Is the Notch Li fully waterproof?
Yes, it is fully seam-taped and fully waterproof. Dyneema® has a hydrostatic pressure rating of over 8,000 mm.
Which Dyneema fabric weights do you use?
The fly weight is 0.51 oz / yd 2
The floor weight is 1 oz / yd 2
Do I need trekking poles for general use?
Trekking poles are preferred but an 8 oz / 227 g pole set is available.
Do I need to put the fly up and then the interior?
No, the two parts clip together and setup or takedown as a single unit. It is easy to unclip the interior from inside if desired.
Can I use this for winter?
The structure will withstand light to moderate snow loading. The optional partial solid interior is recommended for cold winds or blowing snow.
Can I stuff the Notch Li to make it smaller?
You can easily remove the 4 carbon fiber struts but we highly recommend rolling or folding, not stuffing, to extend the fabric lifespan.
Does the Notch Li accommodate tall people (over 6 ft 3 in / 190.5 cm)?
Yes, we recommend the Notch for taller folks. The design of the shelter makes it impossible to run into end walls and there is ample sit-up room.
What does my purchase include?
The Notch Li fly and interior, a stuff sack, aluminum stakes + stake bag and the necessary guyline cording. The Notch Li is designed for trekking poles to provide structure to the shelter. There are optional poles for non-trekking pole users that are available for purchase in the webstore.
Do I need a footprint?
Use of a groundsheet depends on the conditions you expect to encounter and your style of camping. The 1-oz Dyneema flooring is tough and does not usually require a separate groundsheet as long as the ground is clear of sharp objects. However, Dyneema, like all non-stretch fabrics, is subject to puncture under extreme pressure from sharp rocks or sticks. We sell optional Tyvek groundsheets which are very tough and great for sleeping out or taking a break, but generally heavier than you need for floor protection in most conditions. A groundsheet is recommended for use on very rocky ground and desert conditions.
Marc Laliberte (verified owner) –
I’m generally very satisfied with the tent. It’s a one-person tent, granted, and couples will have to find other places to get frisky, but for a solo hiker it is great. It resists wind, is absolutely water tight, condensation is not an issue and is so light, it’s amazing. I do use the extra guy lines, and have thus to carry two extra stakes, but honestly I’m not sure if they are really required.
I have two minor issues:
The tent fly is translucid. That means that light will easily go through, even if you really can’t see details. So, if you have a light in the tent at night, people can kind of see what you are doing. Not in any details, but, yeah. It also means that on full moon nights there is a surprising amount of light going in the tent. This might also be something to consider for high Arctic trips in summer. If you need full dark to go to sleep, better put the tent under a tree or bring something to cover your eyes.
The tent floor is very slippery. I mean VERY slippery. On my first trip with the tent, I had a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite pad and a “YF” series sleeping bag from Feathered Friends, both of which are somewhat slippery to start with. The combination of the Dyneema floor in the tent, the XLite pad and the sleeping bag does not work. It’s like trying to sleep on a slippery hill. Every time you move the pad want to move out from under you. I woke up at some point, thinking that the pad must have sprung a leak as I was face down on the floor, to realize once I had fully woken that the pad was still OK, only now in vertical position on the side of the tent. Not funny. For the record the same pad and sleeping bag work well in a “conventional” tent with a nylon floor. The sleeping bag and the Notch Li also work well with a pad which is less slippery, such as the Thermarest Zlite.
Mark Rinella (verified owner) –
Great tent. Have used it 4 times so far in UT above 10,000 feet with no issues. The weight is fantastic. Interior space is sufficient. I am 5’11” and have room at either end and along sides for small amount of gear I want to keep in the tent. Ventilation is very good and I like that both sides can be opened. Solid on one night of strong winds, but I did stake out the two additional guy lines. (There should be six and not 4 stakes included with this tent – not sure what the logic on providing only 4 stakes is.). I would love the option of a Dyneema footprint with some grommets please.
charles.lucas –
Just tested the Notch Li in a proper gale with the rain lashing down in the West of Ireland. It was as solid as a rock. Bomb proof! And completely dry. A great performance. Other lightweight tents I have had have been rather delicate and collapse and bend when the wind gets up. Not this one. Very impressed. But other reviewers are right: the pockets in the mesh are much too small and badly designed. Everything falls out. Make them bigger please.
Bec (verified owner) –
Having had a silnylon Notch for a few years now, this upgrade had been on my radar for a long time. I have enjoyed the massive dual vestibules, ventilation/views, interchangeable inners and small footprint the Notch provided, and was excited to upgrade. After a few nights in my new Notch Li, this may be almost my ideal tent. A taught pitch is much easier than the silnylon version, with (as expected) no sagging when soaked in the morning. Fly zippers (though I had been a bit hesitant due to risk of failure) I found a welcome addition, not having realised how tricky the clips on previous zipper-less versions had been to deal with – re-introducing zippers has to me made a big improvement, much easier to pitch zipped shut and to partially close doors. Magnetic latches (though I shared some initial concern as being ‘gimmicky’) worked flawlessly, with plenty of room to wrap around the fly material (more trips will tell how they perform in strong wind I guess). Re-designed solid inner looked great, and solid material on the inner roof was a good choice to stop drips of condensation. Perhaps the only tiny gripe (aside from not much floor space, but huge vestibules compensate) is persistence of those poorly designed pockets which slant downward and let everything (phones, glasses) inevitably fall out onto the floor to be potentially squashed. This is, however, a minor issue. An overall awesome tent.