Tarptent Stratospire

maddogs

maddogs

Ultralighter
cathyjc said:
That is exactly the same as my experience (on the Howff) - with wee pinprick holes in same areas. Same solution.
Your photo is better than mine tho' :thumbsup: :whistling:.
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(yeah, embarrassingly big photos! :oops: )
Interesting it's not just this one tent then... do you think it's a potential point of failure in the material when it's next under strain (is my tent going to go all @gixer on me in the next strong wind???), or is it only something that needs patching to keep it watertight and/or stop it running?
 
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cathyjc

cathyjc

Thru Hiker
maddogs said:
(yeah, embarrassingly big photos! :oops: )
Interesting it's not just this one tent then... do you think it's a potential point of failure in the material when it's next under strain (is my tent going to go all @gixer on my in the next strong wind???), or is it only something that needs patching to keep it watertight and/or stop it running?
Click to expand...

No idea. I've not been out in mine sinceI patched it. I'm not expecting much trouble with water ingress and I don't camp in storms ....... :angelic: (- at least not if I can help it).
I'm hoping for a load more nights out before it isn't useable anymore. I've plenty DCF scraps and tape I can use to do more patches.
 
JKM

JKM

Thru Hiker
Hmm, those photos make me slightly nervous.

Is there any pre-emptive reinforcement or patching that I could do on a Li tent that would prolong it's longevity?

Do tape reinforcements actually add strength?
 
Charlie83

Charlie83

Thru Hiker
JKM said:
Hmm, those photos make me slightly nervous.

Is there any pre-emptive reinforcement or patching that I could do on a Li tent that would prolong it's longevity?

Do tape reinforcements actually add strength?
Click to expand...

I was the same initially, then I thought, 140 nights, that's probably 4 years (at least) use for me, happy with that, panic over:D
 
JKM

JKM

Thru Hiker
Charlie83 said:
I was the same initially, then I thought, 140 nights, that's probably 4 years (at least) use for me, happy with that, panic over:D
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It's over a decade of use for me, but I do have a tendency to camp in storms with alarming regularity...

I would say I just won't take the Li when @gixer is around, thus preserving it and lengthening it's lifespan, but based on the last year I can't actually blame him for all freak weather phenomena any more :sorry:
 
maddogs

maddogs

Ultralighter
JKM said:
Do tape reinforcements actually add strength?
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I don't know...it seems to be the laminate sheet "disappearing" between the intact Dyneema fibers. I thought the tape might at least stop that propagating like a pulled thread....Given that some DCF tents are actually glued together, I am hoping the sticky patch will add strength too.

@cathyjc theorized that it's something to do with a steep gradient between high reinforced/stiff areas and the normal material. Possibly to do with friction/moving strain. It's certainly occurring at these points on my tent and not elsewhere in the panels. Presumably, the tape will act as another layer of fabric and reduce that gradient, so may be applied proactively it would help?

It did stand up to two very windy nights (60mph+), though I've no idea if this was when the damage occurred. I am impressed by how stable and strong the tent is; the guyline failed before anything else! Given how easy it is to patch with tape, my experience wouldn't put me off buying another DCF shelter (though budget might!)
 
cathyjc

cathyjc

Thru Hiker
maddogs said:
@cathyjc theorized that it's something to do with a steep gradient between high reinforced/stiff areas and the normal material. Possibly to do with friction/moving strain. It's certainly occurring at these points on my tent and not elsewhere in the panels. Presumably, the tape will act as another layer of fabric and reduce that gradient, so may be applied proactively it would help?
Click to expand...

That was the conclusion I came to, too. If /when I make a new Howff I'm thinking that reinforcment patches at tie outs, etc should be of a lighter weight DCF (?0) and much bigger. - To spread the load as far as possible and to reduce the difference in flexibilty/strength between the main panel and the reinforcement.
 
maddogs

maddogs

Ultralighter
cathyjc said:
That was the conclusion I came to, too. If /when I make a new Howff I'm thinking that reinforcment patches at tie outs, etc should be of a lighter weight DCF (?0) and much bigger. - To spread the load as far as possible and to reduce the difference in flexibilty/strength between the main panel and the reinforcement.
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Perhaps for e.g. a mid-panel guy attachment, a series of concentric circles of decreasing diameter might do the job....or of course, that might just generate loads of separate gradients?
For pole tip areas where something really substantial might be required, I can't imagine this easing the stiffness gradient sufficiently. Maybe a series of different materials; brass eyelet, cordura, ripstop nylon, 1oz dynema, 0.51oz dynema...

