This Tent is So Good It's BAD!
I may have finally found the perfect tent. The perfect combination of weight, floor space, and headroom. There is only one problem.
Tarptent Dipole LI 2 Person Tent: geni.us/25Bjwzi
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Tarptent Dipole LI 2 Person Tent: geni.us/FPm4
Have you seen the Xmid 2+? They claim to have the lightest tent for two wide pads. It is around 650 though.
It's been said before, but I'll say it again: Thank you for the metric conversions!
Same 👍✨
“My tent weighs two cups…”
@@noeraldinkabam How many hogsheads is that?
"I want a backpack that I can carry 35 Australian feet"
@@noeraldinkabam I imagined a tent holding two glasses of water of differing fullness like an old school scale ⚖️ to determine which one is heavier
But I totally believe that cost is the "one problem." 😂 As the gear designer said, "High quality, light weight, and cheap... pick any two."
Yeah, not falling for the "gotta be lighter" scam, just so they can rip us off for over a buck a gram selling literally as little as possible. Notice nobody's even bothered looking for ways to make water lighter. You want to sell to us Texas backpackers, get us some water that's no more than a pound a gallon and then we'll believe it's about weight reduction rather than just finding excuses to drive up the cost.
Spot on.
@@kd5nrh ummm i mean, you can't do anything about water but you can carry a filter with you i guess
@@sophie_a With filter that'll be at least 1000L for 150g (260 gallons for 0.3lbs), way beyond that guy's request 😅
Paria Bryce 2P is $169 and pretty light weight.
Wow $800 was a shock to hear. I suppose it's true no matter the product, be that a tent, a CPU or a car. We always pay 2x more for the number 1 item with a 10-15% increase in performance over the number 2 item. That 10-15% improvement can be everything you're looking for though, so it's really a balancing act on if the features are worth it for you.
There is a difference though - This is just a decent design using 800g of mostly nylon whereas the other 2 examples are ridiculously high-tech items. Backpacking stuff is generally just way overpriced for what they are.
@@Tyiriel the people who are in the market for this kind of gear have the time to mess around in the woods for no other purpose than "it's fun". They want to simulate having no choice but to wander through the woods to hunt or "nature walk" only with several thousand dollars of gear. Basically, they are gullible rich assholes that will happily eat up overpriced goods like these which can be bought from the factory they are made in for 1/3 of the price in china or nam or mexico because they are made in sweatshops.
800 usd , I must laugh because my tend would cost 750.
i wouldnt' even give the 1x price of $400 for this thing.
I'd love to see a longer term review and some comparison videos. It's really too bad you'll have to send it back and we won't get a better idea on if the tent is worth it over other options.
I’m rewatching your recent tent vid. Thanks for sharing.
Yeah, you guys both do so much for these companies, surely there's a ton of people who buy based on your recommendations?? There's no way I'd want to drop $800 without someone I trust doing a long term review? I love the ventilation. Nothing else looks nearly as good. Very cool looking tent, but I'd need a lot more comfort in the design and durability (on actual hiking trips) before I committed that sort of money.
I recently opened up my wallet for the Tarptent Double Rainbow Li and I’m happy as a pig in sh*t. I use it in winter and zero regrets about the price. If a person knows what they need… they don’t need much user reviews.
The Geordie Wildcamper is putting Durston X-Mid through its paces.
I think Harry’s probably got the right idea in mind taking one $800 tent and sending it around the KZhead block. I think he’d make more in his investment that way then having one person attempt to do a long-term review.
I use the Double Rainbow Li for me and the wife. Two wide pads easy and comfortable.
The regular (non pro) Xmid accommodates 2 wide pads. I considered the DIpole Li, but you can buy almost THREE of them for the same money. No clue why the Xmid Pro was made smaller than the original Xmid. At some point lightweight gear gets as expensive as just buying a damn horse or lama and taking all the stuff you want...
Agree that the Durstan Xmid (non-pro) has an interior width of 52” fitting two 25” pads and is only $300! And it’s in stock. It might be a little tighter and perhaps less head room, but super great deal. I’d love to see a comparison with the Durstan Xmid regular version. Also think it’s going to hold up better in wind.
