When it comes to backpacking gear and especially the big three or four (shelter, sleeping bag, pack, and pad) there are two schools of thought to meeting the needs of different types of trips across the different seasons. On one hand, one can choose to select from an array of seasonally specific choices – for example having 3 sleeping bags with different temperature ratings that ideally fit each trip at just the right weight. On the other hand, one could just choose gear that fits every trip without always being ideal, but is still workable. No matter your approach, when it comes to tents the Scarp 2 from Tarptent could potentially find a spot in either approach to gear as a shelter solution.

The Scarp 2 from Tarptent is a 4-season capable, 2 person tent that can be made mostly freestanding.

Tarptent Scarp 2 Specifications

The Scarp 2 is a 2 person, 4-season capable, silnylon double wall tent from Tarptent that offers a generous 52x86" floor plan, 45" peak height, and 2 side entry doors with matching vestibule space. A single aluminum arch pole is required for setup, and optionally 2 additional crossing poles can be added to make the tent mostly freestanding (2 stakes or snow anchors are always required at the head and foot). The crossing poles help with setup in snow or on rock, and add significant snow load and wind capability. Without the crossing poles and for 3-season use, the tent requires a total of 6 stakes. 2 different inner tent options are available – either a mesh inner for maximum ventilation, or a solid nylon inner (with smaller mesh ventilation cutouts) that is warmer and blocks more wind and blown snow. For more, see our guide on Tarptent inner tent options.

No matter which inner is chosen, it conveniently hangs from the fly and setup / takedown is simplified (the tent sets up all as one unit) with the inside remaining protected during setup. Listed weight of the basic tent ($489) is 56 ounces including a set of 8" Easton aluminum stakes with the optional aluminum crossing poles (+$45) adding 19 ounces. The available carbon crossing poles will save about half a pound. Seam sealing is an extra $35. Stakes, a stake bag, and tent stuff sack are all included.

Impressions and Overview

The first order of business upon receipt of any Tarptent is sealing the seams, which are not sealed by default unless you pay the extra $35 fee. A tube of Sil-net / Seam Grip SIL does the job nicely, and don't forget to add a couple strips or pattern on the inside floor to reduce pad slippage. Although the tent is listed as freestanding, unexpectedly I found that 2 stakes are still always required to support the middle of the tent at the head and foot end. While this can be slightly inconvenient in those situations where fully freestanding is desired, you still need to anchor your tent somehow so it doesn't become a kite, so perhaps having to do this is a good thing.

In snow, snowshoes, skis, trekking poles, or dedicated snow anchors can all serve as a solution here. The perimeter of the tent features a series of Tarptent's PitchLoc struts which elevate each corner of the tent, and tension is adjustable via reflective guy lines and linelocs. The tent is relatively easy to setup, although the dexterity required to attach the crossing poles – manipulating and threading the multitude of small hooks, grosgrain ribbon, and fastening the small Velcro straps through small hardware either requires a lot of patience with gloves on, or requires no gloves at all – and below 0 temperatures and aluminum on bare hands is never a good combination.

Overall though it all remains workable. Once setup, a very solid weather worthy structure is formed. Interior space is very livable with plenty of headroom for myself at 6' 2". Dual doors and dual vestibules ensure comfort is maintained for 2 occupants. Tarptent claims this can even fit three people, but I'd call it more of a comfortable 2 person tent or even very spacious 1 person shelter. If you're for some reason on the fence regarding the Scarp 1 (the 1 - 2 person version), it's worth noting that the Scarp 2 isn’t that much heavier. While for summer backpacking the weight increase might be comparatively more of a jump , it's not adding as much relative weight to the average heavier winter pack. On the scale, my seam-sealed Scarp 2 weighed 64 ounces in its stuff sack with 6 stakes and a stake bag, and 2 crossing poles will add about a pound. This weight can also be split up among 2 people using the tent if desired – one person carrying the pole(s), stakes, and groundsheet (I like an ultralight window insulation film option here) if used for example which will lighten the package quite a bit.

For my use, where cold weather would be most frequently encountered in the Scarp 2, I opted for the solid inner. The inner fabric here is water resistant with strategic mesh panels that offer decent ventilation, and the solid inner adds substantial warmth on cold nights and blocks blown snow and nearly all wind. Mesh is the other option here if more ventilation is desired. While the solid inner has served well for my purposes, I have used the mesh inner with the Tarptent Hogback in varied conditions which features a similar design. The mesh inner is a great option for summer and 3-season use, or even the occasional trip into light snow with otherwise appropriate gear, but ventilation is without a doubt the focus there.

In the Field

In practice and in the weather the Scarp 2 performs very well across a variety of conditions. Snow is supported well (with the crossing poles used), and since the angles and geometry of the tent are maintained with the extra support, it also sheds that accumulating snow quite well. Wind performance was also good with the crossing poles and extra guy points all utilized. Condensation issues have been manageable and become more manageable considering the double wall design, but sealed up inside the tent and using the solid inner on cold nights, I have still experienced frost on the inside of the inner, but the tent has many ventilation options from the 2 top vents, zippered openings at the head and foot and at the doors themselves. The tie back for the fly door is Velcro and works well, with elastic used for the inner doors – it would be nice if the inner doors could be opened and tied back more effectively / completely. But it all comes down to whatever warmth to ventilation tradeoff you're most comfortable with.

In the morning packing can be a bit of an exercise in patience as the stuff sack is on the small side for this tent, and while the PitchLoc corners are great when the tent is in action, the struts mean the tent must be tightly rolled and then inserted into the stuff sack instead of stuffed, for the most part. The bonus here is saving a little pack space – the tent fits in the main compartment of my ULA Circuit quite well.

With the crossing poles, the Tarptent Scarp 2 is very solid and performs well across the seasons.

Conclusion

Overall the Scarp 2 offers two hikers or even a solo hiker (on long winter nights, extra space becomes very valuable!) a solid, adaptable option that's suitable for everything from summer backpacking and camping where weight might not be the top priority, to winter snowshoe or ski in trips where a warm and very snow and weather ready shelter is absolutely needed. As such the Scarp 2 is best for those that backpack across all seasons and prefer one, adaptable shelter, or as a winter specific option – and it even makes our list (in the 4-season tent category) of best backpacking tents. No matter your needs however, if you're looking to fill such a niche where the Scarp 2 would work, it’s sure to deliver.

The Scarp 2 starts at $489 – find it here at Tarptent.com. For more information on backpacking tents in general, see our article on how to choose a backpacking tent.

Editor's Note: This review originally appeared in Issue 34 of TrailGroove Magazine. You can read the original article here for additional photos, pros and cons, and our star rating for the Tarptent Scarp 2.