Tarptent Notch Li Review

My review of the Tarptent Notch Li tent that I own.

[RogerBrowne]

I also have the Notch Li. I agree with what Morgs said about length. The two best things about this tent are that it is light, and that your head and feet have plenty of leeway before pushing against the fly (both outwards and upwards). Other great things are that it has two doors and two vestibules, with decent quality zips. It's quick to pitch, and the inner and outer go up together.

Downsides are that the mesh pockets are not very usable. Also, although it's spacious for sleeping, there's not much space at the side for other stuff. I leave my pack, gaiters and boots outside, but I like to bring everything else inside. I can barely manage this, whereas in my other tent (Big Agnes Copper Spur 1) there's ample space for all that stuff.

If there's not a lot of wind, the tent pitches fine with four pegs. But I bought some full-size groundhog pegs for the pole tie-outs so that it's rock solid in strong wind on any ground. I also extended the end tieouts like Morgs did, but with a lineloc, to give a little more flexibility in peg placement.

In strong wind it has been bombproof, but there's a lot of flapping, so I made some further mods. I added two more peg-out points on each side, which makes it more comfortable inside when the wind is gusting from the side. I use pegs at the base of the struts to keep the inner more stable in heavy wind. So now I take twelve pegs (!) for extreme conditions, but for less wild conditions it's absolutely perfect with 6 pegs. I took it on the Cape Wrath Trail in the Scottish highlands before I made the mods, and I had a couple of very windy high camps, and I was super happy with how it performed.

To round out the mods, I added a lightweight cord inside the top of the inner to make an indoor "washing line", and I put another hook for easier hanging of my torch. I also tied a cord across the top of the outside of the tent, for use as an outdoor washing line. I might hang a mesh bag from the top at one side, to use instead of the mesh pockets.

With all these mods the tent weighs 668g including the sack and six pegs. If I'm expecting wild weather, I add six more pegs (another 66g), and unless I know I'll be camping on soft grass I take a tyvek groundsheet which I have cut to the exact size of the inner (112g). With the groundsheet and the extra pegs everything still fits into the supplied sack.

[paulrichardson]

Excellent review. I bought the Notch non DCF version about 5 years ago and I have been well pleased with the design, used it in the Pyrenees. However, I agree with you on the nylon material sagging and holding water. I have been meaning to upgrade to DCF for sometime. I have looked at ZPacks Plexamid, Tarptent ProTrail and GG The One. However, I think I will seriously look to upgrade my Notch to the Notch Li following your superb honest video. It is a lot of money to ship to the UK, I live in the Channel Islands, so thankfully I don't have to pay too much import duty. I am going to backpack the South West Coast path in the spring, so hopefully by then I will have stopped procrastinating and hit the BUY button. Thanks again, happy trails.

[blessedarmadillo]

Thanks for the confirmation of how it fits a tall person. As you suggest, when shopping for a tent don't just look at the stated interior dimensions but look at how well the outer wall separates from the inner fabric. I'm 6 feet 4 plus a smidge. The Notch has a listed interior floor length of 84 inches and I know that when my feet and bag stretch out there will be times that the end of the bag will touche the end of the inner tent. However I also see and you appear to have confirmed that the outer wall has sufficient separation such that I wouldn't be concerned. I may still purchase a Rainbow instead because of the extra width and because it can be fashioned into a free standing structure if necessary, but the Notch is still under consideration.

[liverpoolhikers]

I remeber we looked at the Tarptent range when deciding on our tent for the PCT - obviously the 2 man versions - and really liked their designs. What put us off in the end was that there was no way of testing the tent to see if we could get along with it without incurring huge import and shipping costs. US companies have great returns policies, but if you are based abroad it is still very expensive if you find you don't like it. Glad you are happy with it and hope it works for you for a long time.