If you use an alpaca the price can be offset by harvesting wool
@@andtothewestamerica this right here is a smart man.
My guess is market forces of hitting the 1 pound point re Durstan. We I upgraded last fall for an international mountain trek, my choices were the Xmid Pro 1 and the Dipole1 Li. The Dipole was available just in time and the Xmid wasn’t. Both options look quite viable to me- there are some features I like in both. That said, I am liking the dipole1 very much and think it will serve me very well for some time. Now the alpaca idea- the main hurdle is convincing the Park Ranger it is a dog…
The Xmid 2 looks great, unfortunately not available here in Europe.
Frankly I never understood how 20 inch width can be sufficient for hikers. I completely support the idea that 2 person tent should support 2 25 inch wide pads
They have their place, I love my Sea to Summit Insulated Ultralight Air Sleeping Mat (21.5” wide) because it can fit INSIDE my sleeping bag...perfect for hammock camping, much less bulky than an underquilt!
im 6'1 230ish and i use a 20 inch pad to cut weight cause the extra 5 inches on the pad is useless to me
@@rangoo8136 That’s odd. Don’t you move at night or sleep on the side sometime with knees pulled up some? Or do numerous other things/movements where parts of your body would touch the cold ground with narrow pad? Or you just lay on your back, put your hands on your chest like in a casket, close your eyes and wake up in the morning in the same position?
@@kevinstarski1598 i have my backpack on the left side of me for my left arm to rest on and sleep a little off center towards the backpack for my right arm to stay on the pad plus my winter bag is too narrow for my arms to hit the floor it kinda acts like a hammock for my arms and im a back sleeper and i dont move at all when i go to sleep
@@bnjmz Exactly. Not necessarily knocking the existence of 20 inch pads, but just like you said, default, like there is a regular and wide instead of regular and narrow.
Great review. I think you sold me on this one. I have been looking for a tent a bit bigger than my Duplex so I can take my bride backpacking and have her enjoy herself. I can easily justify the price. I just think of how many nights in a hotel it costs. It only costs 3 to 4 nights in a hotel and unlike you, I get to keep it for more nights. lol. And I would like to see more on it from you.
I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your objectivity. It is great to give an honest assessment, even though you have no financial incentive. Thank you so much. This builds a lot of credibility.
Your review of the Xmid matched my own experiences, and I ended up with the Dipole for exactly all the reasons you listed. So happy with it!
I started watching this by accident but started really enjoying it because of your personality and the production value! Good work, I hope they give you the tent..... They should really give you the tent......... Tarptent, Give him the tent!!!
Great vid and thanks for giving Tarptent recognition. Have always felt that they just don't get the credit they deserve. VERY innovative products.
Very nice of you to include metric units! That way I can grasp everything
Thank you for all of the great info every week! ♥️
It really is incredible what Henry Shires has produced in all of the tents he designed. I am also happy top 10 does not have an affiliate program. There is no need to have people give biased reviews of these great tents.
I've never understood the obsession with light weight for regular backpacking. An extra 2 or 3lbs is barely noticeable, and the increase in comfort is huge.
Glad you finaly found this gem👑! If I 've saw this before buying my Triplex, it would have been my first choice. I really love the side windows making it "a room with a view"
I LOVE my Dipole LI2!! I have size 14 feet and with a 3” pad and my quilt my feet constantly brush against the ceiling of my Duplex. I also purchased the DuplexL but it did not really help. Found the Tarptent and I have no contact with the tent ceiling!! The additional room also takes away the claustrophobic feeling at the end of the tent where my head lies. The windows are icing on the cake. FOR ME, this tent was worth the price!
I dont like camping or hiking ir anything like that, but youtube recommend your channel and im enjoying it
Great post my friend. I always enjoy tuning into your newest post and getting your perspective.
