tarptent?

Your other popular option in this vein is Six Moon Design's Lunar Solo: http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/shop/shopexd.asp?id=36. Very similar in concept to the Shires Tarptents.

I own the Contrail and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a lightweight, single person shelter with great versatility. I'm sure others will echo my recommendation. If you don't need the space of the Squall Classic, the Contrail would be my pick.

Yep, the Contrail would be my recommendation. I live in N Pennsylvania and the Contrail w/ floor is very nice for 3-season conditions here. I used one briefly but sold it. I prefer a cat tarp plus either a bivy or a homemade bugnet insert for the lighter weight. The tarp and bivy also gets me through most of the milder winter weather here, which the Contrail would not be so great for (doesn't shed light snow well, and a floorless design allows digging into the snow for more stability). But of the tarptents available the Contrail worked very nicely.

For a single I would also consider the original tarptent, though you have to make it yourself. I made one for about $100 including poles and it weighs in at about 20 ounces. Plus, it is very long. I am 6'1'' and have room in the bottom. My wife and I also share it on occasion and it is plenty big for two (somewhat intimate).

I have also heard good things about the single rainbow. I have a double and love it.

The Contrail should do nicely. I'm 6'1" and 192# and there's a lot of space for me and the gear. Very easy to set up in under 2 minutes after a few practice trys (the more the better). Great ventilation and protection for a TarpTent at 24.5 oz. I love mine, and will use it until the early winter when I'll switch to my Akto.

See if you can find someone that has a Contrail before you buy one. They aren't for everyone. If I do use a tent, which is pretty much never these days, it's a Tarptent… go Henry… but I have a lot of friends that went out and bought the Contrail and were less than happy with it. It's probably the case that practice irons out the process of getting it pitched but I never had to deal with this with my Virga… I am still of the opinion that he never made a tent better than the "Virga classic" and suggest if you see one for sale you scoop it up.

I am sure I'll catch some heat for this, and I am a huge fan of his products. I am just saying give it a try if you can arrange it. If you try it and don't like it (within reason) I am sure you can also get your money back or a credit towards another model.

Getting the 'perfect pitch' with the Contrail involes a bit of practice. Not much, but some…don't head out on the trail without a few practice runs first. To get the taut pitch in the photos, its all about the angle of the corner guylines. Once you get that down, its easy to make adjustments in the feild depending on various conditions.

Sometimes perception takes over from reality.
To illustrate the point, I used to take tests shots with three or four similar cameras from different brands, show the pics to my co-workers and ask for their opinion. After everyone judged the shots, I would tell them what camera took which shot.At that point inevitably their view changed in favor of their pet brand. ( oh, I can see now….)
I have seen other comments about the Contrail being somewhat difficult to pitch and some of these from tarp users. I am confident to state that I could put my Contrail up blindfolded quicker than most of you guys can set up your tarp. If you take more than about 3 min ( in windy/rainy weather) to set the TT up, you need to read the instructions again or at least take a look at the many shots of it on the various backpacking sites.
As much as the Virga was a very good and much loved design, there are good reasons why Henry changed to the Contrail. It would have been a lot cheaper and easier to keep the Virga going otherwise. BTW aesthetically my favorite is the original Squall
James you are quiet right about the Tarptents not being suited for everyone.
Franco

This was posted yesterday in "Reader Reviews." I didn't take time to appreciate when I purchased the tent that most of my hikes are done in temps right around freezing:

My Contrail arrived last fall but opportunity to use it has come only twice. All of the positive comments above regarding the quality of workmanship and ease of pitching are agreed with here. It is a remarkably easy tent to pitch and to quickly break camp with. Examination of the seams and tightness of pitch brings nothing but admiration for the manufacturer.

One concern from the two nights on the trail, one last fall and one this past weekend, is the cold air circulation effect on sleeping comfort. In a fully enclosed tent I can use my 15º bag comfortably down into the low 20s or high teens but in the Contrail this same bag won’t cut it even at barely freezing temps. I have a warmer bag but, of course, it is heavier, and by packing it I have erased most of the weight saving reaped by the light weight Contrail.

