The Notch is our lightest double-wall shelter. This tent is ideal for trekking pole users who want the extra protection from condensation, without an excessive cost in weight. Simple and sturdy, the Notch gives you the security you need in a wide range of conditions. Want more space? Have a look at the Saddle 2.
Want it 8 ounces lighter? Have a look at the Notch Li.
Your order includes:
Note: Interiors (mesh or partial solid) are interchangeable and clip in and out from underneath the fly. You may order either interior at a later date, or the “Both” option means that are ordering the fly and two interiors. The partial solid interior (which has half solid half mesh walls and a mesh roof) blocks horizontally blowing wind, sand, snow, and rain; some say it makes the tent up to 5 degrees F warmer. The partial solid interior adds about 2 oz (56 g) to listed weight.
Note: Tent weight includes stakes, guylines, struts, and stuffsacks.
Do I need trekking poles for general use?
Trekking poles are preferred but a 4 oz / 113 g alternate pole set is also available for moderate winds. An 8 oz / 227 g pole set is available for strong winds and snow.
Does this Tarptent 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. We’ve heard of folks as tall as 6’6″ (198 cm) making the Notch their home.
Can I stuff the Notch to make it smaller?
Yes, the 4 carbon fiber struts are easily removed from the fly.
Are there any additional pullout points for extra staking?
The Notch has attachments for (and ships with) apex guylines to strengthen the ridgeline. It also has mid-hem loops for tie-outs.
Will the Notch fit a long/wide sleeping pad?
Yes, the Notch can fit a 76 in x 25 in / 193 cm x 64 cm sleeping pad. Scroll through the photos above to see it in action.
Can I use this for winter?
The structure will withstand light to moderate snow loading. Opt for the partial solid interior to increase warmth and deploy the apex guylines to strengthen the ridgeline.
Are there any additional pullout points for extra staking?
Yes, there are additional pullouts on the arch sleeve and perimeter hem.
Trekking pole handle adapter 
Drew H. –
Henry Shires & Crew,
I completed my thru hike of the AT last year (2014) and am finally getting around to letting you know how much I loved my Notch. I squeezed it into tiny openings in thick pines, set it up in high winds and driving winds and it never let me down once. At one point I camped on top of a mountain in New Hampshire and woke to find it was pouring down rain, the worst storm I saw on the trail. Turns out I was set up in a depression and my tent was sitting in about 2 inches of water. The bottom of my Notch did not let one drop of water through and I woke up warm and dry in the morning. I’ve recommended the Stratospire 2 to some friends of mine who are planning an ADT through hike because I know it will be well made and a great tent.
Thank you for the peace of mind I got from having such a reliable sturdy tent on trail.
Drew "Mr. Jingles" H.
Dick Vogel aka HikeOn! –
Three cheers for Henry Shires and Staff!
The Notch you have engineered and produce is an oustanding, durable, lite-weight, long-distance backpacking tent. My Notch has lasted four years and 8,000 miles of backpacking trail miles on the PCT, CDT, AZT, PNT, Canyonlands, Escalante, Capitol Reef, and Mt. Rainier (Wonderland Trail twice). My Notch endured extreme spring, summer, fall and winter-like conditions, including snow, hail, cloud bursts, high winds and scorching desert sun (without any UV rotting). The only maintenance I had to do is replace the zipper sliders which Henery sent to me on the trail at no charge. A TOTALLY EXCELLENT TENT!
Jane –
I love my Tarptent Notch!
I just returned from a 50 mile solo hike with this tent, and it is the one piece of equipment I would not trade for any other. Here’s why:
The Notch is light! It fits easily in my pack at an unbelievable 27 ozs.
The Notch is strong! Bring on the rain and the wind. This little baby can take some punishment.
The Notch is easy to set up! Two minutes had my tent all ready for me.
The Notch is roomy! I love the length and headroom. The dual vestibules are huge, and the sheer interior gives the illusion that the walls extend all the way to the fly.
The Notch is a cut above the rest! Believe me, I know. I spent all winter ordering tents and returning them, because they did not measure up to the Notch.
The Notch feels like home! This may be a silly statement, but it is an important one to me. I want to feel comfortable, sheltered and protected in my tent. With the Notch, I do.
Many thanks to all of you at Tarptent. You are brilliant and savvy tent engineers.
