When Kathleen and I met we discovered we had the same tent (destined to be?). The Sierra designs ‘Clip Flashlight’ two-person tent. She had the newer, lighter ‘CD’ version (4 lbs. 6 oz). We eventually got rid of my older model. Several years later we bought a four-season, double-walled, three-person tent.
The Black Diamond ‘Squall’ is heavy (8 lbs. 7 oz) but when car camping we can put a queen-sized air mattress in it and still have room for gear inside. I’d carry it on canoe/kayak trips, and it would more than suffice for winter camping.
I also have an old but still useful bivouac sack. I’ve camped in it using a large golfer’s umbrella and a tarp to build a shelter over the head of it. I could sit up and read or cook in the rain that way. When I worked backcountry patrol jobs that bivy sack was on every patrol and SAR. On patrol as a backup to the tent, and on SARs in case I got stuck overnight.
Given all those options…
Of course I opted to buy something new instead!
The TarpTent ‘Notch’ weighs in at 27.95 ounces (1 lb. 11.95 oz) which includes the polyester fly, with ‘solid interior,’ stakes, struts, stuff sack, bags, and guy lines. The poles are another 3.8 ounces. So all together an ounce shy of 2 pounds.
Strangely enough the mesh interior is 0.2 ounces heavier but probably not as warm as the solid interior. I can pitch it without the interior but not the other way around. The fly alone would be lighter but I was happy to have the mosquito protection.
The tent requires two poles and only four stakes. You can use trekking poles. Since I wasn’t planning to use trekking poles, I opted for their poles.
There are two vestibules. These turned out to be plenty of space for my pack on one side and boots on the other. It opens to both sides. I could make it taught on one side where I stored the pack, and still easily get in and out on the opposite side.
Downsides?
Only one: a few mornings there was a fair amount of condensation on the inside of the fly. None of this dripped onto the interior. There are a few ways mentioned out on the interwebs to avoid this problem. I’ll need to experiment in various conditions and report back.
I need to upgrade with a ‘footprint’ and two adjustable (lighter) carbon fiber poles. I don’t use trekking poles right now though I’m exploring those as a future purchase. If I go that route, it’s good to note that TarpTent makes attachments specifically to accommodate them.
The Sleep System
The “system” consists of:
- the sleeping bag
- sleeping pad
- other insulation layers you might use overnight, be they:
- ‘long johns,’
- socks
- hat
- gloves
Sleeping Bag
For this trip I used my Big Agnes ‘Zirkel SL’ — not made anymore. This is down-filled and rated to 20o. It’s mummy shaped and has a bag sewn into the hood. This is for a pillow or any clothing you may want to use for that purpose. There’s no fill on the bottom side of the bag saving weight — with a caveat. See next.
Sleeping Pad
The ‘Insulated Air Core’ mattress is designed to fit inside an sleeve on the back of the bag. The bag doesn’t slide off the pad. Since there’s no fill on the bottom side of the bag you save a few more ounces on the total weight. Big Agnes also does not make this anymore.
Arlyn carried two sleeping pads. Open open-cell (inflatable) foam pad and one closed-cell foam (by Thermarest, I think). I’d like to follow his lead to upgrade my system. I’m looking into a piece of ensolite sized to the floor of the notch.
The bag was warm enough that I frequently left it open. Plus being a side sleeper, I’d wake up with parts of me — a leg or arm — on the cold ground. Not to mention the bonus of a back up to my mattress, which sprung a leak on night three. I woke up every two or three hours with cold or painful shoulders or hips and have to re-inflate the mattress.
I haven’t been able to find the leak to patch it. Big Agnes replaced it free of charge, with a comparable item. Thus securing my customer loyalty.
Pillow
I forgot to take one of my many camping pillows. Truth be told I’ve never found a perfect camping pillow. As previously mentioned the Big Agnes bag has an attached bag at the head and in that I stuffed clothes and my Patagonia ‘Puff Ball’ jacket. Arlyn had an inflatable pillow. I might look into something like that for future trips.
Other Insulation
I’ll discuss clothing in the next post but for my sleep system I had:
- ‘long johns’ consisting of long capilene pants and shirt
- socks
- a beanie
- gloves
None of this I needed on this trip but wouldn’t leave home without. You never know if or when weather might take a hard turn.
What’s In the Closet?
That’s it for the “bedroom.” On to the “clothes closet.” Or check out one of these other links if you prefer:
- Introduction — Debriefing the Odyssey
- Foundations — what was on my feet?
- Walls — which pack did I use?
- Kitchen — what did I eat and how?
- Bedroom — my tent and sleep system
- Closet — clothing
- Furniture & Appliances — all the other stuff
