New Tarptents

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Dave
The Contrail DOES have more room at the foot area than the Virga .
See here http://www.tarptent.com/contrail_compare.html
OK, I'll save you the trouble of looking there…..

Yep, nostalgia is not as good as it used to be
Franco

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You are correct about the Squall, I was comparing it with the Virga. The drawing I posted has a Virga inside the Contrail, you can see there that the apex of the Virga arch pole is at the same height as the back of the Contrail.
Not really sure about the idea of stuffing the tent. The final volume is going to be the same and considering I carry my shelters on the front pocket of my pack, I cannot get a better shape/volume than the original stuff sack. I use those struts to roll the tent with, that makes it a lot easier to pack tight when wet or cold.
I tend to set up my shelter as soon as I arrive at camp, so if it is raining it's better for me not to open the pack to get the shelter out, nor do I like to store a wet tent inside my pack either.
Franco

Franco, I'm new here, and also to the lightweight backpacking world, but am learning fast! I've been doing a lot of research (my girlfriend calls it obsessing), and you seem to be the go-to guy for the Contrail. I know it'd be tight, but could you fit two people in there? I'm 5' 10" 165 lbs. and my girlfriend is 5' 4" 105 lbs, so we're not large people. The specs (especially when the bathtub floor is relaxed a bit) seem bigger than the Mountain Hardware Meridian 2 we're currently using, and thats supposed to be a 2 person tent. We don't mind being cozy, and I know it'd be tight, but I can't get over the 1.5 lb. weight of it! Plus, tarptents seem to be a little more "primitive" and natural versus the mass produced tents from big companies. (I find this a good thing when I'm in the wild anyways) Thanks!

Travis,

Welcome!

I just received a contrail in the mail and am excited to use it. My wife also says that I am obsessed and I say "yeah, so!"

I am 6'4" and she is 5'5" and after I set it up in the living room last night, she said "I think you could easily fit two people in there, I just wouldn't be one of them!" (She is claustrophic, the hogback is more her style and is on my wish list…)

I am planning on taking my 1 yr old out this summer and know that I could easily fit the two of us in there.

It does seem as big as my old 2Person Walrus Rapeede which was definitely a cozy 2P. In fact the contrail is longer, so there is more room for gear at the head or feet.

But, when it comes down to it, I can't speak from experience, so I will defer to Franco and others on that.

Jeremy

Travis
The go to guy for the Contrail is a guy in California called Henry Shires, he is so into Tarptents that makes me look like an amateur, incidentally that would be the correct description.
The Contrail is about as large as some so called double tents, but I would not fill comfortable with someone else, beside a child or a medium size dog. Of course if I were 20, in love and that love interest was wit me, it could be different.
Here are a couple of shots that might give you some ideas. One is the Contrail (original version, the 08 is nicer) next to a Sierra Design 2 person tent ,the next is with two standard size mats inside. You would be brushing against the sides and because of the two bodies you will have more condensation. Typically if there is no wind I will have a wet top almost never the sides, but with two is a bit different. I would suggest the Squall.
Franco

Thanks guys! I did fire off an email to Henry little less than a week ago and hadn't heard anything. I figure he's out doing something fun since I hear he is really good about customer service. One of the main reasons why I like the Contrail is its ability to be pitched low to the ground to fend off wind and rain. Can the Squall do this as well? It looks like the foot can't get as low as the Contrail. Its just hard to tell from pictures sometimes. I realize that with ultralight shelters, there is a little give-and-take with features, and with learning how to properly use them. Since all of Henry's tents would be made with the same quality, I'm looking for the one that is lightest, relatively storm worthy for a 3 season shelter, that can fit two, even if it is just a bit of a squeeze.

Just another thought…and yes, Henry would be the guy to really ask about this….does he do custom jobs? Meaning, if I asked him to make a Contrail 8 inches wider, do you know if he would he do that? I suppose probably not, since then everyone and their mother would be asking for a custom tent….but then…everyone and their mothers would have really nice tents……

>Thanks guys! I did fire off an email to Henry little less than a week ago and hadn't heard anything.

Actually 3 days ago–sorry, missed it. I know of at least 2 couples who use the Contrail but I certainly wouldn't recommend it unless you're both on the small side and the weather is mostly fair. For Sierra use or anywhere else where rain isn't an issue (but bugs are) then it can work, at least in a pinch. The problem in rain is that you'll both end up too close to the driplines toward the rear unless you do lower the edges to the ground.

re: custom work, no, sorry.

-H

Re people and dog space in Tarptents:

I know that the Squall 2 will hold two adults plus dog, because I've done it. The Rainshadow 2 will hold 3 adults plus dog–have done that too. Now these people were all under 6 feet and the dog is mostly Lab. The dog curls up in a ball at the foot of the tent, making a great footwarmer for at least one of the occupants. If all the human occupants are over 6 feet and the dog is a Great Dane, there will undoubtedly be problems! Unlike my adventures with the SMD Lunar Solo, I have had no condensation issues with the Squall 2 or Rainshadow at human capacity plus dog. I believe that's because these tents are better ventilated. Of course the Squall 2 is palatial for one person plus dog! That's what I used last fall after selling the Lunar Solo (I've had the Squall 2 for several years–it was my first lightweight tent). As mentioned before, I do plan to get a Gossamer Gear Squall Classic when they come back on the market. Unless, of course, Henry comes out with a 2-person Sublite Sil at a comparable weight before then….

