Facts & Figures:
Weight: 1300g
Fabrics: 30d Silnylon Fly
Dimensions: Inner =132cm x 218cm with variable peak height depending on trekking pole heights (max of around 127cm)
Features: Dual entry, Roomy vestibules, small "Pitchloc" poles for headand foot end fly support, trekking poles for main tent poles, Solid Inner (mesh available).
Durability: For lightweight Silnylon, it seems relatively durable and should last a long time with careful treatment
Acquired: Early Spring 2019
That said, the height and width do combine to give the tent a generally airy feel, and it is very spacious for two. A genuine two-person tent that is sold as such is a rarity these days and Tarptent have definitely come through! The spacious twin vestibules also allow plenty of space for gear and the overall height allows for easy entry and exit. Twin vestibules are an absolute godsend when camping with two and I would never want to have a shelter without this kind of easy access for nocturnal bathroom visits / changes in weather / cooking in one porch and storage in the other etc.
The main downside to all this space is that the tent does require quite a hefty footprint to pitch, though you can pitch the large vestibules over rocks and plants without compromising the main inner of the tent if necessary.
There are two small mesh pockets on the inner next to the doors, but they are not really designed to carry anything bulky or weighty.
The pack size is reasonable at an accurate 41x10cm, the Pitchloc corner struts limit the minimum length, but the whole tent is a pretty wee tube for one to carry.
I think it makes sense to leave the inner and outer combined so that it can be pitched all in one, even though it pitches outer first so setting up in the rain is not an issue. If you wanted to split weight with a partner the inner weights around (Hmm, not sure, will have to weigh it!) around 500-600 grams I would guess.
I always use the Stratospire with an ultralight polycro groundsheet (Gossamear Gear Polycro Groundsheet, size Large from the excellent European supplier, Backpackinglight.dk ) alongside sensible camp site selection and a couple of minutes sweeping the ground for debris, sharp sticks and rocks etc. and so far have suffered no damage or degrading of the tent at all over perhaps 20-30 nights total use.
It's not perfect, and for a pair of taller humans it can be a little tight on length (though still better than many alternatives) but all in all I believe the Tarptent Stratospire Two is an excellent compromise of weight, cost, living space and storm-worthiness. It is a genuinely functional two person tent that is tall and spacious, with plenty of room for gear and cooking.
TL, DR:
Pros:
- Lightweight and nice narrow, tubular pack size
- Solid inner adds a noticeable amount of warmth and minimises condensation drips onto the inside
- Trekking poles for shelter supports is just an excellent idea
- Reasonable price
- Great vestibules
- Supplied stakes are non-optimal (replace with the awesome MSR mini groundhogs)
Cons:
- Needs to be seam-sealed
- Awesome for those under 6", a bit of fabric in the face for those over 6".
Recommended Kit?
Yes, I'd definitely recommend the Stratospire Two to anyone who hikes regularly with a partner and wants a spacious, weather resistant shelter. I don't regret buying this and look forward to many years of good use, and it certainly seems well suited to UK conditions (once seam sealed). When the time comes to replace it though, I will be looking around to see what else has come on in the meantime, just in case :)
Notes:
Weight: 1300g
Fabrics: 30d Silnylon Fly
Dimensions: Inner =132cm x 218cm with variable peak height depending on trekking pole heights (max of around 127cm)
Features: Dual entry, Roomy vestibules, small "Pitchloc" poles for headand foot end fly support, trekking poles for main tent poles, Solid Inner (mesh available).
Durability: For lightweight Silnylon, it seems relatively durable and should last a long time with careful treatment
Acquired: Early Spring 2019
 |
| (Sunset over the hills just outside Bristol) |
When camping solo I tend to use a tarp and bivy combination, but as I was doing a lot more hiking with a partner this year it was time finally pull the trigger on a 2-person Tarptent, having been eyeing their progress for well over six years.
My main criteria were weight, space and storm-worthiness. At 1300g the Stratospire 2 is over twice the weight of the ultralight hiker's staple, the Zpacks Duplex but at a bit over half the price ($379 vs $599 at the time of writing). Whilst the low weight of the Duplex is very, very tempting, I have to admit that for UK and European conditions I do really like the comfort of a dual walled shelter. The solid inner on the Stratospire does add considerable warmth, and the mesh still allows for good airflow on warm nights.
Setup and performance
Henry Shires of tarptent rates the Stratospire as one of their most storm worthy tents, and so far it has certainly withstood some moderate winds in Portugal and on Dartmoor in the UK. On good ground it takes very little time to get it pitched nice and taught using the adjustable line-locs on all the guy points and the corner Pitchloc struts.
