I Got ANOTHER New Tent - Tarptent Aeon Li First Look!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 มิ.ย. 2024
- Stuff I Mentioned in this Video:
TarpTent Aeon Li - www.tarptent.com/product/aeon...
Zpacks Plexamid - zpacks.com/products/plexamid-...
Plexamid Review - • Zpacks Plexamid - Bett...
Zpacks Duplex - zpacks.com/products/duplex-te...
Zpacks Pocket Tarp - zpacks.com/products/hexamid-p...
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What New Shelter System have you recently picked up? Do you have a Tent on your Gear Wishlist to try in the Future?
👇👇Let Us Know Down Below!👇👇
Darwin onthetrail I’m in love with the idea of tarp camping with the Z-packs Pocket Tarp w/ Doors, Sea To Summit Bug Net (ultralight And Z-packs Bathtub Tarp.
1. It’s a transformer! Autobot Shelter can go tarpless on a clear start night, but net free when there are no bugs out and I can even mix it up for rain or other types of shelters.
Second, (haha see what I did there) If part of my shelter breaks beyond repair I can just replace that part. I’m hoping that this makes it cheaper in the long run.
Next, it’s 11 ounces (without stakes) total.
First of all, it’s also extremely packable. It’s separate parts so it will fit in a backpack, on a bike or even really big carrier pigeons. It packs in a way that I can keep it all together or use it to fill in gaps.
Cons:
Wrath of Khan
Conrad
Not cooking flame friendly
Conrad, Iowa
It takes a little more work to set up
Darwin, what’s the advantage of a single wall tent? I encounter a lot of complaints about condensation here.
How much can netting possibly weigh and is it worth the risk of condensation?
I purchased the Aeon LI in the last production run. I set it up for the first time last week and stayed in it over night. At 5' 10" I was happy to see how much space I had in the head and foot of the tent. I live near Nashville TN and tested it on a warm humid night. It was a clear night so I opened the ventilation flaps and slept with the storm doors open. I did have very light condensation in the AM but that is to be expected in a humid climate. I was surprised at how easy it was to set up. I was expecting more of a learning curve. So far I am pleased with it and look forward to using it on the PCT next Spring.
Just got GG The One and it includes stakes. It has an extra vent now on top and now weighs 20.7 oz for $299. Haven’t used it yet and I probably won’t until spring unless it warms up here in NH. It’s double wall tent time now.
Hey Darwin, you asked so I’ll answer. I am eyeing the Dan Durston tent available on Mass Drop right now. It is designed by someone with a lot of credibility and the price point is very friendly. Drawbacks it’s on mass drop and I’m not sure I want to wait an undetermined amount of time to get my hands on it. Thanks for the video and review of your new tent.
Hi Darwin! Glad to hear you're excited about your Aeon Li (EE-on el-eye ;))!
In addition to ventilation, we added Pitchloc corners to increase the Aeon Li's volume, so you can have the same interior space as a half-pyramid shelter that has a much larger footprint. We've got a diagram of this on our website. We neglected to include mid-panel pull-outs to increase interior space because we have concerns about incorrectly stressing (and permanently deforming) the matrix of the Dyneema Composite fabric which is what happens when there is a pull-out not on a seam.
Re: concerns about breaking struts; we've been implementing Pitchloc corners in our tents for 10 years. Because they are subject to a compressive load along the length of the struts, you shouldn't have to be concerned about them breaking. You'll notice that we included an aluminum strut in the apex, where the strut is subject to a concentrated bending load. We hear you on the packed size of the tent! Tradeoffs...
Lastly! Be sure you check out the front-apex-guyline-free set-up in fair weather. One of our favorite parts about the Aeon Li is the ability to set it up without a pesky guyline in the doorway.
Looking forward to your feedback after the coming miles! Happy Trails!
@You Suck At Hiking Easy to make a small slit in the "compartment" holding the magnet, insert a new one, and patch it over with DCF tape. IF it ever happens.
@You Suck At Hiking as small as the magnet is I'll bet it's an Earth magnet so it should hold a charge for a very long time.
