Hey all. I’m planning a 3/05 thru hike and right now I’m researching gear. I’m new to both camping and hiking, so your opinions would be a great help.
What do you think of the TarpTent Squall w/ a sewn-in floor and extended beak? I’m attracted to its weight (2lbs.), price ($225), and water-proofness.
Any input would be appreciated. Thanks!http://www.tarptent.com/products.html
JohnnyQuest
i haven’t “used” mine yet other than setting it up in the front yard and making calls to tell everyone about it.
i researched for a long time — chose the squall based on its simplicity — very quick and easy to set up — room for me and my gear. bug protection a priority. i’m going to use it for my '04 hike — i considered a speer hammock too, but will reconsider later down the road. lots of folks will argue the plus side of hammocking - but, for about the same wt., for now i prefer sleeping on the ground.
you could sew your own – and there are a lot of other tarp/tent structures out there – i just felt that the squall was a great value, simple, and customer service outstanding.
denise
I have a Virga (the one person size vs. the 2 person Squall)and have used it on multiple overnighters and the Stevens-Stehekin section of the PCT 8/'03.
I originally thought that the sewn in floor was the way to go, and ordered it that way, but through a fortinute oops in shipping, I received a standard floorless model. I’m glad for the mistake. I had them send me the pre-cut piece of Tyvex. Everything was straightend out WRT billing ASAP (Great customer service from TarpTent).
Anyways, on to the shelter: I found that the floorless model was very handy in the damp western Washington conditions I have to deal with. Without the floor, you can just pick up the shelter and shake off the vast majority of any condensation that forms, without it shaking onto the inside of the floor. The Tyvex works great as a ground sheet - that’s all I use most of the time- but being a belt and suspenders kind of guy (plus as wet as it is here) I also bring a piece of thin plastic in the event it’s really wet. The sil-nylon is quite slick - consider carefully if that’s what you’d want for the floor.
Ditto’s on what Denise says on the setup - a snap. I had mine up as a bug shelter in under two minutes when I stopped for lunch on day 4 of my PCT Section (the flies were driving me nuts). I repitched it in a couple of minutes at 2am when I was out on an overnighter and a 30 MPH wind came up broadside to how I’d set up - Once I’d reset to put the foot into the wind, no problem. Was also out in the pouring rain - kept me totally dry.
Packs down to nothing on the size, next to nothing on the weight…a real first rate product and great cust. service.
‘I am Otto, I love to get blotto’ Otto Man, Bus Driver, Simpsons.:cheers
‘Otto’
I also have the Virga and really have no major complaints. The Virga is a bit small, but since I only use it to sleep in it’s not too bad. I think the Squall would have been a better fit for my 6’ frame. As Otto mentioned, the sewn-in floor is pretty slick and it would be a good idea to smear 4-5 thin lines of clear silicon across the floor and let dry to keep your sleeping pad from sliding around on uneven ground. I did have a mouse come in under the mesh door when at Standing Indian Mtn Shelter since the door only drapes on the sewn-in floor. I was able to run it out without much trouble and it really wasn’t a big deal. You could always use some velcro and fix it. Overall, it’s the best ultra-light shelter I’ve ever had.
Nooga
I absolutly love my Squall with sewn-in floor and extended beak. It goes up in a flash, it goes back in your pack in a flash, it weighs nothing, condensation isn’t an isuue since it breathes quite well, it packs down to the size of a down summer sleeping bag. The two modifications are what Nooga mentioned. I sewed velco attaching the bottom of the door to the floor. I also ran some lines with silicon across the floor in a grid pattern to my thermarest doesnt slip all night. Get this thing, you wont regret it.
guru
I have the Tarptent Squall, with sewn in floor and extended beak. I have used it alot for camping in the southwest, where visits from numerous rodents, snakes, and a few other undesirables can happen alot. Great ventilation, ease of setup, lightweight.
Some suggestion, definitely do the silicon on the floor, seam seal (lightly) the seams just in case though never had a problem before I did it either, and I like Nooga’s idea of the velcro for the door, might do that before I leave in two weeks.
-xtn
airferret
Question: is it worth bringing the pole with you on your AT trip? I think I might feel uncomfortable if I left the tent standing with my expensive Leki pole if I went off for a while away from the tent.
Jeff T
I just ordered a Tarptent Virga, and I wanted to let you know that they have changed the sewn-in floor for 2004. As they said in their email to me: “This new sewn-in floor has a zipper at the front which attaches the floor to the front netting and provides you with the option of being completely enclosed in your Tarptent.” So if you bought a new tent, you wouldn’t have to make the velcro alteration to the netting door.
exacademic
Sewn-in floor w/ a zipper? Well I guess that pretty much SEALS the deal…pun most deffinetly intended.
JohnnyQuest
My wife and I were gonna use the Cloudburst for two, but after reading the specs it looks like the Squall is actually bigger. Has anybody tried using the squall for two people plus gear? I’m 6’3", wife is 5’7" combined weight about 330. Thanks.
Kyle
Kyle & Lisa
The cloudburst has significantly more headroom than the squall from what I understand. I purchased a squall several months ago. As for getting two into the squall with gear, it would be a close fit, but definitely workable. It does work as a 2 person tent, but it’s much more comfortable for just 1. Perfect for just me and my gear.
fuzz