If you pitch an hour or so before bed then it's usually necessary to go round just before sleep and re-tighten all the guys just to take out the slight sag from the Silnylon in the falling temperatures. This is more noticeable a problem in the rain, but even in pouring rain the sag is not too bad and just needs that little extra tightening once the fabric has cooled and gotten wet.
The twin vestibules ensure that even if the wind shifts, you can still have a sheltered entry/exit point and a safe porch to tie a door back with and cook (obvious caveats apply - should never use a stove in an unvented space etc.)
At At 183cm and 75kg the Stratospire Two is a reasonable length for me diagonally, but when lying next to a partner on an inflatable pad then the person who does not have the Pitchloc corner over their head will have some of the fabric inner lying uncomfortably close to their face.
My main criteria were weight, space and storm-worthiness. At 1300g the Stratospire 2 is over twice the weight of the ultralight hiker's staple, the Zpacks Duplex but at a bit over half the price ($379 vs $599 at the time of writing). Whilst the low weight of the Duplex is very, very tempting, I have to admit that for UK and European conditions I do really like the comfort of a dual walled shelter. The solid inner on the Stratospire does add considerable warmth, and the mesh still allows for good airflow on warm nights.
Setup and performance
Henry Shires of tarptent rates the Stratospire as one of their most storm worthy tents, and so far it has certainly withstood some moderate winds in Portugal and on Dartmoor in the UK. On good ground it takes very little time to get it pitched nice and taught using the adjustable line-locs on all the guy points and the corner Pitchloc struts.
 |
| (Cliff-top pitch in stiff winds, the fabric flapped but was steady enough all night) |
If you pitch an hour or so before bed then it's usually necessary to go round just before sleep and re-tighten all the guys just to take out the slight sag from the Silnylon in the falling temperatures. This is more noticeable a problem in the rain, but even in pouring rain the sag is not too bad and just needs that little extra tightening once the fabric has cooled and gotten wet.
The twin vestibules ensure that even if the wind shifts, you can still have a sheltered entry/exit point and a safe porch to tie a door back with and cook (obvious caveats apply - should never use a stove in an unvented space etc.)
 |
| (Pitching on a small island amongst the bluebells) |
That said, the height and width do combine to give the tent a generally airy feel, and it is very spacious for two. A genuine two-person tent that is sold as such is a rarity these days and Tarptent have definitely come through! The spacious twin vestibules also allow plenty of space for gear and the overall height allows for easy entry and exit. Twin vestibules are an absolute godsend when camping with two and I would never want to have a shelter without this kind of easy access for nocturnal bathroom visits / changes in weather / cooking in one porch and storage in the other etc.
The main downside to all this space is that the tent does require quite a hefty footprint to pitch, though you can pitch the large vestibules over rocks and plants without compromising the main inner of the tent if necessary.
 |
| (Rolling back the vestibule doors for extra airflow on hot nights) |
There are two small mesh pockets on the inner next to the doors, but they are not really designed to carry anything bulky or weighty.
The pack size is reasonable at an accurate 41x10cm, the Pitchloc corner struts limit the minimum length, but the whole tent is a pretty wee tube for one to carry.
I think it makes sense to leave the inner and outer combined so that it can be pitched all in one, even though it pitches outer first so setting up in the rain is not an issue. If you wanted to split weight with a partner the inner weights around (Hmm, not sure, will have to weigh it!) around 500-600 grams I would guess.
I always use the Stratospire with an ultralight polycro groundsheet (Gossamear Gear Polycro Groundsheet, size Large from the excellent European supplier, Backpackinglight.dk ) alongside sensible camp site selection and a couple of minutes sweeping the ground for debris, sharp sticks and rocks etc. and so far have suffered no damage or degrading of the tent at all over perhaps 20-30 nights total use.
Conclusions
TL, DR:
Pros:
- Lightweight and nice narrow, tubular pack size
- Solid inner adds a noticeable amount of warmth and minimises condensation drips onto the inside
- Trekking poles for shelter supports is just an excellent idea
- Reasonable price
- Great vestibules
- Supplied stakes are non-optimal (replace with the awesome MSR mini groundhogs)
Cons:
- Needs to be seam-sealed
- Awesome for those under 6", a bit of fabric in the face for those over 6".
Recommended Kit?
Yes, I'd definitely recommend the Stratospire Two to anyone who hikes regularly with a partner and wants a spacious, weather resistant shelter. I don't regret buying this and look forward to many years of good use, and it certainly seems well suited to UK conditions (once seam sealed). When the time comes to replace it though, I will be looking around to see what else has come on in the meantime, just in case :)
Notes:
 |
| I'd recommend using MSR Mini groundhog stakes for the best compromise between weight and anchoring ability (10g each and they hold in most ground stronger than a bulldog with a chew toy) |
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