I'm an X-Mid (not pro) owner and I love it! The Dipole is the only tent that makes me want to upgrade but the price keeps it out if my budget. The weight and space are awesome but the windows are the coolest feature for me. Great review and a strongly worded email was sent on your behalf...lol
Light tebt and collapsible items always equal fun
I considered the Dipole Li but went with the Double Rainbow Li, the arch pole makes it so incredibly stable and it has an incredible amount of head and foot room while fitting two wide pads
SCAM ALERT 👆🏻Do not contact that number! ⛺️
same, I had the stratospire, but using trekking poles for my tent is just not for me.. and it weighed pretty much the same (with poles)
Why with the see through material. That's hot garbage for a 2 person tent. Next to no privacy. I don't understand this. Most of these tents are around the 2 pound mark, is 4 pounds really that big a deal
I guess the only way to sleep with two people at 40” is in a head to foot configuration, so your overhanging body goes into the other’s foot space instead.
I truly, dearly appreciate you putting the metric measurements in the corner, it really helps me understand what you're saying!
You’re welcome! Thanks for watching
We have a tarp tent and have had it the last 5 years. We LOVE its roominess and its easy to care for
how neat! We are huge channel fans, you make such great logical arguments for how you adventure and so practical for everyone
The Double Rainbow Li is $649 vs the SilPoly Double Rainbow at $349. And its 840g all in vs 1083g. So, not even a *huge* weight saving. And its bulkier. I am hoping there's a SilPoly Dipole 2 on its way, as well. It would be a much more approachable price on what is a really ingenious design.
This seems like an argument FOR the regular X-Mid 2P, which is 52" wide and runs $300 at this time. Plus it's incredibly storm-worthy!
I have this tent :)
@@totoroben it's a fantastic tent!!
Really helpful review, thanks! I twould be great to have a "stress test" review of this tent. A couple nights is one thing, but to really earn that price tag, I'd want to know how it holds up on, say a 2-week backpacking trip in variable weather.
I've had a couple of Tarptents for at least 15 years, and hike through the Sierras and into Arizona. One of them is constructed of ripstop, the other of Dyneema. Both are doing just fine, thank you. My only concern with the Dipole would be under windy conditions, particularly where getting the thing set up is concerned. When I know that I'm going to be facing lots of wind and rain, I usually carry a Stephenson Warmlite 2, which is a 2.75 lb 2-person tent (I mostly use it for just one person) that currently goes for around $1200. It goes up completely dry (inside) and very quickly in brutal wind/rain conditions, and it's designed to handle extremely high winds.
I've seen people hike in tarptent LI shelters for months. They're good quality. Better than many competitors in fact. Zpacks expects a 5 -7 month use lifespan, or at least used to...
All the responses to this still do not negate the ACTUAL commenter's concern. For $800 a protect MUST be dependable and reliable, IF, a manufacturer is confident in their products then they'll want outside reviews and for people to PROVE to the mass it's worth the fortune. Joe Blow having a particular tent (not even this particular one) for 15yrs w "no issues" doesn't change the fact that ALL products have downsides and MOST variants don't knock it out of the park on the first try.. and for $800, it has to. It's too large of an investment. Which is EXCATLY why it's important for tests to be done on it's LONGEVITY and as the poster suggested, Stress Test be done for the review. In all fairness, I'd much rather a person reviewing a tent pay for the product and not be given it, I think regardless of intentions, you are much more inclined to give a higher or more gracious review than had you paid for it yourself. For larger channels, that is not a problem but this is a mid level tier channel w a smaller audience which will make it difficult without outside help ex. Patron supporters, (separate category sponsorships, ex NordVPN, Guardio, Anker etc) and of course donations. If you want a true review of a product it has to come from someone who 1) owns one and has had it for long enough to give an honest opinion and talk about it's caveats or 2) have a channel buy it and review it w stress test and being used on expended trips while most importantly being done no outside interference from the manufacturer or 3) throw your $800 at it and take a shot in the dark...
There's a saying in the construction field: _"Good, fast, cheap. Choose two"_ Same type of situation applies to tents. If you want perfection, you have to pay for it.
honestly, to almost anything product/service related.... Cars, cameras, advise from guides etc
Funny how the weight issue has evolved over the past few years. In 1989 I had a patrol course in the army. Four men formed a patrol and had a 3 man tent (1 man on guard, he doesn't need space in the tent). The tent weighed 11 kg (24.25 lbs) and could be divided into three packaging units. Sure, there were lighter civilian tents back then, but you couldn't spend the night in winter at 3500 meters (11482.94 feet) in the Alps. In general, the weight didn't bother us much, we had so much material (weapons, ammunition, radio, ammunition, food, ammunition, sleeping bag, ammunition, clothes and ammunition to lug around, it didn't make any difference anymore. But I had a lot of fun getting to know your experiences - thank you very much.