This tent is on my buy soon list. I'm a huge fan of Tarptent. One reason is Tarptents communication with its users. This response from them is awesome.
That little extra venting will not stop condensation if it's cold unless you can force air circulation with a breeze or literally have the vestibules wide open.
@@hikerJohn Ventilation helps but no amount of venting will stop condensation in the right/wrong conditions -- completely open flat tarps will be completely soaked if pitched in cool, damp conditions, especially under open skies. Condensation is much, much more about pitch location than anything else.
For everyone shocked or harping on the price, it's priced at or below other Dyneema tents. Personally, I don't think the weight savings alone is worth the extra cost versus sil nylon or polyesther, but Dyneema has other advantages as well.
would you prefer the StatoSpire2. Seems similar. Added 1lb. Do you feel the sil nylon ? and if so ... why ? thanks
I absolutely appreciate when you do reviews my brother. Thanks again, it really helps.
I really appreciate how your reviews are a nice mix of fair yet critical.
Terrific review, it's just wonderful that you don't take money to review stuff and I've found all your other reviews honest and timely. I, too, have had difficulty with the ZPacks hexamid. My favorite test so far has been my old Rainbow by Tarptent (except for the weight, of course) which I modified down to 28 ounces! Ouch! Anyway, it's good to see Tarptent finally relenting and going Cuben.
Sew together all the tents you've had and you can build a full sized house
🤔🤔🤔 NOW THERE'S AN IDEA!!!!!
@@DarwinOnthetrail "Alright hikers this project may not be ultralight but it does have a chimney"
😂😂😂
😂😆
put some wheels on it and you can tow it behind you and thru hike with your new house lol
Thanks for all of the Awesome & informative Videos You make!! It’s really appreciated! 😁👍🏼
Darwin Thanks for the review. Last fall I picked up a Stratospire Li to use as 2 person backpacking tent for my wife and me. We both love the versatility of the Stratospire Li, use it as just a tarp, use the silnylon interior for wind/spindrift protection, or the mesh insert for warm buggy conditions. Wanting a single person tent for solo trips I purchased a lightly used Z Packs Plexamid, and after a few nights of use I wasn't happy with the number of guys outs needed, especially on the side to increase head and foot space, with out the side guy outs I was contacting the sides of the tent more frequently than I wanted (71inches. 160lbs). I sold the Plexamid and ordered an Aeon Li, the pitchlock struts on the sides and back definitely increase head and foot volume and IMO give a much tighter pitch. During a backpacking trip with my son in May we encountered severe thunderstorms with 50 mph winds in a exposed site. The Aeon Li performed wonderfully, other than a small amount of spray from under the front vestibule ( I dropped the pole as low as I could go while maintaining a taut pitch). Regarding the carbon poles, they can be removed to decrease the packed volume, but it will increase pitch time and complexity. Also, one warning about the poles, I lost one a couple of weeks a go while pitching . I unfurled the tent ( of course it was after sunset) and heard something hit a nearby bush, it was one of the carbon poles from the end pitchlock. I was never able to find where it landed and after of looking I removed the center back strut and moved it to the corner pitch lock. The pitch worked well without the rear strut, and I would suggest checking the poles are snug in the holders before unfurling...or be more gentle when doing so. Looking forward to your long term impressions.
Thanks for checking out this tent. I have their Rainbow. Love it as it fits me (6'2') well. Look forward to your long term review of this tent.
Great job Darwin. Thanks for the review. Looking forward to update
I've had a Tarptent Squall for about 14 years. I loved it! It finally developed a leak where the pole connected with the top ridge. It seemed like the week spot. But after so many years, used quite often, I am a Henry Shires, Tarptent fan. And I never had ventilation problems.
Glad to see somebody else giving Tarptent some love. I bought a Stratospire Li with a mesh interior last year and have been really happy with it. We may be bone dry this year, but last winter was soggy. I like camping in below freezing temps, and I had no problems with condensation in spite of the sodden ground. I am short, so it is pretty easy for me to keep from touching the sides of the tent. Having said that, I have learned how the wind shifts where I camp and orient my tent accordingly so that I can keep one or both of the vestibules unzipped. If I do keep them closed, I have no worries about myself or my gear getting wet. While I haven‘t taken it to any extremes as yet, I feel confident it would hold up well. I did change out my stakes as the winter wore on, but only because the ground was so saturated..
