Review - Tarptent Sub-lite Sil 2010

[Jellybean]

Hi,

I recently had the chance to try my new Tarptent Sub-lite Sil 2010 on a four day trip to the Snowies and thought I’d post a review, given the interest in Tarptents/other lightweight shelters on this site.

Pros
Lightweight and packs up small
Well-made (also impressed with the sturdiness of the floor, I was expecting it to be lighter weight)
Very simple but effective design and features
Well ventilated (range of options - roof, sides, ends, door) - all of which can be adjusted from inside the shelter
Quick and easy to pitch taut (first time, approx. 2 minutes, could easily do it in much less with practice)
Seems to be pretty stable (but yet to be really tested)
Plenty long enough (I’m 185cm or 6’1” and could fit some gear above my head) and ok width wise
Decent size vestibule (Could fit my pack - GoLite Pinnacle - and shoes and still leave room to get in and out; didn’t try cooking in it)

Cons
Condensation? The jury is still out on this (see below).
If you are base camping you lose your poles. (You could always take them for the day and re-pitch at night given the ease of doing this, although that’s not an option if it’s raining).

Re the condensation, on both nights we camped in Wilkinson’s Valley next to the creek (to be fair, an area – river valley/water basin - that the TT set up instructions indicated should be avoided if condensation is to be minimised). On the first day the ground was very wet from previous night’s storm and it was quite cool and very still overnight (also had foot vent closed but all other vents open). Condensation was dripping off the insides the next morning (I was glad I'd used my bivy, just in case) and it was difficult to get out of the tent without making everything wet. In complete contrast, the second night, there was much less ground moisture, warmer night, decent breeze, all vents open – and almost no condensation the next morning.

It also took a bit of fiddling to get one of the pockets to take the handle of my walking pole – they seemed incompatible at first and came out whenever I tightened the vent cordloc adjacent to it, but, after some fiddling eventually stayed put.

Attached are a few pics from various angles.
N.B. I added a rear strut (middle) to help increase stability and tautness (Henry provided it for a few dollars on request). Wasn’t really necessary for this trip but thought I’d try it anyway.

Decision
The jury is still out. For the most part I'm very happy with it, time will tell whether the condensation is a regular or infrequent problem (I don’t really want to have to take my bivy every time).

Cheers,

JB

[Jellybean]

Some more pics

[Nuts]

Good one Jellybean, it looks like a good design, well pitched. Perhaps a groundsheet covering all the inner area would reduce condensation coming up from the ground?

[ILUVSWTAS]

Looks a nice high tent.

Is there any ventilation at all?? I couldnt see any in those pictures. Surely a couple of vents in strategic places would clear up the condensation issue???

[Jellybean]

Good one Jellybean, it looks like a good design, well pitched. Perhaps a groundsheet covering all the inner area would reduce condensation coming up from the ground?

Hi Nuts,

I just used a GG polycro groundsheet on this occasion which covered under the floor but not the vestibule. A groundsheet which also covered the vestibule may have helped (I'll tried that next time) but I think the conditions had a big influence - cold, still first night; warmer with a breeze on the second night.

Cheers,

JB

[walkinTas]

Does it ship with its own poles. I think one of the cons (no pun) of this style of temp is that it requires you to own and carry trekking poles. These can weigh over 200 grams each. So instead of a 680 gram load it becomes a 1.1 kg load. Is that the case here?

[Jellybean]

Looks a nice high tent.

Is there any ventilation at all?? I couldnt see any in those pictures. Surely a couple of vents in strategic places would clear up the condensation issue???

Hi ILUVSWTAS,

Yes, it's nice and high, I can sit up no problem.

Good pick up re the ventilation - I completely forgot to take photos of the interior to show the ventilation options but you can see them at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/epicsteve/ ... 758848153/ (this is actually a slightly earlier version, there's some subtle changes in mine, but it gives you the idea)- it's actually really well ventilated, there are a number of options.

Cheers,

JB

[Jellybean]

Does it ship with its own poles. I think one of the cons (no pun) of this style of temp is that it requires you to own and carry trekking poles. These can weigh over 200 grams each. So instead of a 680 gram load it becomes a 1.1 kg load. Is that the case here?

Hi walkinTas,

Yes, it's designed for people who use poles and would have them with them anyway (the lightest ones I've seen, which get good reviews, are GG carbon poles - approx. 215g per pair).

Cheers,

JB

[walkinTas]

A Gossamer LT4 is around the 100g mark; if you can find them anywhere?

[ILUVSWTAS]

Well thanks for the report!!