The way I have been setting up our ZPacks Duplex when its both me and my better half on the trail together is that I use one 25'' pad and one 20'' pad and I connect them with the thermarest coupling straps. Both sleeping pads are full rectangle so it really makes a contiguous and reasonably generous space. If you take the time to find some sticks and run the end wall guy lines out you can really open up the headroom on the Duplex as well. I bring Dyneema twine with and just use whatever is around to make the up and over angle and it really works well. The interior of the tent is filled side to side with sleeping pad and we find it quite comfortable. There's still room on the ends to place items, and if condensation might be an issue I just keep everything in the pack. We are both average build, I am 5' 9'' 165 pounds, so I do think that, that helps make it all fit. I use the Duplex wether it's just me or both of us. I've ditched my other tents at this point. As a solo tent the Duplex is a castle and works well enough for the two of us. If I was sharing the tent with someone that I didn't want to be cuddling next to then that would be a different story! But, it is usually just myself and my pup, and on occasion my better half and the pup, and he is small enough to not be an issue.
Great video, as always. I replaced a 25 year old 2 person Kelty tent with a Paria Arches 2P. I have been pleased so far but plan on buying a 3 person tent in the future too. I camp with 2 dogs but they are rather large so a 3 person would fit us better. I’ve had my eye on some Tarptent 3 person models so I appreciate the review just to see the quality. Thanks and keep up the great work.
Thanks for including metric measurements. 👍
So my take is everybody is getting to carried away with ultra light backpacking. Now if you are going to do a long through hike then I can understand. But for backpacking in general I want a good tent that can handle what mother nature can throw at it. I use an MSR zoic 2 person tent. Strong, robust handle the wind, rain, snow. It wieghs 4 pounds. Pretty light for all the protection it brings. Any way you do it get out and backpack. 🎒
Always appreciate your vid's, Stephen. Thanks.
I watch your videos from France and I really like them. a nice tent indeed. personally I think the panels are wide and that's probably a weakness in the wind. My tents: xmid 2-person (at the top), aeon li (I'm very satisfied except for the condensation), and Tarptent Notch (for more difficult weather conditions). Congratulations
I run the Notch solo which is very similar - i Love it!
Love my Tarptent. I have the Hogback for the whole fam damily plus doggo. Definitely going for the Dipole next
I found this video very interesting, even as someone who does wildly different camping. It's interesting seeing how different the mindset of backpacking is to the historical reenactment that I do. The contrast is humongous, with your having to worry about carrying weight where we in the SCA sometimes bring u-hauls for our week-long basecamp setups. The idea of what's a big tent is wildly different as well, where my current modern 8ftx12ft (2.4mx3.6m) tent is considered on the small end and is barely being enough space for my two-person camping needs, which includes a clothing rack, armor storage, a table to get ready, a bed, and any other stuff we need. I will agree that $800 for that tent is really expensive, while some historically-adequate mid-size canvas tents (like around the 12ftx14ft range) can be a grand or two.
Yeah my tent is a 12th century Anglo-Saxon Geteld, it's got an 11'x18' oval footprint and is 9' tall but it breaks down small enough to fit in the trunk of a car
@@powerup3005 Nice! That's what, a medium size tent by SCA standards? :P
Having to use a car defeats 90% of the reason I go camping. Now if I had a horse....
@@shinnam Lol I literally just preregistered for an upcoming camping event and one of the questions was if I'm "bringing my horse to War" (for their equestrian events but still pretty funny)😆
I love my Tarptent. I've had a Rainshadow 2 since 2009 and have taken it a lot of places. It weighs way less than most peoples' single man tent and fits 3 comfortably. Just make sure you pitch it the right direction into the wind and get the guy lines super tight!
I would gladly pay $800 for a tent like this if I was commonly sharing a tent but since most of my backpacking is done solo or with other solo backpackers I wouldn't be able to justify getting rid of the duplex which is lighter, CAN accommodate a 2nd person when needed (you can lower the poles to make more floor space), and is a palace for one person. Nice review though! I have always had an eye on Tarp Tent as they seem to have interesting ideas. I would like to know how well this one packs down though since some of their stuff packs weird (I think it was the Notch Li that couldn't fit horizontally in a backpack).
