Tarptent questions

I sent my Contrail back. Nice and light but I hated the front entry. I exchanged it for a Double Rainbow, which weighs a lot more but I can use with my son (awesome 2 vestibule and doorways). I am looking at either the Moment or the Sublite for solo. I currently use a Tarp/bivy combo.

For Arizona the Tyvek Sublite would help with the sun and we don't have sustained hard rain hours on end (at least not before this year!)

But I like the vestibule on the Moment, and the ease of set-up. If you want room, the Rainbow is the ticket, a palace with high headroom and can fit another person in a pinch, for 34 oz with the stakes.

I like my Contrail. I've used it for two seasons now, and it has provided good protection and relatively easy setup for me. I made some elastic line tighteners last year that I used on the rear tieouts, and that really helped hold a taut pitch all night long (and minimized any flapping if a breeze kicked up). I hike with only one trekking pole, so the Contrail was perfect. If I used two trekking poles I would probably consider the Sublite, primarily because a side entry is really nice to have.

My Contrail is great for how I use it. Enough room for me and my minimal kit; mosquito free zone, and fine in the rain and some wind. Most of the time it's in my pack being carried, so it's a great shelter for 1.5 lbs to be sure. The front entrance is fine with me, since I usually go into it at dusk and come out in the morning. It's plenty of room even for a tall person. It takes a little practice getting the best pitch, but no big deal.

I wanted to add some info. I am 6'1" so the interior length is vital and I sometimes use a 25" wide by 75" long pad so that would be nice if it fit well. Almost all of my trips are one night in length since there are not many trails around East Texas longer than 25 miles. I think the contrail is still the best for me, I was just worried that it was going by the wayside. My present tent is a Eureka spitfire and I do love it but it is close to 4 pounds. I also don't like how it tapers in at the head and foot area and makes the tent feel cramped. Does the moment and sublite feel that way inside?

I think the Contrail is very spacious, and having the peak above your head makes it feel exceptionally roomy. I'm 6-2 and I have plenty of stretch out space in mine.

The Contrail will probably be long enough for you but you might have some difficulty sitting up straight. I know I did and I'm only 5'3".

Although I am a bug TT fan, you should also take a look at the Lightheart solo. A poster here said it has room for the really big mats, weighs 26 oz and has much better venting options, which may be important in texas

Light heart Solo

A Forum Thread on lightheart

5'3" and difficulty sitting up? I am 6'1" and had no problem.

I'm 6'1" and I wouldn't trade my Contrail for anything (except maybe a hammock on rocky ground). I sit up just fine (in the front, naturally!), and never missed a side entrance. In fact, I used a side entrance MSR Hubba HP last fall in Patagonia, and the whole time I was wishing for my Contrail. It's definitely one of my favorite pieces of gear. I don't use elastics, but I do put a stick behind the rear middle to give it a ridgeline, and I've never had problems. (Don't worry guys, I use a dead stick of the ground).

The best shelter is the one that works for you…
The fastest/easiest to set up I would think is the Moment. The largest (usable floor space) is the Rainbow (good enough for a couple in the 2010 version)
The Contrail is lighter and smaller (packed size) than the other two. Excellent space to weight ratio.
Again the reason you see very conflicting reports on this one it is simply personal choice and experience in setting it up .
Typically people that find setting up tents a bit of a challenge, will not do well with a Contrail
Here is one "feature" that makes the difference for some. Packed size.

From left to right : Contrail,Sublite,Moment and Rainbow.

Franco

Thank you, Franco – that picture is very helpful.

I have a question that might seem silly to the more experienced – on the tents (like the sublite) that require two poles, can one use one trekking pole and one dedicated pole from the manufacturer?

Or do you have to use two matching poles?

Ben
Very good question in fact…
With the first version version you could have used the Easton poles . Never considered that myself but I suppose one trekking pole and one Easton would have worked.
The 2010 Sublite Sil has a wider base so it requires longer poles (135cm /53") For this the Easton poles are not recommended by TT.
My picture of the packed Contrail is the standard 'use your pole" version. With the Easton front pole it would look like the Sublite next to it.
Franco

The thread is ancient, but I haven't visited in a long while. Only chiming in because at 6'6" the Contrail turned out to be the best option for me. It is long enough to keep the bag off the ceiling at my feet which is rare in most tents, much less at 25oz. Yes, when pitched for weather I can't sit up straight and changing from wet to dry is a challenge, but that is 10% of the time, on calm nights I pitch it high which raises the roof, lets in more breezes, opens up the view and allows me to sit up straight. Concerning taut pitch, yep, it takes a little tweaking, but you wouldn't be reading this post if you didn't like fussing around with your gear.