View Full Version : Which Tarptent would you take on the AT?
Dudeboard
01-31-2004, 22:00
Which of Henry Shires Tarptents would you prefer to take on an AT thruhike?
Rick Bayley
01-31-2004, 22:16
I'd go for the squall. Twice the size of the Virga but not twice the weight or price. Also, the sides do have a tendency to cave in a bit and I imagine you could get damp in a Virga.
I have a Virga and like it alot. My wive wants to do some overnites with me and she wants the Cloudburst with a floor. Can I vote twice? ;) The Virga is floorless. No problems with the tent in rain or windy conditions.
Sakkit
poison_ivy
02-01-2004, 10:08
I have the Squall and I've used it on the AT for my section hikes. I absolutely love it... when I'm solo it has plenty of room for all my gear so it's not out there getting wet on the rainy days. It also gives me the ability to take someone else backpacking with me (on the rare times I can convince someone else to go.)
- Ivy
illininagel
02-01-2004, 10:45
... when I'm solo it has plenty of room for all my gear so it's not out there getting wet on the rainy days
Would you think the tarptent could comfortably accomodate a tall person--6'3"?
Thanks
gravityman
03-01-2004, 15:08
My wife wants to give me a new trail name for the AT 2005. Waffle... Here's why..
We have a 2-4-2. Weighs 32 oz w/ stakes w/o ground cloth. Tons of room. However, less than desirable handling in wind. So...
Now I am waffling between a Squall and a Cloudburst for my b-day. Both would have floors. The squall is essential the same weight as the 2-4-2. The cloudburst would be about 10 oz HEAVIER. Not insignificant, but might be worth it if it gives us significantly more stability and space over the squall.
So, any suggestions for a couple hiking together all the time. Squall or Cloudburst. One thing is it would be nice to have the strength for snow fall, but then again, we only got snow on our tent one time the whole trip in 2001, so it seems a waste to care 10 oz 2000 miles for 1 snow storm we could have avoided it we had listened to Bob Peoples.
Gravity Man (AKA Waffle)
A couple? Cease your waffling. You're splitting the weight - take the Cloudburst.
Cheers,
PKH
gravityman
03-01-2004, 16:28
A couple? Cease your waffling. You're splitting the weight - take the Cloudburst.
Cheers,
PKH
Not a fair answer! The difference seems to be about 10 oz. That's a 1/3 of a pound a piece. And besides, I have to carry the tent :)
Gravity Man
Youngblood
03-01-2004, 23:48
The Cloudburst has two hooped poles, it will be roomier and more stable in the wind. My guess is that if you are wondering whether it is worth the extra weight, then it probably is.
Youngblood
I use the Nomadlite for just myself, and since I have learned how to set it up to within 98 percent of taughness of the original picture on the Website, it has performed great in wind and condensation issues.
Last night on top of Springer, I was able to observe several Squall tarptents and if I was going with a two man tent, it would be the Squall!! Plenty sturdy and wind resistant.
Not a fair answer! The difference seems to be about 10 oz. That's a 1/3 of a pound a piece. And besides, I have to carry the tent :)
Gravity Man
Fair enough. However, from all I have read, you should enjoy more useable room in the Cloudburst because of the hooped design. This will be an important consideration in managing condensation.
Cheers,
PKH
For two people especially on the humid parts of the AT I would suggest the Cloudburst. The steep walls make it much easier to live in imho. BUT, with the squall you can get a full extended beak that would serve as a nice vestibule. This is not an option on the Cloudburst. I voted with my money and chose the Cloudburst. I'm not sure where you got 10oz heavier then the Nomad. The base Cloudburst is 32oz. The sewn in floor is 6oz. Mine in the stuff sack with stakes weight 37.4oz after seam sealing. That's only 6oz heavier. You will love how easy it is to set up. I routinely have my Cloudburst set up before my hammocking partner can has his hammock set up.
i voted Cloudburst....i dont guess i've ever heard of the VIAGRA tent....does it come out of the stuff sack & Rise all by itself????????? :D
heheheheheehee
section hikin' Hampton,TN to Damascus,VA Oct 4-9
Footslogger
09-22-2004, 12:55
Well ...on my thru last year I carried the Wanderlust Nomad Lite. But since then I purchased the Squall from Henry Shire (with extended beak and sewn-in floor). If I had it to do all over again I'd carry the Squall. The Squall is easier to set up and much roomier. Reason I'd choose the Squall over the Virga is the extra room to pull your pack in on bad weather nights. Not a lot of extra space in the Virga.