Just bought a duplex finally. Cant wait to hear your update on this tent
Looking forward to your review. Keep up the great videos!!
You tube asked me a survey on your channel I gave it all good 5s .. keep it up man . Good stuff here.
Underrated part of this is how wind resistent it is. Super solid. Got one on the last drop, love it so far. Will take it on an a.t. thru in 2020
Hi Darwin. Thanks for the review. I own the Aeon Li and have been pleased with it. I am 6’4” and have plenty of room with my Thermarest X-Therm and my 10 degree Enlightened Equipment quilt. I specifically tested it with these two items as I occasionally touch the ends of my Six Moons Design Lunar Solo when using my cold weather gear. I also owned the Tarptent Stratospire 1 and did not ever have any problems with any of the carbon struts in either of my Tarptents. Let’s hope that you also have a positive experience!
Love all the DCF gear you test, I hike with my wife and 2 girls so going UL is almost a moot point right now and my pockets are not that deep. :) Thank you for the reviews.
I recently got a Lanshan 2 and while it isn't DCF-lightweight, at 2.5 pounds including the pegs, sacks, and footprint, I'm pretty happy with it. Oh, and it cost around $140, for all parts and bags and pegs and footprint sheet. Packs down super small, as well.
Matthew Hibbs I use this tent too and love it
I'm seriously thinking about getting the Lanshan 2 UL. For the price its hard to beat.
I've been Super Interested in trying it out as a Budget Option, but I've just had to many bad experiences with Sil Nylon Tents. One of the reasons I have no interest in trying out Gossamer Gear's The ONE & The TWO. They just need to find a way to make DCF more affordable for everyone to use.
Hike On,
Darwin
Tempted to try this tent. using the pleximed now. Great review!
Thanks Ben!
Picked up an Aeon Li just the other day when orders opened again. Excited to try out my first DCF shelter
“That price does include the stuff sack” Uh yah I fckn hope so lol
No... the stuff sack is also $535.00
I have been a hammock guy for the last 3 years but recently I bought a tarptent protrail and I absolutely love it. Tarptent makes really nice stuff
So glad your trying Tarptent. I just bought and tried my Rainbow from them. Single person with a 45 inch floor. It’s single wall silnylon with mesh around the bottom that’s adjustable with the bathtub floor. It has apex venting and I got the carbon fiber pole option. It’s a single pole from head to foot with a small t bar front to back on top. It has a free standing option, you use trekking poles at both bottoms of the head and foot end. The guy looos for the stakes can wrap around the pole and the middle has a clip to grab the pole. Great for rocky ground when stakes are a problem. The whole package is around 1 and 1/4 pounds. I also got an insert that clips in to be a sort of double wall for condensation. Great room and weight for silnylon and floor space. Used it twice and like it. If they make a DCF version I think it would be great with the venting, ease of set up and free standing option
Great review!
I hiked the PCT this year with my duplex & found the little dongles a major pain on nature calls when the wind was howling . Someone had posted a hack using magnets & dcf tape to replace those dongles. I plan on making those mods. Keep up with the great reviews.
I love you giving a TarpTent a try. I have been paying attention to them for more than ten years. My hiking style is different than yours or other ultimate hikers, so my TT of choice is the Bowfin, a double wall, more suited to days of bad weather. Or that is my impression. For day and half quick hikes, I am still in bivy and micro tarp mindset. (WY MT)
I love gear reviews!! I admit a lot of the items in your gear vids are way out of my price range, it took me a long time to pull the trigger on a $230 Marmot tent (on big sale) so I think a $500+ tent is still a long ways out for me. But even with that I still learn interesting things by seeing what you use and how you use it, what features work and what dont, what materials things are made of and why, and I'm able to generalize that information to my own gear and camping experiences so I guess it's a long way of saying that even though we dont have the exact same gear I'm still getting very valuable and applicable information from your content. Hike on.