Makes me realize that my daydreams of MYOG tent and pack are further beyond my technical knowledge and capabilities than I'd thought! :confused: Mr. Shires can continue to have my cash instead!
 
Litehiker13

Litehiker13

Hiker
I have a silnylon SS1 which I’ve had since 2017. On the TT website current pitching video at the end there’s a brief reference to pitching in a tight space by flattening the vestibules against the tent. I’m not sure how this would be done without having flappy silnylon not properly secured. Am I missing something? How would it hold up in windy conditions? At the moment, the SS is my shelter of choice for the Pennine Way later this year.
 
maddogs

maddogs

Ultralighter
Litehiker13 said:
I have a silnylon SS1 which I’ve had since 2017. On the TT website current pitching video at the end there’s a brief reference to pitching in a tight space by flattening the vestibules against the tent. I’m not sure how this would be done without having flappy silnylon not properly secured. Am I missing something? How would it hold up in windy conditions? At the moment, the SS is my shelter of choice for the Pennine Way later this year.
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As long as you have a guyline from the pole tip it should stand up fine...If you need rain protection, peg the bottom of each door flat along the length of the tent with the two doors overlapping. It'll still flap a bit but should be OK for a mild breeze. I can't imagine where on the PW this would be needed though?
p10_0904668247535548005515.jpg
 
Litehiker13

Litehiker13

Hiker
I had a very swift reply from Henry Shires on this:
“The current SS 1 has a clip system for holding the vestibule fabric flattened but you can do the same thing by just staking each door half down at ground level. Either way, the apex guy line is what then stabilizes the tent.”
I think this differs from Maddogs’ reply but how is each door staked down half way? I’ll have to try it out and maybe sew on a staking point half way down each door, being careful not to interfere with the zip operation.
I agree that I shouldn’t need to do this on the Pennine Way.
 
Mole

Mole

Thru Hiker
Litehiker13 said:
I had a very swift reply from Henry Shires on this:
“The current SS 1 has a clip system for holding the vestibule fabric flattened but you can do the same thing by just staking each door half down at ground level. Either way, the apex guy line is what then stabilizes the tent.”
I think this differs from Maddogs’ reply but how is each door staked down half way? I’ll have to try it out and maybe sew on a staking point half way down each door, being careful not to interfere with the zip operation.
I agree that I shouldn’t need to do this on the Pennine Way.
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Might he not mean: open the zip right up, and stake ( loop at bottom of zip) each door halfway along the length of the inner. One door goes past the other?
 
maddogs

maddogs

Ultralighter
Litehiker13 said:
I had a very swift reply from Henry Shires on this:
“The current SS 1 has a clip system for holding the vestibule fabric flattened but you can do the same thing by just staking each door half down at ground level. Either way, the apex guy line is what then stabilizes the tent.”
I think this differs from Maddogs’ reply but how is each door staked down half way? I’ll have to try it out and maybe sew on a staking point half way down each door, being careful not to interfere with the zip operation.
I agree that I shouldn’t need to do this on the Pennine Way.
Click to expand...
I think the "half' refers to each of the two big triangles that zip together to close the "whole" door. Not "half-way" along each triangle. I.e. HS, @Mole and I are saying the same thing (I think!)
 
Ayrshire Alps

Ayrshire Alps

Summit Camper
I'm sorely tempted by a Stratospire 2, currently use a Lunar solo on my ownsome, and a Lanshan 2 with my wife, neither are particularly amenable to wintry conditions (wanted a hex V4A, but at 6'1", Bob advised against), and it would make sense to flog them while they're still relatively new and got for one of these to use in both instances.
 
M

Myles21

Section Hiker
Been using an SS2 with my wife and we love it. Very roomy and livable inside with great headroom and big vestibules that can be opened up completely on both sides. Haven’t used it in very inclement/wintry conditions so can’t attest to how it performs on that front. Others on here can probably give their experience on that. For the weight, especially when carried by two people, it’s a real winner as far as I’m concerned. If you’re feeling flush the Li version is even lighter.
95DB9E42-8CF6-458C-957F-1BA4AE508912.jpeg
 
T

turkeyphant

Section Hiker
Has anyone got pics of the Li solid inner compared to the mesh inner to compare? Is it solid all the way to the top or only halfish?
 
