Tarptent Prototype

[dancier]

Whats the news on this prototype, it's like the contrail but with a moment A-frame end, is it a new tent or is it an updated contrail. Looks good though.

http://www.thehikinglife.com/journal/20 ... prototype/

[Strider]

Looks like a scaled down Cloudburst to me. Nothing like the Moment and definitely no pitch-lock end.

[Franco]

Dancier has the right impression...

Bit of a funny story behind the reason why Swami (Cam Honan) is testing that HS made prototype.
Henry some time ago attended one of Swami's talks and was very impressed with him (he already knew who Cam was)
So Informed Henry that in fact Swamy had used TT shelters in the past and should have made himself known to him.
Anyway I got Swami to get in touch with HS and eventually after Henry had already tested his ProTrail he gave it to Swami to have a play with it.

Here is a photo from Swami :


BTW, not all that far from one of my Contrail mods :

[Ellobuddha]

Looks like a good little shelter. Will be keen to see end result. Any idea of when Franco?

[Franco]

Several months away, most likely Spring 2015.
We have to get the Double Moment up to speed first.
The ProTrail is in fact a by-product of the Double Moment development.

[Strider]

Am I missing something? I can't see a single Moment like element in the above shelter.

[Franco]

Well I can't see a single Cloudburst similarity either...

The end of the ProTrail is very similar to the one on the Double Moment

[Moondog55]

I have been eyeing off the Contrail for a few months now as a day touring storm shelter but been put off by its seeming fragility and the lack of valances

[Strider]

Woops I was thinking of the Rainshadow 2.

Hadn't seen the Double Moment yet. Was thinking of the Moment DW!

[Franco]

Moondog,
its a 700g fully enclosed tarp tent, not an expedition shelter...

[Moondog55]

Yes I know Franco, but I am intrigued by the low weight [ after all it's lighter than my Goretex bivvysack] and this type of shelter erects using crossed skis.
Something like the Contrail but perhaps a little more tapered and with valances
I had a tent very similar when I was a Scout, green japara of course and so small I had to go outside to turn over but the same basic shape has been around forever. Tail to the wind the design can handle quite harsh weather and I imagine if UL Argon fabric was used to replace the mesh quite a bit warmer, keeping the weight similar by making a touch smaller

[Strider]

What about a Brooks Range Propel, MD?

[Moondog55]

I've read the reviews and I'm put off my the cost as well as the short length
Limited budget and all that, I emailed TT and was advised to perhaps use the original TT plans available online and play around

[Bubbalouie]

Quick bump here: http://www.thehikinglife.com/journal/20 ... il-review/

I really like the look of this tent and for me the season is over until April anyway (torn tendons) so I suppose it shouldn't matter. But, does anyone know if this is still scheduled to come out in Q1 2015?

Also have any local hikers had a chance to play with one of these?

[icefest]

It would be incredibly awesome in cuben.

How does the foot end close?

[Franco]

Icefest,
there is a cover that closes over that end vent from the inside.

Should be in production pretty soon.

[Bubbalouie]

Should be in production pretty soon.

Fantastic. I've been hesitating on the Contrail due to the foot end & this seems much better.

It would be incredibly awesome in cuben.

Agreed, there is something that's at least close though (though production is on hold): http://www.yamamountaingear.com/cirriform-sw-1p/

There is a 130g weight saving (on the Contrail), but it seems a little less roomy. I don't know prices but even if it was just 2x the cost of a Contrail it'd be hard to justify the price given the weight savings, it'd really be because a cuben repair kit weighs less & is easier to use than a silnylon kit & well, cuben has some weird supernatural appeal.

[Franco]

Here is a photo of Swami's Pro Trail in action :

you can see there the rear vent almost fully closed.
I do have better close ups but from other prototypes so a bit different to the production version .

[Bubbalouie]

@Franco: In the production version will the foot end use a single peg with a string pyramid like the Moment or is it some other arrangement?

[Franco]

The Pro Trail will not use the std Pitch Lock corner (a TT patent) because it will have the option of using built in struts (1 peg possible) or use your trekking pole (2 or 3 pegs)
The "use your pole option" does not save much weight at all because of the extra peg or two but allows the shelter to be stuffed (rather than folded and rolled) so easier to store for some.

[Bubbalouie]

The Pro Trail will not use the std Pitch Lock corner (a TT patent) because it will have the option of using built in struts (1 peg possible) or use your trekking pole (2 or 3 pegs)
The "use your pole option" does not save much weight at all because of the extra peg or two but allows the shelter to be stuffed (rather than folded and rolled) so easier to store for some.

That's ingenious, unless it doesn't fit people that are 6'4" I'm 100% sold (given the Contrail is used by some taller people I'd be shocked if it didn't fit).

I agree on the strut thing, extra pegs can be quite heavy (well, relatively speaking) if you hike in areas with hard ground.

[stry]

Franco, any idea when these will be available ??

I never liked the design of the foot end of the ConTrail, but the ProTrail looks to be a significant improvement.

[Franco]

Hi Stry,
A few (out of a trial run) were shipped out yesterday.
The factory has a production run on right now.
Stock should be in at TT Nevada City very soon.
( I think the panels were already pre cut )

BTW, the end of the Contrail ( I mean the rear of, not the demise) was boxy but it was good.

[stry]

Thanks Franco. You obviously have an advantage The Contrail looked a bit dinky and restrictive at that end, but apparently not so.

Either way the ProTrail end treatment, particularly as regards ventilation seems better. Should be a big help in avoiding or at least reducing condensation. My wallet is twitching

[sunnyape]

I just checked the Tarptent site and it seems the ProTrail has been released and the Contrail discontinued.

I've had a Contrail for about 4 years and love it, but I can see that the ProTrail brings a number of small improvements: a little more foot space, a little more height down the length, better rain roll off and better ventilation. Also, there is a new guyline attachement at the apex of the front pole, which is a nice improvement. The only downside I can see is the rear flaps which split vertically and only be closed from the outside, unlike the single Contrail rear flap which can roll down from the inside. If you pitched the ProTrail with the rear flaps open and it started raining, you'd have to go ouside into the rain to close the flaps.

Good to seen Henry is making small improvements all the time.

[Franco]

Hi Sunnyape
the last couple versions of the Contrail have had an apex guyout point (under the vent) next to the grommet that holds the pole tip.
(maybe yours does too)
The rear rain/wind flap closes from the inside so no need to go outside for it.
In fact if you did go outside you would then have to go back in to do it...

[aden94]

Do we know if the main door system is velcro or zipped ? (not a big fan of velcro to close the door in a hurry)

[Franco]

The inner door is a zip, the fly door is Velcro, same as in the Contrail.

[aden94]

The inner door is a zip, the fly door is Velcro, same as in the Contrail.

Thanks Franco. Do you know why velcro is preferred over a zip? Is it just to reduce the weight of the tent, or are there other advantages?

[sunnyape]

Hi Sunnyape
the last couple versions of the Contrail have had an apex guyout point (under the vent) next to the grommet that holds the pole tip. (maybe yours does too)
The rear rain/wind flap closes from the inside so no need to go outside for it. In fact if you did go outside you would then have to go back in to do it...

Oooh, I never noticed the apex guyline under the vent.... probably because I never used it.

In all the photos of the ProTrail, the rear flaps look external and roll up under the edge:

Tarptent ProTrail rear flaps

Capture.JPG (86.75 KiB) Viewed 18224 times

How do you close these flaps from the inside unless the rear mesh is zippered or openable?