Anyhew ...just my .02
'Slogger
AT 2003
Kerosene
09-22-2004, 14:08
You might also want to take a look at the Europa II (http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/store/shopexd.asp?id=25) and Lunar Solo (http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/store/shopexd.asp?id=33) from Six Moon Designs (http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/). The Europa II is a 2-man/2-lb shelter similar to the Squall, while the new Lunar is a nice 1.5-man/1.5-lb design that gives you a number of neat options.
BookBurner
09-22-2004, 19:04
I have the Virga and I just got back from a couple of days on the AT near Franklin. The Virga is very spacious for one person. There is plenty enough room to get myself (5'11'') and all of my gear underneath. I really like the design and love the weight.
I have encountered one bothersome problem, however, using the Virga on the AT. The AT is very humid and I routinely experience condensation on the inside ceiling. No problem usually, but during a rainstorm this past trip, the raindrops started knocking the condensation off the inside ceiling causing a secondary micro-rainshower inside the tent. Maybe not a deal breaker but something to consider.
Youngblood
09-22-2004, 23:13
I have the Virga and I just got back from a couple of days on the AT near Franklin. The Virga is very spacious for one person. There is plenty enough room to get myself (5'11'') and all of my gear underneath. I really like the design and love the weight.
I have encountered one bothersome problem, however, using the Virga on the AT. The AT is very humid and I routinely experience condensation on the inside ceiling. No problem usually, but during a rainstorm this past trip, the raindrops started knocking the condensation off the inside ceiling causing a secondary micro-rainshower inside the tent. Maybe not a deal breaker but something to consider.
BookBurner,
Good to see you posting here and I see you finished your book. Congradulations! Have you been out hiking any of the other trails in the southeast?
Youngblood
Ramble~On
09-23-2004, 07:42
None of the above.
I'd take a GoLite Trig 2.
All the clever people who have noted all the added space for little added weight might want to reconsider: On the AT, good camping spaces frequently come in small packages. This means that if you want to get your rig down in a really nice spot, it might have to be on the smaller side. Other times you just have to camp and the only flat-ish, clear-ish ground is a small site. The much smaller footprint of the Virga is better for this than the Squall, which really is alot bigger. The Virga is perfectly fine for a hiker and their gear. If you have a dog, they can even get some protection under the beak (get an extended beak).
hikerdude
10-25-2004, 22:52
squall is called squall because I can set it up on go. faster than any tarp with strings tied together and or tangled, unless someone is living in a perfect world. 4 minutes all set up and can, not suppose to cook under the beak for a windbreaker to. The beak you can pitch into the wind to. I don't know, but I would be pretty dumb without the beak if the wind changes. Those hurricanes do that. When the tent stretches I have the Leki pole loose enough to slide up and this tightens everything. And you really got to see it, I don't know what my fellow countrymen do but for me, give me tyvec floorless tent, right Henry? Luxury not much minimalism here. It was a real trip sleeping in the hurricane. I'm just thinking how I got to tell Henry, he don't know how right he was, I didn't get wet. You should have bought it before the hurricane.
http://www.integraldesigns.com/product_detail.cfm?id=729
NICKTHEGREEK
01-07-2005, 10:12
Cloudburst with all the options- I would plan to use it 100% of the time so the extra space is more important than add'l weight
tarbubble
01-07-2005, 10:38
If we were magically able to do it this year, the Rainshadow would be our choice.
Two Speed
06-19-2005, 08:44
I'll second the comments about the Six Moon Designs tents. I've got a SMD Lunar. Right at 1.5 lbs, lots of room and the vestibule is large enough to store my pack out of the weather while I cook.
Kerosene
06-19-2005, 09:42
I used the SMD Lunar Solo for four nights on my southwest Virginia section hike earlier this month. It performed well for me, although it was not really tested by hard rain or high winds. I really loved the space/weight ratio, and it was nice to have a vestibule. The offset pole doesn't get in the way of entry/exit, and it was nice to have the full-front closure when camping near other tents. The rear guyline, when hooked to a nearby tree, adds quite a bit of headroom, although it was difficult to position the tent with a tree in the right position and close enough. I purchased five 8" Easton aluminum pegs, pushing them into the ground about halfway and putting the top yellow guylines at the top with the black stretchy guylines at the bottom. Worked like a charm. I used a small stake for the front guyline.
justusryans
07-08-2005, 21:59
just bought a cloudburst, and can't wait for it to get here. thanks for all the good advice
This is a tough choice. I have a Virga and a Cloudburst. The Virga is so much lighter, but the Cloudburst is a palace for one person. But, in fact, I'm probably going to take a hammock on the AT next summer.