I call it….The Draft Dodger

Now that is an artful looking dodger.

Nice idea, Travis. I like it. Wonder who I can get to make me one in cuben….. ;-)

Right on Travis, thanks for posting this.
This is exactly what I want to pair with my Solomid for heavy rain. Bivy would be overkill, this looks just right. Like the pillow pocket idea too.

I have a few yards of sil sitting around…this might be the weekend project.

This is awesome Travis!

I think you did a great job, to heck w/crooked … I mean character infused… seams!

I like it. I might have to sew one up myself – unless you patented it already..

Travis, this looks great! Ive been dreaming about having Joe at zpacks make me one of these out of that 1oz cuben for quite a while! I really like that footbox, I was having trouble figuring exactly how I would do that.

Might have to whip one of these up with whatever i've got laying around!

A bug bivy based on this design is something else ive been thinking about for the hot summer months.

It looks good Travis, if you are a settled sleeper.
I'm a restless sleeper, so would probably end up underneath it. :)

"A bug bivy based on this design is something else ive been thinking about for the hot summer months."

TiGoat already makes such a thing – a 'regular' bivy with an all mesh top. Works great.

Travis that is a cool idea, I really think it is creative.

Not trying to burst your bubble, more trying to understand as I am new to backpacking much less ultralight backpacking but this seems like deep bathtub floor. When you put a tarp over top of it, the only difference I see between this and say a TT Contrail is a couple of inches of bug netting around the perimeter connecting the tarp and the bathtub floor. Why mess with a tarp and a draft dodger? (love the name)

What does your tarp setup weight with the guy lines, stakes, etc? Curious.

This is something I really want to make! I love it. I'm curious though. Does anyone think that the tall perimeter of silnylon will create some or any condensation? I know it can breathe from the top but doesn't body heat also escape from the sides?

It looks like you can still do some trimming where you formed the footbox to drop a few grams :)

Oware also has a full bug net topped bivy, the Hot Weather Solo Bivy.

Don't know about Travis' explanation, but here's my take (as a former Contrail owner).

I'd like something like what Travis has made to pair with my MLD Solomid.
The Solomid, seam sealed, comes in at 14 ounces. If I can sew a "draft dodger" for 4 ounces, I'm now at 18 ounces. I carry trekking poles for both, so that's equal weight. Solomid, "draft dodger", and stakes would come in at 20 ounces. My Contrail came in at ~32 ounces, seam sealed, with stakes.

The Solomid is a full coverage shelter capable of handling nastier weather (even snow loads) than a Contrail. And it packs smaller. And the entire setup saves almost a pound. Bugs? If they're an issue, I can cope, I use a .5 ounce headnet.

In addition, I always found the Contrail pretty finicky in the setup. Never cared for the rear struts and guyline tension issues….tricky to setup on uneven ground sometimes. I also had issues with water pooling on the fly over the foot of the Contrail at times.

The Solomid goes up really fast and easy, has a nice small footprint, and is rock-solid. It's also possible to re-tension from inside.

I have a Contrail on the way to me now, website says it is 24.5 oz with stakes and stuff sack so I will be disappointed if it comes in at 32 oz.

I see your point on the snow load, setup etc. What if you just put a bathtub flood in a solomid and connected the top of the bath tub floor to the inside walls of the solomid a couple inches from the bottom with mesh? I've always thought MLD should offer this as an option.

I just don't see the point in having all the different components, fuss of setting up the different pieces. If a current Contrail is 24.5 oz with stakes you are at 21.25 oz for solomid, draft dodger, stakes, headnet and you have no bug protection on hands, feet, arms and such until you are inside you bag/quilt. Also you are strapped into a draft dodger (great name, in one thread it's already becoming common nomenclature).

I might be wrong on the weight, it was a long time ago.
But I seem to remember t being about 30-32 ounces with everything.
Maybe that was also including one easton pole….

Anyhow, I'm happier with the Solomid for what I do.

The Contrail is a smart little tent though.

Ty Ty – my Contrail came in at 24.5oz on the nose with 4 easton pegs and no seam sealing.

Regarding snow loading. If you use the middle end strut or alternatively use your trekking pole for this service, it should do just fine in shoulder season snow.

