A smaller TarpTent ?

Ian,

As a contrail user, I would say that it is definietly possible to build a smaller tarptent but I do not know if it would be a good idea. The contrail is roomy for one person but if it were any smaller it would be very easy to bump into a tent wall covered with condensation. If someone ever built a tarptent out of a WP/B material, like event or epic, it could be made smaller than a contrail but the increase in the weight of the fabric would probably offset the weight loss due to the decrease in size. Anyways that's my two cents.

Condensation issues aside, the trick to making a smaller version of most anything is maintaining stability. Narrower things are inherently less stable than wider things. But I'm working on your request and a few others…

-H

A mini, one person cloudburst with carbon fiber poles, would be cool?

I love my Contrail but would not want it any smaller, even though it should be possible to do so.

As is, it's easily big enough for me and ALL of my gear, inside and out of the weather. In a pinch, it can shelter two, as the vestibule can be pulled outwards to provide a modicum of protection for the gear that truly must be protected.

The Law of Diminishing Returns comes to mind here. If you want smaller, go to a bivy with a mini-tarp to protect your head and torso during entry and exit while still allowing you some headroom.

Love my Contrail. My favorite tent and I have several.

Smaller? –No
Lighter? –Yes

Using Cuben might save you several ounces but I'm sure mesh and hardware make up a fair percentage of the weight. Now if you were using Cuben at 0.5 oz a sq yd you could then think of replacing some of the "heavy" 0.7 oz/ sq yd mesh, but that would decrease the air flow which is frankly the best part of this tent. If you were using Cuben the cost of the tent would be 2 or 3 times as much.

So, at this point in time, given price, performance, weight, I think Henry has gotten it right.

-Mark

nm

I believe Henry know exactly what he is doing with the models. He is appealing to masses, not the more U/L crowd.
If he built it we will come, but he will not sell as many of the smaller ones than the other models.