Tarptent Notch Fly Review

Overview

The Notch Fly is the outer shell of Tarptent’s Notch, sold on its own for hikers who want a storm-worthy trekking-pole shelter without paying for, or carrying, the mesh inner. At 451 g with struts installed, it is a two-door, two-vestibule tarp that stands on a pair of poles most thru-hikers already own. The trade-off is the usual one for fly-only sleeping: ground-level protection depends on the pitch, the site, and whatever bivy or groundsheet goes underneath.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Weight	451 g / 15.9 oz (fly with struts installed)
Fly fabric	20D nano ripstop, 100% silicone-coated polyester
Waterproofing	5,000 mm+ hydrostatic head
Structure	Two trekking poles; carbon fiber PitchLoc strut corners
Doors / vestibules	Two / two
Stakes required	Four (not included)
Included	Notch Fly with struts installed, tent bag
Not included	Stakes, interior, stake bag
Price	$140

Performance

Weight and packability. The 451 g figure covers the fly, its corded struts and guylines, but not the 20 g tent bag. The full Notch with the polyester fly and solid interior comes to 792 g with stakes and bags, which puts the fly at a little over half of the complete system. Pair it with a 292 g mesh interior and the shelter becomes a conventional double-wall tent. Left at home, the interior takes the weight down to roughly tarp territory. Tarptent’s own Dyneema version of the fly, the Notch Li, is listed at 312 g. That is about 139 g lighter, at a considerably higher price.

Pitch and wind. Setup is a four-stake, fly-first affair. Tarptent says it takes about 90 seconds. Owners describe the corners as the clever part: the carbon struts push the ends outward, widening the footprint at the foot and head and holding the fabric off a sleeper. Owners say the pitch is stable once dialed in. Long-term users report taking it through multi-day rain in the Smokies, serious storms in the Wind Rivers, and snow, and one Trailspace reviewer logged 35–40 mph wind. Adding guylines from the top of each pole to extra stakes, for six in total, is a common fix for a saggy or flexing pitch.

Trekking pole fit. The fly is fussy about pole length. Owners and Tarptent’s own guidance cluster around 110–115 cm. Fixed 120 cm poles are too tall, and 105 cm is too low for the full tent, though fly-only users have more latitude. Hikers with adjustable poles can lower the shell in bad weather or raise it for airflow. Optional adapters let poles go in handle-up so the grips stay out of the dirt.

Ventilation and condensation. This is where the standalone fly earns its keep. Zippered doors with keeper toggles roll up for airflow, the fly has end ports and a roof vent, and the pitch height changes how much air moves under the hem. Testers and owners generally rank the venting well above flatter, lower-cut tarps. Condensation still turns up when the fly is zipped shut or when it is used low over a bivy in damp, still air. Pitching on a slight rise away from water helps.

Fly-only limitations. This is a tarp with a very good tarp’s manners, not a sealed room. One Trailspace owner found the hem could not be staked low enough to the ground for light-rain-and-wind nights. Others noted that hard rain can splash back under the edge, which the small storm flaps at either end are meant to address. Bugs are uninvited guests. Anyone using the fly alone needs a groundsheet, a bivy, or both.

Durability. The 20D silpoly is described by Tarptent as strong and sag-free. Unlike silnylon, it does not stretch when wet. That means fewer midnight retensioning trips. Owners report no signs of wear after a season of use. The zippers are YKK #3 Aquaguard waterproof dual-pull.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 451 g with struts, two doors and two vestibules
• Silpoly stays taut when wet
• Strong, proven pitch in wind and rain, especially with extra guylines
• Excellent ventilation options, including roof and end vents
• Four-stake, fly-first setup
• Fully compatible with the Notch mesh or solid interior if bugs or cold arrive later

Cons

• Needs trekking poles of the right length; fixed 120 cm poles are a poor match
• No floor, no bug protection; extra gear adds weight and cost
• Cannot be pitched truly low to the ground, so splash-back and drafts are a concern
• Stakes and stake bag are not included
• Condensation is possible when fully zipped, as with any single-wall shelter

Who Should Buy This

Thru-hikers and section hikers who carry adjustable trekking poles, sleep under a tarp or in a bivy, and want proper doors and vestibules rather than a flat sheet. It also suits owners of the full Notch who want to replace or add a second fly, or anyone who already owns a Notch interior. It is a poor fit for hikers without poles, for bug-heavy routes where no inner is planned, and for anyone who wants a self-contained shelter without buying more pieces.

Verdict

At 451 g, the Notch Fly delivers a tough, well-ventilated and proven solo pitch for $140, without Dyneema prices. It rewards hikers who already have the poles, the stakes and a bivy plan. Those who want a closed shelter in one purchase should buy the complete Notch instead.