Anyone used new Montbell pad?

John, I own both the ProLite 3(570g) and the Montbell 120cm UL pad(575g in 180cm). IMHO they are similar in mechanical comfort. I have not taken either one down to a temperature which would allow comparative evaluation of their thermal comfort. However, Montbell published this IR picture showing heat loss through the waffle holes in the Prolite foam. The M.B. pad has no holes, and has a higher R-value. It rolls smaller than the Prolite, has an attached strap for my pillow (and to hold it closed in the rolled position), and it has toggles to attach my sit pad to the end..
(120cm mat + 30cm sitpad +30cm pillow =180cm).
Now I pack the MB first, the ProLite is in my ‘loaner pile’.

My sleep system is now, from the ground up:
Solid foam:Z-lite regular,
Open foam:MB UL pad system,
Inflatable:MB Compact Mattress L (470g)
(choose one or two of those three as needed)
MB goretex sleeping bag cover L,
MB UL Down Hugger #7L (or #3L)
MB Zelt (240g tent, picture attached if you’ve never seen one)

Would like to hear what you choose, and how it works for you.

I looked at the new pads in the new Boulder MB store. Initial inspection was very impressive! I like the toggle attachments and the ability to get multiple smaller lengths. Use a small length for ul trips and then add more on as needs dictate, such as base camping, etc.

As a side note, the new Boulder store offers quite a selection of the Japanese products not available in any way shape or form, such as the Zelt. I’m sure if anyone called them they might be able to ship some of the odd MB products.

Also, sorry to hijack the thread, how is the Zelt? I am assuming this is Japanese for tarp or some other term? Is it completely enclosed? I saw the Zelt UL in the store, but didn’t have a chance to set it up, so a little more info on this would be greatly appreciated! It’s amazing that this shelter is the size of my fist!

TIA for any info on the pads and shelters!

Aaron, I am pleasantly surprised the zelt is in the Boulder store, because it is not yet on the US website.

The zelt is not a flat tarp, the top 2 sides are sewn into the extruded triangle shape (“trangular shaped tube”?). One end is a triangle, the other is a triangle bifurcated by the entry zipper. It is made of urethane coated ‘rip-stop nylon’. The bottom is formed by two flaps, basically extensions of the two square sides, extending underneath the tent. So, the bottom is not attached to the triangular sides; nor are the two flaps attached to each other. Sorry for the wordy explanation; a picture here would be worth a 1000 words. If you turned the tent upside down, the two flaps would look like two sides of a cardboard box, meeting in the middle.

My plan is to tape the gap where the front and back meet the floor, and the gap in the middle of the floor, to create a solid triangular tent. I have not done this yet because I am researching which type of tape would be best. Any suggestions?

My zelt is new, and I plan on carrying it as my solo shelter, an emergency shelter on day hikes, or on occasions when I want a non-sleeping shelter for daytime use. I am so happy to be able to leave behind my three “old school” tents, a TNF Talus23, REI Quarterdome, and Sierra Lightning, 3,050 to 1,800 grams, in that order.

I have not used a tarp since my Army field exercises; I hate having a river of water running through my sleep area; I like an enclosed and water resistant floor, so I am hopeful I can get it now starting with this 240g tent.
By the way, the zelt has two large vents, one on each side, which I will cover with ‘no see um’ netting which I ordered from REI (I’ll use the legs from their bug pants). Having adequate ventilation is one of my pet peeves, after a terrible sauna experience in my Sierra Designs Lightning, which has no vent. (I’m returning it to REI next time I’m stateside).
Incidently, my new zelt will be combined with my old z-lite regular, Montbell UL inflatable mattress system, a Montbell UL down hugger #7 long or #3 long, and a goretex bivy sack if necessary.
Question: What sleep/shelter system components have the other members found to have the best performance/weight ratio?

Brett, the Zelt looks extremely interesting. I understood your difficult description.

If the two ‘flaps’ that form the floor were about 150mm longer they could be held up inside the ends of the tent by maybe small velcro tabs and that would at least seal the exposed ends of the tent. Comprehendo !?!

Do the flaps overlap each other when they form the floor ?

Can’t wait to find out more !

On a Japanese web site there are 3 versions of the tent with 3 very different prices 37,800 Yen for the Goretex version, and 2 others at 11,500 yen and 9240 yen.

On a Korean web site the measurement for the length of the Zelt was 135cm (!). Hopefully this is wrong, at least 195cm would be good.