Thanks for your input Henry. I can certainly appreciate not being able to do custom jobs…but I figured I'd ask! Well, since my girlfriend is being bullish about me getting another tent (and mostly because she likes the "bombproof" style) I'll settle on getting the Contrail for my solo adventures….when I can put together the money! I am excited to use your tents, even if it means waiting awhile. (student loans can put a damper on recreation funds….) boo to that.

Henry,
You're right…..3 days….time goes slow sometimes! It seemed longer I guess.

My wife and I are looking for a quality, roomy (preferably 40 sq ft and above) lightweight 3 season tarp tent with full bug protection for use mostly in the Sierras but also occasionally in the Northeast and other locations. We’re eyeing a Tarptent Rainshadow 2 from Henry Shires. http://www.tarptent.com/rainshadow2.html

Can anyone comment on how it holds up in wind and rain?

We’ll have 4 hiking poles to deploy (Leki Super Makalu PA Ti Air Ergo – not the lightest but very durable), but because of the cork handle positive angle grips, not sure how this will work for supporting the tent. Anyone know if the 3 section poles be long enough and if the angled grips will work?

Can anyone comment on the Rainshadow 2 versus the Double Rainbow in windy rainy weather?

Any other 2-3 person tarp tents or ultralight tents you’d suggest?

Henry, just noticed you posted here – beautiful designs. when are your 4-person and your free-standing models coming out? Is there any info you can share – dimensions, sq ft, height, weight, etc.?

EJ,

We've announced the Hogback for "Spring" so it will definitely be out for summer in the Sierra–my family will be using it in the Sierra as much as possible this summer. Preliminary photos are posted on our site under "What's New." We did announce weight (just over 4 lbs/65 ounces), square footage (51 sq ft, 86" x 86" floor), and peak interior height of 49". It's a substantially larger shelter than the Rainshadow 2 and for three people it would be a palace, let alone using it with two. No trekking poles usage like the Rainshadow 2 but in a big wind you can make use of trekking poles for additional canopy support using extra cording and the embedded canopy pullouts.

-H

Thanks for the quick holler Henry. For the Rainshadow 2, we’ll have 4 hiking poles to deploy (Leki Super Makalu PA Ti Air Ergo – not the lightest but very durable), but because of the cork handle positive angle grips, not sure how this will work for supporting the tent. Will these 3 section poles be long enough and will they still work well with the angled grips?

Which is more stable in windy weather – Rainshadow 2 or the Double Rainbow?

Does the Hogback have an attached floor, full bug protection, etc.?

EJ – while I obviously don't know as much about the tents as Henry, I can offer my opinion having owned the Rainshadow and used the DR…

As long as your poles are 48" long, they should work fine for propping up the Rainshadow (even if the handles are angled). The DR requires poles that are 55" in length if you want to make the tent freestanding (although you can still set it in it's standard config w/o hiking poles).

The DR is going to be slightly more wind resistant because of the center ridge pole, but the Rainshadow has withstood some pretty heavy weather (you would want to pitch the Rainshadow "feet first" into the wind).

Based on the pics (never having seen one in person), the Hogback looks like a huge Scarp (w/o the crossing corner poles). As such, is has an attached floor and the inner tent body is bug proof.

If I got any of this wrong, someone will (should) correct me…

Thanks Dennis. Great avatar pic by the way – always good to train 'em young! According to web, our Leki poles reach 135 centimeters = 53.15 inches. I'm assuming they wouldn't cut it with the DR without us fashioning a little extender.

EJ,

Henry thinks of everything. Check this out…

http://www.tarptent.com/cgi-bin/surfshop/shop.cgi?ud=AgIOCQQAAAcFCRQUHRwTFwAGAwkACQgJBgISEQAA&t=main.htm&storeid=1&sortby=categories,itemid&cols=3&c=detail.htm&itemid=102&bcount=1

It adds 4" to your Leki poles.

Yes it seems that Henry does. I'm impressed. Henry or anyone have specs on the Scarp 2? Pic is on the site, but the specs aren't on the product listing page. I'm wondering if the size is similar to the Rainshadow 2.

How does the Scarp 2 compare with the Rainshadow 2 for performance in wind and rain as well as ventilation?

How well do the two ventilate in summer with 2 people inside?

Scarp 2 specs can be gleaned from these two pages.

http://www.tarptent.com/new.html
http://www.tarptent.com/scarp2.html

Smaller and higher performing than the Rainshadow 2.

-H

Thanks Henry. Interesting to note that the Scarp 2 interior space not including vestibules is similar to the interior space of our Hilleberg Allak 4 season tent (91 in. L by 51 in. wide = 36 sq ft + two 9.7 ft vestibules) except a bit shorter in length – at half the weight of the Allak. Nice.

About how much storage space is there between the mesh and the outside fly on the Scarp 2, Hogback and Rainshadow 2?

Also, when will the first Scarp 2 and Hogbacks be available?

Thanks again for the great info. I often used a bivvy in the military, but my wife's a tent person, and both of us will appreciate a quality bug-proof tarp tent with good ventilation.

Anyone out there use a Scarp 1 in summer? How was ventilation?

Henry, also wanted to ask, will the Hogback have a crossed poles option for extra stability, like the Scarp 1 and 2? If so, what will the weight be for Hogback fly + mesh interior + stakes + poles?

Will you have a solid fabric interior option for the Hogback for winter use?

EJ,

I'll try to answer your questions via your email but short answer re: Hogback solid interior is "no plans."

-H