In April using an Ettowah Meadows tarp which pitches close to the ground with very little ventilation in temps just below freezing, maybe down into the high 20s, I was warm and had to shed my heavy duty head gear. But, without ventilation, it began to rain inside the tent by 3:00 a.m. The Contrail has produced absolutely no condensation in similar conditions because of the ample ventilation and air circulation

This is a serious issue and will have to be dealt with if I am to continue to use this tent. The solution seems to be a big bucks, SUL bag. I have even discussed this issue with Henry and the possibility of a breathable material and possibly in the future we may see some new designs based on breathable fabric. The Contrail, as well as other Tarptent designs just will not provide the sleeping comfort in temps that I frequently experience in my present set-up.

The 3.5 rating relates totally to this aspect of sleeping comfort and is a reflection of my personal needs only. Forum rules require a rating to post this review so I was forced to rate the tent which I freely confess is based on this personal issue I have. If warmth was not an issue or could otherwise be dealt with, the rating of this tent would be a 5.0.

Hehe, I knew I would draw heat for posting that.

On edit I will add that I own two Tarptents and love them both equally… a one and two person Virga with the floor and extended beak. When I go family backpacking my kids sleep in one and my wife sleeps in the other. I sleep on the ground outside the kids tent.

My one-person Virga is battle-worn and well loved.

Hopefully this will buy me some credit with the Henry Shires fan club!

John
My comments were not directed at anyone in particular and I certainly don't think that the Contrail is perfect. If that was the case I would have suggested to HS to retire since it's hard to top perfection. To me the Contrail is a comfortable easier to pitch, netted tarp. At under 700g it's hard to compare with 1500g+ tents, but it definitely is not a cold weather/winter shelter for the faint hearted, including my wuss self.
A partial remedy to your problem would be one of the "storm" set-ups that I posted at Practical Backpaking, my Contrail thread. For some reason I have not being able to post pictures here for a while.
Don't give it up. You will miss the weight and size on those lovely summer nights.
(my best nights in it have been under heavy rain)
Franco

I've practiced setting up my Contrail before heading out. I have the latest version that allows the rear corners to be lowered on the carbon fiber poles.

I've learned how to set it up "hunkered down" for bad weather, "up & airy" for hot weather and the center of the foot propped in a peak up for REALLY bad weather. I've even marked one Leki trekking pole so I can quickly have it at the right height for any situation. Speeds setup.

All in all the Contrail meets my solo shelter needs very well.
Also its design & construction is a joy to behold. I guess it comes under the heading of "pride of ownership".

I was very glad I spent some time pitching this tent (Contrail) in test conditions before I ventured out on the trail. But after practicing with the guylines and the height of the front trekking pole I think I've found the right combination of adjustment to make it symmetrically taunt.
I love this tent and no doubt it will remain with me for many years to come.

I love the Contrail. The floor is a must for me.

Franco,

Thanks for the pep talk. I will abide by your injunction to keep the tent and play around with the various options that allow for decreased air flow. I have seen your pictures and read your numerous comments on the Contrail spread over many months of testing and available in several forums. In fact I purchased mine based on the photos of your tent taken in your back yard down under. Henry ought to pay you a heavy consulting fee for all of the discussion, directions and helpful suggestions you have made regarding the Contrail. Thanks a whole bunch. John

I would agree wholeheartedly with Franco here- the Contrail can be pitched as close to the ground as your Etowah Meadows tarp, if not closer. Nail the rear corners right to the ground and stake out the side guyline loops as well. The vestibule area can be pitched pretty close to the ground, too. You'll lose a lot of ventilation but at freezing temps or below, this shouldn't be a big issue for you as the condensate will just freeze. Also, with the Contrail you have the option of unzipping the mesh door and adjust the vestibule entrance to help ventilate. Again, at temps as cold as you describe, you won't need bug netting.

Also, budget permitting, perhaps you need a bag that will provide better warmth:weight ratio. What are you using now?

