Tarptent Notch Mesh Interior Review

Overview

The Notch Mesh Interior is the all-mesh inner nest for Tarptent’s one-person Notch, and it also fits the lighter Notch Li fly. It’s built for warm-weather and bug-season hikers who want ventilation and a sealed floor from a double-wall shelter that still weighs about what a small tarp-and-bivy kit does. The trade-off is a nest that breathes freely and blocks little wind, which matters on cold, gusty nights.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Weight	292 g (10.3 oz)
Compatibility	Tarptent Notch and Notch Li fly
Construction	Full mesh walls and roof with bathtub floor
Interior height	43 in (109 cm)
Floor	About 84 in long, up to 34 in wide
Attachment	Clips in under the fly; can also be pitched alone
Included	Drawstring bag
Price	$99

Performance

Modularity. The Notch is built as a kit of parts. The inner clips up to the fly from underneath, and each half can be pitched on its own. Hikers can run the fly alone to save weight, run the mesh alone on a clear night for stargazing, or pitch both in buggy or wet weather. The Notch fly weighs 451 g, so the full shelter lands at roughly 743 g before stakes. Notch owners have measured complete shelters with a mesh inner at around 800 g once seam-sealed and bagged. Tarptent also notes that the inner stays dry during entry, exit and setup in a storm, because it hangs beneath a fly that can be pitched first.

Ventilation and bugs. This is the mesh interior’s main selling point. Reviewers describe the Notch’s airflow as excellent even with the fly deployed. Owners also like the bug barrier, and one desert traveler specifically credits it with keeping scorpions out. The bathtub floor adds a second layer of protection against splashback and crawlers.

Warmth. A full-mesh nest isn’t a cold-weather one, but it’s more capable than it looks. One Appalachian Trail thru-hiker who used the full-mesh Notch in 2012 reported comfort down to about 20°F. He said the mesh still helped trap warm air around the sleeper, though unzipping the doors on cold nights was a chilly business. Tarptent sells a partial-solid inner for hikers who want more draft protection. It has solid fabric over about two-thirds of the wall height and a solid roof. An owner who weighed both inners with the fly found the partial-solid version about 34 g heavier.

Space. Livability is good for a sub-pound-and-a-half solo shelter. A 6’2” reviewer on Trailspace could sit up in the middle on a 2.5-inch inflatable pad without touching the roof. The floor is long enough for tall sleepers and wide enough for most standard pads, though it’s a snug fit rather than a roomy one.

Pitch caveats. Most of the complaints are about the Notch fly, not the inner, but they affect how well the pair works together. The fly sits well above the ground. One owner reported rain blowing under it, and another said rain bounced off the ground and splashed onto the mesh unless the fly was lowered carefully. Because the inner is mesh, any wind or spray that gets under the fly reaches the sleeper. Silnylon flies also sag when wet, and owners tighten them by lengthening their trekking poles from inside.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 292 g for a full bathtub-floored nest
• Fits both the Notch and Notch Li fly
• Can be pitched alone for open-air nights with bug protection
• Strong ventilation and a solid bug barrier
• Interchangeable with the partial-solid inner
• $99 is modest compared with Dyneema inner options

Cons

• Blocks little wind, sand or spray
• Chilly on cold nights compared with the partial-solid inner
• Depends on a well-pitched fly, since the Notch fly rides high
• A lighter Notch Li inner with a Dyneema floor exists (252 g, $129)

Who Should Buy This

This is for Notch owners who hike mostly from late spring through early fall and want the lightest, best-ventilated inner. It suits hikers in humid forests, bug country and desert, where airflow and a clean floor matter more than warmth. It’s also a sensible second inner for anyone who bought the solid version and wants a summer option. Hikers who regularly camp in cold, windy or sandy conditions should buy the partial-solid inner instead. Those who want the lowest weight and are willing to pay for it should consider the Notch Li’s Dyneema-floored inner.

Verdict

The Notch Mesh Interior does what a summer inner should: it keeps bugs out, keeps airflow high and adds only 292 g. It’s an easy recommendation for warm-season Notch users. Cold-weather hikers should choose the solid version.