That's a feature of the Akto I really like, it has zips at this spot (where i've scribbled like a 3 year old)

[Franco]

Hi JellyBean
Nice report and even better pitch !

I thought of posting some photos of the inside to give a better idea of how it is designed.


All Tarptents have that 360 degree mesh, that is a kind of trademark.
The tail of the tent (where the Akto has a zip...) has a flap that can be fully or partially open.
As observed on grass in a humid place you can expect condensation inside.
If you have a double wall that will be "invisible" to you but it is still there and probably will be with you when you pack it up
(see threads about PU delamination for this....)
A groundsheet covering the vestibule area could have helped a little but maybe not much.
I always have a Chux with me and if needed I give the top a wipe or two
BTW, I like the height of the extra strut, just right in my book.

As for adding the weight of the poles, yes you do if you do not normally use poles , but in that case maybe the Moment would be better.
Some of the other TT work OK with the optional TT tent pole (3 section pole) however the Sublite needs stronger poles than those and personally I would not suggest the straight tent poles for the others either because they are only a fraction of the strength my BD poles (for example) .
(to explain , I can bend an assembled 3 section tent pole with one finger,pressing down, but can pole vault with my trekking poles)
Franco

[Jellybean]

Hi Franco,

Thanks for the extra pics.

I actually thought of you when I was pitching it (mantra: must pitch taut, must pitch taut!) ) but it is really so easy to pitch. I'd hoped to pitch it at home before we hit the mountains but with all the rain and being busy at work, had no chance. That wasn't a problem, it was easy as.

Re the Chux, yes I always take one and had one with me - it was well used on Day 1!

Re the extra strut - after seeing your pics of Quoddy's(?) Sub-lite I thought that was a great idea. Didn't have any suitable materials or time to do it myself so just asked Henry when I ordered the tent. A few extra dollars and viola!

Cheers,

JB

[Franco]

Oddly I only have set up the Sublite Sil twice and the Tyvek version a few times but always need to re adjust it, for some reason I don't get it right the first time...
(and in fact my sil did not look as good as yours. I must practice )
I had some problem at first with the handle of my BD pole but fixed that . I think that I turned the tip the opposite way or something like that.
Quoddy got the extra strut idea from my Contrail set up (it will be in the 2011 pics when the new TT site will be up)
Small world isn't it ?
Franco
BTW, the new site will have an easier way to submit pictures for the gallery.
I must say that the ones in the new gallery are of a very high standard* so you need to set up your TT shelter somewhere spectacular to get in there.
No limp set ups need to apply....
* that includes me out

[ILUVSWTAS]

Thanks for the pic Franco. Exactly what I thought it should have where I thought it should be.

[Nuts]

Ive tried a couple of mids. As a rule the bigger they get the less problem condensation is (and is to deal with) (which is why i like the golite one). What i'm wondering with this one is why have the poles on the outside, attachment at a couple of points, when they would be easy enough to set up (and stronger) on the inside? like with the MLD mid: http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com/sh ... cts_id=137

[Franco]

Thanks.
My comment about my set up of the Sublite wasn't in false modesty as you can see in this pic.

I was waiting for the seam sealing of this Cloudburst to cure so I erected the Sublite just to have a look at it.
That was about two weeks ago.
However not to distroy the myth that all of my set ups are "just so" I will never show this to anyone.
Franco
The CB set up is also less than ideal but that was on purpose (to avoid tension)

[Franco]

Why on the outside ?
All of the TT are fully enclosed so you could have one pole inside the vestibule but it would be difficult to have the other pole at that angle inside the tent over the floor.
One point that Henry strongly favours is the very un-American way of designing his shelters so that you can keep the floor dry erecting them in the rain.
So you fully erect the shelter then you get in.
Just a way of doing it ....
Ron at MLD on the other hand strongly favours the shaped tarp plus bivy or bug net approach.
Personally (in theory) I like the Trailstar a lot (and have made for myself a couple of versions just for fun...) however by the time I add a net inner the weight and stored size of the MLD is gone and there is no way I would hike here without a bugproof environment.
Franco

[Nuts]

Fair enough. Iv'e always added the inner tent on the golite after the fly is up, keeping it dry/

I have that little six moon oasis for a small bugproof option but i havent used it much yet, perhaps i wont, even at that size i find them small. Even those with end support to hold the shape.

None of these are quite perfect are they. I guess a supported foot end keeps the shape better in a snow storm but then, having lost the symmetrical shape, you have to loose some strength as winds change direction.