Greg,...check out the dipole 1 !! It'll fit in your pack with the shorter struts and WAY roomier than the Dup or Durston for only a small weight penalty
I have the StratoSpire Li, and it packs vertically due to the struts. You could take them out and pack separately but that’s a pain. Packing vertically is a pain, I prefer horizontally. I think TarpTent makes great tents with innovative designs. I have only had a few nights out in my tent and want to use it more.
If you are foolish enough to pay $800 for a two person tent, you need to be alone. Don't breed, stupidity must be removed from the gene pool
Bought a tarptent rainshadow back in 2004, and believe it or not it is still going good, testament to the build quality.
Nice.. I'm currently using a Ozark trail 3 person tent. 6lbs
I own a Tarptent Contrail - bout in 2010 I think, then bought a Stratospire 2 in 2013. They are both excellent - only issue is the weak clips and elastic in the corners for the tent to fly. But they have served me really well. Had Franco seam-seal the SS2 before delivery. Then spent 2 weeks camped up around Blue Lake over New Years with my wife, and it was awesome!. Have plenty of times used the SS2 fly, and the MSR Hubba Hubba inner as a team for hiking.....
I always enjoy your videos, no B.S. just facts. As a guy quickly closing in on 70 trips around the sun, I find the evolution of backpacking tents fascinating and at times laughable. I understand light weight for thru hikers, but for weekend warriors ( Or for us retired folks who prefer Tuesday-Thursday) I will carry my double wall. A few extra lbs is still quite manageable for this old guy. The money I save allows me a gourmet meal at a nice restaurant when I come off the trail Thursday afternoon. Life is good no crowds, peace & quiet and a jingle in my pocket. Thanks for another great video.
The area i hike in has tents stashed everywhere. I buy them cheap at goodwill and thrift stores. I will put a tent inside a tent, inside another tent. Depending on the season. I hate carrying a tent, it’s weight you can shed if you know where you are going and what is already there. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and expertise
Running metric conversions are appreciated! Thanks!
I remember camping in a "2 person" tent which was maybe a bit on the small side but adequate for two people to sleep in. However, we had both decent size backpacks and very limited room in the vestibule(? the extra space that often exists between inner and outer tents in conjunction with the doors) so we had to either have them beside us (leading to us having to lie closer together) or by our feet (leading to having to lie scrunched up)
I have the old Tarptent Squall 2. That this is awesome. Two can fit in it, but for one this thing is the Tasmahall.
The tents you seem to use all have what might be described as good ventilation. To me they look b(@@dy freezing! Could you do a similar comparison for something you would use 3/4 season where it's cold , wet and windy? Or out of your interest? I had a Mutha Hubba a few years ago for an autumn trip to Sweden but had to buy a more appropriate tent while there without flappy side vents that let the cold wind through.
You can close the vents which will block the wind. Then your sleeping bag or quilt should trap the heat. The airflow is needed to stop condensation which if your gear gets wet it won’t insulate you as well. So you want the airflow on cold and wet conditions.
@@anywhereroam9698 If you look at four season tents like from Hilleberg they have some ventilation to minimise condensation for sure, but nothing like what this has. Too much for wet and cold IMHO.
Plus, it's currently out of stock. That's always a good testimonial, in my book. Nice review. Thank you.
X-Mid Pro 2 is more 1.75 man tent… however the regular X-Mid 2 does fit 2 dbl wide pads, is dbl walled and only $300.
Dan Durston is gonna come on here and tell you three paragraphs about how you are wrong and how bad TarpTent is. Just wait….. lol
My dad taught me: 'gear is a person'. So a 2p tent, I treat as a 1p tent and a 3 is a 2. It has always treated me wel. Nowadays i tend to bivy bag + tarp if I'm by myself. ~400g+300g gives me a less then kg shelter for under $150. The best option for a brokie student like me, but bivvys certainly aren't for everyone.
