My tent choice…hopefully done for a while (TT Contrail)

Tyler you're funny. I love that you have the ability to buy all this stuff and try it out.

I think you're going to like the roominess of the Contrail. I have one and it's never felt cramped. The only thing I'm not a fan of is the door on the end instead of the side, but everything is a compromise.

You are right, everything is a compromise especially when weight is concerned.

A big part of my problem is too little time to go backpacking and plenty of time to play with gear spreadsheets and think about gear purchases. Oh well it is fun to read, research, discuss these things. It's been a lot of fun playing with all the TT models I ordered. I have considered basically every light tent out there and I always come back to the TT designs. There really is something for everyone.

The other designs that have tempted me are the Hexamid's from Zpacks and Bearpaw, the MLD Mids, and Lightheart offerings but I always seem to come back to TT.

Ty,
Back when I first discovered the world of UL, I was immediately drawn to the Contrail. After much thinking, I ended up getting a Squall II for the wife and I, then a Double Rainbow. To this day, I would still like to have a Contrail, but since I have the DR (sold the Squall), a Trailstar, and an HMG Echo I, I really can't justify another shelter. But there's just something about the Contrail…

I think that you need to actually get out with the tents. It is the only way to find out what truly works for you. The backyard stuff is fun but who knows, you may actually be wanting a Notch in the end….; )

I hear ya Travis… I really like the Contrail. I wanted one but always settled on something else. Now I have a ZPacks Hexamid Solo Plus that I am really happy with. But something about the Contrail…one day I will pick one up…

TY Ty, what was it exactly about the Notch that you didn't like?

David brings up a good point. Backyard testing of any gear is good, but only goes so far. Using stuff out on the trail is much different, even if ambient conditions are identical. I dunno…its just not the same.

I would love to try out the Notch.

I have a Contrail that I'd swap somebody – ?

I used my Contrail a handful of times this last summer and it's a great shelter. My my issue is with how broad the foot side is. Tends to catch wind and sag under precip. I've also waffled with just selling the Contrail and making the leap into a tarp. Contrail ended up being a little heavier than I expected. I either want something UL or something bomber for a basecamp – the Contrail seems to fall somewhere in between.

So if the OP or anybody else wants to play musical tarptents (or Crickets, tarps, etc), let me know!

Edit: I'm also curious to hear people's ideas on staking. I've found the Contrail puts tremendous pressure on stakes, I'm using the ones it came with plus some msr needles. Is the trick just really long stakes? I couldn't find rocks heavy enough to do a great job in the desert.

I only have an SS1 and have the Contrail on order (the Moment I returned, Notch I sold) and I am going to hang on to both for a while and get some real world use under my belt with them. I agree backyard testing is not enough.

Chad The Notch is a little narrow in the head shoulders area for my liking. I am a big guy at 6 foot, 260 lbs, size 50 jacket plus I get a little clausterphobic when I feel like my arms are restricted. The Notch was okay lying still but when I had to touch my face, adjust my pillow my arms had to brush against the screen pretty good and that kind of freaked me out, made it feel tight. The netting on the notch narrows as it goes up in the shoulder and foot area, look at the pics and you can see it when you are looking for it. I don't think this would be the same for smaller people and even spoke to a guy on Whiteblaze that was my size and he didn't mind one bit. Like I said I get clausterphobic from certain things.

The Moment was better in that regard, felt like more space because there is no netting to narrow but ultimately I felt like with me in there on my Exped mat with a big quilt it would be hard for me to keep my quilt from touching the underside of the fly that might be wet from condensation.

Te SS1 is great in All regards, plenty of space, the walls are verticacal all the way to the ceiling so you get the full 32" side to side which is plenty even for a big guy, it's a true palace of light tents.

From what I see and know about the Contrail it's going to be the biggest of all at the head it is 42" at the floor and opens up on the sides as the fly is even further out then that so the effective shoulder area is going to open up from the 42" floor to something like 70-72" in that area, plus you have the 45" height in front of your face (good for feeling roomy, makes you scoot to sit up). The foot area does not concern me much but you get 30" at the floor on the Contrail and again, opens up after that. I have read where people say the foot area can sag, I plan to pitch it with the third rear strut which I have read fixes that issue by putting a vertical crease or peak in the fabric (Franco is a big believer in this).

(Edited, was typing on an ipad last night and came out poorly).

I'll tell you what the attraction to the Contrail is, it's that it is tarp and a ground cloth, connected with some mesh. I think it speaks to our reasons for being attracted to light weight backpacking in the first place.

Let's add up the weight of a typical sil tarp setup…

tarp – 15 oz (middle of the pack)
groundcloth – 2 oz (polycro)
stakes – 4 oz (8 @ 1/2 oz ea)
guy lines – 1 oz
bug protection – 1 oz (headnet)
seam sealing – 1 oz
TOTAL 24 oz

TT Contrail – 24.5 oz (includes stakes)
3rd rear strut, guyline, extra stake – 1 oz
seam sealing – 1 oz
TOTAL 26.5 oz

So in this scenario 2.5 measly ounces saved and you have to wear a headnet, no body bug protection. If you go much smaller, lighter on the tarp you end up needing a bivy then you are in a tiny bivy which is no fun. If you go bigger on the tarp for more luxury you end up at the same or more weight. I just don't see the point.

Of course if you go cuben on the tarp you can get the weight down, cost up. Kind of apples to oranges.

(Edited for clarity, was typing on an ipad last night, hate ipads).

Tyler H
This is how you keep the end up on a Contrail under heavy rain or a sprinkling of snow…

That particular strut you can get from TT (under Extras, $5) or you can make your own (I did) , use a trekking pole or a stick.
I have shot several videos on the Contrail (set up/tips) at YouTube under francodarioli.

Franco

Franco,

Have seen most of your videos on the tube, good stuff and thank you for that.

I have tried this approach (using a single segment of the accessory center pole), and admittedly my worst night in the Contrail was without it.