Saturday, November 11, 2023
HomeHikingTarptent Dipole 1 DW Tent Evaluation

Tarptent Dipole 1 DW Tent Evaluation


The Tarptent Dipole 1 DW is an ultralight double-wall trekking-pole tent made with silicone-coated polyester that weighs 30.35 oz. It’s a spacious tent with two doorways and two vestibules that may accommodate large sleeping pads or tall hikers. The benefit of utilizing a double-wall tent over a single-wall one is that inner condensation switch is a non-issue for the reason that mesh internal tent prevents you from coming in touch with moisture. As well as, you possibly can pitch the Dipole 1 DW in pouring rain and the internal tent will stay dry. Tarptent additionally makes a single wall model made utilizing Dyneema DCF referred to as the Dipole 1 Li, which is analogous in kind however has a number of variations.

Specs at a Look

  • Sort: Double Wall
  • Weight: 30.35 oz
  • Vestibules: 2
  • Seam-sealing: Required (pay Tarptent to do that for you)
  • Minimal Variety of Stakes to Pitch: 4; Beneficial: 6
  • Trekking Poles: 2 (not included)
  • Required Trekking Pole Size: 45-48 in / 114.3-122 cm
  • Inside Peak: 43 in / 109 cm
  • Ground Width (tapered): 36″ (91 cm) on the ends, 28″ (71 cm) in center
  • Ground Size: 84 in / 213 cm (totally useable)
  • Packed dimension: 11 in x 5 in / 28 cm x 12.7 cm (foldable strut possibility)
  • Rainfly: 20D nano ripstop 100% silicone-coated polyester (HH 3000mm)
  • Ground: 30D double ripstop 100% silicone coated nylon 66 (HH 3000mm)
  • For full specs go to the Dipole 1 DW at Tarptent.com

The Dipole 1 DW is a brand new tent, simply launched this yr (2023), that’s much like the Tarptent Notch however has extra inside room and higher air flow on the head and foot ends. The Dipole 1 has two doorways and two vestibules which may be very helpful in a tent, each for lined gear storage and elevated airflow. There are additionally two vents that may be opened on the head and foot finish to offer further airflow when the vestibule doorways are closed, even when it’s raining.

The Tarptent Dipole 1 DW has a pyramid shape with two peaksBeing a double wall tent, the internal mesh tent and the rainfly are separable, though you possibly can hold them linked, making it simple to arrange the tent in a single go. Whereas the tent has two peaks, guying them out and the facet vestibules beneath them is, in truth, non-compulsory, for the reason that tent will be pitched with simply 4 stakes within the 4 corners.

Nevertheless, the setup does require utilizing 4 9 in (22.8 cm) Easton Nanos tent stakes (included) with good holding energy. This may be troublesome in rocky soil circumstances, nonetheless. For instance, I needed to transfer the tent above 3 times to get it pitched on a campsite on the high of a mountain as a result of the soil was too rocky and I couldn’t drive the stakes in far sufficient. The design of the tent requires very agency anchorage and getting a deep chunk with the tent stakes is crucial.

Exterior struts increase the ceiling height at the tent’s ends
Exterior struts enhance the ceiling top on the tent’s ends

The top and foot ends of the Dipole 1 DW even have exterior struts, which enhance the headroom and foot room on the ends of the tent. The issue with many pyramids and A-frame tents or tarps is that your face and the tops of your toes are simply inches beneath the sloping ceiling, one thing that using these struts addresses. Tarptent was the primary tent producer to include these struts (additionally referred to as PitchLocks) to boost tent ceilings a few years in the past they usually make an enormous distinction in livability.

Closeup of the strut with fly looped over the top for added ventilation
Closeup of the strut with fly looped excessive for added air flow – you possibly can see my gray sleeping pad contained in the internal tent.

As well as, the material on the ends of the tents will be raised and looped over the tip struts to extend inner air flow. I’ve discovered that the extra air flow they supply is enough to maintain any inner condensation at bay even when the facet vestibule doorways are shut in heavy rain.

The struts increase space at the foot end - note pockets in the corners of the inner tent.
The struts dramatically enhance area on the foot finish – word pockets within the corners of the internal tent.

The Dipole has two vestibule doorways with peaks and water resistant zippers. The peaks come pre-guyed out with line loc tensioners, and I stake them out of behavior. This isn’t strictly essential although (for the reason that tent will be pitched with simply 4 nook stakes) which will be helpful if it’s a must to pitch up in a densely forested tent web site the place lengthy guylines are inconvenient. The peaks are strengthened inside and have a grommet to seize the tip of your trekking poles. You may also insert the deal with finish into the peaks should you like, too.

