Mountain Laurel Designs TrailStar Shelter Review

[Jeremy G]

Have any of you TS users considered using a removable beak on the shelter similar to the HMG Echo I. In fact looking at the dimensions, it looks like it would fit perfectly. It would probably be pretty finicky to get all the angles right, but might make it more snow worthy and would provide more coverage.

[Martin Rye]

You don't need more coverage. Sleep side ways to the door way back and keep the entrance low. No bad weather will get you back there. Thats the reason this shelter is so good. You want views from this shelter as you wake up.

[Randy Martin]

I switched last year to the GoLite Poncho Tarp. That was my first move into Tarp camping. I was generally pleased but had a chance to experience the scenario of hiking in the rain and then having to make camp in the rain. I survived but got a little wet while making camp and it made me think about a bigger tarp.

I really am seeing the TS as a do it all shelter for one person. I still might just take the poncho for those 1/2 night trips where weather is perfect, but in the high country of Colorado there are very few days in the summer where you can truly say there is no chance of storms. Unfortunately it means adding 17oz to my base weight because I would still take the poncho (7 oz) as my rain gear.

Decisions…

[James Marco]

A really excelent review and follow up!

"Its 17-ounce (482-g) weight precludes its use as a solo shelter for hikers that spend more time on virtual hikes than real walks in bad weather, but, I suspect, offers a weather-resistance-to-weight ratio that may best a pyramid tarp and easily clobbers any cottage-made solo tent on the market – nearly all of which fail miserably in high winds, interior space, and under substantial snow loads."

This is a great initial impression. I like my tarp. It weighs almost 17oz as is. So, I do not get worried about about shelter weights around a pound and is good for the wife and I. I worry more about food weight for a week or two.

Thanks, Ryan!

[Jason Elsworth]

I am using 9" nails for the mains points (one member of the band stands on each line) and 6.5" Ti stakes for the other points. So far this has been fine, but I have not had any mayor winds on trips. If I was expecting extreme conditions I would swap the Ti stakes out for Y stakes that came with my Golite SLa 6.

I think it is time for a testing session. Luckily I live in a very windy area (wellington NZ), so it should be easy. I tested the Duomid on a hill near my house and decided to switch to the Trialstar soon after. However, the nine inch nails did hold well.

I look forward to Ryan's UL shelters in the wind report. @Ryan – are those stresses measured or estimated?

Interesting link.

http://www.secretmountain.co.uk/out-and-about/pitching-an-mld-trailstar-in-extremely-windy-conditions/

[Jason Elsworth]

I have a Zpacks cloud kilt, which when folded into a triangle fits the door space, with a low pitch, quite well. Haven't tried it in practice yet as I would need to make few mods to it, but I think it would work. I also use it as ground sheet for getting in an out of the Tstar.

As has already been said I am not sure it is really needed.

[Ryan Jordan]

Those stresses are measured using load cells inline with the guy line.

[Henk Smees]

>Mike, so do you wait until the wind dies down before you p00p?<

@Ryan
Not necessary. I know we’re all different but, in my case, I do my business every morning as soon as I wake up (or at least within the first 5 or 10 minutes after getting up). Since I know I’ll be going, I use my heavy stake [MYOG – like a deadman anchor – double use as potty trowel] in the evening, before staking out my tarp, to dig a cathole. After digging, I use my trowel/stake at the rear corner of my tarp [GoLite Lair 1] that’s pointing into the wind. In the morning my intestines will -normally- urge me to do my duty first; when finished I’ll take the tarp down, retrieve my trowel/stake and fill up the cathole again. Simple as cake.
BTW, whilst my current tarp is a GoLite Lair 1, I hope this will soon be substituted by a MYOG Cuben CT3.5K.18 (own design).

[Stephen M]

Ryan,

I was pitching a TT Scarp 1 in 60mph and the supplied Easton stakes would not hold, I had 2 Blizzard stakes (which i normamly use on the guys) and pegging these on the Windward corners kept it firm.

cheers,

[Jason Elsworth]

Those stresses are measured using load cells inline with the guy line.

That's what I love about BPL.

[Ryan Jordan]

Jason – I posted a sample graph of the type of data we are getting from load cells in another thread:

Tension Forces in a Guyline Measured Using an Inline Load Cell (Graph)

It's cool stuff for us nerds. We'll see if it reveals anything practical.