Been waiting for this one :)
You really do a good job. All the time. Your advice is constantly. Willing to change your thoughts. Thank you
Looks awesome 👍
At work right now so I will watch this video after work
I love my Tarptent Aeon Li. Got mine after those stupid Zpacks carbon fiber stays kept breaking on my Pleximid. I returned the Pleximid. I wouldn’t worry about the struts breaking on the Aeon. First they are twice as thick and they are not under the tension the Pleximid had. Magnets are awesome. End vents help a lot. 12 nights in it and only once did I have any significant condensation. However I was camped in a slight depression in a sand bar of a river. Go figure! It was a champ in a monster hail storm in the high Sierra I was bone dry. My hiking partner went out and bought one after seeing how mine performed in that storm. I pack with my tent vertical - so size is no prob for me. Much easier to roll up than the Pleximid.
Thanks for the review! I have been considering getting a DCF tent. I have had a Big Agnes Copper Spur UL1, and bought a Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 this past spring. I needed something a little larger than the UL1 for keeping the extra equipment I take with me for volunteer work I do dry in the Pacific NW rainstorms. The Tiger Wall has done a great job keeping everything dry, and I really like having the extra door and vestibule for storing and accessing the gear. I will be curious to see how the ventilation system works on your tent.
This tent is awesome. I got one of the first 100 released. Buying it was like trying to buy concert tickets 20 years ago.
I have about 30 nights in mine. Amazing. Sheds wind well and let’s you squeeze into some tight camp spots. Super easy to pitch. Light. Roomy. Vents well or not.
I love it. But it does have some faults. Firstly the stuff sack is exactly the right size. Getting the tent into the stuff sack every morning is a shitty experience. The top strut is a pain. It sometimes doesn’t stay put during the pitch process, and when it’s not in place you can’t get the perfect pitch.
And then just like he says, it doesn’t fit horizontal in the pack.
All that said, still like it. My favorite solo shelter so far.
Shoot us an email about that top strut not staying in place! info@tarptent.com
I know you don't need another, but you are a pretty tall guy. I am as well and have found I love the space afforded in the Big Agnes Scout 2 Carbon. It was an expensive tent, but the vertical walls at the head and the foot made it so much better for a tall guy to have the space he needs, especially when on a thick mat. The weight is unbelievable as well for such a roomy tent.
Just used this tent on my CT thruhike. Couldn’t have been happier with it. 👍🏼
NICE! I'm looking forward to putting some Big Ol' Miles on it!
Darwin onthetrail if I had one complaint it would maybe be the length. I had a wet foot box a couple times and I’m only 5’10”. I got in the habit of sleeping with my rain shell around my feet 🤣🤘🏼
I'm in love with my new Tarptent Dipole II Li. I think Tarptent is well ahead of everyone else in design, packaging, and usability across the board.
Tarptent is a good company. I love my double rainbow. That being said, when I’m goin UL, I use my own tarps that I’ve made with varying weights based on bug protection needed.
I laughed out loud at the face you made when talking about not being able to pack it down smaller. haha I recently picked up a SMD Lunar solo. I've only slept in it three nights, but so far, I like it.
😂😂😂
I imagine with a little tweaking, they'll be able to get the pack size smaller in future versions. But overall, it looks like an excellent tent.
Hey Darwin, awesome overview of the tent. Lots of features I had no idea about. I'd also like to ask what shirt you are wearing. I love the fit and the color! Thanks!
I recently got the Marmot Tungsten UL 2p (for me and my dogs :p) and I'm super happy with it! I need my tent to have double walls, hehe
Absolutely love my Aeon Li! I was on the fence between ZPacks and Tarptent. I went with the Aeon because I have a 15 year old heavily used Squall 2 that I am handing off to a friend. I know it is a brand I can trust.
Finally. Tarptent makes wonderful tents. Henry is one of the better tent engineers arounds. I have a 4 year old RainShadow3 (3 man). It is light and spacious ballroom. I'm 6'2" tall. Mine sets up tight as a drum, and very quick set up.