Jane
Damian –
Just finished a thru-hike of the ~170 mile Cohos Trail in New Hampshire. I’m a bigger guy at 6′ 225lbs and still had plenty of room for myself, plenty of gear and clothes and a full sized rectangular pad. The dual vestibules provided ample space for my pack (some nights my buddies’ packs too) and shoes while keeping them bone dry! The Notch was amazing in both weather resistance and ease of setup. Like previously mentioned, I was able to set it up in very small openings between trees, in wet ground and on less than ideal grades in a pinch. It cut the wind and handled some heavy downpours with no problem. It packs so simply and small that it dissappeared in the outside mesh pocket of my 40L pack. Really liked the trekking pole setup too! I will continue to recommend this tent and your company to my friends and fellow hikers.
Thanks for an awesome and innovative tent.
Damian
Mike (verified owner) –
First of all: WOW! I placed my order on a Saturday and received it that Thursday using standard shipping (was supposed to be Wednesday, but the post office sat on it for an extra day for some reason). We’re talking from CA to FL and that included the seam-sealing service! Have a trip planned in a couple months for my Notch’s maiden voyage, but like a kid on Xmas I did set it up in the backyard as soon as I got my hands on it. First impression: I think this is going to be the beginning of a beautiful friendship 😉
Elodie –
I bought a Tarptent Notch 2 years ago to spend 2 months in the US Southwestern deserts. I really appreciated that little tent (light in my suitcase, light on the plane from France, and not taking much room!), easy to set up and take down, and really nice on photos… In Monument Valley, I event got compliments from a Navaho woman on my ‘beautiful’ tent!
I chose the interior mesh because I wanted to see the stars and cactuses and mesas… – all the wonderful sceneries of the desert surrounding me during the night, and I must say it was an incredibile experience!
Once, in Anza-Borrego desert, the wind was very strong – the forecast was 70mph; I don’t know if it really was that strong – but I had fastened my tent to heavy stones to be sure it wouldn’t fly away. All night the tent was battered by the wind – I couldn’t recognize its shape and, of course, I didn’t get a wink of sleep… I was afraid the tent would tear, because the cloth is so thin, but it held out… and now I’m eager to take my tent back to the desert again, enjoy the wilderness and my little shelter at night under the stars…
To protect the tent from the rocky soil, I had made a light groundsheet to measure; and I took the tent down every morning so that the fly wouldn’t be damaged by the scorching sun. What else? The interior mesh is a great protection from bugs… and scorpions!…
French version:
J’ai acheté une Tarptent Notch il y a 2 ans pour passer 2 mois dans les deserts du Far West. J’ai vraiment apprécié cette petite tente (légère dans ma valise et dans l’avion, et qui prend si peu de place!), facile à monter et à démonter, et très photogénique dans les paysages désertiques et les belles lumières de l’Ouest américain. A Monument Valley, j’ai même eu les compliments d’une femme Navaho en admiration devant ma ‘beautiful tent’…
J’ai choisi l’intérieur ‘mesh’, parce que je voulais voir les étoiles, les cactus et les mesas – tous ces merveilleux paysages du désert – tout autour de moi pendant la nuit, et je dois dire que cela a été une expérience inoubliable.
Une fois, dans le désert d’Anza-Borrego, le vent était très fort (plus de 100km/h, selon les prévisions – je ne sais pas s’il était vraiment aussi fort, mais j’avais attaché les cordes de ma tente à de grosses pierres pour être sûre qu’elle ne s’envole pas. Toute la nuit, la tente a été battue par les vents – je n’en reconnaissais plus la forme, et bien sûr, je n’ai pas fermé l’œil de la nuit… J’avais peur que la toile de tente se déchire, car le tissu est tellement fin, mais elle a tenu bon… et maintenant, j’ai hâte de retourner dans le désert, et de profiter de mon petit abri la nuit sous les étoiles…
Pour protéger le sol de tente, j’avais fabriqué un tapis de sol léger sur mesure; et je démontais la tente tous les matins pour que la toile ne soit pas abîmée par le soleil brûlant. Que dire d’autre? L’intérieur ‘mesh’ est une protection idéale contre les bestioles… – les scorpions, par exemple…
Michael Smith (verified owner) –
Used my new Notch on a 6 night section hike of the AT in Georgia /North Carolina September 10 – 15. I love how fast and easy it is to set up. I used it in 2 configurations…tarp with inner and tarp only. It rained a lot during the week as a hurricane approached North Carolina. The Notch kept me nice and dry. I had plenty of room in one of the vestibules for my pack, shoes, water bag, etc., and I left the second vestibule clear for entry and exit. There was plenty of room inside the inner for extra clothing, water bottle, knife, headlamp, phone, etc…to either side in the middle and above my head. This is a well made, compact, lightweight shelter that is easy to use and provides everything you need and nothing you dont need. Thanks for making a great tent!