Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Power Equipment & RV => Topic started by: BLUEBULLS on July 15, 2010, 06:51:41 AM

Title: Tarptent
Post by: BLUEBULLS on July 15, 2010, 06:51:41 AM: does anybody have any experience with "tarptent" ?

looks too good to be true, super light, roomy, inexpensive, etc.

I want some stuff but I'm concerned about the quality.
Title: Re: Tarptent
Post by: chevysquid on July 15, 2010, 08:09:00 AM: Never heard of them, have a link?
Title: Re: Tarptent
Post by: Ray on July 15, 2010, 08:44:38 AM: They look ok for the price. http://www.tarptent.com/products.html (http://www.tarptent.com/products.html)
Title: Re: Tarptent
Post by: JPhelps on July 15, 2010, 08:50:02 AM: My buddy just bought the moment from Henry Shires tarptents. I got the chance to try it out last night.

It has a ton of room and I am 6'4" and 220. Tons of space in the vestibules. Sets up quick. Great ventilation and solid design. Ultra Light for a free standing tent.

The only downfalls I can see is that with the good ventilation comes colder temperatures in the tent. When you get the tent you also have to seal all the seams yourself (with a silicon caulking/mineral spirit mix). I have also read very few reviews where the tent will mist during heavy heavy rainstorms.

Overall this tent is a great design. Some of his other tents are even lighter, but require hiking poles. I think his tents are the best out there for summer through mid october.
Title: Re: Tarptent
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on July 15, 2010, 08:57:43 AM: For years my summer wilderness "tent" was a $1 disposable 12x10 painters plastic drop cloth and 20' of parachute cord. Set up between trees with the paracord perpendicular to the prevailing winds, with rocks or logs to hold down the sides, the 12' length was a good substitute for end flaps. They weigh just a few oz., and while I carried a spare "tent" just in case, don't ever recall using one. Had them stand up fine to some very high winds and heavy rains.
Title: Re: Tarptent
Post by: Ray on July 15, 2010, 09:05:19 AM: Since my last tent was destroyed I have been using a tarp that I got from Fred Meyer with parachute chord. Just the last two weekends it has been working well and worked all last year. The only other addition I have is that I like to carry bug netting for when the bugs get real bad. That's pretty inexpensive too.

Even with those successes I can understand the want for a lightweight tent which does not get any cool draft of air or sidewinded rain invading into the sleeping area.
Title: Re: Tarptent
Post by: halflife65 on July 15, 2010, 10:44:54 AM: I've read some good things about them. A lot of people like them.

Practicalbackpacking.com/forums

Lots of tree huggers but some good advice on lightweight backpacking.
Title: Re: Tarptent
Post by: BLUEBULLS on July 15, 2010, 11:13:18 AM: I'm not talking tarps, I shouldn't be so vague I guess...Tarptent is the manufacturer of these tents...
www.tarptent.com (http://www.tarptent.com)

check this website out....
Title: Re: Tarptent
Post by: romaknows on July 17, 2010, 12:55:39 PM: I have a rainbow( I know, I know :chuckle:), and i love it 2 lbs , and if i had to i could fit 2 people in it, full bug mesh , very roomy for i person and gear.Not a good choice for late season.A very hard rain will (mist) through a tiny bit , great for september high hunts.
Title: Re: Tarptent
Post by: ICEMAN on July 17, 2010, 08:12:07 PM: Quote from: romaknows on July 17, 2010, 12:55:39 PM
I have a rainbow( I know, I know :chuckle:)...,

Not that there is anything wrong with it! :chuckle:
Title: Re: Tarptent
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on July 19, 2010, 11:08:24 AM: That's a lot of money for 'non-waterproof' cover.

-Steve
Title: Re: Tarptent
Post by: high country on July 19, 2010, 12:27:17 PM: I have used a betamid and now use a megalight.......floors are for people with with serious afliction to the thought of a bug landing on them.....never been a problem for me. I love it. I did have a mouse crawl across my face on mc gregor mtn.....that was uncool.

tarp tents and floorless tents rock. they let you not sweat boots and spills. the forest floor dries rediculously fast. if you camp in snake country or on sphangum bogs, they are likely not for you, but for the forest hunter looking for a lot of ten for a little weight.......it can't be beat. same for a alcohol stove. 5oz is all you haul for 3 days of cooking.
Title: Re: Tarptent
Post by: Ironhead on July 19, 2010, 07:09:32 PM: This is a pic of A Tarptent I spent a week in at 7000 feet in Idaho the last week of October. This is an early season tent, I would not want to be in it in a heavy snow storm. It is more water resistant than you would think. I spent a night in a western Colorado thunder storm that lasted 6 hours and never got wet, I was elevated by a Big Agnes Air core sleeping pad and not directly on the ground.
I really like this tent for early season spike camps and backpacking.
Title: Re: Tarptent
Post by: carpsniperg2 on July 19, 2010, 07:25:36 PM: intresting never seen one before