I have the same tent, love it! I'd definitely recommend getting the trekking pole adapters tarptent sells... so you can pitch it with the poles tips planted in the ground, and your handles facing up.. with this tent if you're trying to setup in a hurry, you can potentially poke a hole in the material. You're way more experienced than me, so I'm sure you'll have no issues.☺ Just thought I'd share something that really helped me when I got this tent☺ plus I did find with the poles tips in the ground, I seem to get better pitches.
@@saigashotgun8219 Speaking as someone thinking about starting hiking, it feels like ANY question I have might sound dumb to someone more experienced. You all are extremely knowledgeable about all of this and my questions sound dumb, even to me! :)
@@barbarahultman5450 everybody started somehow. if you can walk you can hike too. start small, ask whatever you want to know. there are no dumb questions. The best thing you might do to start is to go for a short hike with someone more experienced than you. I started hiking when I was fifteen, now I am fifty and still learning LOL
@@barbarahultman5450Hi Barb. I was always impressed by Dixie's videos and great advice. She is down to earth, honest, capable and extremely experienced. Then she mentioned that she is an engineer and it all makes sense, super smart! I take her advice over anyone. I am experienced hiker and outdoorsman from northern Ontario, Canada and I find invaluable advice in ever darn video Dixie makes. As for dumb questions... I have 35 years in the bush and when I watch these vids I learn, learn, learn. My advice to you is to right now, find a short (1-3km) trail near you (Alltrails free phone app) and go walk it on your next day off work. Stop at a nice spot then take one super-deep breath, let it out slow and smile!
I 100% agree with you Robin. I've been looking at a lot of her videos and they are very informative. Thumbs up, girl. Keep making more video's on this subject
I don't think Henry will mind me saying that he has been around for a LONG time and is a real stand up guy. I have one of my brothers Tarptents dating back about 18 years, plus I own three Tarptents also (non dyneema).
I've been wanting a double walled Dyneema tent but didn't know that they existed. I'll be curious to hear your review. If it holds up well, and I can commit to at least a LASH or two each year, I may take the plunge in a year or so.
In NZ, hikers had condensation even in double walled tents. Also, camping is a little pricey. Pay extra for showers, too. There were very few trail angels but it's been several years. At the time the trail was very new so locals were like who are all these smelly foreigners! . At the inception of the trail the TA organizers thought it would be mostly Kiwis... New Zealanders but it's mostly people from around the world. The few trail angels we did meet were incredible! Becareful hitchhiking. Had a couple of creepy experiences. There's nothing to be afraid of in terms of bugs or animals.
I just realized I bought a single walled version of this exact tent shape and structure from REI. Its the Flash Air 2 at also around 2 pounds and same place for trekking poles but at only 200ish dollars. Although I'm sure this stratospire will be more durable and also better suited to wet areas than my single walled version I'm happy to see that REI didn't design this non freestanding tent but rather just made a cheaper version. REI stuff can be rough when they try out "new designs".
Love your gear reviews and the fact that you’re unsponsored which enables you to render your true assessment of the items. Best wishes on the Pinhoti hike. Lots of road side walking. Should you need anything while on this hike, please let me know. Thanks ! P-Ray
$680 !? Forget it. Like the other ultra-light products Dixie has used, like her backpack, its a lot like buying a European car. Expensive on the front end, unreliable in use, almost no value on the backend. Compared to an Osprey at maybe a pound or two more, and won't wear out, and if it does Osprey will replace it? No contest.
@@soylentgreen2065 Dixie does established thru-hikes. That means she's allways on safe roads with no real dangers, the next town is allways around the corner and everything is planable. On the other hand, she's walking quite a lot of miles. She actually doesn't need real protection but wants to walk as much as possible on one day. That means cutting weight at all costs is the way to go, especially since she's carrying a lot of camera gear, batteries etc. Ultralightweight gear is made for thru-hikes and unusable in more demanding situations. Would I buy UL gear in her situation? For sure, yes. Will I buy it for me? Partially. Thanks to the thru-hike community for making my sleeping pad and my sleeping bag lighter but I'll keep my 1.9 kg Hillebert tent and my 2.6kg Gregory backpack, as well as my 178g Optimus gas stove. The tent protects me from everything except falling trees, the stove uses about 20% less gas than a normal UL stove and the backpack can carry up to 22kg while it's still comfortable. But if I did the CDT, I'd probably just copy Dixies gear. Except the tent, of course.
@@kobold90 Dixie is planning on doing Te Araroa here in New Zealand - there are some really rugged stretches on this, including some bushwacking occasionally. And it can get pretty cold, windy and snowy in the mountains. Quite a few people use the Zpacks Duplex. 🤗 I'm like you, I use partially ultralight gear, but some I prefer a little more ruggedly durable. I do agree with Dixie's gram grinching for the distances she covers - protection for the longevity of the body is important!
Great to hear you're coming to New Zealand to tramp (what we call hiking) Te Araroa, looking forward to seeing you video series you make from the walk.
Ah Dixie! I could kiss you. We have been looking for a tent for a while, loved the look of the duplex but really want double walled. Couldn't find any that fit the bill AND used trecking poles. Jackpot!! Can't believe I've never heard of this tent before. Thank you so much!
The StratoSpire Li is a great tent. I used it last Summer for a longer High Sierra Trip and it performed amazingly well in crazy wet weather. You will like it, especially the pretty big vestibules. At one point I will have my videos from this trip with that tent done ;-) Cheers from LA.
I have the Stratospire LI and love it. In addition to a few weekend and overnight trips, I used it during a 500 mile section hike on the AT last year. I have only two small complaints: 1- the magnets that hold the flaps are weak. A strong wind or any other pressure blows them loose, resulting in an annoying flapping flap. 2- the overall footprint is larger than the competition. It’s generally not a problem, but did limit my set up options in a few constrained locations.
I have the Notch in Sil poly. Basically it's a one person version of this. I went with the Notch because of the smaller footprint. Wish It was available in dyneema when I bought it
Davide, that magnet issue sounds frustrating. Eg, being woken in middle of night to flapping. Did you find a workaround to address it? Or did you change your behavior, e.g. opened up flaps less often, especially in windier conditions? Thx.
@@aaronjenkins1438 I generally leave the flaps down in high winds. The tighter the pitch, the more tension and the easier they pop (bumping against the tent auses them to come undone when tautly pitched). I have a first gen Stratospire LI. My understanding is that the new ones have a longer flap for the magnets (and they may have repositioned it somewhat) to resolve this issue. In addition to last summer's section hike, I used the tent for a 7 week-long section hike this summer and am still very pleased with it. The magnets are a minor issue. Even in windy conditions this summer, I was able to button up completely with no significant condensation issues. Most importantly, the tent is remarkably weather-proof and performs exceptionally well in the rain.
Hey Dixie, try running the ridge line pullouts to the “entry way” stakes rather than adding 2 more. Tarp Tent shows this in the pictures of the StratoSpire 1.
Hey Dixie, I’ve just started backpacking for the first time! I’m 42 and loving it, and really loved your affordable video on first time gear recommendations! Thanks for being such a great role model to all women hikers!❤️
I used to until I watched Shug vids and invested in a sewing machine instead of buying more gear. I sewed up a prototype hammock for practice, then a final hammock and 850FP goose down quilt, never slept better. I've tried everything prior, tents, bivies, tarps, you name it.