Russell,

I have thought about getting a super light bag rated to 0°. My current bag is a TNF Hot Tamale weighing 2 lbs., 7 ozs. It keeps me warm in a fully enclosed solo tent or in my well ventilated Hex in cold temps with one of kids who through off a lot of heat. I have never experienced such discomfort in such warm (32°F)temps as I did last weekend in the Contrail. I have a version 1, TNF Solar Flare, rated to -10° but it weighs three and one half pounds.
Thanks for your input and, of course, I invite further suggestions. John

There's certainly a room for improving your bag. I see the Hot Tamale listed at around $350. In that price range, you can get the same temperature rating in a down bag from Western Mountaineering, Marmot, Feathered Friends, and a few other manufacturers that would reduce your pack weight by 6 oz. or so. The three manufacturers I listed have a rep of being generally accurate or conservative with rating their bags, whereas The North Face gets mixed reviews there (even though I have a 20 degree TNF Blue Kazoo that I would consider accurate). Since it seems like you sleep a bit on the cold side, perhaps its time to upgrade. Not essential, of course…

Another vote for the Tarptent, except I'm gonna recommend the Squall Classic. I have an original Squall (sil-nylon), and it is a wonderfully gigantic shelter for 1 person. You can lay all your stuff out on one side and sleep on the other. I'm 6'-5" and fit in it easily.

John, you make an intersting comment on the Tarptent in cold weather. I have had the same thing happen where I was using a 20 degree bag in my Double Rainbow when it was about 40 and breezy. I couldn't get warm.

Hi all,

Just wanted to make people aware of a slight modification now shipping (as of a few weeks ago) on the Contrails.

The rear guylines are now 3' long–were 2'–and loop back/tie off to the O-ring. The reconfigured guylines give a lot more stability to the rear struts and prevent them from sliding out on hard-packed ground. On grass or loose soil it wont make much difference but on slick soil it will/does. Let me know if anyone needs replacement guylines for the rear end–happy to "upgrade you".

-H

Henry,

I don't replacement guylines (I can cut my own). Are you tying them off to the attachment piece that holds the rear floor tensioners? I can't quite make it out from the picture. Also, are you using Kelty Triptease for guylines? I had an issue with the one of the front guylines the Contrail shipped with fraying, which allowed it to slip under high tension. Thanks!

I'm planning on a Contrail with my REI Kilo Flash (+40f)
I'm 6'2" and like the idea of a single wall shelter. Will I have trouble with this combination? I live in Denver and do most of my camping at around 10,000' June through September. At the cold end I was thinking the temperature could always drop to near 20f if some crazy storm rolled in. Is it not realistic to use the Contrail in these months in the mountains of Colorado? I plan on having extra layers if there's the possibility of the 'extreme' temperatures being reached, including my base layer, fleece pants, down vest. Is the Contrail a good tent for these conditions? It seems like the wind will be a big factor.

Am I confused on the possible temperature range I may encounter in Colorado during those months?

Thanks
alex

Thanks so much for all the help. I'm basically trying to lighten my shelter and am unsure if i'm ready for a bivy/tarp combo. that is why am i looking into the tarptent. i feel like it is the next step. I've never used a bivy sack before so i'm a little leery of jumping right in to a $200 bivy.

right now i have a sierra designs baku and my hennessey hammock. and i really want to lighten up quite a bit from those.

basically my question is this: am i going about this wrong by thinking of the tarptent as a stepping stone to a tarp/ bivy combo? should i just go for the bivy now (i know i will move in that direction eventually).

i know this is a matter of personal preference but i'd love some opinions. i like the idea of bivy/tarp, i just need to decide whether or not to take the plunge.

Alex,

As has been previous stated in this thread, with all its setup options, the Contrail isn't going to freeze you out more than any other single-walled shelter you might use. If its too drafty, just set it up in 'Bomber Mode'.

I'd be more concerend about an early- or late-season snowstorm in the Contrail, since its not really designed to handle snow loads (although there are ways to set up the tent to mitigate this somewhat). And, I would really be wary about taking a bag rated to 40 degrees (and one that some consider to be generously rated, at that) into an environment where you could be looking at temps much lower with only a down vest as additional core insulation.

This thread is actually a little ironic considering the usual knock on single wall shelters is condensation due to lack of ventilation. Here we are discussing a shelter that some consider too drafty…guess you can't win, Henry!

Gabriel,

If you havne't camped under a tarp, bivy or not, give it a shot. Outside of cowboy camping you'll never be more connected with your environment and many wouldn't camp any other way.

You don't have to go all-out with the price to find out if its for you. Get a cheap silnylon tarp and there are cheaper bivy sacks that will work great. Try TiGoat for some good ones: http://www.titaniumgoat.com/Bivy.html.