Tarptent StratoSpire Ultra Review

The most unique feature of the StratoSpire Ultra is its use of the brand new Ultra TNT (Tents and Tarps) composite fabric — something Tarptent has led the market in implementing on many of its products. Now that we've given it a good run, we absolutely love it, as it has proven to be incredibly strong and doesn't stretch or absorb water. All of these factors positively contribute to excellent stormworthiness as well, and not having to worry about you and your hiking partner's tent during a nighttime storm is worth many hours of additional dreaming. Additionally, the StratoSpire Ultra has excellent interior space. Used on solo missions, it's a backcountry ultralight mansion; with two people, the twin door openings and vestibules on opposite sides mean both of you can get things done without getting in each other's way.

Performance Comparison

Livability

With an inner area measuring 89 x 52 inches (32 square feet) and a height of 45 inches, there's plenty of space inside the StratoSpire Ultra to rest and relax with your hiking buddy without feeling like you're living on top of each other. Two 20" sleeping pads will easily fit side-by-side with a foot of additional space width-wise to utilize. People over 6' will very much appreciate the extra length of this tent — an attribute that seems to be shared by many Tarptent products and seemingly neglected by all other ultralight brands.

The two interior mesh sides have zippered doors that go out into generously sized, 12+ square foot vestibules, more than enough space to stow away any gear you want out of the interior space or to cook, put on boots, etc. The outer fly doors feature beefy #5 two-way zippers allowing you to zip from the bottom to the top and roll the tent flap up to stow away or zip from the top partially to aid in keeping the tent well-ventilated and keep condensation at bay when the two vents aren't enough.

Two small interior mesh pockets hang from the corners to help keep small accessories within arm's reach, and two small hooks can be found near the top of the mesh doors to hang fragile items. We found it a perfect perch to keep our camera bag attached with a lightweight clip.

Weight

All this interior room does come at a cost. For the StratoSpire Ultra, it's a comparably heavier carry than many other two-person tents we've reviewed — almost 40 ounces in total. That said, if you split the load between two people, it's a pretty reasonable amount to carry. Extra-long stakes are included with this tent, and we'd suggest using those rather than sourcing smaller, cheaper stakes, as the amount of tension you can create from all the tie-down points is substantial.

If the threat of weather or intense bug pressure is at a low, the inner mesh can easily be detached from the fly and left at home to save weight — over 21 ounces, in fact.

Weather Resistance

The ability to ride out a storm is one of the biggest advantages of the StratoSpire Ultra. Excellent livability and weather resistance aren't diametrically opposed attributes, but it's common for some comfort to be lost in the quest for a more storm-proof shelter. But if properly pitched, we'd wager that you will not only survive but thrive in most reasonable three-season weather scenarios — and maybe even some winter scenarios as well.

Although not a mountaineering expedition tent, the mesh rather than solid interior and slightly more involved trekking pole setup are differentiators. The exquisite design and engineering of the StratoSpire Ultra results in an incredibly confidence-inspiring and unassailably strong pitch. Six extra long stakes are mandatory to set up this tent, and additional tie-out points are available at the twin peaks if you would like to supplement.

Adaptability

Save for pure mountaineering objectives, expect the StratoSpire Ultra to work well in a huge spectrum of seasons and weather scenarios. Our trust in it is as solid as the pitch it proudly displays. We took the StratoSpire up to 12,000' and below-freezing conditions and found we only had to pay attention to finding an attractive, large, flat area to set up, as this tent will take up a good-sized footprint to be pitched correctly. Getting proper airflow during the night to reduce condensation was also a concern, but the excellent dual vents work wonders, and we supplemented a little more by zipping down the twin zippers to dial things in a bit more.

Some ultralight tents save weight by shrinking dimensions to use less fabric. The opposite seems true for the StratoSpire Ultra — it's nominally larger than its past revision, making it even more comfortable for two people to use. For less extreme conditions full of sunny weather, clear night skies, and no bugs, the inner mesh can be left at home to give more interior space for yet another happy camper or your favorite furry friend.

Ease of Set-Up

Setting up the StratoSpire Ultra is fairly straightforward. Generally, you'll stake out the four main corners, prop the ceiling up with your two trekking poles, stake out the two remaining corners, and adjust the tension of your tie-out points. The inner mesh can stay attached to the fly, saving you the step of setting that up. If you do set it up separately, you may do so after the fly is up, allowing you to do that step under cover.

We do think you will benefit from going to your local park to practice in ideal conditions before taking this tent out on a real trip. The stretchless Ultra TNT fabric will cut down on how much you can fudge a setup. Take the extra minute or two to find the most ideal stake-out locations before trying to set things up.

Tearing down will also benefit from practice and a little patience. The Ultra TNT fabric will have an extended life if you fold or roll it before putting it into its bag, rather than stuffing it as is safe to do with a nylon or polyester tent. Two corners of the tent have small embedded carbon poles, which will need to be folded correctly. The included bag is slim and tall and can either sit vertically within your pack or be lashed outside your pack to stow.

Should You Buy the Tarptent StratoSpire Ultra?

The StratoSpire Ultra is a true two-person ultralight shelter built to be comfortable for weeks on the trail, where all manner of weather will be encountered. It weighs a little more than some other options, but those additional ounces are put to good use in delivering an excellent camping experience.

What Other Ultralight Tents Should You Consider?

If you're looking to drop some weight but need the inner mesh, the Tarptent StratoSpire Li is excellent, and swaps out the Ultra TNT fly fabric for DCF. You'll save 14 ounces in weight, but the tent is a fair bit more expensive. The older design of the Li has a nominally smaller footprint as well.

If headroom is your main concern, it's hard to beat the Hyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid 2, which has around five feet of headroom, rather than most other options that hover around four feet. The living area is also massive, but there aren't any vestibules to store your potentially wet, dirty gear.