I love the Stratospire Lithium.💕I go winter camping in good weather, and it has lots of room for extra bedding and even a camp toilet (I am 5’2 which makes it easier) if I am car camping. I do, however use groundhog stakes which work better for our sandy soil. I also use a Tyvek sheet underneath just because it was such a pricey tent I kind of feel like I have to protect it whether it needs it or not. 😆
Thanks for another great video! I have one of those and live in New Zealand: a bit of advice on it. 1. Extend the ridge line guys as they are too short to be able to reliably select solid ground for the stakes 2. Get longer stakes as those supplied do not hold in moderate wind on damp ground. The pitch-loc thing is great, but creates a lever that pulls the stake out when wind pushes down on the side of the tent. Either longer/larger stakes or extended guys fix it. It’s a great tent, hope you get to use it down this way sometime soon.
Like, yeah. I also logged into the youtube app on my Roku so now I can just bring up the channel, click “Play All” and turn Dixie into the Energizer Bunny. She just goes and goes and goes. 😂
I was full speed ahead New Zealand for the TA in October but I’m pretty sure I’m gonna have to call it off till next year for various reasons. I hope you’re able to get out there, I just want to be walking around middle earth 😭 looks like utter bliss
That's such a shame Bendy, I hope you can get here to hike it soon! I just did the first 1800km this past season, and am so grateful I was able to do what I did when I did!
Thank you for using a proper Southern Appalachian Long "I"...and thanks for referring to your tent walls as"taut."...and for all the other stuff, too. Kids: Google 'taut vs taunt' and you get this - “Taunt” (“tease” or “mock”) can be a verb or noun, but never an adjective. “Taut” means “tight, distended,” and is always an adjective. “Taut” is also occasionally misspelled “taught.”"
Dixie, I just stumbled onto your TV interview... Cool! ua-cam.com/video/pIyRFS8hIB0/v-deo.html Following from your interview comment about all the things you learn about yourself on the trail (for me it's long distance bicycle touring): I've known a couple woman who, after asking me if I got lonely after months on the road alone, said to me, "I don't like myself well enough to spend that much time alone." I was stunned... I thought they were terrific people! I found them to be very articulate and personable, both had masters degrees, both presented themselves well, and they were attractive. I didn't get it... However, that led to more conversations that revealed why they felt that way... Then I got it. Over time things changed for the better for both of them. From following back packing and long distance bicycle touring journals over the years it is clear that some people use those activities as a way to heal. I say go for it! You can sort a lot out and have a life changing experience. BTW, like you I bailed from a "good job" to do my first expedition... definitely the right decision at the time!
NZ can be wet. One place I camped has over 38 feet of rain per year. You may want to consider pitching fly first to keep your inner dryer! Stay safe, if you though Spanish is hard wait til you try kiwi.
@@w8stral This tent is not rainproof without the rain fly, even the "solid-wall" version. In that version 1/3 of each entry door is mesh, to control condensation.
@@johnd7564 Mesh doesn't matter. How all tarptents work. Its solid above and last I checked, rain under influence of gravity falls down. Now in a howling storm, you just lower the sides of your tent so said mesh doesn't allow wind blown rain in.
Light, doesnt hold water, or stretch in wind and rain... advantages of dyneema. I lean towards the HMG ultamid 2, as it comes to 1.3kg (2.9 pounds) with large inner, pegs. And allows me to put up my leg inside for a hamstring strech... and can be used inner alone (think tasmania with marsh fly attacks) or outer alone ( snow.camping). I like having lots of inner space to stretch, organize my gear.and cook... ( sandly new zealand). And wind resistance is a.big one for me.
Great to see you have so many Kiwi fans!! Having used my Duplex last season on TA it will be great to see how the StratoSpire holds up for you (I'm looking at the Aeon Li for next season). There was only one night on the trail where I wished I had a double walled tent for the added insulation, and that was in an unsuspecting trail angel's yard in Waikare (still waaaay up north where it's supposed to be warm) where I was FREEZING! I don't know whether I would have been any warmer in the double walled tent, but it sure felt like it. The South Island will be much colder if you have to camp down there. I found the Duplex held up really well in NZ's tropical climate (think thunderstorms and monsoon-type rainfall). There were a couple of days/nights where it must have dropped thousands of litres of water and I was still very cozy and dry inside. Hopefully the StratoSpire is just as successful. The biggest problem you'll have is trying to get the stakes into the ground, especially on the South Island. We have some pretty hard soil here!! I had to use rocks on more than one occasion, and bent more than my fair share of stakes (you may want to consider carrying a couple spares). I'll be switching to the Easton Nano stakes (or similar) to finish the South Island later this year.
Two reasons why you won't regret this on the TA: 1. Condensation. 2. Giving the south island SANDFLIES the finger from the other side of the mesh. Trust me!
If you're coming to do the Te Araroa, then a tent that can cope with wind and rain is a must. But please, PLEASE consider making some alternative tracks to the TA. There are more interesting tracks or routes to explore, and the in time lockdown can be used to research other ways to go off the beaten track (the TA is fair trampled!).
Hi Dixie, do you remember what length you used for your trekking poles to set up the tent? Instructions say 120-125cm. I'm short, so my poles only go to 120cm, and I'm wondering if that's why mine sags in the middle. Thanks
Hope you enjoy the Pinhoti! I live 15 minutes from cheaha (pronounced CHEE-HA) mountain in a town called Heflin that you are gonna pass through when you hike it. Me and my friends basically live on that trail and we’re all fans, Good Luck!
Dixie you always do such a great job. Such a gift to be able to clearly and concisely always cover your topic. A rookie for sure ....I do enjoy all your videos. 😊 Roll Tide 😊
i think you've mentioned before an interest in foraging, i would love for you to do a video about that! even if you're just learning, i'm sure i'm not the only one who would enjoy learning with you. keep up the awesome videos and great attitude!
How awesome that you're coming to NZ. I got the duplex after seeing your reviews and it served me well on Great Barrier Island earlier this year. Let me know if you need a lift around Auckland from the airport, our public transport isn't the best.
I've used the StratoSpire II for about six years - the silnylon version. Great tent. I have two criticisms - the inner bug liner is very fiddly to attach and un-attach, and cords and clips used to attach tend to break. The other criticism is that it is a challenge for one person to setup. Totally doable but tricky as you need three hands to hold the poles up and stake. Positives are that it is great in a storm, is VERY roomy, it can be used without the bug liner, and has held up great to hard use. Construction quality was top-notch and it was a good value in terms of cost.
I really like the way you explain the gear you use. My old bones feel so much better waking up in a hammock, but I liked many of the features of this tent, thanks, Dixie.
Shame that its a 700 dollar tent. Thats price of all of my gear including shoes that were 200.. I will never be able to afford a tent like this. But I am happy with my 20dollar tarp when going lightweight.
the regular, not Li version starts at $360 which isnt cheap but its comparable to other tents. (not counting discount/bargain/ entry level/walmart specials)
Hi Jess, could you film a backyard camp in it perhaps and give us your thoughts ? It would be really useful regardless ( pending when we all get back out on trail ) ? Atb A
I tried a TarpTent years ago, and really loved the design and how easy it was to set up, but it was tooooo heavy so I went with Zpacks. I am super excited that they are now using the Dyneema material... the one-person version of this TarpTent is now on my radar.