Xtra guy lines other tents use is because they aren't engineered with appropriate catenary arch seams that pull the tent geometry tight. That makes it shed wind much better. Henry gets it right. I rarely get condensation. He also has a great warranty.
The carbon rods you complain about are structural elements positioned/engineered to greatly increase the pull on the catenary seam arches. That makes it shed wind much better. Henry gets it right.
This definitely interests me. I'm looking for an upgrade: GG The One, Hyperlite Dirigo 2 or the Tarptent. Hopefully you can get some field trials before the Holiday season for us looking to get a new tent during this time of year!
I've got the Trailstar from mountain laurel designs which I love and it's bomb proof but really tempted by this!
An MLD Tent is definitely NEXT on my list!
I've been using my Tarptent Stratospire Li for about a year now and love it to bits. Like the company too! Only problem is that I live in Europe (NL) and importtaxes are high!
Nice! Love the vents, magnets awesome (magnets get stronger in cold weather). Really love length ( I’m 6’3”), on the fence about packability. Being a 2 trekking pole guy, for a few more once’s, duplex is still king. You truly are a gear geek & love that you are for all the great gear reviews. Thanks
And the next gen will have coils so the magnets moving in the wind will produce the power to recharge your next-gen super expensive piece of electronics! Just for 0,01 oz weight penalty.
How's the velcro holding up?
Serafin Hikes Velcro is doing great. Will be doing a review this week on the New Lanshan 2 pro
Nice review, nice little tent. Really like the corner vent concept. Hope price drops. Also like having the pull outs to increase the inside space. Give me a physical tieback over a magnetic one though. Stronger and equal or lighter. The ventilation ideas are really right on though.
FYI price will not drop. There already some used one out there at small discount.
Fantastic!
I think Henry Shires has nailed the tent universe. Excellent tent and I want the Stratospire LI but in Canadian that’s a $1000 tent
Aeon Li............yeah .....good tent
I hope your tent works well for your adventure Darwin
You rock big time👍
Sheila Vancouver 🇨🇦
I have this tent, I'm 6 ft 4 and sleep on an neo air and just about fit. Some taller would have to have a ccf pad.
The price of admission for high quality, ultralight, cottage industry gear is, of course, quite a bit more than high volume factory made equipment from China. Some people can appreciate the value in such equipment, others not so much. I’d love to give this tent a shot compared to my Duplex. I wouldn’t mind reorienting the other gear in my pack for the vertical orientation of this tent. Thanks for the review brother!
Great Point John!
Cool, liked the magnets.
I just picked up a Marmot Bolt UL2 tent. I’ll be getting out on a weekend trip in the beginning of November. I almost went with a tarptent, but didn’t due to their normal flys bring made of ripstop nylon. I hike a lot in the south and the morning dew, and rain, make the fly sag.
I can't wait... next year i'll get the Dan Durston's x mid 2 from Drop. I'm already excited to try it out!
I have only used this tent a few times but really like it. Setup is easy. You will still get some condensation in a humid climate but the ventilation is good and I think it helps quite a bit.
I am 6' 4" and it is a close fit with a thick (Nemo Tensor) pad, so I have some doubts about it fitting someone much taller unless they are using a pretty thin pad.
It will not fit horizontally in my pack (LiteAF curve 35) either, I keep it in the outside mesh pocket.
I bought this somewhat reluctantly because it saves a fair bit of weight compared to my usual hammock setup, but I am glad that I did. Good lightweight tent.
I’ve absolutely loved my Aeon. Stupid easy and fast to set up, fits my 6’2” and 240 pound frame with plenty of room, and I love how solid it feels. This thing has managed to survive a Blackhawk helicopter hovering 50’ above it. Condensation control has been hit or miss, but due to the generous (for a 1 person) size of the floor and the way it’s designed I’ve never had to deal with a wet head or footbox. AND, by putting the final guy line on I found that being able to completely open that vestibule went a long way to mitigate those problems.
Only real complaint has been packability. I ended up needing to go up a bag size if I’m doing any extended trips. Also price, but that’s what DCF gets you....
Great review. Not sure it would work for me
But appreciated all your input on the new tent.