Three Versions:

#1. GORE−TEX [raitotsueruto] 37,800 yen
Constitution:Gore tex3 layers/substance:Ballistic airlight(Nylon)　
Ground seat: 30 deniers nylon [ritsupusutotsupu]
Spring green (SPGN)
1 – 2 people
740g
φ10×24cm

#2. Standard [raitotsueruto] 9,240 yen
30 deniers nylon [ritsupusutotsupu] (urethane coating)
Spring green (SPGN)
1 – 2 people
370g
φ8×19cm

#3. U.L. [tsueruto] 11,500 yen
Ballistic airtight(Nylon/urethane coating)
Spring green (SPGN)
1 – 2 people
240g
6×6×12cm

So it looks like the UL is 8.5 ounces. But I am assuming that is without poles?

I had phoned the store earlier this week and the young lady who answered did not know what a Zelt was. I am curious how much this costs? If it was reasonably priced…then it would be worth attempting the no-see-um and tape installation…both which I agree would make the thing more useful.

What, exactly, are those things sticking out of the tent? Does it double as a poncho?

Ian,

The dimesions I found were:

length= 200 cm
width= 80 cm
height= 90 cm

The website I found this info at is here.

I took a peak over at the Japanese version of Montbell’s site and thought this might be of some interest to some. It looks like a new kind of poncho tarp . oooooooh! aaaaaah!

“I had phoned the store earlier this week and the young lady who answered did not know what a Zelt was.”

Dont be surprised if the people at the MontBell store dont know what they are selling. Product knowledge doesnt seem to be too high on their priorities.

Ive yet to go in there and get a knowledgable answer to any question… and I dont think I ask too hard of questions.

Thank you Brett! Seems like another shelter I might have to try on for size!

I agree the employees don’t really have very good product knowledge, but I am pretty sure this is due to most of them being new every year when school starts. Very high employee turnover rates in college towns, especially “hippy” towns such as Boulder!

I didn’t get the price on the Zelt, but I did notice a seperate set of poles that were labeled for the Zelt AND the double tube shelter they had also. Both shelters seem extremely interesting as MB products have some of the lowest weight and highest quality.

If anyone calls the store for info about these, the shelters are all on one rack back by the sleeping bags and “sale” inventory. Very small area and not set up very well for erecting the shelters in store, but who knows once the snow melts!

I would assume it is not a poncho just looks similar.
2 round air vents, hopefully they don’t let in much rain.

At 800mm wide and room for 2 people !?!
Doing what ? To who !?!

The cheaper version at 9000yen is less then US$100 so seems well priced if it does it’s job. Ah, the weight !

Weight + 2 poles and a minimum of 6 pegs I guess.

Anyone got opinions on the materials?

(I’m a goretex junkie but not rich enough for this dose).

Hello Everyone,

The zelt idea is actually not a MontBell invention. It’s been around a very long time (since the 70’s, first in Europe among alpine climbers. “zelt” means “tent” in German) and is used by a lot of mountaineers here in Japan. The reason it is used instead of a tarp is for protection from wind, rain, and cold at high altitudes, and for the very small footprint it takes on the steep slopes in Japan, where flat ground is at a premium. The two tube vents on either end are not for arms in poncho mode, but for being able to access air holes in the snow when the snow piles up. You can cinch them closed when the wind is strong. They are also for when you need an emergency bivouac with a partner, each hole capable of acting as a hood for one occupant. , and two bodies keeping warm together.

One other set up that many people are not aware of, and the reason why the floor can be pulled open, like Brett’s cardboard box description, is in laying the zelt on its side, with one of the roof walls on the ground, such that the bottom becomes the entrance to a low, wind-shedding shelter. In this configuration up to four people can be protected by the zelt, with their feet at the apex of the zelt and their shoulders and heads at the new entrance.

Many experience walkers in Japan prefer to use these shelters for their lightness and versatility, although they pay with a very limited space inside and bowing walls and condensation.

Check out some of the offerings of Japan’s biggest and most respected tent-maker, Arai Tent

Here is their diagram on how to use zelts (or as Arai Tent calls them, “shelters”). Those are tarps on the right, not zelts.

The Zelt would “fit” well into the general category of “Bothy” shelters which are favored by many non-Americans for day trekking in the snow. It’s not a popular category here, but there are a few bothy shelters made by Outdoor Research and Integral Designs.

More here:

Bothy Shelter

Phoned MB in Boulder again. Another nice young lady. She found the Zelt fly and poles, but no shelter. I am really interested in trying this thing out. If now I could only find out how much it costs. Seems like a nice option for a bug/light rain shelter.

Integral Designs makes one of these as well – it’s in their print catalog (not sure where to find it online, though it may well be there).

Hilleberg has something similar (more of a temporary wind and wet shelter for up to three people).