Tarptent Notch

[Dale]

Tarptent released a new one person tent this year - the Notch. I decided this shelter was for me as it combined a number of elements which made two of my existing tents redundant. I took it for a spin last weekend and am very happy. So, to the details - the tent is a single person double wall tent with the option of a mesh or partial solid inner. It sets up with trekking poles, although you can order poles from Tarptent. The weight is 740g for the standard unit - haven't weighed mine yet, but imagine the partial solid inner adds some minor weight.

The tent can be pitched inner or outer only, and in standard configuration sets up as a single unit due to the inner being clipped to the fly. I particular like the design as it provides two large vestibules and double wall to boot in a light weight package that doesn't cost the earth. With four pegs its dead easy to set up and takes no time at all. I picked the option for the partial mesh inner to provide some more warmth and protection against sand: I plan to use this tent on the Larapinta trail this year.

I'll report back as the tent gets more field time...

[photohiker]

Thanks for the review Dale.

I've been looking at tent options that utilise walking poles and save a bit of weight and bulk as a result. Quite like the Notch and also considering the Stratospire1 for more casual base camp type trips. I'd like one of each please Stratospire1 is supposed to get a solid inner option in June.

Be interested to hear more after you get more time in it.

[Dale]

Here are a few pics of the Notch on the Larapinta Trail from last week. She was more than required for these conditions - no bugs and temps were no lower than -1 / - 2. Just a tarp alone would have sufficed. All went well except for a trekking pole failure at the beginning of the walk. A mechanism failed so the pole didn't extend to the length I needed. However this was easily fixed with a rock to elevate the pole.

I did appreciate the large vestibules and the semi solid mesh inner increased the temps inside the tent. Now I just need to remove the newly acquired 'dust' colour and she'll be back to new...

[Franco]

Hi Dale
Glad to know that it worked for you.
I see you made good use of rocks with the Pitch Lock..(end triangle)
Here is mine at Mt Stirling last week


and Hotham yesterday.

Not designed for snow but can do the job..
My intention was to see if it can handle the out of season snow you can get doing some of the longer US trails (like the PCT)

[Dale]

That's quite a bit of snow loading Franco !

Hi Dale
Glad to know that it worked for you.
I see you made good use of rocks with the Pitch Lock..(end triangle)

The ground was very hard and rocky in places so I used MSR ground hogs pinned with rocks which worked fine.

[Dreamer]

Thanks for the photos Dale. I am heading out to walk the whole of Larapinta next week...I have a TT Notch as well! Any tips for the trail? Would the Easton spike pegs that come with the Notch work OK? Did you have any particular trouble with Dingos at night?

[Dale]

Hi Dreamer - I'm jealous you're doing the whole trail

The ground is really a mixed bag and had everything from easy soil to very rocky and sandy so you'll need a full bag of tricks... If you can, grab some MSR Ground hogs to put in the mix, also take some guylines to connect to your poles so you can tie them off on trees / rocks as an alternative. The campsites that aren't at elevation are quite well sheltered. You might need to be more mindful if camping on the mountains - like Brinkley Bluff where there's more chance of strong winds.

Using pegs 'deadman' style or just parallel to the ground with rocks to anchor them worked pretty well. In the photo below is a typical campground where some of the stakes work well and some need rocks to support them. You'll also notice the hikers I met had a TT Stratospire. What are the chances ?

Tarptents on the Larapinta

The owners of the Stratospire had a combination of Easton Stakes and titanium stakes, some of the titanium stakes were trashed from the hard ground. Mind you, one of my MSR groundhogs didn't take too kindly to the ground either:

So definitely be mindful of the hard ground

Had no problems with Dingos myself. A hiker I spoke to had his food bag swiped when he wasn't looking by an enterprising Dingo. I was also advised to keep any footwear with leather inside your tent as the Dingos are apparently fans of leather boots. Go figure.

The cold weather this time of year causes fish to die as they accumulate some sort of microbe around their gills and the Dingos are having a field day with the belly up fish. So don't be surprised to meet some fishing Dingos...

Feel free to post or PM any other questions - I'm sure you'll have a ball !

[ninjapuppet]

do you think you could get away with a freestanding tent and not have it staked down on the laparinta?

[Dale]

You'd probably get away with it at lower elevation in sheltered sites but not on the ridges personally I'd always stake my tent.

[Dreamer]

Thanks for the advice Dale. I plan to walk Larapinta Trail from Redbank to Alice over 10 days (9 nights) at average of about 26km per day. One food drop at Ellery Creek. The 2 food bags (one for each half) will be about 2500g each.

My Current Gear List (for Larapinta). Formatting was messed up when copied here. Noticed my list by some coincidence is not dissimilar to yours Dale - checked it our via the geargrams link yesterday. I'm a tall skinny wimp, so I have worked hard to get my pack weight down. Feedback appreciated!
 
Sleeping   Weight (g)
  Sea to Summit Micro III Sleeping Bag 755
  Nemo Astro Air Insulated (540g non) 661
  STS Dry Bag 20L 88
  Tarptent Notch in bag (4 Easton pegs) 813
  Tyvek Groundsheet 87
Total   2404
Cooking    
  Gas (small) ? 164 (2nd cylinder in food drop)
  Jetboil Flash System 412
  Sea to Summit Cup 69
  Spare PolyCarb Spoon 10
  Titanium Folding Spoon 20
 