I have and love this tent. I have added magnets to the vestibule closure with tenacious tape. Seems to work, for now!
Thanks for posting this. I'll be adding magnets to my vestibule this weekend. That velcro drove me crazy.
That's an excellent idea.
Velcro is useless on just about anything unless it's shoe grade stuff!
I got a Tarptent Notch Li a couple months ago. Just ordered the Locus Gear Khufu DCF-B with 1/2 inner!
I got a DD tarp for my shelter system, which can be configured to this tent, or any design I want. Opted for the tarp mainly for budget. But a real tent would definitely be on my wish list.
TarpTent has made many great shelters over the years. Some they no longer make, and my personal favorite is one of them. It has a single loop at the front of the tent that you stake down and then pull the tent back and stake down and you are done. I've not seen a simpler free standing tent to set up. Vents all the way around, it's super awesome. It's similar to their Motrail but doesn't use a trekking pole and is domed instead of A framed.
I recently purchased the Tarptent Stratospire Li as an alternative to to the Zpacks Duoplex. And I must say: I love the tent. Pros: roomy, well ventilated, large vestibules, double doors that aren't blocked by a pole, and DOUBLE WALLED! Cons: doesn't pack down small because of the carbon stays, a little heavier than the Duoplex.
Those vents rock ! Need a update after few miles see if they work .
I've used a number of tents that have little spreader poles or other extra poles and have found that a lot of them work just fine without those extra poles. Those extra poles make it look nice and tight, but you can improvise sometimes or just do without them completely.
Oh, nice. I love my StratoSpire 2 and have been considering a ProTrail to reduce the weight.
I've been looking at the new Protrail Li. 😁👌🏿
Nice!!! Working on the big 3 and this tent may bump the Zpacks Duplex off the list. Looking forward to hear more about it.
Darwin, its time to post that follow up review you promised to post after you had more experience with this tent. Of course, its a bit of a spoiler that you’ve since purchased and falling in love with the Z Packs AltaPlex (I just ordered one). If I may speculate, was it the head and foot room you found less than ideal in the Aeon LI? I’m 5’11” and found the Stratospire to be way to confining. The TarpTent pitch lock (funny name for a strut) don’t create much headroom. Also, at each end there is only one pitch lock, and that in one corner, so you end up with an end wall that is higher on one side than the other. I noticed that when you showed foot room you were on a bare tent floor. That is not realistic. When I put my Neo Air pad down, and got into my Feathered Friends quilt, the quilt was solidly on the tent wall. Even moving as close as I could to the head end. Speaking of the head end, I found the tent right down almost on my face. The bottom line is that I did not find the pitch locks added any discernible head and foot room, and they sure do interfere with packing the tent down. For my money, I’d rather have a single pole of greater length in the center of the end wall, as Hilleberg does with their solo tent. That method does yield up some real altitude at each end. Can’t wait to get the new Altaplex. It looked plenty roomy with you in it. Thanks again for the great reviews.
If you use a small pebble, you can create a tie-off point with a guyline to create a bit more foot/headroom.
That wouldn’t work at that location on a DCF tent
Camping in the UK I've noticed that a lot of condensation can come from the damp ground/grass in the vestibule. So much so that i have an extra "under tent" groundsheet that covers the whole of the footprint and that makes a huge difference. Maybe not a problem in most of America, but perhaps something to be aware of and check when trying to address condensation issues
I agree, we have the same issue in New Zealand. It's a much more damp environment than most places in the USA.
I am thinking about getting a polycryo piece and cutting it to work for my vestibules for this purpose. ❤️ 👐🏿 😊
i love all my tart tents i just put 400 miles on my double rainbow this and am planing on getting the two li from tarptent for my 1200 hike next year
"All my tarptents"... how many do you have? 😊
I have only recently discovered them (I live in New Zealand) and I love the look of them!
I am contemplating purchasing one for my planned through hike of Te Araroa NZ in two years time. 👍🏾
Got the Aeon Li .Back on 06 of Feb.. Have not put it ...with the snow on the ground.... Will try in the next few days.... ~
Tarptent is great. I like that they have thoese really lightweight designs but still have dual walls.