Ill be fabricating my own dyneema tent in the near future, just looking for suitable fabric, hardware, and shipping suppliers, love your vids, they are highly inspiring, thanks
BTW, I picked up some of those Easton Aluminum Nail Stakes from Mountain Laurel Designs and they are plain awesome. They are much tougher than those v-shaped titanium stakes, hold better, and are still nice and light. At $2.50 each they aren’t cheap but I bought 10 and I feel like I will lose them over time before they break so that’s why I got a couple extra. I got them a while back on a personal recommendation from Darwin so they are trail tested. Nice to see top of the line tents including first quality parts. 🤗
Love the video's Dixie.... two questions, after using this tent for some time, do you feel the double wall is still beneficial vs. your extensive experience with single wall tents? and second, did you consider the one person version Notch Li version of this tent? Thanks for all the video's!
Hi Dixie!! I found your channel during this "shelter in place" just itching to get on a trail. Just curious on what you thought on the slightly shorter length of the Tarptent? The quick shot of you laying in seemed like your feet were pretty close to the wall and with a sleeping bag or quilt would you worry about touching the walls? Maybe thats were the inner mesh comes in, you'd touch that but not the walls? I currently use the Tarptent Protrail but looking to switch to Dynema product. Keep up the great videos!!
I am so excited to see your TA hike! I really want to do it with my husband when we are empty nesters. I have no problem planning trips ( even maybe a thru hike) with my kids- but that one I want to be kind of like a second honeymoon, so it'll have to wait.
Never been a Zpacks tent fan especially after watching all the thru-hikers who went through the “pin hole leak” problem they had a while ago. The company claimed it was a bad batch of dyneema. Plus I think if you sell $600+ tents you damn better have someone answering a company phone instead of making your customers go through email support.
I like to be able to call for customer support too.. but from an overhead cost stand point phone call 20 minutes laobor on the manufactue end 5 minutes by e-mail .. People tend to be brief and to the point by e-mail .. There should be a phone call follow up when e-mail is not going to handle the situation well..
Havanorange Perhaps but when your thru-hiking the AT or any trail for that matter and have a leak problem or warranty issue you need action taken. Last thing you want is to play email tag coordinating a solution or replacement. Folks have reported it’s taken days or weeks to resolve. That’s not appropriate.
I was looking at the Stratospire 2 but it was quite a bit heavier than then Six Moon Designs Haven Bundle. Six Moon Designs had a one day sale last week so it was hard to pass up at $261. I agree with you on the double wall trekking pole tent being a better way to go. Just one question: Did you also get a Sidecar for Fancy Mae? 😂
It's great to hear your coming to New Zealand! I'm looking to do the cycle tour TA 2022. Found your channel when looking for light weight great reviews and have now watched quite a few hours. If you want any info on New Zealand please don't hesitate to ask, regards Chris.
Hey Dixie! I have vaguely wanted to do something epic for a long time but in 2016 I spent a month camping in national parks out west and knew what was missing, hiking to each site. My big backpacking trip materialized in 2018 on the AT. I would love to get my hands on a Zpacks Duplex.
I'll be very curious to see how this works for you. I DID have a bug headnet the was a no-see-um mesh. I had to switch it out for a regular mesh bug net as the no-see-um net was sooooo dense/tight absolutely NO air/breeze got in and it was crazy hot. Maybe it will work better in a tent application as there is more surface area? Best of luck always!
ok, let's see, More expensive, less room, heavier, and now made of material with a life span of less than 3yrs (ref z-packs letter to me). That's a lot of money for a heavier and smaller tent with a life expectancy of just 3yrs/or 1 thru-hike. wow
Great review Dixie. I own a TT Notch Li its "semi-solid interior" for use herein the mountain west. You are KEERECT! The Stratospire Li 2 person advantages over the ZPacks Duplex are:1.)-> better design for USEABLE space, ventilation, wind resistance and ease of pitching and 2.)->better build quality in excellent reinforcements and stitching. Now made in a top tier Chinese plant this build quality is even better. Henry Shires had a labor shortage that forced him to move Dyneema tent fabrication.) IMHO no tent maker makes better DCF tents than Tarptent.
I have been wanting this tent. Wanting to get it for the Appalachian Trail and have just been debating it but this review is the most thorough review I have seen yet I do appreciate all your effort
Hey Dixie,Great information, especially for impulsive buyers like myself, i love the videos,i noticed you had mentioned in one of them something about wanting to be a homesteader ,i was wondering if you have ever seen the video series of the guy here on UA-cam titled "My self Reliance" he has a whole series of videos much like yourself ,and in one of them he actually speaks lol and explains that he had very little building skill and learned everything basicly by reading and winging it, defying the doubters much like yourself he set out for two years to the wilderness to build his dreams , you should check him out some time ,he's basicly the male version of you, very determined with a relentless work ethic! i think you'll enjoy watching him...
New to your channel and loving it!! With all this down time during the pandemic it has me thinking that maybe I could do some backpacking some day! Do you have any tips or videos about how to physically prepare? Workout routines for strength and endurance, stretches, etc. Thanks a lot!
I just bought the Tarptent Double Rainbow Li, and I too was confused about the oddly shaped DCF scrap "patches", but then I had an idea. Get yourself some pocket change and lay out the coins on the DCF scraps until you've found a configuration that utilizes the most surface area. Then trace the coins with a sharpie and cut yourself some nice little round DCF patches! (Regular scissors won't cut DCF neatly, if at all. I recommend buying a small pair of carbon steel shears designed specifically for cutting DCF). By doing this I was able to turn two raggedy scraps into 9 round mini patches: 1 half-dollar size, 2 nickel size, 2 penny size, and 4 dime size.
Ive been watching your trail adventures around the world. The Camino timeline story was so cool. Keep going. I wish you all the luck and I really love your smile 🙂 Greetings from Portugal 🇵🇹
Awesome tent. I hope you get out soon Dixie. Tarptent also just released the Double Rainbow as an Li version. Not sure how that’s relevant, but there it is.
$700! My goodness. I recall your other Dynema tent on the pct having pin holes in it. They are light but cost too much. Right now I'm using a bivy because I can't find a long enough tent of reasonable cost and weight. The Nature Hike tent you had is too short for me at 6'4". Keep showing your things. Really enjoy them. ULA's are made in the next town over from me.
Thanks for the great review Dixie. I have one question I hope you can answer for me: do you think the pitch space required for the Stratospire Li is too big for section hiking the AT? Thank you! And enjoy NZ!
I look forward to hearing about the gear you have been showing us. More than anything, though, I look forward to seeing you back out on the trail! I have watched the AT, PCT, CDT and the Camino through hikes. I so appreciate the work you do the allows us to be a part of your life! Not the mention the work you do to fulfill your dreams. Aaron is so talented! I love the collaboration you have with him. I was wondering if he earned a trail name on the CDT?
I've had a Stratospire 2 for a couple years now and its a nice tent. I can pitch it and tear it down really fast unless the ground is really uneven and awkward. I only use 6 stakes unless I'm expecting a hard blow. I have looked at the Li, but I'm really digging the zipperless door setup on the Seek Eolus. It's in the same price range and a bit bigger than the Duplex or SS Li.
Great open evaluation of the Tarp Tent Stratospire Li. I am going with different TT model this summer but is still sub 2 pounds. YES for including metric measurements. The Pitch-lock corners are going to change how you pack your shelter. Henry Shires Tarp Tena is a great American made company that has served the Ultralight hiking community well.
