Tarptent Notch - first look impressions

[Franco]

Hi Scott
Great shot !
I mentioned before that the Moment is easier to set up on platform than some "freestanding" tents but the Notch is not all the different.
yesterday I was going to suggest sending the shot to HS for the product page but I see that you have made it to the Gallery.
Franco

[Big Dawg]

Henry is offering 3 types of inner nets

I thought it was only 2. I see the newest pic of a 25x76 pad in the interior, but thought that was just showing that the interior would hold a larger pad too.

[Franco]

Two inners (interior) , three options.
Either or both.
With the Scarp (here in Australia) probably one in three purchase both.
I had a play with the "semi solid" inner , it can be a good option for windy areas including (I think...) where sand is involved.
Could also work well for the guys doing a tru starting early or finishing late.
Franco

[stranger]

Franco can you update me on the hydrostatic head being used in the Notch? Also what are the floor dimensions? Finally, do you think the partial mesh/partial breathable nylong would repel spray better? Like splashing that made it's way under the fly?

Where can I have a look at a Notch in Aussie? Or do I need to order one from the states?

[Franco]

Stranger
As you know TT s are sold directly from TT USA.
I have some stock on hand so that I can seam seal them on demand and occasionally folk pop in to have a look at them here in port Melbourne.
(so if you are close, well let me know...)
TT does not publish waterhead figures but the same silnylon used by other USA "cottage" manufacturers is usually referred to as "1200mm "
The fabric part (the bottom 2/3rds of the inner) is water resistant , same stuff as in the Scarps inner, so yes it will help for splashes and give more wind protection.
As for floor size , there are detailed drawings on the product page , under "specifications" and then show dimensions :
http://www.tarptent.com/notch.html#specs
(about 15.2 sq ft plus vestibules)
Franco

[stranger]

Cheers I thought you might have sold them in Australia that's why I asked. Thanks for the info.

[Live_for_hiking]

I've had my notch for a while now. I really like the tent.

I'm a big 5'11" and I tend to pack light, not ultra-light. I recently chose to hike a couple days in the rain to test out my ugly seam sealing job on the tent. I'll just provide my observations in quick notes below.

• Room in the tent. Length is very generous. A hiker that is 6 feet + should be OK. Width is not very generous. I'm a big guy and laying flat on my back, my arms touched the sides. Having said that, it was fine because of the HUGE vestibules.
• Room in vestibules: Two entries. Two large vestibules. What is not to like?
• Stability. Dry weather and moderate winds did not phase the tent. Rain and saturated ground did have a negative impact when using the standard tent stakes. I had one end come undone during in the middle of a rainy night. I should have placed a rock over each stake. I consider that user error. I could also buy longer stakes .....
• Water-Proofing. I used silicone based seam sealer from REI. I will use Frank's method on the next tent I buy. It was an ugly job but .... I stayed BONE DRY. The tent requires very little re-adjusting (tightening) when it gets wet.
• Condensation. There is ample ventilation and I did not experience heavy condensation inside regardless if it was a dry night or there was rain. I've used the tent along the PA section of the AT.

I think it is important to note this is a minimalist tent. Some backpackers like to have gear inside with them so they can dry their garments or spread out. Frank recommends you use some of the seam sealer on the inside floor. Don't be shy with that seam sealer! You can also use a thin pad to help your neo-air from moving around. I tend to bring a GG thinpad, luxury item, with me when I hike. I like the design so much that I am considering the StratoSpire as well.

[Praha4]

Live for hiking:

thanks for your comments, I just received my Notch and seam sealed it, getting ready for my first hike with it... so far I'm very impressed with the design. I also own a Moment, and like it, but the Notch appealed to me more because it's lighter and no need for the Moment's hoop pole.

did you carry a groundcloth? I've always used a tyvek groundcloth with my Tarptents, now trying to cutout another tyvek sheet for the Notch

[Live_for_hiking]

Live for hiking:

thanks for your comments, I just received my Notch and seam sealed it, getting ready for my first hike with it... so far I'm very impressed with the design. I also own a Moment, and like it, but the Notch appealed to me more because it's lighter and no need for the Moment's hoop pole.

did you carry a groundcloth? I've always used a tyvek groundcloth with my Tarptents, now trying to cutout another tyvek sheet for the Notch

Yep. I use the kite-making tyvek. It's lighter than the traditional stuff.