Just picked up a Kelty Salida 2 as a low cost tent for my son for a scout backpack tent. For $90 I'm pretty impressed with it so far. It's not my HMG Echo 2 by any means but for a 12yr old it packs small and very easily, is super easy for set up and has plenty of room for two young teens. Only taken it out once but it held up well in the rain even without being fully staked out. Still loving the features and function of my HMG echo 2 for my own top of line CF backpacking tent.
I just got a TARPTENT Notch Li. Double wall, 1 pound. I like it.
I just picked a Darche Stealth LT-1 for my kayak camping tent, I went with that specific tent solely because of budget.
must be tough hiking for a living...LOL...well done!...woods
Magnets! That's kind of brilliant! I think I'm going to see if I can modify my tent with magnets on the doors. In some bad weather on a trek this summer, it sucked trying to get those toggles undone to close the doors.
NICE... DIY Time!
That’s a great idea!!
I'm in the process of making my own tent out of a dcf tarp and .5oz netting from Ripstop by the Roll. I'm fashioning a door using tiny (powerful) magnets. If it works it should be lighter than a zipper. Ultimately I'll make a video about it. The benefits is that it can be pitched in 3 or 4 different ways and I believe will come in at around 13 or 14oz. .... I'm using a tarp because with the reinforcements already done its cheaper than buying raw dcf material since companies get a break buying it in bulk. I already had enough dcf on hand to add doors. The saving should be a few hundred $.
@@janefreeman995 that's awesome! I'd love to see what you end up with. I don't know if I could attempt a tent. I made a quilt last winter, which I have a video up of. I loved doing that project and plan to make more for the rest of the family.
@@LinneaMae68 yes I made my quilt some years ago. It was my very first sewing project. It was so much fun figuring pi and volume and the baffles but it was ultimately a fulfilling project.
We are waiting for our 2p x-mid to come. Hopefully we’ll actually fit two of us in there :) it’ll be a lot lighter than our current 4 person tent that is getting quite squishy for our whole family.
WOW! A TENT!
Hey Darwin - great review as always! Do you have any experience with the MLD Patrol Shelter and the Serenity Bug net?
I have also been eyeing the Aeon Li, so I might just grab one. I mean it's only $535, so pretty cheap for what you get.
I am 6'2" tall and find that I often get some condensation wetness on the foot of my bag and the top of my head when camped with my duplex. The Zpack website claims a 7 1/2 foot floor length. I got excited when you said the tarp tent Aeon Li is designed to fit 7ft tall people. But their website claims the length 88 inches long which is 7.3 feet. Both outfits put a photo of a 6 foot man in a tent and it looks good but if you clothe him in a mummy bag you can quickly see that it is not the floor length on the ground that matters it is the length of the floor as measured from where the tent wall comes to about 14 inches high from the ground to allow for the hight of the sleeping system. This shortens the usable floor length considerably. Somebody do us all a favor and have a picture taken of yourself if you are over 6 feet tall, in an Aeon Li on a pad and in a well lofted mummy bag. I would love a tent that still has three or more inches of airspace at each end with a tall guy in a mummy bag, on an air pad.
Can't wait for the set-up video. I could never get the pitch-locs on my Notch Li to stay very far apart. They seemed to always want to fold back together.
Happy to help you with that. Give us a shout.
@@tarptent Thanks! I actually sold it and just bought a Stratospire Li to give me (and the dog I bring) a bit more elbow room. :)
Interesting. I didn't even know Tarptent started making DCF tents. The last tent I bought was a Tarptent Rainbow and I haven't had to look at another tent since.
Yep! The Lithium Series is all DCF.... The More You Know!😉
I picked up a BA tiger wall 2 platinum that I need for a trip where I was not able to use my hammock system. I really like it at 1lb 15oz for a freestanding tent I think is great.
I am looking forward to trying the hilleberg anaris when it comes out
Too heavy
I just got a ZPacks 8.5 x 10 flat tarp 😳 gonna try the tarp and a Borah gear Cuben bivy. We’ll see how this adventure goes!!
Thank you!