The vestibule doors are joined by a water resistant zipper
The vestibule doorways are joined by a water resistant zipper

You’ll be able to roll again each vestibule doorways on one or each side of the tent for optimum airflow and views. The L-shaped zippers on the internal tent are mirror photographs of each other so you possibly can choose which is simpler to get out and in of with out having to orient the tent or flip your sleeping pad round.

You can roll back both vestibule partially or fully for maximum ventilation.
You’ll be able to roll again each vestibules partially or totally for optimum air flow.

Each of the vestibule doorways on either side of the tent have magnetic tiebacks that are a lot simpler to make use of than the dowels and loops nonetheless discovered on most tents. Tarptent makes use of one guyline to stake out the height with a small plastic hook to safe the underside of one of many vestibule doorways, however not each. Sadly, that plastic hook is absolutely onerous to make use of and see and I’d suggest changing it with the double hook equipment that Zpacks sells which is each extra useful and visually larger distinction.

Both vestibule doors have a small webbing loop at the base. Threading this small hook through one is difficult. A dual hook would be much easier to use.
Each vestibule doorways have a small webbing loop on the base. Threading this small hook by means of one is troublesome. A twin hook could be a lot simpler to make use of.

The tip struts are two 18-inch carbon fiber rods that slot into high and backside retainers throughout setup however are detachable when packing the tent. They’re obtainable in a hard and fast size or a collapsible folding kind with a most phase size of 11 inches which makes it a lot simpler to pack the tent horizontally in a slim ultralight backpack. Ladies’s backpacks are additionally narrower than males’s.

The struts fold making it much easier to pack the tent horizontally in narrow ultralight backpacks.
The struts fold making it a lot simpler to pack the tent horizontally in slim ultralight backpacks.

The packability of those struts was a difficulty I raised when reviewing the Tarptent Aeon Li a number of years in the past. The struts on that tent are barely longer than 14″, which made it not possible to pack the tent horizontally within the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest packs I used to be utilizing at the moment. I now use a Zpacks Arc Haul 60 and the Dipole 1 DW with folding struts suits horizontally inside it with none points.

The dual vestibules are a real luxury in terms of gear storage, ventilation, and wilderness immersion.
The twin vestibules are an actual luxurious when it comes to gear storage, air flow, and wilderness immersion.

The livability of the Dipole 1 DW in between the 2 vestibules and the tip struts is excellent. The internal mesh tent has 4 nook pockets suspended over the tub ground partitions which can be nice for storing all of your necessities. There are further mitten hooks within the peaks, that are good for suspending glasses up and out of the best way, though they is also used to droop a clothesline or gear loft (offered individually).

There’s still lots of headroom even though I’m sleeping on a 4 inch thick air mattress and a pillow.
There’s nonetheless a lot of headroom despite the fact that I’m sleeping on a 4 inch thick air mattress and a pillow.

The width of the internal mesh tent is 36″ on the ends, tapering to twenty-eight″ within the center, which is greater than sufficient area for a large 25″ sleeping pad. The size is 84″ and totally usable, making the tent appropriate for fairly tall hikers.

A stable internal tent can also be obtainable as an possibility and is appropriate for cooler and windier circumstances. The internal tent will be arrange by itself for insect safety utilizing trekking poles and the tip struts, as can the rain fly when a extra tarp-like configuration is desired. The rain fly will also be pulled again midway to reveal the internal tent for star-gazing (see Tarptent.com for photos of those further configurations.)

Advice

The Tarptent Dipole 1 DW is a spacious double-wall trekking pole tent that’s suitable with large sleeping pads and appropriate for tall hikers. It has two doorways with vestibules and struts on the ends that increase the ceiling offering extra headroom and foot room inside. Made with siliconized polyester which resists stretching when it will get moist, the Dipole 1 DW has a 3000 mm hydrostatic head which far exceeds the waterproof score of most tents made with extra standard materials like nylon and polyester. Its spacious inside and top make it simple to vary garments contained in the tent and pack your gear, even when it’s raining outdoors. If you happen to’re in search of an inexpensive and spacious double-wall trekking pole tent, appropriate for 3+ season backpacking and tenting, the Dipole 1 DW ought to positively be in your shortlist. It’s a actually candy tent.

Dipole 1 DW Setup Video

Disclosure: Tarptent donated a tent for evaluate.

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