[jamesrowe]

Thanks for taking the time to make the video--very informative and answered some questions I had. Maybe one day you could make a video outlining some of the modifications you've made and why? I see the extra piece of cordage at the end of the pitchlocs and that seems like a great idea to be able to use heavy objects on the stakes. Makes me wonder what other good ideas you've implemented

[stevesdaysoff]

Great review of the Tarptent Notch Li. Pleased you mentioned about the length inside the inner. Been thinking about these DCF tents for a while now and I'm starting to do some investigation about them now. I have been looking at the Zpacks Duplex XL as well. Only thing is ordering a tent with out getting in it first. Really enjoyed watching and subbed you. Atb Steve 👍

[DaveGoodman]

Nice one and still loving mine, by the way you are pitched exactly where I pitched with my son in law in the Black mountains, a popular spot indeed.
👍

[phill]

Thanks David, for this review, I'm in the Market for a lightweight setup. It does look like a good setup. Enjoyed your Dales High Way Series also. Looks like you are by the small bothy in the Black Mountains.

[MrWildWales]

Thanks for the info I've been close to hitting buy it now

[trendtraderx]

B&B, if you can find one with vacancies, will be £35 upwards so after 18 nights you will be saving. So even a £300 tent is 'cheap' and sees easy returns.

[IIISentorIII]

Great review, thank you for this.
Cheers from Switzerland

[DavidKD]

Great review. I am still tossing up a tarp setup or perhaps the bigger StratoSpire li. I really want to 1. Be able to sit up 2. Have room for my pack and gear inside with me. So what, 150g more including pegs? Anyway it’s a beautiful tent you have there and a very informative review. Thanks 😊

[MinackerMovies]

Thanks for the review. I like dcf for tents and love my Plexamid for ease of use, but it does flap and struggle with wind and is not very warm on colder breezy nights. The Aeon Li is the other consideration, but as it’s single skin and Tarptent only use olive drab dcf which is almost see through, I’m considering the Notch Li. I’d be interested to know what mods you made to improve its wind performance. Cheers

[sandraolsson]

I bought this tent a year ago and have used it for about 20-25 nights so far. Will bring it for my long distance hike (10 weeks) in the swedish mountains this year. I agree to your pros and cons. Like to add that while the outer magnetic toggles are superb, I really don't like the inner toggles (or lack of them). I'm going to do something about them, as for the pockets. Just a few inches seam, to prevent stuff from falling out.

One thing I really like is how easy it is to change the hight, even after I've pitched it.

Now some questions: You mentioned it's wind capabilities. What is you're experience om how to place it best to the wind? Also wonder about you're chocking cord at the doors. Do you find it helpful? Have been thinking of a similar solution.

Thanx for your vid!

[norhiker]

Tarptent website lists two different solid inners, which one do you have? 1) Solid with Dyneema floor or 2) Both mesh and solid interiors with Dyneema floors? The latter is a lot more expensive so I would have thought you have no.1?

[DavidWilliams-tkdy]

At 6 ft 3 inches I've always been put off the Notch - at 6 ft 4 you have reassured me! I was wondering about your modifications? Can you elaborate, or possibly you have covered in a previous video?

[ryankuhn]

Great video! Does that mesh inner help as a wind block?

[sophiecollins]

The sound on this video is excellent.. What mic are you using?

[ericb.]

I have the Gen 2 Notch Li (made in China and a bit better workmanship than the Gen 1).
MY MODS: 1.) stake loops (sewn to reinforcement circles) two per side 2.) green deyed "solid" inner tent (RIT Dyemore synthetic dye) 3.) optional TT tent pole "handle pockets" tied in each peak (permits pole handles to be upright and NOT in the dirt) BTW, this tent is "just" large enough to allow you to change your mind while inside. ;o)
This tent, when guyed out and using ALL stakes is nearly bombproof in 40 mph (24 KMPH) winds. NO flapping. Although intended by Henry Shiresm the designer, as a 3 season tent it will withstand a windy snow storm of less than 10 inches deep.
UPDATE: BTW I dyed my inner tent "Parrot Green" with RIT Dyemore synthetic material dye for more shade and privacy.