Regarding the Mid designs. They aren't perfect either. As snow accumulates, the ends bow in significantly reducing usable length. At least this was my experience.

I don't have to worry about snow much, I am in Georgia. I do plan to use the 3rd end pole every time.

I know the contrail is not perfect and not for everybody. I just don't see how a tarp and a bathtub ground sheet is anything different than a contrail. Maybe you prefer a different shape/design of tarp but I dont think you get much weight savings with a tarp, ground sheet, bug head net. If you are talking the same size tarp or roof of your tent then literally the only difference is the little band of bug netting joining the two…hence the 2-3 ounce of weight savings, all you are saving is the little bit of bug netting.

"Some of my hems look like I did this drunk."

Why didn't you? I thought all MYOG projects required an ice cold malty beverage to smooth out the appearance of mistakes.

Good project though. I may have to make one with netting on the top like the Suluk 46 bug bivy to go with my MYOG Duomid.

What an awesome idea. I like it for the potential of eliminating a groundcloth, using this under my tarps to keep my bag dry should water be running underneath. Do you have plans for how you put it all together? I'm not concerned about the pillow pocket so much, but the other aspects of it are perfect.

Awesome project! I may imitate something like this once I finish my tarp. It has me thinking, would it be possible to make a detachable top to something like this to turn it into a true bivy if weather dictates? It seems like it could have a nice modularity to it. Or would that even be necessary?

Seriously, love the innovation.

@Ty Ty, Travis lives in Wisconsin. I would imagine that his snow issues would make the Contrail a less useful shelter, limiting it to a smaller portion of the year.

William- Thanks!

Doug- You don't have cuben bed sheets, do you? :)

Craig- It wasn't too hard to design and I'm sure you can figure something out, but I can post dimensions if you want.

Todd- "Character infused seams." Love it!

Ben- No patent. I'll put the pattern up when I get around to it.

Ty Ty- This will mostly be used in winter and shoulder seasons where bugs won't be a problem, so a netted shelter isn't a concern for me. I use a mesh inner and tarp or a Double Rainbow in buggy conditions. I either use an MLD Trailstar or HMG Echo I tarp. I have full bug inners for both of those, but my groundsheet will be used when bugs are gone.

D Johnson- I am also curious to see if the tall walls will have a big effect on condensation. Time to test it!

Brad- Thanks, yeah, I could cut off that extra fabric where the seams were made. Could save 3 grams!! :)

Ty Ty (second post)- "I just don't see the point in having all the different components, fuss of setting up the different pieces." The nice thing about this is that you just throw it down like a ground sheet. No fuss! I only plan on pulling up the walls if necessary.

David- I should have had some beer DURING the process, not just after. I'll get nice and buzzed when I make my wife's. :D

Gregory- Thanks, and yes, I can put the plans up.

Clayton- Yes I think you could add a top for modularity, but since I always sleep under a tarp I don't think its too necessary. However, I thought about making a mesh top for it for bug season….

RE: Contrail- I really still like that shelter and had I the slightest need, I'd get one. It would serve a different purpose than a groundsheet and tarp though.

1. This takes 3 yards of fabric. All measurements include a 1" seam/hem allowance because I ended up double rolling my hems.
2. For the pillow pocket, I finished all edges then folded it up on itself so the pocket is 8" long at each seam. Since the groundsheet is tapered, it creates more of a pocket when you sew this together.
3. for the foot box, I matched up the corners and measured in 3.5", then sewed at a diagonal down to where the bottom corner was. Note that some edges weren't finished because they didn't need to be. This is "inside out" to clarify.

The best things are indeed simple. Thanks for putting the plans up. You should market this idea!

I would end up with a lot of condensation on the sides and on the footbox using your draft dodger. The silnylon touches quite a bit of your sleeping bag.

Heck, I even get some condensation touching the no seeum stuff.

That is indeed an issue Im afraid of, but most of the time the walls will be down. Only when it gets windy or sloppy enough will there be a need to have the sides tight around the bag. I have thought of making the sides out of a very breathable material to minimize any condensation, which I may do if it proves to be an issue.

When I'm able to do some testing I'll be sure to report my experiences here.