which tarp should i get? :)

Depends on if you want floored or floorless? I'd wait til the new MLD solo mid comes out (~10 oz) to compare.

For the south? You'll want to closest thing to a tarp that you can get, since it'll get wet from the humidity. The simpler the tarp, the easier to pack up when wet and dry out later. The mesh won't be useful out there though, since there are rarely mosquitos or biting flies. Ticks and other things will still get to you.

The Contrail is more of a single walled tent.

Rarely mosquitoes? I don't know what south you're referring to but it definitely isn't the SE US. It's mosquito city down here at least 6 months a year. We still have some persistent ones hanging around right now. You'll definitely want some type of bug protection here during all but Winter unless you like being bug food.

I lay in my hammock a lot in the backyard and there are still freakin gnats and mosquitos out here. ugh..annoying! now whats the MLD solo mid thing? does it have a bug net or anything like that?

I use a Gossamer Gear SpinnShelter with a oversized Alpinlite Bug Shelter. It weighs 24.16oz with guylies, stakes, stuff sacks, etc. It provides the airy cooling of lots of mesh and true tarp mode, but I can also batten down the hatches with the tarp pitched low and the front and rear doors closed.

why would you get that when you can get lighter pieces of gear? oh and do you still go to UTC? im goin there in the spring

Brett- Brad has created an extremely light double walled shelter with floor and full bug protection. It is also somewhat modular. He can take the 10 oz GG tarp when bugs are not an issue. It is a fantastic set-up.

I decided to go with this set up over a all in one set-up like the Contrail because it gives me the versatility to leave the inner tent at home and pack up the tarp separately from the bug tent. As you know living in this part of the country, it rains a lot in the mountains and condensation can be an issue. If the Spinnshelter is wet, I can pack it up and keep my bug tent dry. It also weighs less than the Contrail.

I have hiked with a Contrail owner and she has had problems with it leaking at the foot end (I think Henry Shires has redesigned it since then, but on hers, it does look like a poor design) and problems getting a taut pitch (I think that part at least is user error). I have also hiked with a Lunar Solo owner that had some major condensation, but otherwise looked storm worthy.

I don't know much about the Wild Oasis but you have to add 4.5oz for the tyvek groundsheet (you could use something lighter I guess) and 2 ounces for stakes. Still an impressive 19.5 ounces, but not as light as the GG One and others. Is there any reason you prefer the Wild Oasis over the Gratewood Cape? They seem to be similar, and although I haven't used a poncho, it seems like it would work well here in the summer at least.

I graduated from UTC in 2002, but still live in the area and go to most of the football and basketball games. If you want to hike sometime send me a PM, as there dont seem to be tons of other hikers in the area, mostly rock climbers and kayakers.

Mocs knows how to do it! If you get a Contrail, you are pretty much stuck inside it, unless you brave the bugs and sleep with no shelter at all. With a bivy (or bug shelter) and a tarp, you get versatility. I'll gladly carry the extra 8 oz or whatever it is so I can fall asleep gazing at the stars. But to some, going lighter is more important and that's fine too.

I mainly hiked in the 3000 to 6000 range along the TN/NC border and I never saw mosquitos. I guess it depends on where you hike. I did value my bug bivy to keep the centipedes, spiders, and ticks away though.

Contrail over Wild Oasis for my 2 cents. That said, I own a Contrail but rarely use it now. I love that tent. But, I've converted to using a true tarp and bring a bivy sack when bugs or weather are issues (most of the time they are). The set up I use is a 7×9 caternary cut silnylon tarp and bivy. Total weight is maybe a few ounces less than the Contrail since everything is made from 'heavy' silnylon.

Why bother with a tarp? I like the aesthetics of tarping. I could claim I get better views but the Contrail is practically as good- you can always lay it flat like a giant bug bivy and see the stars if its not raining.

I'd say get the Contrail if you want a more tent-like experience, or get traditional solo tarp and bug bivy if you want a more 'authentic' roughing-it experience.

ok good talk so far and i understand my you, Mocs, chose that set up over the contrail.

I wantED the wild oasis because it seems light even with the bug "skirt". im entering college so im pretty poor right now so I only have like 240 bucks to get some new UL gear.

Anyways, I just returned my REI quarter dome t1 tent because it was heavy and extremely cramped and now im entering the world of ultralight.

I REALLY like the spinntwinn but with spending that amount of money I won't have enough left over to buy a granite gear Virga pack like i want.

I also like the idea of getting a Golite poncho tarp and then getting a Ti goat bivy thingy.

MOCS, I am so down for backpacking. I got in a super duper bad accident on my road bike while on a training ride near knoxville. I got slammed by a car and made front page of the paper. So im not at school right now but I will be ready to do 20 miles a day when I go back to school!

I want ultralight gear, tell me what i should get, ya'll

Best thing to do when you're on a budget is watch this forum, and be patient. Seems like whatever i need always pops up, and at a good price.

What Joe said is true, just watch the Gear Swap and be quick, hot items go fast as hell. And I hope you recover/ed well from you accident, sounds serious.