Outside poles, like you say, are the trade-off for the all-in-one design (I see how it Would be difficult to keep that shape with inner poles). Its a shame... It would likely then be just as strong with a single inner pole as many of the others do. Snow (especially) puts a lot of pressure on poles. We had a pole tip bent sideways when using pole extenders. I guess in this case you have some sort of plastic pole connector in the top taking the weight?, hard to see...

[Franco]

Dry set up..
I meant brands like MSR/Sierra Design/Big Agnes/MH/Marmot
to me it has something to do with the fact that in the US the inner is the tent...
(have a look at the manufacturers sites , in the US you see the inner featured on the roduct page , in Europe and here you see the fly)
Franco

[Jellybean]

A Gossamer LT4 is around the 100g mark; if you can find them anywhere?

These poles are now back in stock at Gossamer Gear if you were after some!?

[Nuts]

There was a comparison discussion on the BPL forum, the Goat Poles from Titanium Goat seemed to come out on top. Lighter/Alum lower section/camera mount/joinable (even a fishing rod lol).
I recently grabbed some carbon poles of the sierra tp site (Komperdell) Not nearly as light but then I use them for walking a lot also...

[melinda]

Met a young guy on the Arthurs with a pair of GG poles.
He wasn't using them, one was broken!
(I like GG products, but the poles certainly weren't up to that type of terrain!)

[Jellybean]

Met a young guy on the Arthurs with a pair of GG poles.
He wasn't using them, one was broken!
(I like GG products, but the poles certainly weren't up to that type of terrain!)

Hi Melinda,

Good to hear that you got back from the Arthurs unscathed, albeit a little soggy!

Out of curiosity, did the young guy with the GG poles have the rigid or (intentionally) collapsible ones?

I've just bought some of the GG poles [I prefer the moulded cork handgrip over the rubber handgrips of the Ti Goat poles and have no need to create a single pole (I assume for a tipi style shelter?) - a useful feature of the Ti Goat poles]. I'll report back how I find them once they've had some use (might be a little while - way too much work travel happening at present).

Cheers,

JB

[cams]

I've used mine for a few walks now. I've been very happy with them so far. Love the grips, the adjustment dosn't slip like my fizan pole did. I am fairly conscious about pulling myself up if the base gets wedged behind a rock but my initial impressions have been that they are tougher than I was expecting based on what I read before I bought them.

[Jellybean]

I've used mine for a few walks now. I've been very happy with them so far. Love the grips, the adjustment dosn't slip like my fizan pole did. I am fairly conscious about pulling myself up if the base gets wedged behind a rock but my initial impressions have been that they are tougher than I was expecting based on what I read before I bought them.

Thanks Cams. Good to hear. I did read somewhere that they are less likely to break if you use the small baskets that come with them. I assume this prevents them falling too far into the various nooks and crannies that they sometimes get into and, subsequently, prevents too much load being applied too high up the pole (weaker point) when precariously placed like this (if that makes sense?).

Cheers,

JB

[Dale]

Hi Jellybean

I'll also be using my Sublite Sil in the snowies - Australian Alps Walking Track going from Kiandra to Tharwa over the Easter break. A bit lower elevation - about 1500 m tops so not sure if there will be any snow / sleet.

I'll post on the performance on my return !

Cheers
Dale

[John Sheridan]

I have been thinking of getting the sublite, the two poles from the tarptent website I need for this tent are they lighter than If I bought the lighest two treking poles you can buy, I only as this as I have not need or want for treking poles.

Also is there anywhere to hang a battery lantern in the tent, just like to know

Cheers.

Probably will order one soon anyone have any problems ordering from Australia and what shipping option did you choose I think there are two one slow one faster


Cheers.

[Franco]

The Sublite Sil, the one on this thread, has been discontinued.
The replacement is the Notch.

A full 2 wall shelter, easier and faster to set up with poles inside so that you can adjust the tension without opening the fly.
Two vestibules/entry points so that you can use either .
Trekking pole substitutes are available .(in the drop down menu on the order page)
Soon a partial fabric inner will also be out. About 15- $20 more , around 30g heavier.

Could be a good option for Tassie...
Note that as usual it sets up dry (inner and outer together, and you have a rain protected entry point.

Franco
Postage : choose the cheapest option because they are often shipped from here in Port Melbourne (you pay the US to AU shipping , TT pays the one from me to you)

[John Sheridan]

Is the http://www.tarptent.com/ website broken, I cant access the products all I get is a loading screen like it's trying to load a video but never finishes ???


I can only view the tents via the ordering screen, is it just me ???

Cheers.

[Franco]

it's up again...
Franco