Updated for 2019, the StratoSpire 1 is our best-performing solo model across the widest range of weather conditions. The patented design of the StratoSpire 1 uses trekking poles and an unconventional design to maximize the amount of useable living space. The result is an unbelievably spacious interior, with exterior support strong enough to weather multi-day storms.
Need to sleep two or more? Have a look at the StratoSpire 2.
Want much lighter with room for two? Have a look at the StratoSpire Li.
StratoSpire 1
ONE PERSON TENT
Updated for 2019
Your order includes:
- StratoSpire 1 Fly
- Mesh or solid interior
- Six 8” aluminum stakes + stake bag
- Silnylon stuff sack
Jeffrey Olson –
I’ve been trying different side-entry tents – the stratospire is my third. My favorite tent, which I used for 13 years and over 300 nights, was the Contrail.
My current is the stratospire 1.
the main reason I have not found a side-entry tent I can live with is that my head and/or feet rub up against the interior. I use a neo-air, am 6’2″, 260 pounds, use a quilt with 3″ of loft, and a three inch inflatable pillow on top of the neo-air. Put all that together and the tent is NOT 7′ long at the level at which I sleep. None of the tents out there seem to be. I’m bummed. It’s like tent-makers put a tent together in a software package and then don’t real world test it for people like me – big and tall. I want to know the length of a tent at 14″ above the floor.
That said, I totally love the dual side entries and vestibules. I don’t keep much gear in the tent when I sleep, and having one side for pack, shoes, etc., is really handy. I like the weight. I’ve been rained on a bunch of times, and condensation wasn’t an issue. I’ve been in short blizzard with 30 mph+ winds, pitched it low, and felt warm and snug. I’ve put it up in shade and misjudged the descent of the sun and the full netting sides made the short time I was in it somewhat bearable. With all four side flaps curled back you’re bug free and any sort of breeze is felt.
I like the stratospire enough to keep it for now. I’ve got about 30 nights in it. My guess is if I run into a patch of bad weather some trip (Maroon Bells) that goes on for days, I’ll get disgusted enough to go back to the contrail or get a protrail.
Jeff…
Jan –
I started using Stratosphere 1 last spring and spent close to 30 nights in it, mostly in Scotland and north of Scandinavia and stayed comfortable in high winds, consecutive days of rain and close to freezing temperatures. I’m 189 cm/6’2″ tall and fit in very easily, both lying down and sitting and bustling about. There is enough room for wet clothes and all gear next to the sleeping mat. Hooks at apexes let you attach clothes line long enough for shirt, socks and underwear. I use one vestibule for food storage and cooking, the other for backpack, shoes and camp shoes. The fly only configuration gives massive space for two hikers and all the gear. Just keep in mind that the tent is large from outside too :) and needs a bit more space than you might expect, but finding a camp is still not difficult.
Pitching is super fast and easy even in wind and rain. You just need to stake down head and feet ends first, then you know exactly how the sleeping area is oriented (a way recommended by Franco Darioli, see his YouTube videos). The stakes are very light, sturdy and thanks to thickness hold really well. PitchLoc corners make getting taught pitch very simple. I recommend using the apex guy lines too. On slanted terrain the vestibules can lose some area but you are still left with enough. I never had any problems with any slack even in very wet conditions. The 30D silnylon can probably stand anything.
Condensation is manageable even if you camp by a lake and keep the doors closed, but if you leave the zippers open and just hook the doors down there is usually hardly any.
The only small nuisance is that the zipper cover gets caught in the zipper.
Chris –
I purchased the Stratospire for my first long distance hike in New Zealand. Shipping to Switzerland can sometimes be a little bit difficult (in europe, but not member of the EU) was not a problem. I did want a tent which is light weight, but still very stable in diffrent situation and can also be used in a quite wide range of areas (also in higher attitude). It’s very windstable and even if a stake get pulled out, it doesn’t collapse completly if used with 2 extra stakes. Happend to me once on gravel ground in heavy winds. As the comment above mentions, setting it up can be a little compicated since you do not sleep inside as you put it up, but a easi way to get a good anngle is to start with the side with the tarptent logo and rember the angle you are going to sleep in (roughly 30°).
Boyan –
I purchased the Stratospire because none of the solo tents from the mainstream tent companies were quite satisfactory. For reasons that escape me they insist that solo shelters have a single skimpy vestibule (saves what? 1-2 oz in weight?) and height that often flirts with the mid 30-inch range, which for a 6-ft not very flexible guy is a pain. In contrast the Stratospire has what must be an industry leading 48-inch height (save for the pyramids, which while technically higher are so at a single point, with far less usable internal space), and structural rigidity that is again either industry leading, or slightly lagging behind the pyramids. Unlike the typical UL tent with DAQ poles which are waiting for any excuse to snap in stronger winds, you can buy a set of carbon fiber trekking poles from Costco for $30 that will make the Stratospire bomb proof in wind, as noted in the review above. The reason I am giving it only 4 stars are several. First, the thing is fairly complicated to set up relative to a free-standing tent. You will have to practice at least a half dozen times to get the hang of the complex shape, particularly how to deal with the rotation of the sleeping compartment relative to the overall pitch of the tent. This becomes important if you are pitching in tight quarters on somewhat of a slope and want to be sliding at night up/down instead of left/right. The tent relies to some degree on the use of bungee cords to achieve a taut pitch, and I have to wonder how the bungee cords will survive over the years in the desert, and when they will decide to abandon you. While not critical to structural stability of the tent, they are important in reducing the flapping of the vestibules in the wind. Finally, the inner just feels flimsy. On my outing a few days ago I happened to lean on one side of it while maneuvering inside the tent and snapped one of the plastic hooks that attach it to the ridgeline. I have ordered aluminum clips from Amazon to replace the rather fragile ones provided. The whole inner, while functional, just looks unsightly until you weigh it down with some gear. I am not an ounce pincher and would gladly sacrifice a few more ounces for increased functionality.
Nielsen B –
The Stratospire 1, is outstanding in stormy conditions. Let me explain, on my recent trip in Lapland I was camped on a ledge at about 1000 metres, the view was awesome. However, there was a thunderstorm moving up the valley directly towards the campsite. The tent was staked down using y pegs and 8” Easton alloys. The thunder rumbled the wind howled and the shelter was blasted by the rain. The wind was hitting the tent between the line of the tent poles and the pitchlocs and the panel between them was flattening into the inner, I did check the windward side pole and it was barely moving. The wind blew for almost 2 hours, as drenching rain battered the shelter. Some spray was blown under the outer and there was some moisture on the inner where the rain was being forced by the wind through the fabric. However, significantly, while the wind howled outside it was calm inside. I did not unpack my gear for the “what if” situation, but, I never felt that the Stratospire was going to "take off", or collapse. This storm was one of the worst I have ever encountered and I was very appreciative of the robustness of the Stratospire. I was further impressed when I was hit by a second storm during the night.
http://nielsenbrown.com/2014/09/07/what-works-for-me-shelters/