Great info
I must agree with the posts on the cost of this tent. I've been using a $20 Walmart tent for about 15 years and it still works great. I've been through a couple of storms with it and was fine.
I’m curious about tarp tent. Just learned about them last week. Look forward to your review after using it snd your thoughts cuz I have a double wall one and it’s heavy but zero condensation
I bought my first Tarptent in 2006, a Cloudburst tunnel type tent, single wall. It's still going strong, but I mostly use a Tarptent Protrail now.
Darwin, curious for a future video regarding condensation. I have been bikepacking and backpacking with the Six Moon Scout Trekker or whatever, the tent has dual entry and probably the most well ventilated tent I have ever been in, but dang the condensation is killer. The condensation is so bad it pretty much depletes the insulation value of my down bags, which could turn into a rather dangerous situation. I am curious if you have looked into the Sierra Designs High Route or High Side systems. Single wall systems are generally better for building a lightweight kit, but to alleviate the amount of coldnights I was enduring with my single wall I ended up buying a synthetic blanket to sleep with inside my bag, so not really reducing weight in the long run, and I think the Sierra Designs current tent line up could be the solution even though they are more traditional.
Condensation is a killer with dcf, im using the plexamid at the moment and have used and abused it (see my vids) ie full winter conditions, summer etc so il be interested to how this works out with the venting system
Interesting to see how the new Tarptent treats you. Looks cool.
I’ve been looking at the SMD Skyscape Trekker and know you used one for a while. Thumbs up or thumbs down 🤔?
Just picked one of these up. I was on the fence betwenn the Aeon, plexa, & duplex. What led me to the Aeon was a few things. A friend of mine is currently using it on the CDT and she recommended it over the two Z-packs shelters (she has used both). A string of Reddit feeds helped me make my final decision. My reasoning for choosing the Aeon? LIght, taprtent has amazing designs, & it is less complicated to set-up (so I've heard) than a plexa. Don't get me wrong, I love all of the shelters but unfortunately I just can't have them all (yet). I am def concerned about the carbon struts, but like you said, I have heard nothing about them failing. I believe that the struts are beefier in the high stress zones (tip of shelter) and I would think the struts in the corners are not put under a ridiculous amount of stress. The packed size is also a concern, which is why I will store the tent in a tall side pocket on a pack from SWD. Excited to see how this works out for you Darwin! The plexamid titanium looks pretty cool too!
Those carbon stays look like they're pultruded or maybe roll-wrapped with unidirectional running at 0 degrees, that is, all the fibers running lengthwise. That gives maximum rigidity, but if it's true, it also means they're susceptible forces from other directions (crushing inward, for instance). Since they don't look like they get much stress in this application, and aren't likely to be crushed or kicked hard, they'll probably never be a problem. I'd bet Zpack's issue was bending carbon tubes into those big curves. Carbon's utility is its stiffness. You want to put a big bend in something, choose another material. There's a reason we use fiberglass or aluminum for tent poles that need to bend. Carbon doesn't like bending so much. It's a great material. (I hand make some carbon fiber bikes, so I love it.) But like anything, it needs to be used in ways that utilize its best qualities.
3:14 3F and other budget companies do that as well ;)
I normally use a hammock (of my OWN design, of course), in a pinch, I'll go to a bivy. However, I wanted a FREESTANDING 1P tent, so I shopped around (including Z-Packs) and went with the Nemo Hornet Elite 1P. It's about $150 LESS, but about a half pound more than the Z-Packs Plexamid. Still, it's COMPLETELY freestanding (unlike Z-Packs) but I have the option of line-outs... DAMN good tent!
This last summer I picked up a Murphy Mountaineering DCF Dome tent. Weighs in at 18.5 oz and it’s a full freestanding 1.5p tent. My only complaint is the ventilation.
Hey Darwin! Hope the Colorado trail is treating you well. Was wondering if you had a chance to revisit the Aeon Li and update your review after you put some backpacking miles on it. Would love to hear your thoughts on this tent after using it. I see they also updated some things for this tent for 2020. Looking forward to a gear review update when you get a hot second. Thanks