The Mountain Laurel Designs Trailstar is a simple, ultralight, roomy shelter for one person — and it passes the wind test! I hate flapping tents! The Trailstar hardly makes a sound. The pentagon shape hugs the ground. You can pitch it with the center pole down to 90 – 110 cm, and it barely moves in the wind due to its aerodynamic, bomber design.
It’s roomy! I use it for solo camping, sleep in the back half, and have the whole rest of the inside for gear. I’m short, 5’2″ so I can sit upright next to the center pole, no problem. The door is located far enough away that rain doesn’t blow inside.
It has its own bug net, best used with the center pole set at 125 cm. I clip the TrailStar InnerNet in the back using the hooks. You don’t have to use the hooks, but they keep the net from sagging, so the mosquitos won’t land on you and bite through. The innernet has a deep silnylon tub floor, which can be waterproofed.
Its versatile. When the weather is nice, you can pitch it high and open and get a great view. If there are no bugs or rain, you can leave the innernet at home and use it as a floorless tarp. If it sags at night, you can reach underneath and tighten your tautline hitches without going outside.
It’s stealthy olive brown — a nice color that blends with almost every landscape in every season. The original gray is stealthy, too. It packs small and weighs little.
It’s simple. Stake out the back corner & door (use pole), the arms, (insert center pole) and the legs of the star. There’s no floor to fuss with. No dangly parts to attach. No extra poles to backpack, just your hiking poles. It’s one of the the least fiddly tents around.
Fair warning: The Trailstar is based on a pyramid shape. The walls are slanted. You’re not going to get much vertical room. Rain will feel like it’s falling close to your face. The pole in the middle will limit where you can lie on the floor. Also, it has a big footprint.