Total   675
Clothing Worn    
  Outdoor Research Short Gaiters 132
  OR Seattle Sombrero Hat + buff 121
  Salewa Firetail Hiking Shoes 950
  Socks/Undies 146
  Montane Convertible Pants 352
Shirt 181
Helinox FL120 Trekking Poles (Pair) 298
Total   2180
Clothing Carried    
  Montane Beanie + gloves 75
  Montane Minimus Pertex Shell 238
  Montane Nitro Down Jacket 377
HH Mid weight fleece 300
  Spare shirt 162
  Thermals Top and Bottom (sleeping) 407
  Socks/Undies (spare) - one 146
STS Bug Head Net 31
Total   1736
Misc
  4L Water Bladder (empty) 145
  Steripen Fits-all Prefilter 66
  Nalgene Small 93
  Gossamer Gear Mariposa 59L Pack 783
  First Aid Kit in dry bag 248
  Steripen Freedom 76
  STS Map Case 51
  Mammut Headlamp 77
  BG Pocket Knife 73
Mini Multitool with scissors 38
  Toilet Paper 50
  Toothbrush/Paste + Suncream 68
  Removed 0
  Batteries: 2XAA/ 3XAAA Lithium 52
  Spot Connect Satellite Tracker 137
  iPhone 4 in Lifeproof case 169
Power Rover 6000mAh 182
Total   2308
Food (1 day)    
  Breakfast x 1 - Cereal 100
  Lunch x 1 200
  Dinner x 1 - Store Bought Dehydrated 200
  Water 0
Total   500
From Skin Out   9803kg
Big 4 3099
Base Weight on back 7123 (plus food 2500g & water 2000g) = 11,623g

[Dale]

Dreamer - looks like a great list ! Not much to critique really Looks like we ended up with a similar base weight.

There are some sections of the trail with no water available at camp sites, so if you plan on camping at any of those you might want to add a 2L platypus so you can lug extra water. If you pick your campsites well there's no need for a ground sheet for the Notch unless you are using it to lay out items in camp. Given you have a steripen I'd consider taking purification tablets as a back up.

As discussed with the shelter it would be worth your while to take guylines and some extra stakes.

[Dreamer]

Cheers Dale,
Aquatabs in first aid kit - but I find steripen freedom pretty reliable so far (it's rechargeable using a power pack I carry for it & iPhone)
Will buy 4 MSR groundhogs (if I can find them locally) & take 2 extra guidelines
I like having a groundsheet...makes packing each morning easier.
I have 4.5l water capacity (500ml nalgene + 4l STS wine bladder) - I thought maybe enough even for an overnight without water?? eg @ waterfall gorge I usually only carry 2l when water is readily available at campsite.
You may have noticed I currently like Montane stuff - great quality at low weight and slim fit suits me. I'll check out that 65g wind-shirt you used.

[Dale]

I went through 2L each day walking, and I was only doing 15km days and at camp I used another 1.5L - rehydrating and cooking. So I found 6L was necessary for two days. It's a very dry climate so you may find yourself drinking more than normal.

[Dreamer]

Good point...well made. I might switch the 0.5l nalgene for a 2l big zip platypus with tube just to be on the safe side (giving me total 6l capacity). Although, I can top up with water at maintained supply points every 15km or so. See my proposed itinerary post in the SA/NT walks section under Larapinta end to end in May (I'm doing it in August but I figured the topics were connected).

[photohiker]

Franco,





How long are you making your side guylines? Did you attach with a loop over the top of the pole, or lower below the basket?

[Franco]

Hi Michael
My side guylines tend to be 6' long.
Probably in that picture the guyline was attached to the pole like this :

but I also have had the guyline attached to the grosgrain ribbon that holds the grommet.
From next year the Notch will have 2 guyout points like the ones on the Strato Spire.
Like this :

Franco

[Strider]

Where is the Pitchloc in the top pic?

[photohiker]

Where is the Pitchloc in the top pic?

Collapsed underneath. Franco was demonstrating a high wind setup on BPL where I pinched the pic from...

[photohiker]

Hi Michael
My side guylines tend to be 6' long.
Franco

Thanks for the info Franco, much appreciated.

Will there be an opportunity to have the Guyout points added to existing Notches?, looks like a good idea.

[Strider]

Hi Michael
My side guylines tend to be 6' long.
Franco

Thanks for the info Franco, much appreciated.

Will there be an opportunity to have the Guyout points added to existing Notches?, looks like a good idea.

I emailed Henry about this a few weeks ago. Tarptent can do this free of charge, plus add extra tie offs around the bottom of the fly if desired.

[Franco]

I was going to add them to mine but then decided that it works for me having the guyline through the vent so I won't bother.
If you like I can send you a couple of Line Locks and a piece of grosgrain ribbon so that you can do it yourself or get a sewer to do it for you.
( a lot cheaper than sending the tent to and from...)

[Strider]

Sorry I was talking about if purchasing a new Notch. Not if you had it already.

[photohiker]

No Worries Franco, I will try the through the vent option first and see how we go.

Cheers!

[Greenie]

Does the Notch need sealing?

[Strider]

Does the Notch need sealing?

Yes. But Tarptent can do it for you (US$25).

[etrangere]

Great photos Dale.

I''ve done plenty of camping on rocky ground around WA & NT and usually the MSR groundhogs pegs have held up pretty well. If the ground is esp hard try the MSR ultralight needle pegs. One of the reasons I love my MSR Hubba is that its freestanding and can get away with 2 pegs, after yrs of setting up tents on rocky ground I would only ever use/buy a freestanding tent in the future.

[photohiker]

No Worries Franco, I will try the through the vent option first and see how we go.

And done. I used some 2.2mm x 2m zing-it and spliced a locked brummel on the pole end and fitted a small Line-Lok at the peg end.

Also read somewhere about the convenience of hanging the pack from the trekking poles. Worth trying. Splicing some 25cm dog-bones to suit out of 1.7mm Zing-it.

And done. Used McDonald Brummel loop splices.