While it is true that many double-wall tents have less condensation problems than single-wall tents, it's not inherent to the 2 walls. Merely adding an inner mesh to a single-wall tent is not going to reduce condensation. What makes many double-wall tents better is that the rain fly only extends part of the way to the ground, making it far more breathable. There's effectively venting about a third to half way up the wall all around the entire tent. In this design, there's no extra venting over a single wall tent, so the condensation should be just as bad as a single-wall tent. (In fairness, Dixie's point about the mesh potentially physically keeping her and her gear away from the condensation filled outer wall is true.)
The Duplex also has the rainfly a bit off the ground, and mesh between the rainfly and the bathtub, so has the same breathability there. - Otherwise I agree with you that the inner tent does not prevent condensation which still occurs on the outer tent, but keeps the water off you if it is watertight itself. I already discussed this point with Dixie last year. But I found that my Lanshan 2 which has a construction very similar to the Stratospire (but SilNylon) worked well for me under not too cold conditions, with quite some condensation on the outer tent, while drops falling down from it got caught by the inner mesh and didn't reach me.
Dixie, I took a nap and dreamed of you. You were driving a yellow VW Bug and were here in NC. We all did a double-take and said, "Is that Dixie!?" and your dark glasses and braid resulted in a "Yup." Then, you parked and got out of the car with Fancy, who was jumping all around and rolling in dandelions. Suddenly, we were in Brevard at a waterfall. Somebody said, "Damn, these bugs are bad!" and you said, "Draw a golden mesh force field in the air around you with your finger and the bugs can't get thru!" We looked at you and you had a, like... golden goddess bubble of soft mesh light all around you like a huge halo! Then you laughed and said, "It's double-sided!!" and you melted - vanished into the waterfall mist. And I woke up laughing. Pretty cool, huh? LOL!
This tent seems too small for me. I have the Duplex and love it but when it's wet I wish it was a few inches longer to keep the foot of my sleeping bag dry. I'm 6'2"
I’m tall too and can’t find a damn tent that doesn’t soak either my head or my feet. Please someone respond to this with an ultralight solution for tall people.
Owning the silnylon version of this (and carrying it for the first month of my AT journey), I can attest to a couple of things that should be true of both. One, you don't need to set it up separately (ie tarp then interior) to keep the inside dry. In fact, this is why I bought it originally. And having to set it up in a thunderstorm, I was able to do so easily (see following) and it was dry as a bone. However, I was amusingly looking at this success standing in the pouring rain asking myself "ok, now how do I get in without defeating that feat?". Fortunately, the vestibules are large and I was able to crouch in one and strip out of my soaked clothes under its cover and get into the tent relatively dry. Second, it did take me a while to get the hang of pitching it. The instructions are good, but I think the offset of the poles relative to the rectangle of the floor was throwing me mentally. When I was able to adapt to understanding how it was going to be oriented relative to those first pegs and pole, it became easy. I will add one third point. Since the interior is essentially "hanging" inside, there is a tendency to "slide" if the last is not level. There are adjustments, as you noted, that can help with this, but if you find yourself in that situation you can find the floor slipping towards one side which can expose it to splashing in rain. Perhaps the dyneema us less slippery (my nylon pad on the nylon floor was definitely fun times that night!). All in all, I was (am) happy with mine and it did exactly what I purchased it for. Since then, I've found a different setup I prefer (a mesh tent under a regular tarp), but I was pleased with this one. I hope you are with yours. Also a shout out to the TarpTent team for their assistance when I stupidly feel into the tent and tore a seam (even with my weight, it held up well, but, yanno...).
Thank you so much for your videos! I just started to watch your AT series again. It helps during the corona-time. I'm excited to watch your New Zealand series! Stay save Dixie :)
I used the Notch Li on my CDT hike last year and loved it. I think it's fine for one person. The Stratospire Li looks awesome and it would be cool to have the extra space. I'd be a bit concerned that it takes up too much real estate for the rocky, rooty and generally not great pitches on the TA however. Having said that, it's better than the Duplex in this regard. I've also heard that you often end up pitching where you're really not supposed to in NZ and this tent is quite conspicuous. Have a great time when you finally make it down this way!
I did about 450 miles in this tent on the PCT. I really have enjoyed it. Please b aware U must keep the zippers clean so U don’t have a gear failure. When I stopped to camp or hotel I would also do zipper maintenance to get the dirt dust or mud out of the zippers. What I like about this tent also is that U can take down one vestibule to fit in a smaller space as it does have a large footprint. The lower tub on the inside does let in lots of wind and cold so in that instance I would do a lower pitch. The Li holds up in high winds on ridge lines and I never wetted out in this tent. I would suggest u pack extra cord for the lines on thru hikes or longer hikes. I did use protection on the dynema floor. This tent can b very versatile and would roomy for 2. 👍
Ooh I didn't know you were off to NZ for Te Araroa, I haven't found a really good video of it as most are of the trails in the US so looking forward to seeing one for that :)
Thanks for including the metric measurements!
Yeah, thanks!
Yes!
Smart move since only 3 countries use imperial. USA, Liberia and Myanmar. The rest of the world uses metric.
@@StevanOutdoor Boris is working on it...😉
I have the same tent, love it! I'd definitely recommend getting the trekking pole adapters tarptent sells... so you can pitch it with the poles tips planted in the ground, and your handles facing up.. with this tent if you're trying to setup in a hurry, you can potentially poke a hole in the material. You're way more experienced than me, so I'm sure you'll have no issues.☺ Just thought I'd share something that really helped me when I got this tent☺ plus I did find with the poles tips in the ground, I seem to get better pitches.
Thank you for also writing measurements in the metric system 😊
"Sometimes it's about perspective." Do we come here for the backpacking or the life coaching? Yes.
I come for both
_"That which does not kill you makes you stronger."_
"Do or do not. There is no try." - Jedi Master Yoda
I love this girl. You literally taught me so much and inspired me to get into hiking. Especially like the embarassing stuff that I'm afraid to ask.
I wonder what might be embarrasing in hiking. Really, have no idea.
@@saigashotgun8219 Speaking as someone thinking about starting hiking, it feels like ANY question I have might sound dumb to someone more experienced. You all are extremely knowledgeable about all of this and my questions sound dumb, even to me! :)
@@barbarahultman5450 everybody started somehow. if you can walk you can hike too. start small, ask whatever you want to know. there are no dumb questions.
The best thing you might do to start is to go for a short hike with someone more experienced than you. I started hiking when I was fifteen, now I am fifty and still learning LOL
@@barbarahultman5450Hi Barb. I was always impressed by Dixie's videos and great advice. She is down to earth, honest, capable and extremely experienced. Then she mentioned that she is an engineer and it all makes sense, super smart! I take her advice over anyone. I am experienced hiker and outdoorsman from northern Ontario, Canada and I find invaluable advice in ever darn video Dixie makes. As for dumb questions... I have 35 years in the bush and when I watch these vids I learn, learn, learn. My advice to you is to right now, find a short (1-3km) trail near you (Alltrails free phone app) and go walk it on your next day off work. Stop at a nice spot then take one super-deep breath, let it out slow and smile!
I 100% agree with you Robin. I've been looking at a lot of her videos and they are very informative. Thumbs up, girl. Keep making more video's on this subject
I like how you put in perspective the cost. $600 tent, but that makes monthly rent $100 a month.
I don't think Henry will mind me saying that he has been around for a LONG time and is a real stand up guy. I have one of my brothers Tarptents dating back about 18 years, plus I own three Tarptents also (non dyneema).
Thanks for including metric numbers for all of us outside the US! Looks like a great piece of kit.
