….and can’t wait for it to be delivered ;) So last night I made a model of it in sketchup and played with few different pitches.
I’ve googled tons of reviews and comments and it seems the drawbacks most often mentioned are lack of headroom (and a corresponding poor snow shedding ability), large footprint, and more complex pitching compared to a mid. So given the versatility of the shelter, I tried to “pitch” the trailstar to try and eliminate these drawbacks. And this is what I’ve come up with:
Its a 2.1m square, and ridges are 78″ (according to an oldish thread I found here). With these dimensions with corners pitched to the ground the internal pole height is 130cm. The front pole is 157cm high, and the “beak” extends to 91cm. If necessary (perhaps to sit out a sandstorm??) the beak can be dropped from inside either to the left or the right corner sealing the shelter completely. The person inside is about 5.9″, and the sleeping area is 80x180cm – ideally this would require an inverted V two pole setup, or suspending the trailstar from a tree branch or a ridgeline. Here is the picture showing the bottom with the sleeping area demarcated.
The dimensions above are the tightest, and will increase slightly when the gap is allowed for around the perimeter of the shelter. And of course approximate as stretchiness of the material will have some effect.
What do you think??? I really like this setup in theory, and hope it can be replicated in practice? The pitch would take seconds just as a mid does. Great views as well as full protection from elements. Seems also ideal for a lunch break. Tons of headroom, and the beak creates lovliest porch to cook in and for great views. If pitched parallel to the wind, I can even see a small campfire possible just in front of the beak..
I already own a supermid and a duomid for when hiking solo, and both are great shelters except that they lack versatility. They are fine for most conditions and seasons except some extreme and unusual situations. But the trailstar it seems truly is able to accommodate virtually any scenario except perhaps a narrow mountain ledge where only a bivy would do…. For extreme winds or when one wishes to disappear from landscape, it can be pitched low. When its snowing it can be pitched as a mid. When its sunny and hot it can be pitched high like a tarp creating a nice shade. Tons of room inside for emergency, should a friend or two need cover. People even use it successfully as a fly for hammocks. Plus its simplicity and absence of any frills to fail. A truly one shelter to rule them all?….
