, Scarp 2 arch pole
$22 USD x 2 , around $25 for postage.
(under Extras :https://www.tarptent.com/product/aluminum-arch-crossing-pole/)
I have only had snow on my Scarp and a mate's Scarp 2 with the extra poles. I would think that about 10-15cm of our wet snow would be OK without the X poles IF you have the tent nice and taut beforehand.

Thanks for being polite about it Franco, not sure how i missed that on the website.

Hi Drakkar,

I've used a Scarp 1 (which was Franco's, btw) without the crossing poles in both windy++ and snowy conditions. It got pummelled for 36 hours with me in it on the Western Arthurs, with strong winds and rain, with no major issues. It got about 20cm of snow unexpectedly on it on another trip. I had to push the snow off the roof, from the inside, a few times during the night, as others did in their tents. But it held up just fine. I'd take the crossing poles if I was using it in winter, and tend to take my Akto if I'm expecting really strong winds (the weights are pretty equivalent if I take the extra poles). I do like the Scarp, but wish it had a stronger, more waterproof floor. It's still a good tent, though, and I'm glad I got it.

The crossing poles also make the Scarp more stable in strong winds.

Tortoise wrote:Hi Drakkar,

I've used a Scarp 1 (which was Franco's, btw) without the crossing poles in both windy++ and snowy conditions. It got pummelled for 36 hours with me in it on the Western Arthurs, with strong winds and rain, with no major issues. It got about 20cm of snow unexpectedly on it on another trip. I had to push the snow off the roof, from the inside, a few times during the night, as others did in their tents. But it held up just fine. I'd take the crossing poles if I was using it in winter, and tend to take my Akto if I'm expecting really strong winds (the weights are pretty equivalent if I take the extra poles). I do like the Scarp, but wish it had a stronger, more waterproof floor. It's still a good tent, though, and I'm glad I got it.

Thanks, gives me enough confidence. Not many of my walks in the next couple of years will have that level of exposure.

A cheap well used scarp 1 is now in my possession. Slight upgrade from my ever trusty tarp.