[Steven McAllister]

@Jason,

How do you get 9" Nails to go on your hikes?
That concept seems pretty unreliable knowing about the drug and alcohol issue bands are known for:-)

[Ryan Jordan]

Nice long nails are my preferred stakes as well. They're heavy though.

Does anyone make an 8+ inch long, 0.25" dia.+ Ti nail?

[Dan @ Durston Gear]

I'm sure Lawson would.

[t.darrah]

From the MLD Facebook site;
"We added a little more info on the TrailStar product page yesterday to help anyone trying to decide between the SilNylon and Cuben versions."

Here is the link to the MLD sites Trailstar page;
http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=102

Scroll down to "Cuben Fiber Vs Pro Silnylon TrailStar". Very descriptive and interesting to read.

*The MLD Trailstar page also includes a link to Eugenes video on pitching the Trailstar. I've enjoyed watching this multiple times.

[Randy Martin]

Thanks for that link Thom. I just read over that. Summarizes it nicely, that is it's pretty much Cost vs Weight which largely what most Cuben vs SilNylon choices are about. If saving 6.5 ounces is worth $165 (the difference in price) then it sounds like the Cuben would be for you.

[Stephan Doyle]

Ryan,

Here's a 9" long CF nail from Ruta Locura (formerly Titanium Goat). Not sure about the diameter… http://www.rutalocura.com/Tent_Stakes.html

[James Moughan]

I didn't find the Trailstar hard to pitch; I followed Stever Horner's pitching guide (http://www.stevenhorner.com/?p=1051) and got a taught pitch easily on the the first attempt. If the ground isn't level then it can be harder to get a good pitch with it right to the ground.

In ~60mph winds I've had success with aluminium Y stakes that appear identical to the MSR Groundhogs. The real issue I had was with the centre pole driving into the ground. Flipping the pole over and using a rubber ferrule to protect the Trailstar should fix that.

[Travis Leanna]

>The real issue I had was with the centre pole driving into the ground. Flipping the pole over and using a rubber ferrule to protect the Trailstar should fix that.

As long as your pole is long enough and adjustable, let it sink into the ground and just lengthen it. Or you could find a flat rock or piece of wood to put underneath.

[Jim Colten]

Travis,

regarding that photo in the porkies … how deep was the frost and what did you use to pound the stakes?

(heading to porkies in 5 weeks … appears there's now enough snow for snowshoes!)

[Travis Leanna]

Jim,
I'm pretty sure the frost was at least as deep as I could pound my stakes. However, in that particular campsite I was under pine trees, so the ground was much softer there. I think I hit a fluffy patch of frozen duff because I was able to push one stake in by hand. The other stakes were just pounded in with a rock. They go in relatively easy provided you don't hit a root or rock. By morning the aluminum will freeze into the ground, so I just lightly tapped the stake *further into* the ground to break that ice bond. I've broken stakes in the winter by hitting them at a sharp angle.

[BlackHatGuy]

"By morning the aluminum will freeze into the ground, so I just lightly tapped the stake *further into* the ground to break that ice bond."

Funny how the stuff that makes the most sense often eludes us. Thanks Travis, I never thought of that! Brilliant in its simplicity and common sense!

[Travis Leanna]

Thanks Doug. However, I must credit Roger C for that. I extruded that little gem out of one of his posts a few years back.

I was actually surprised how relatively easy it is to pound a (very strong) stake into frozen ground, and how easy it is to get it out again!

And apparently, ice does not bond to titanium that well, so extraction is even easier.

[victor marshall]

Love our TrailStar, but I still don't have a foolproof sequence for placing the stakes to pitch it right the first time (a)with a door mid-panel, or (b) with a high beak. I iterate & iterate, but it's never quite taut. I've looked at all the web instructions, so maybe Ryan can solve this math problem

Having a third pole makes for panorama views when wind is not an issue, or when the wind is steady from one direction.

Can't beat this tent – it makes looking at rain fun.

[Sam Haraldson]

I've been spending too much time in cushy igloos and snow caves this winter to care much about stakes and wind. Methinks it's time to go on a fast 'n light trip with tarp and bivy again so I can join in this conversation. That 17 oz comment at the end of the article has had me giggling all through the four pages of commentary, Ryan.

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