That’s why I picked up the BA tigerwall platinum 3p, it was on sale so I picked it because me and my nephew are both 6’3 220+
No regrets about price when I paid for my Double Rainbow Li. It wasn’t my first tent… it was my 6th. While price doesn’t always mean better, one has to consider the very real cost of materials, labour, shipping to and from China, etc. No regrets. Love my Tarptent!
Awesome advice wow...incredible videos here on the topics involved
I’ve been looking at the double rainbow either Li or DW bc we’re tall too which adds a whole extra consideration. This dipole is fascinating too. One thing I’ll give tarp tent which I think is a big advantage is w the ventilation design they make these great windows that help see out. It adds ventilation gives a look at great views and cuts down on claustrophobia. I’d be very interested in a long term review. Ps TT let him have it for a while or give him a great big discount!!
I just bought my DR Li + liner at Christmas. I’ve used it three times this winter. At -15C I had some condensation in the morning. It wipes off easy before packing up. At -7, I had half the condensation and at -3 I had no condensation. Note that I used the liner only on the -15C overnight. Also, the liner takes up a bit of interior space… being a bigger guy all around, I prioritize interior space over frost. Great tent for me. It was important to me to be able to set up the tent in freestanding mode if required.
I've had a single Rainbow for about two years now. I'm 6'6" tall, and use it solo... really appreciate the high headroom and interior length. The benefit of the DR is you'll get a fulldoor on both sides, and so much better ventilation. Mine gets wet inside, but I still like it for bug protection and roominess.
I own this tent. Purchased on Friday, November 4, 2022. I love this tent!!! I have Many tents - this is the best one, period. Save the expense of buying many tents and get this one. Slept in it for several weeks - it's great for all the reasons in the video. The tent is built in the best tent manufacturer, all the fit and finish are excellent. It's a Joy to sleep and be in. Buy once, cry once. Cost was $857, but if I had it to do again .... I would be way ahead $ wise by not getting so many other tents.
Great review! Looks like a great tent. The $800 price tag is a deal breaker for me, though. Same with the Z Packs Duplex. I've been using the Durston X-mid for several years, on the AT and the Florida Trail, and at around $300, IMHO it's the best value in this category. To be fair though, I'm 5'10", 170lb, so I don't need as much floor width. Thanks for thorough review!
Nice tent hear good things about the company. Prices come down over time. I’ve got a Nemo and a Durston so I can wait
Would have loved to see what the set up was like... That's the #1 thing for me on these UL trekking pole tents.
Good morning from California ☀️
Thnx for the metric conversion. I paid €1875 euros for my tent, and that was a really good deal! If i wanted it with more extras I would have paid almost €3800
Thank you for including metric measurements! It's greatly appreciated. Since you are one of the few hiking youtubers that also cater to more budget options, would you consider testing the decatlon forcaz mt900 tarp tent?
Thanks for the Video.
I am happy with my Ultramid 2 with insert - Its not the lightest with the floored insert, but you can split it up on two backpacks and its 76“ wide.
Thank you for doing this review of this tent. It looks great! I would be willing to spend the $$$ to get all the things this tent has to offer. I don’t want to keep buying tents. I just want to “buy one and be done”. Spend 3-4 nights in this instead of a hotel and the tent pays for itself. The fact that TarpTent doesn’t offer an affiliate program probably explains why the top-ranking backpacking KZheadrs don’t do videos about theses tents. Most videos I’ve found about TarpTent are from lower-ranking KZheadrs (which is fine really, just not as “polished” in terms of production). So thank you again for this video. 👍😊
The more tents I’ve used and the more I research other tents the more I realize there is no perfect tent. There are a lot of really good options out there but nothing hits all the marks for me.
Try a tarp
@@gigglebush I’ve been regularly using tarps since 1996 👍
The perfect tent does exist! It's called Sprinter!
