StratoSpire Li

I had the Tarttent stratosphere Li (same brand, different model), and I hiked over 5.500 km with it before the Dyneema was done. Still didn’t have any problems with any other pieces of the tent. I love love loved the tent. Heard also only good things about the Double Rainbow. It’s such a good brand and the owner replies quickly to emails. Depending on how many nights you’re outside per year, I would opt for a Dyneema tent.

I'm currently using the **Durston X-Mid Pro2** and the **Tarptent Stratospire Li**, and I really love them both. The X-Mid is great, but the Tarptent's double-wall design is fantastic for keeping condensation off the inner mesh, and its basic geometry just feels noticeably more stable and storm-worthy. (I've had both tents out in separate storms, but never the same storm, so I could be wrong about the difference!) My main dilemma is the Achilles' heel of trekking pole tents: **staking them out on difficult ground.** I keep running into campsites where the ground is too sandy to hold a stake, too rocky to penetrate, or (the worst!) covered in moss where stakes just won't bite. This is making me think seriously about moving to a **freestanding tent**. I've always avoided them due to the traditional weight penalty, but I really want to keep that reassuring **double-wall construction** and storm protection. So, my question for the community is: 1. **What am I looking at in terms of cost for a lightweight, double-wall, 2 person, freestanding tent that is comparable in size to the X-Mid/Stratospire Li?** 2. **Which specific models (2 person) should I be looking at?** (I'm aiming for maximum storm-worthiness and the condensation-free inner, without a massive weight increase.) **If the weight penalty isn't huge now, I'm ready to switch to a 2 person freestanding design**

Good question! My favorite tent is the Tarptent Stratospire Li with solid interior. It’s an amazingly low weight and so incredibly storm worthy. Takes a little practice to get a perfect pitch but stands like a beast when the wind and rain come. I highly recommend it!

Stratspire tarptent design has a much larger vestibule and a taller zipper opening which is nice if you have rain ( don't need to kneel or be as bendy) than the rainbow. That said I switched to the rainbow for the freestanding and no sidewall sagging, lots of clearance inside even in rain.

One handed PCT thruhiker '22 here. I had the tarptent StratoSpire (2?) Li Amazing tent and you get used to pitching it. First the corners and then you carefully place the trekking pole where it belongs and then pull the whole thing up. Tarp tent also sells poles if you only use less than 2 trekking poles. No matter what tent you're using: practice with a friend to figure out the logic of steps to pitch it. You will find a way I'm absolutely sure. Don't let a tent stop you! Also not pitching a tent is amazing! Doesn't matter how many hands a cowboy camper has. Happy trails my friend!

And you can get a decent quality tent second hand. I got my Stratospire for less than £200 from an Outdoor group on FB.

Own one, can confirm, and it almost doesn’t matter which side you pitch as the wind breaks off most of the angles ([although Henry Shires prefers to pitch one way](https://www.reddit.com/r/Ultralight/s/grG1318olA)). In very windy/storm conditions I would get out and check that the pegs are holding.

I’ve got a hiking pole “tarp tent”. It’s the best. Structurally better in wind than frame tents, more roomy, lighter, better ventilation possibilities etc. mine is the stratospire from Tarp tents but there are much cheaper options. Here’s a cheaper option I’m looking at: https://www.pariaoutdoorproducts.com/products/arches-1p-and-2p-backpacking-tent?currency=USD&variant=31870096441417&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxYOiBhC9ARIsANiEIfa_LPoyV7tpcOx38eKPL8XWn9T7oMqdk4sMjfm-8JJIfxHq1x0ph_YaAkKfEALw_wcB

Tarptent all the way - has kept me dry and cozy for thuousands of kilometers in snow, rain and heat. I have never owned a better ultralight tent. Bonus: you buy from a small, independent company, founded and owned by a great guy - when I bought my first one (years back) he answered all my questions personally… What a legend!