I've been wanting a double walled Dyneema tent but didn't know that they existed. I'll be curious to hear your review. If it holds up well, and I can commit to at least a LASH or two each year, I may take the plunge in a year or so.
In NZ, hikers had condensation even in double walled tents. Also, camping is a little pricey. Pay extra for showers, too. There were very few trail angels but it's been several years. At the time the trail was very new so locals were like who are all these smelly foreigners! . At the inception of the trail the TA organizers thought it would be mostly Kiwis... New Zealanders but it's mostly people from around the world. The few trail angels we did meet were incredible! Becareful hitchhiking. Had a couple of creepy experiences. There's nothing to be afraid of in terms of bugs or animals.
Don't think much has changed since you hiked Jane! When did you hit the trail?
I just realized I bought a single walled version of this exact tent shape and structure from REI. Its the Flash Air 2 at also around 2 pounds and same place for trekking poles but at only 200ish dollars. Although I'm sure this stratospire will be more durable and also better suited to wet areas than my single walled version I'm happy to see that REI didn't design this non freestanding tent but rather just made a cheaper version. REI stuff can be rough when they try out "new designs".
Yay Te Araroa Trail New Zealand! Hopefully can organize a fan meet up when you pass through Auckland ❤
I'm hiking the COVID Trail tomorrow. It's basically walking around the block 1,000 times and setting up my tent in the living room.
omg did u do that challenge where you run a marathon inyour house it was a really dope challage
Love your gear reviews and the fact that you’re unsponsored which enables you to render your true assessment of the items. Best wishes on the Pinhoti hike. Lots of road side walking. Should you need anything while on this hike, please let me know. Thanks ! P-Ray
For $680 I want my tent to pitch itself. And cook me breakfast in the morning.
@Chad Sanborn Hahaha! Exactly. A good morning kiss will do too. Lol
I agree back to basics. Super eye lashes my last view
$680 !? Forget it. Like the other ultra-light products Dixie has used, like her backpack, its a lot like buying a European car. Expensive on the front end, unreliable in use, almost no value on the backend. Compared to an Osprey at maybe a pound or two more, and won't wear out, and if it does Osprey will replace it? No contest.
@@soylentgreen2065 Dixie does established thru-hikes. That means she's allways on safe roads with no real dangers, the next town is allways around the corner and everything is planable. On the other hand, she's walking quite a lot of miles. She actually doesn't need real protection but wants to walk as much as possible on one day. That means cutting weight at all costs is the way to go, especially since she's carrying a lot of camera gear, batteries etc. Ultralightweight gear is made for thru-hikes and unusable in more demanding situations. Would I buy UL gear in her situation? For sure, yes. Will I buy it for me? Partially. Thanks to the thru-hike community for making my sleeping pad and my sleeping bag lighter but I'll keep my 1.9 kg Hillebert tent and my 2.6kg Gregory backpack, as well as my 178g Optimus gas stove. The tent protects me from everything except falling trees, the stove uses about 20% less gas than a normal UL stove and the backpack can carry up to 22kg while it's still comfortable. But if I did the CDT, I'd probably just copy Dixies gear. Except the tent, of course.
@@kobold90 Dixie is planning on doing Te Araroa here in New Zealand - there are some really rugged stretches on this, including some bushwacking occasionally.
And it can get pretty cold, windy and snowy in the mountains.
Quite a few people use the Zpacks Duplex. 🤗
I'm like you, I use partially ultralight gear, but some I prefer a little more ruggedly durable.
I do agree with Dixie's gram grinching for the distances she covers - protection for the longevity of the body is important!
Great to hear you're coming to New Zealand to tramp (what we call hiking) Te Araroa, looking forward to seeing you video series you make from the walk.
Ah Dixie! I could kiss you. We have been looking for a tent for a while, loved the look of the duplex but really want double walled. Couldn't find any that fit the bill AND used trecking poles. Jackpot!! Can't believe I've never heard of this tent before. Thank you so much!
You're going to love New Zealand. Most beautiful country on earth.
The StratoSpire Li is a great tent. I used it last Summer for a longer High Sierra Trip and it performed amazingly well in crazy wet weather.
You will like it, especially the pretty big vestibules. At one point I will have my videos from this trip with that tent done ;-)
Cheers from LA.
Hey Dixie, have you ever thought about through hiking the North Country Trail?
If she does, I can help her in the southwest Michigan area!
I have the Stratospire LI and love it. In addition to a few weekend and overnight trips, I used it during a 500 mile section hike on the AT last year. I have only two small complaints:
1- the magnets that hold the flaps are weak. A strong wind or any other pressure blows them loose, resulting in an annoying flapping flap.
2- the overall footprint is larger than the competition. It’s generally not a problem, but did limit my set up options in a few constrained locations.
I have the Notch in Sil poly. Basically it's a one person version of this. I went with the Notch because of the smaller footprint. Wish It was available in dyneema when I bought it
Davide, that magnet issue sounds frustrating. Eg, being woken in middle of night to flapping. Did you find a workaround to address it? Or did you change your behavior, e.g. opened up flaps less often, especially in windier conditions? Thx.
Slept in my Tarptent aeon li for some 50 nights. Never had an issue with magnets on the opposite I find them to be an improvement. Just saying
@@aaronjenkins1438 I generally leave the flaps down in high winds. The tighter the pitch, the more tension and the easier they pop (bumping against the tent auses them to come undone when tautly pitched). I have a first gen Stratospire LI. My understanding is that the new ones have a longer flap for the magnets (and they may have repositioned it somewhat) to resolve this issue. In addition to last summer's section hike, I used the tent for a 7 week-long section hike this summer and am still very pleased with it. The magnets are a minor issue. Even in windy conditions this summer, I was able to button up completely with no significant condensation issues. Most importantly, the tent is remarkably weather-proof and performs exceptionally well in the rain.
@@davidewise4516 Thanks for the detailed reply! Best.
Hey Dixie, try running the ridge line pullouts to the “entry way” stakes rather than adding 2 more. Tarp Tent shows this in the pictures of the StratoSpire 1.
Hey Dixie, I’ve just started backpacking for the first time! I’m 42 and loving it, and really loved your affordable video on first time gear recommendations! Thanks for being such a great role model to all women hikers!❤️
Why? Because we all have G.A.S..... Gear Acquisition Syndrome.
I used to until I watched Shug vids and invested in a sewing machine instead of buying more gear. I sewed up a prototype hammock for practice, then a final hammock and 850FP goose down quilt, never slept better. I've tried everything prior, tents, bivies, tarps, you name it.
I love the Stratospire Lithium.💕I go winter camping in good weather, and it has lots of room for extra bedding and even a camp toilet (I am 5’2 which makes it easier) if I am car camping. I do, however use groundhog stakes which work better for our sandy soil. I also use a Tyvek sheet underneath just because it was such a pricey tent I kind of feel like I have to protect it whether it needs it or not. 😆
Thanks for another great video! I have one of those and live in New Zealand: a bit of advice on it. 1. Extend the ridge line guys as they are too short to be able to reliably select solid ground for the stakes 2. Get longer stakes as those supplied do not hold in moderate wind on damp ground. The pitch-loc thing is great, but creates a lever that pulls the stake out when wind pushes down on the side of the tent. Either longer/larger stakes or extended guys fix it. It’s a great tent, hope you get to use it down this way sometime soon.
"Hey y'all, Dixie here..." CLICKED LIKED... lol Anybody do that?
