Tarptent - StratoSpire 2

I got the ProTrail Li, only used for one trip that was 6 days but I love it. Getting used to single wall however. Next time I'm bringing a sweedish dish cloth to dry, hoping that helps. I also have Stratospire 2 Sil. I'm debating the Li as my tent is from when the SS2 first came out (like 10-15 years?) and has like 500 nights on it, just starting to see some failures here and there. I'm a slim 6'1" and can easily use either of these tents happily.

Vancouver based, my stratospire 2 has 10 years and, 6 countries on it. Including months in Patagonia. Fly first setup for the win.

I had a stratospire 2. I will say it’s a bullet proof tent but I personally hated the pitch lock system that prevents it from really folding/rolling as small as its competitor.

I've owned and used this tent multiple times. I have zero complaints. After practicing setting it up in the backyard a couple of times, I had no issue with the tent. It kept us warm and dry.

I have a Stratospire 2 and my hiking buddy has the Durston 2P, and we've used both. The Stratospire is a palace, especially when you consider the huge vestibules. It is excellent if you have a dog, for instance, or plan to be inside the tent for longer periods of time. When my 2 boys were young, I fit my 25 inch pad and both of their 20-inch pads in the Stratospire no problem. Setup is fine. The Durston is the one we carry now on our trips. It's lighter and roomy enough for us since we don't stay in it very long.

Tarptent stratospire 2 Relatively light and enormous, with dual doors and dual large vestibules. We've had it for 10+ years and just replaced the zippers (free!) as our first repair. It slept me 5"5" f + 15yo & 8yo on oregon PCT; currently sleeps me, husband, dog, no problem. Have never used footprint and setup with hiking poles.

I'd recommend looking at getting a used , or stretching out and getting a new StratoSpire 2 from Tarptent, or others in there 2 person line up. There's also the durston x mid 2. Of course it is lucky and a faff to try and find one used and initial cost new is more, but great tents.

Xmid 2 (or Tarptent Stratospire2 if got at a good price). We've used both extensively in the Pyrenees. They do well and you get a little more ground space and sitting up height than a heavier tent like the Hubba Hubba, though a little less volume at the ends. Lanshan 2 is a good lightweight cheaper option, but not as quick to erect or as protective from wind . My friend has one, and I've had to help her erect it in windy conditions recently, and it's definitely more faff to set up than Xmid or Strat.

I get that tarptent isn’t always thought of as the most ultralight tent company, but their engineering is certainly among, if not the best, amongst ultralight tent makers. I’ve used a stratospire 2 for years now, and it can take anything I can throw at it. As I’ve lowered my pack weight, I mostly bring the stratospire along for canoeing trips where I appreciate the great design, wind/rain shedding, and increased headroom for two people. And the fact that they’re made mostly of 30d should help them outlast many ultralight tents. Tarptent is definitely worth looking at, imo.

Setup is easy with two people. I can set it up by myself, but it’s a little more challenging to balance the two trekking poles while I set up the main ridgeline. Even solo, it goes up easily in under five minutes. If it was super windy and I was setting it up solo it would be a little frustrating but still doable. Once you get the ridgeline and then the other main perpendicular line through the struts staked in it’s an absolute breeze to finish staking up and tensioning. Personally, I really like the look and function of a nice tight pitch, which is easily achievable with 30 seconds of walking around a tensioning the different linelocs after getting the 8 stakes in the ground. Harder to get as tight and consistent of a pitch with a lot simpler design, so I consider the small amount of extra complexity well worth it. Then again, I also enjoy setting up a tarp and playing with the different tautline hitches to get it just right, so linelocs are a breeze.

I would look through Tarptent’s options, as a lot of your preferences sound a lot like the way they build their tents. Well built, double wall options, and silnylon keeps the cost down. I personally use a stratospire 2 in Quetico/the boundary waters every year. It’s a trekking pole tent. The double rainbow could be a great freestanding option if that’s a sticking point.

First off, I don’t think many pieces of reasonably light (or possibly any weight) gear is likely to last a lifetime. 10-15 years is probably more realistic. $900 is crazy in my opinion. I’m guessing it’s because they’re made of DCF, which is a lighter and much more expensive material to work with. For some weight penalty (but also better pack ability and durability), look instead at shelters made of silnylon or silpoly. I would recommend looking at the offerings of Tarptent and Dan Durston for excellent tents in a much more reasonable price range, at least to give you an alternative. I’ve had the stratospire 2 for years now, and it’s pretty well bombproof by light tent standards. Dan Durston’s Xmid consistently gets great reviews, and he even answers many questions himself still.

it's basically a modded strat 2? I've had a strat 2 for 10+ years, only the zippers have failed which I fixed myself, otherwise perfectly fine still, it's a fucking gangster tent

StratoSpire 2 Li is the best. It's light, wind proof, and we can sleep 2 people w/ no condensation whatsoever. No condensation means you have more space, since you can touch the sidewalls comfortably. I have no idea what people are saying about struts. The struts have been no issue at all. They've never been any kind of hassle or packing challenge, I don't know where this is coming from at all 🤷