I have been eyeing this tent since it was announced a year ago. At 6'-tall, my quilt toe box hits the inner wall on my Lanshan 2, even if I sleep alone, diagonally. I otherwise love it. My wife? She thinks it is too crowded for us. She doesn't like it at all. I can live with a damp tow box for several days, but not on a planned through-hike on the Long Trail this September. In 2021, I bought a 4p DCF mid tent from Locus Gear with the 4/5ths inner for trips with my wife. Clearance is no issue, but after I include a Tyvec ground sheet I am up to roughly 3 lbs. I could lose another 4 ounces using a 1/2 inner. But that is still a bulky, heavy tent for one hiker. And the 1/2 inner is not free. The Durston X-Mid Pro 2 has that acute, angled wall hitting either your face or feet, unless you sleep diagonally. It is a no-go for me/us. But the Dipole 2 seems to solve all issues for me/us. Having bought gear that was hyped up on KZhead one year only to see it get hyped-down the next year, I wish I could see how this tent performs in heavy weather. If it performs well, I could justify the price. That mid tent cost me twice as much with the inner tent and freight. I am willing to invest in this hobby, but I am middle-class. I don't like making big purchases that backfire. This tent has so many pros that I can handle the price...if it can handle rough weather. I sure wish I could get a storm review. Why are none of the tent makers beside Tarp Tent making ultralight 1p and 2p tents for guys taller than 5'-9"? (The DupleXL does not qualify, in my book.) I don't understand it.
The north face tadpole! I still have mine from the late 90’s. Yeah, it’s heavy but can’t rag on a 30 old tent on my book. I’m totally looking for a newer, lighter and two person tent by the way though! 😂
We use a 25" and a my I'm our Durston pro. He is coming out with a 50 something inch floor in the version I have heard.
Oh I screwed that comment up. 😂. I meant we use a 25-inch pad and a mummy pad in the pro
I have had a HS Rainbow Tarptent for about a decade. Great tent for one person and a dog, but something roomier would be wonderful some days.
I am new to the hobby and started getting stuff. Thanks for your Videos! But I got a different tent, the lanshan 2 pro. A trekking pole tent under 200 Euro! So to start, this price beats every other option, for the moment ;)
It’s a great tent: I’ve used the Lanshan 1 and agree it’s hard to find a better tent for less. Thanks for watching
The thing about ultra light tents is they provide so little insulation that they are impractical if camping in weather below freezing. My "tank" tent at 1.75 kg is at least 2-3°C warmer inside than outside, that can feel like alot.
My cheap no name brand two-man dome tent is great ! with my old Moonstone sleeping bag and climbing gear Etc... works and fits great.
Great review! Thank you for your honest opinion.
I’d love to see you review the Tarptent Double Rainbow Li.
Coming from using a Hilleberg , the TarpTents price tag seems almost comforting.
Always enjoying your videos!
I've had My Stratospire 2 since 2015 and it's a wonderful tent.
I have a Vango Spirit 200. It weighs 2.4kg, takes less than 10 minutes to put up, will easily withstand pouring rain and 40mph wind, and sleeps two in comfort with enough headroom to sit up. I've been using it for 10 years and it's still going strong. It cost £120.
Maybe it's just me, but I am not sold on DCF for tents (and less so for packs). It is prone to puncture, abrasion, stretching/de-lamination, and just stuffing/rolling. So not only expensive, but delicate as well. Silnylon or some of the better silpolys (Durston) deliver much better bang for the buck, and the weight differential is typically only a few ounces. As you say, 50 inches wide is MINIMUM for two people; 60 inches is more comfortable. Then there is storm worthiness. All it takes is one night in surprise bad weather to make a backpacker think again about a few ounces more for a sturdier tent. TLDR: TT Cloudburst 3 is a far superior "ultimate tent". Still only 4lbs, including the third pole and Winter liner for heavy weather. 3.25lbs in Summer mode. Costs less than DCF, too.
I’m with ya. I have a hard time buying a $400+ backpack, only to have to replace it the following year.
i adore this tent design but i really still want a vestibule that includes a hole for a stove pipe. i can't rationalize spending $800 on a tent if it is not a four season tent because i love winter backpacking the most.
I've got to say that's impressive, nearly as large as my Drifter 2DP at a faction of the weight, if I was doing more backwoods hikes I'd probably cough up the money, but I've grown to love my travel trailer with comfy bed too much and only do a few weekends of tent camping a year with the Boyscouts half of which are car camping during the summer where I use my ginormous family tent as the high ceilings keep me cool later into the day.
Great video. I'll stick with my triplex as a 2 person.