Yes!
Yup
Thank you! ♥️
Every time :D
Like, yeah. I also logged into the youtube app on my Roku so now I can just bring up the channel, click “Play All” and turn Dixie into the Energizer Bunny. She just goes and goes and goes. 😂
I was full speed ahead New Zealand for the TA in October but I’m pretty sure I’m gonna have to call it off till next year for various reasons. I hope you’re able to get out there, I just want to be walking around middle earth 😭 looks like utter bliss
That's such a shame Bendy, I hope you can get here to hike it soon! I just did the first 1800km this past season, and am so grateful I was able to do what I did when I did!
So, it’s heavier, bulkier, smaller, more complicated to pitch, more expensive, etc. than the Duplex... and you still prefer it??
Thank you for using a proper Southern Appalachian Long "I"...and thanks for referring to your tent walls as"taut."...and for all the other stuff, too.
Kids:
Google 'taut vs taunt' and you get this - “Taunt” (“tease” or “mock”) can be a verb or noun, but never an adjective. “Taut” means “tight, distended,” and is always an adjective. “Taut” is also occasionally misspelled “taught.”"
Dixie, I just stumbled onto your TV interview... Cool! ua-cam.com/video/pIyRFS8hIB0/v-deo.html
Following from your interview comment about all the things you learn about yourself on the trail (for me it's long distance bicycle touring): I've known a couple woman who, after asking me if I got lonely after months on the road alone, said to me, "I don't like myself well enough to spend that much time alone." I was stunned... I thought they were terrific people! I found them to be very articulate and personable, both had masters degrees, both presented themselves well, and they were attractive. I didn't get it... However, that led to more conversations that revealed why they felt that way... Then I got it. Over time things changed for the better for both of them. From following back packing and long distance bicycle touring journals over the years it is clear that some people use those activities as a way to heal. I say go for it! You can sort a lot out and have a life changing experience. BTW, like you I bailed from a "good job" to do my first expedition... definitely the right decision at the time!
NZ can be wet. One place I camped has over 38 feet of rain per year. You may want to consider pitching fly first to keep your inner dryer!
Stay safe, if you though Spanish is hard wait til you try kiwi.
No reason for a rain fly with dyneema or sil nylon and why everyone has gone to these materials.
@@w8stral That's what George was talking about, I assume, which the video maker talked about, at about 1.55.
@@w8stral This tent is not rainproof without the rain fly, even the "solid-wall" version. In that version 1/3 of each entry door is mesh, to control condensation.
@@johnd7564 Mesh doesn't matter. How all tarptents work. Its solid above and last I checked, rain under influence of gravity falls down. Now in a howling storm, you just lower the sides of your tent so said mesh doesn't allow wind blown rain in.
Light, doesnt hold water, or stretch in wind and rain... advantages of dyneema. I lean towards the HMG ultamid 2, as it comes to 1.3kg (2.9 pounds) with large inner, pegs. And allows me to put up my leg inside for a hamstring strech... and can be used inner alone (think tasmania with marsh fly attacks) or outer alone ( snow.camping).
I like having lots of inner space to stretch, organize my gear.and cook... ( sandly new zealand). And wind resistance is a.big one for me.
Great to see you have so many Kiwi fans!!
Having used my Duplex last season on TA it will be great to see how the StratoSpire holds up for you (I'm looking at the Aeon Li for next season). There was only one night on the trail where I wished I had a double walled tent for the added insulation, and that was in an unsuspecting trail angel's yard in Waikare (still waaaay up north where it's supposed to be warm) where I was FREEZING! I don't know whether I would have been any warmer in the double walled tent, but it sure felt like it. The South Island will be much colder if you have to camp down there.
I found the Duplex held up really well in NZ's tropical climate (think thunderstorms and monsoon-type rainfall). There were a couple of days/nights where it must have dropped thousands of litres of water and I was still very cozy and dry inside. Hopefully the StratoSpire is just as successful.
The biggest problem you'll have is trying to get the stakes into the ground, especially on the South Island. We have some pretty hard soil here!! I had to use rocks on more than one occasion, and bent more than my fair share of stakes (you may want to consider carrying a couple spares). I'll be switching to the Easton Nano stakes (or similar) to finish the South Island later this year.
Two reasons why you won't regret this on the TA:
1. Condensation.
2. Giving the south island SANDFLIES the finger from the other side of the mesh. Trust me!
If you're coming to do the Te Araroa, then a tent that can cope with wind and rain is a must. But please, PLEASE consider making some alternative tracks to the TA. There are more interesting tracks or routes to explore, and the in time lockdown can be used to research other ways to go off the beaten track (the TA is fair trampled!).
Hi Dixie, do you remember what length you used for your trekking poles to set up the tent? Instructions say 120-125cm. I'm short, so my poles only go to 120cm, and I'm wondering if that's why mine sags in the middle. Thanks
Hope you enjoy the Pinhoti! I live 15 minutes from cheaha (pronounced CHEE-HA) mountain in a town called Heflin that you are gonna pass through when you hike it. Me and my friends basically live on that trail and we’re all fans, Good Luck!
Dixie you always do such a great job. Such a gift to be able to clearly and concisely always cover your topic. A rookie for sure ....I do enjoy all your videos. 😊 Roll Tide 😊
Please pay attention! She doesn't wear Alabama gear. She wears Auburn gear. That means "War Eagle!"
LOL!!! I know that’s the pun. A little SEC humor ......if your not an SEC fan you probably wouldn’t get it.
WAR EAGLE
You are my favorite! This channel is so inspiring and makes me feel like I can follow my dream of hiking the PCT!
Just wanted to let you know I appreciate your no fluff reviews! Straight to the point. Good video.
Great review Dixie, thank you for sharing. 🤗
I have the stratospire one and the double rainbow and vouch for Henry's designs - Bomb proof and worth every penny.
i think you've mentioned before an interest in foraging, i would love for you to do a video about that! even if you're just learning, i'm sure i'm not the only one who would enjoy learning with you. keep up the awesome videos and great attitude!
I would enjoy that as well. 😊
How awesome that you're coming to NZ. I got the duplex after seeing your reviews and it served me well on Great Barrier Island earlier this year. Let me know if you need a lift around Auckland from the airport, our public transport isn't the best.
"Imagine the weight savings!" - Jupiter. Looks like a snazzy tent!
And yet another great gear review. Thank you.
But where is Fancy May?
Mt Man here from The a t trail 💜this i gotta see not leak 4 that price
I've used the StratoSpire II for about six years - the silnylon version. Great tent. I have two criticisms - the inner bug liner is very fiddly to attach and un-attach, and cords and clips used to attach tend to break. The other criticism is that it is a challenge for one person to setup. Totally doable but tricky as you need three hands to hold the poles up and stake. Positives are that it is great in a storm, is VERY roomy, it can be used without the bug liner, and has held up great to hard use. Construction quality was top-notch and it was a good value in terms of cost.
What advantage do you get from putting the poles up before staking the low corners?
I really like the way you explain the gear you use. My old bones feel so much better waking up in a hammock, but I liked many of the features of this tent, thanks, Dixie.
Shame that its a 700 dollar tent. Thats price of all of my gear including shoes that were 200.. I will never be able to afford a tent like this. But I am happy with my 20dollar tarp when going lightweight.
the regular, not Li version starts at $360 which isnt cheap but its comparable to other tents. (not counting discount/bargain/ entry level/walmart specials)
Who does that shame lie on?