[slovakiasteph]

I like the look of this tent... have been watching TTs for years. They keep getting better and better.

[hikerinnc]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/3384080...57629821423186


Here is my Notch a couple of days ago near Thomas Knob shelter on the AT. It weathered a tough storm that night.

[Japp]

Are you folks using the mesh or the partial solid?

[hikerinnc]

Full mesh. For those humid summer nights.

[Live_for_hiking]

Full mesh here too.....

[Joker4ink]

Full mesh...and I love it!

[Franco]

Just read the thread again...
hard to believe but I was fiddling with it in my backyard and it is raining, so one quick tip first :
if you need to re-tension the shelter , first lift the poles up a bit, next (if that is not enough) if you undo the two cliups that hold the inner at the apex, you can easely adjust the end tie outs from the inside by opening the end vents.
Incidentally this is how my Notch looks set up on snow.
Notch-on-snow-too.jpg

I use the poletips/baskets in the snow and a couple of guylines attached to the D ring that holds the inner .
Using those extra guyline also allows the sides to be fully opened.
BTW, note that the inner is touching the fly on the left end , this was because the ground was higher there, so take care in finding a flat spot or pull the end of the inner down away from the fly.
Franco

[Drybones]

I may have put the first Notch on the AT when I left in March. I did not see any other than the one I had. I had reservations that the tent would be too tight for me but I'd have to say it was sized perfect for me. I was able to unload most of my pack and place items around my bag. I'm 6'2", 180. It went up and came down fast. One nice trick I learned was to take a short section of cord, about 8", and put a loop in each end and use it to hang my pack from one of the hiking poles. The loop on one end went over the pointed end of the pole and the loop on the other end had a clip I used to hang my pack from. With a door on both sides I could swing the pack into the tent to get items when I needed them and keep my pack off the ground and out of the water. My favorite tent thus far...I believe I'm up to eight now...time for a yard sale.

[Praha4]

I may have put the first Notch on the AT when I left in March. I did not see any other than the one I had. I had reservations that the tent would be too tight for me but I'd have to say it was sized perfect for me. I was able to unload most of my pack and place items around my bag. I'm 6'2", 180. It went up and came down fast. One nice trick I learned was to take a short section of cord, about 8", and put a loop in each end and use it to hang my pack from one of the hiking poles. The loop on one end went over the pointed end of the pole and the loop on the other end had a clip I used to hang my pack from. With a door on both sides I could swing the pack into the tent to get items when I needed them and keep my pack off the ground and out of the water. My favorite tent thus far...I believe I'm up to eight now...time for a yard sale.

thanks for the tip, great idea, one could use an extra shoestring for your idea on hanging the pack in the shelter. After using a Black Diamond Betalight tarp for a couple years, I really have come to prefer the shelter design using 2 hiking poles for support. They are easy and quick to setup, even in high winds. The Notch really appealed to me over the Betalight with the bugnet and floor already inside. I'll likely use the Notch in summer and keep using the Betalight in early spring and fall when it's cooler and we're out of bug season.


I'm in a similar situation on owning too many tents (among other items of hiking gear). I now have 5 tents, and that's after selling two. Time for another yard sale here too. I'll be using my new Notch on my planned LT e2e hike this September, looking forward to it.

[bamboo bob]

$25 to seal the seams only... which is probably what you meant, but just clarifying since your post was right after Stranger's post talking about adding extra layer of silicone to bottom of tent.[/QUOTE

I am really glad to find out about that sealing option. At the PCT kick off in 2009, I asked Mr Shires why he doesn't seem seal the "tarptents" and he told me it would slow down shipping them out. I thought that made no sense because I had to seam seal myself before I went anywhere and it would likely take me longer than his operation plus I'm likely to do a half-assed job. I really think it should be ready to go out of the box. How many hikers bought one for shipping somewhere on the trail and had it shipped assuming it was seam sealed. I've used a squall and rainbow and they were both as advertised. Light, not very durable, but OK. I just sold my squall because I value durable over light these days.

[Drybones]

The upside...only has 4 stakes which makes it easy to put up/take down and saves weight. Downside...only has 4 stakes which is less stable in high winds. Replace the 6" stakes with 8" stakes, had mine come down the first night in the back yard with heavy rain to soften the ground and high winds...the 8" stakes took care of the problem.