When I need an actual 2P tent, it’s because my wife is with me and we’re not doing super long miles. So, my go to tent in that case is a Klymit Maxfield 2. On my scale, all in with stakes and the footprint (needed for fast fly setup), it’s 4lbs 6ozs. It actually fits both our 25” pads and we divide the weight between us. It’s also more durable than my big Agnes fly creek, which doesn’t fit both our pads. Because of where we hike/camp, trekking pole tents just aren’t an option for us. For my solo trips, I just went out on a limb this year and bought a Zpacks Free Duo. But that’s an entire different creature.
Great review as always. What about the Zpacks Triplex as an option? Same price, slightly lighter and spacious 60" width. Although I'm not a fan of the Zpacks non-zippered vestibules and entry doors that just fall to the ground when unzipped. HMG Unbound Tent looks awesome but only 48" width.
I had the StratoSpire2 several years ago and ended up selling it because of durability issues. It was a palace when it comes to space, though. I've since switched to Six Moons Designs shelters (Lunar Duo Outfitter, Lunar Solo LE, and Deuschetes Plus tarp). They're certainly not the latest and greatest, but they're lightweight, affordable, and can fit me and 1-2 medium dogs. To me they're a great budget friendly option. BTW, I spent around $350 in 2003 money for my MSR Missing Link and wore it out. In 2023 money that'd be about $570. So I guess $575 would be my limit now.
I had gone through this same tradeoffs and decided on the Double Rainbow LI over the Zpack Duplex. I consider the extra 10 oz. my "luxury item" and the extra space is worth it to me. I did wait for the blem option to save some money. I cannot find the blemish so that choice was well worth it. It's good to see this video as there are plenty about the duplex and the Durston and while not 19 oz., these Tarptent options are not 2+ pounds either
I know this is a backpacking channel, but when my girlfriend and I go bike touring, we bring a 3 person tent. It's just very nice to have extra room to put your luggage dry inside. It does weigh 2.7 kg or 6 lbs, but it's a high quality double wall tent which sets up in a couple of minutes, so for 310 euros we're very happy with it for our purposes. It's the Forclaz MT900 3 for anyone interested.
I agree with a lot of what you say in your review, I too need room for 2 25” pads. This tent may check off your requirements but for me it failed in its primary purpose, being a shelter! High volume and straightish sides make it poor in strong winds. I am searching for similar things, but so far I am still finding that a 3 person tent is needed for 2 people to be comfortable
TarpTent is by far my favorite ultralight tent company. I've got the Aeon Li, and Double Rainbow Li. The double rainbow is still one of my favorites, not only can it fit two wide sleeping pads, it has tons of head room, but can be used as a free standing tent! Yes, I bought the CNOC carbon trekking polls to go with this tent as they can extend long enough to create a foundation for this tent to stand freely.
How is it in cold weather and/or heavy rain?
@@AveragePicker rain is fine, the only thing I'd say is it's not really designed to weather a ton of wind. (Like 50+ mph winds on an exposed sight would probably be a problem.)
Totally on program with you on the 25cm mat. I’d never buy a 20cm pad again after my xtherm wide.
What a great thorough review!
I do not really get ounces, so I tend to use the grams which you kindly put on the screen (thank you!). However, there is probably some mistake because Zpax has 19oz. = 539g (the lightest tent), but on the screen we see 765g... I think the weights in grams were switched between Zpax and Dipole @MyLifeOutdoors
It just dawned on me who you remind me of. (Hooper) from the Jaws movie. But back on point, great tent and video. I only wish money was of no issue, but I don't have the funds, but maybe one day...Happy trails...
I have only been out in 25 mph wind (I’m betting the gusts were a bit faster) and it was fast enough that the tent I was in was blowing the tent wall onto my face. But this was a traditional tent. I really liked my Tarptent Duo I had.
I rently picked a Dipole 1 Li for my solo hike of the JMT this year. Haven't had a chance to try it out yet but it looks nice. Normally I hike with my partner and we use a Triplex. Only 3 oz more than a Duplex but so worth it for the extra room. Using the second set of trekking poles to raise the side tieouts gives some extra headroom to keep the tent out of your face.
I have the NotchLi and the quality of the Tarpteent is fabulous. I am tempted to upgrade to the one person Dipole. Um.... I'll message Tarptent :-)