Hi Jess, could you film a backyard camp in it perhaps and give us your thoughts ? It would be really useful regardless ( pending when we all get back out on trail ) ? Atb A
I tried a TarpTent years ago, and really loved the design and how easy it was to set up, but it was tooooo heavy so I went with Zpacks. I am super excited that they are now using the Dyneema material... the one-person version of this TarpTent is now on my radar.
Ill be fabricating my own dyneema tent in the near future, just looking for suitable fabric, hardware, and shipping suppliers, love your vids, they are highly inspiring, thanks
BTW, I picked up some of those Easton Aluminum Nail Stakes from Mountain Laurel Designs and they are plain awesome. They are much tougher than those v-shaped titanium stakes, hold better, and are still nice and light. At $2.50 each they aren’t cheap but I bought 10 and I feel like I will lose them over time before they break so that’s why I got a couple extra. I got them a while back on a personal recommendation from Darwin so they are trail tested. Nice to see top of the line tents including first quality parts. 🤗
I have a 3 person tent from Walmart and live in it year round because I'm homeless.
It cost me $27.00 and does the same job.
Wow. That is a hard life. I'm glad your tent performs well for you. A leaky tent is awful.
Love the video's Dixie.... two questions, after using this tent for some time, do you feel the double wall is still beneficial vs. your extensive experience with single wall tents? and second, did you consider the one person version Notch Li version of this tent? Thanks for all the video's!
Hi Dixie!! I found your channel during this "shelter in place" just itching to get on a trail. Just curious on what you thought on the slightly shorter length of the Tarptent? The quick shot of you laying in seemed like your feet were pretty close to the wall and with a sleeping bag or quilt would you worry about touching the walls? Maybe thats were the inner mesh comes in, you'd touch that but not the walls? I currently use the Tarptent Protrail but looking to switch to Dynema product. Keep up the great videos!!
I am so excited to see your TA hike! I really want to do it with my husband when we are empty nesters. I have no problem planning trips ( even maybe a thru hike) with my kids- but that one I want to be kind of like a second honeymoon, so it'll have to wait.
Never been a Zpacks tent fan especially after watching all the thru-hikers who went through the “pin hole leak” problem they had a while ago. The company claimed it was a bad batch of dyneema. Plus I think if you sell $600+ tents you damn better have someone answering a company phone instead of making your customers go through email support.
I like to be able to call for customer support too.. but from an overhead cost stand point phone call 20 minutes laobor on the manufactue end 5 minutes by e-mail .. People tend to be brief and to the point by e-mail .. There should be a phone call follow up when e-mail is not going to handle the situation well..
Marc I think for strictly business issues, email is the better format.
Havanorange Perhaps but when your thru-hiking the AT or any trail for that matter and have a leak problem or warranty issue you need action taken. Last thing you want is to play email tag coordinating a solution or replacement. Folks have reported it’s taken days or weeks to resolve. That’s not appropriate.
I was looking at the Stratospire 2 but it was quite a bit heavier than then Six Moon Designs Haven Bundle. Six Moon Designs had a one day sale last week so it was hard to pass up at $261. I agree with you on the double wall trekking pole tent being a better way to go. Just one question: Did you also get a Sidecar for Fancy Mae? 😂
It's great to hear your coming to New Zealand! I'm looking to do the cycle tour TA 2022. Found your channel when looking for light weight great reviews and have now watched quite a few hours. If you want any info on New Zealand please don't hesitate to ask, regards Chris.
Hey Dixie! I have vaguely wanted to do something epic for a long time but in 2016 I spent a month camping in national parks out west and knew what was missing, hiking to each site. My big backpacking trip materialized in 2018 on the AT. I would love to get my hands on a Zpacks Duplex.
I'll be very curious to see how this works for you. I DID have a bug headnet the was a no-see-um mesh. I had to switch it out for a regular mesh bug net as the no-see-um net was sooooo dense/tight absolutely NO air/breeze got in and it was crazy hot. Maybe it will work better in a tent application as there is more surface area? Best of luck always!
ok, let's see, More expensive, less room, heavier, and now made of material with a life span of less than 3yrs (ref z-packs letter to me). That's a lot of money for a heavier and smaller tent with a life expectancy of just 3yrs/or 1 thru-hike. wow
Great review Dixie. I own a TT Notch Li its "semi-solid interior" for use herein the mountain west.
You are KEERECT! The Stratospire Li 2 person advantages over the ZPacks Duplex are:1.)-> better design for USEABLE space, ventilation, wind resistance and ease of pitching and 2.)->better build quality in excellent reinforcements and stitching. Now made in a top tier Chinese plant this build quality is even better. Henry Shires had a labor shortage that forced him to move Dyneema tent fabrication.)
IMHO no tent maker makes better DCF tents than Tarptent.
Just discovering your channel. Fantastic! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge!
I have been wanting this tent. Wanting to get it for the Appalachian Trail and have just been debating it but this review is the most thorough review I have seen yet I do appreciate all your effort
Hey Dixie,Great information, especially for impulsive buyers like myself, i love the videos,i noticed you had mentioned in one of them something about wanting to be a homesteader ,i was wondering if you have ever seen the video series of the guy here on UA-cam titled "My self Reliance" he has a whole series of videos much like yourself ,and in one of them he actually speaks lol and explains that he had very little building skill and learned everything basicly by reading and winging it, defying the doubters much like yourself he set out for two years to the wilderness to build his dreams , you should check him out some time ,he's basicly the male version of you, very determined with a relentless work ethic! i think you'll enjoy watching him...
Check out the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Dirigo 2 - my favorite tent so far. One piece and pitches quick!
Single-wall tent, not so hot for NZ, UK, etc.,
@@darthkek1953 I agree, here in New Zealand double walled tents are far more effective in our weather conditions and topography.
Zpacks is having their spring sale right now, so you can take $50 off any tent. Just throwing it out there for anyone intrested.
Whats that sale, less than 10%? Lol
@@TheREALMuad-dib Didn't you hike with Dreamcatcher & Rambo in 2016?
New to your channel and loving it!! With all this down time during the pandemic it has me thinking that maybe I could do some backpacking some day! Do you have any tips or videos about how to physically prepare? Workout routines for strength and endurance, stretches, etc. Thanks a lot!
I just bought the Tarptent Double Rainbow Li, and I too was confused about the oddly shaped DCF scrap "patches", but then I had an idea. Get yourself some pocket change and lay out the coins on the DCF scraps until you've found a configuration that utilizes the most surface area. Then trace the coins with a sharpie and cut yourself some nice little round DCF patches! (Regular scissors won't cut DCF neatly, if at all. I recommend buying a small pair of carbon steel shears designed specifically for cutting DCF). By doing this I was able to turn two raggedy scraps into 9 round mini patches: 1 half-dollar size, 2 nickel size, 2 penny size, and 4 dime size.
Red River Gorge then I did the Smokies.That did me in, I'm hooked
Try the Big South Fork NRA on the KY/TN line for some great backpacking in the region.
Ive been watching your trail adventures around the world. The Camino timeline story was so cool. Keep going. I wish you all the luck and I really love your smile 🙂 Greetings from Portugal 🇵🇹
Awesome tent. I hope you get out soon Dixie.
Tarptent also just released the Double Rainbow as an Li version. Not sure how that’s relevant, but there it is.
Just what I needed in the way of a comparison. Thanks, Dixie!
