Originally Posted by
RussC
I am down to choosing between a Tarptent Stratospire 1, a Notch, or a ProTrail. I have been using a tarp but it needs replacing, and I have given thought to a tarp/bivy combo; I have enjoyed using a tarp the past few years, but I eventually found setting up it up every night to be a little tedious, and the head room isn't great when it is stormy. I mostly camp in the mountains in southeast, though not so much in the summer as the other three seasons. I will do a few trips out west such as the Sierras and Glacier, but not in the winter. I am not planning on doing any camping in serious, alpine winter conditions.
The Stratospire is apparently the most storm worthy, and looks like a great tent, but I am concerned about tight sites with limited staking, since it requires 6 stakes. The Notch only requires 4 stake and looks like a good compromise between the two, but the sleeping space is a little small based on my taping the outlines to the floor (I am 6'2", 190 pounds). The ProTrail looks good, if not quite as stormworthy, though I like how you can open the sides up on the other two.
Any suggestions from users out there would be appreciated!
Thanks--