Robert P

Robert P

Thru Hiker
I’ve been considering a Stratospire 1 for some time now: to have (mainly for winter) a 1-person shelter with a solid, larger inner to supplement my X-Mid. The only reason I’ve not bought one is that Tarptent have not had any solid inners in stock for a few months now.

However, I have wondered about the headroom and steepness of the walls at the ends. The X-Mid is outstanding in that respect, with very steep walls at the ends and excellent headroom. I also used a Notch for some time, and while not quite the same headroom the pitchlock corners and length of inner mean it is sufficient. How does the Stratospire 1 compare with the Notch in that way for headroom at the ends, for someone about 5ft 10/11 – any likelihood of the inner fabric touching my face when lying down?
 
Mole

Mole

Thru Hiker
Robert P said:
I’ve been considering a Stratospire 1 for some time now: to have (mainly for winter) a 1-person shelter with a solid, larger inner to supplement my X-Mid. The only reason I’ve not bought one is that Tarptent have not had any solid inners in stock for a few months now.

However, I have wondered about the headroom and steepness of the walls at the ends. The X-Mid is outstanding in that respect, with very steep walls at the ends and excellent headroom. I also used a Notch for some time, and while not quite the same headroom the pitchlock corners and length of inner mean it is sufficient. How does the Stratospire 1 compare with the Notch in that way for headroom at the ends, for someone about 5ft 10/11 – any likelihood of the inner fabric touching my face when lying down?
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Well, an SS1 is just a narrower SS2 which we have, so ...
Steeper, so lots more headroom than a Notch when lying down. You are slightly closer to the ends than a Notch, so unless well over 6' it's not an issue. And it's wider. So roomier than an XMid inner.

I'd love an SS1 for winter too. But really couldn't justify it for the amount of use it would get. ( Unless I sell some shelters:cautious:)
 
Robert P

Robert P

Thru Hiker
Mole said:
Well, an SS1 is just a narrower SS2 which we have, so ...
Steeper, so lots more headroom than a Notch when lying down. You are slightly closer to the ends than a Notch, so unless well over 6' it's not an issue. And it's wider. So roomier than an XMid inner.

I'd love an SS1 for winter too. But really couldn't justify it for the amount of use it would get. ( Unless I sell some shelters:cautious:)
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Thanks - not sure I really need this, may not be considering if the X Mid solid inner were available. Nevertheless I suspect I would enjoy a little extra internal space (and possibly storm worthiness) in winter.
 
Mole

Mole

Thru Hiker
I've only used the XMid in moderate winds, and it didn't budge as a structure, but I was disappointed at how much the windward end panel stretched and bulged inwards under wind pressure. To touch the inner net, which is some distance away normally. Silpoly seems to physically stretch more than dry Silnylon - this was apparent on the Trekkertent Drift too.
 
Robert P

Robert P

Thru Hiker
Mole said:
I've only used the XMid in moderate winds, and it didn't budge as a structure, but I was disappointed at how much the windward end panel stretched and bulged inwards under wind pressure. To touch the inner net, which is some distance away normally. Silpoly seems to physically stretch more than dry Silnylon - this was apparent on the Trekkertent Drift too.
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I've made similar observations: the large panels in particular can bulge significantly under wind pressure, but overall I pitch it foot end into the wind and despite some quite heavy winds it hasn't really bothered me. I'd be more cautious with the 2P version. The overall structure is absolutely rock solid and the corner stakes don't seem under much stress: but presume the Stratospire should be stronger in wind, as long as the pitchlock ends are properly secured
 
Robert P

Robert P

Thru Hiker
I've been having a closer look at my new Stratospire 1 and was surprised to see that the corner tie outs (except the pitchlock ends) just have a circular ring with elastic attached, rather than a lineloc adjuster. Has this arrangement proved adequate in strong winds (and do people sometimes peg through the hoop rather than elastic?) or is it worth fixing on some linelocs? I'm doing my usual modifications to the apex tie outs and pitchlock ends.
 
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