The Scarp has a number of features that distinguish it from other single hoop tents – triangular end supports for stability, a double porch and optional crossover poles for use in snow storms. The five little poles at each end really do make a big difference to stability as well as raising the walls to give reasonable headroom. Having two porches means you can cook in one and store gear in the other. There’s always a door facing away from the prevailing weather too. The porches are just big enough for safe cooking – more space can be obtained by pulling back the groundsheet and holding it in place with a spare peg. When both porch doors are left open there’s a real feeling of airiness and contact with the outside world, as well as excellent ventilation. The crossover poles turn the Scarp into a freestanding tent and give it a fairly rigid structure so it doesn’t collapse under heavy snow. They’re not needed most of the time though. For ventilation other than leaving the doors open there are small vents above the doors, short zips at each end of the flysheet that can be undone for more air flow and a flysheet that can be slid up the pole a little way on each side. This is one of the best ventilation systems I’ve seen in any small tent. There’s plenty of room inside with a groundsheet that isn’t tapered and more headroom than in many similar tents.
The Scarp 1 pitches as a unit and can be erected very quickly, only six pegs being needed. For more stability I added guylines to the guy loops on the pole sleeve, which means two more pegs are needed.
There are really only two slight disadvantages to the Scarp 1. Firstly it’s only available direct from TarpTent in the USA and secondly the pole sections are 51cm long, which is more than on most tents.
First published: May 2013