Oh the Tarptent....I had a Tarptent for my first backpacking setup. My single woman backpacking days! 🤗
$700! My goodness. I recall your other Dynema tent on the pct having pin holes in it. They are light but cost too much. Right now I'm using a bivy because I can't find a long enough tent of reasonable cost and weight. The Nature Hike tent you had is too short for me at 6'4". Keep showing your things. Really enjoy them. ULA's are made in the next town over from me.
Thanks for the great review Dixie. I have one question I hope you can answer for me: do you think the pitch space required for the Stratospire Li is too big for section hiking the AT? Thank you! And enjoy NZ!
I look forward to hearing about the gear you have been showing us. More than anything, though, I look forward to seeing you back out on the trail! I have watched the AT, PCT, CDT and the Camino through hikes. I so appreciate the work you do the allows us to be a part of your life! Not the mention the work you do to fulfill your dreams. Aaron is so talented! I love the collaboration you have with him. I was wondering if he earned a trail name on the CDT?
I've had a Stratospire 2 for a couple years now and its a nice tent. I can pitch it and tear it down really fast unless the ground is really uneven and awkward. I only use 6 stakes unless I'm expecting a hard blow. I have looked at the Li, but I'm really digging the zipperless door setup on the Seek Eolus. It's in the same price range and a bit bigger than the Duplex or SS Li.
I love Henry's tents. I back packed with a Contrail tarp tent for years. This one looks really nice.
Great open evaluation of the Tarp Tent Stratospire Li. I am going with different TT model this summer but is still sub 2 pounds. YES for including metric measurements. The Pitch-lock corners are going to change how you pack your shelter. Henry Shires Tarp Tena is a great American made company that has served the Ultralight hiking community well.
While it is true that many double-wall tents have less condensation problems than single-wall tents, it's not inherent to the 2 walls. Merely adding an inner mesh to a single-wall tent is not going to reduce condensation. What makes many double-wall tents better is that the rain fly only extends part of the way to the ground, making it far more breathable. There's effectively venting about a third to half way up the wall all around the entire tent. In this design, there's no extra venting over a single wall tent, so the condensation should be just as bad as a single-wall tent.
(In fairness, Dixie's point about the mesh potentially physically keeping her and her gear away from the condensation filled outer wall is true.)
The Duplex also has the rainfly a bit off the ground, and mesh between the rainfly and the bathtub, so has the same breathability there. - Otherwise I agree with you that the inner tent does not prevent condensation which still occurs on the outer tent, but keeps the water off you if it is watertight itself. I already discussed this point with Dixie last year. But I found that my Lanshan 2 which has a construction very similar to the Stratospire (but SilNylon) worked well for me under not too cold conditions, with quite some condensation on the outer tent, while drops falling down from it got caught by the inner mesh and didn't reach me.
There are apex vents, vents at the two Pitchloc corners, and you can partially open the vestibule as well to encourage more airflow.
Dixie, I took a nap and dreamed of you. You were driving a yellow VW Bug and were here in NC. We all did a double-take and said, "Is that Dixie!?" and your dark glasses and braid resulted in a "Yup." Then, you parked and got out of the car with Fancy, who was jumping all around and rolling in dandelions. Suddenly, we were in Brevard at a waterfall. Somebody said, "Damn, these bugs are bad!" and you said, "Draw a golden mesh force field in the air around you with your finger and the bugs can't get thru!" We looked at you and you had a, like... golden goddess bubble of soft mesh light all around you like a huge halo! Then you laughed and said, "It's double-sided!!" and you melted - vanished into the waterfall mist. And I woke up laughing. Pretty cool, huh? LOL!
This tent seems too small for me. I have the Duplex and love it but when it's wet I wish it was a few inches longer to keep the foot of my sleeping bag dry. I'm 6'2"
I’m tall too and can’t find a damn tent that doesn’t soak either my head or my feet. Please someone respond to this with an ultralight solution for tall people.
The price is insane.....right up to the point your life may depend on having a good shelter.
Yeah, let's get feed back, less condensation would be great. I think it's a little short for a six footer.
Great video as always 👍
However "Getting their poles wouldn't make it a self standing tent" ;) Love my Aeon li
Cheers
Love that you don’t have commercials or sponsors, allowing you to be totally objective. Thank-you, Dixie.
My wife and I love our SS Li. Good amount of room, plus the giant vestibules for each of us. The quality of the construction cannot be beat.
Owning the silnylon version of this (and carrying it for the first month of my AT journey), I can attest to a couple of things that should be true of both. One, you don't need to set it up separately (ie tarp then interior) to keep the inside dry. In fact, this is why I bought it originally. And having to set it up in a thunderstorm, I was able to do so easily (see following) and it was dry as a bone. However, I was amusingly looking at this success standing in the pouring rain asking myself "ok, now how do I get in without defeating that feat?". Fortunately, the vestibules are large and I was able to crouch in one and strip out of my soaked clothes under its cover and get into the tent relatively dry.
Second, it did take me a while to get the hang of pitching it. The instructions are good, but I think the offset of the poles relative to the rectangle of the floor was throwing me mentally. When I was able to adapt to understanding how it was going to be oriented relative to those first pegs and pole, it became easy.
I will add one third point. Since the interior is essentially "hanging" inside, there is a tendency to "slide" if the last is not level. There are adjustments, as you noted, that can help with this, but if you find yourself in that situation you can find the floor slipping towards one side which can expose it to splashing in rain. Perhaps the dyneema us less slippery (my nylon pad on the nylon floor was definitely fun times that night!).
All in all, I was (am) happy with mine and it did exactly what I purchased it for. Since then, I've found a different setup I prefer (a mesh tent under a regular tarp), but I was pleased with this one. I hope you are with yours. Also a shout out to the TarpTent team for their assistance when I stupidly feel into the tent and tore a seam (even with my weight, it held up well, but, yanno...).
lol, favoring double wall. It's 1985 all over again, ditching single for double....
Thank you so much for your videos! I just started to watch your AT series again. It helps during the corona-time. I'm excited to watch your New Zealand series! Stay save Dixie :)
I used the Notch Li on my CDT hike last year and loved it. I think it's fine for one person. The Stratospire Li looks awesome and it would be cool to have the extra space. I'd be a bit concerned that it takes up too much real estate for the rocky, rooty and generally not great pitches on the TA however. Having said that, it's better than the Duplex in this regard. I've also heard that you often end up pitching where you're really not supposed to in NZ and this tent is quite conspicuous. Have a great time when you finally make it down this way!
I did about 450 miles in this tent on the PCT. I really have enjoyed it. Please b aware U must keep the zippers clean so U don’t have a gear failure. When I stopped to camp or hotel I would also do zipper maintenance to get the dirt dust or mud out of the zippers. What I like about this tent also is that U can take down one vestibule to fit in a smaller space as it does have a large footprint. The lower tub on the inside does let in lots of wind and cold so in that instance I would do a lower pitch. The Li holds up in high winds on ridge lines and I never wetted out in this tent. I would suggest u pack extra cord for the lines on thru hikes or longer hikes. I did use protection on the dynema floor. This tent can b very versatile and would roomy for 2. 👍
Love your channel. Used your link to pick up 100$ in stuff over at Jeff’s place.
Be safe.
Have you tried HMG ? The ultramid 2 is so easy to setup and they have now released their dirigo 2 which seems great too.
Ooh I didn't know you were off to NZ for Te Araroa, I haven't found a really good video of it as most are of the trails in the US so looking forward to seeing one for that :)