Tarptent ProTrek

I see it has Mesospire like raising of the fly on the foot end to allow for excellent through ventilation that many 1 person 1 door tents don’t allow.

This can be seen on Tarptent’s website.

I own a Double Rainbow DW, and a Dipole 1 Li, but I could see myself recommending this one if it shakes out.  Look forward to seeing more about this one.  The price is right.

I predict the ProTrek is going to be a hit. It remedies 3 negatives the Protrail had which was 1) Front entry. ProTrek still allows front entry as an option if you’re set up in a tight spot where that turns out to be best, but most of the time a much easier side entry will be utilized. 2) Footprint size. The Protrail measures 70″ wide at head whereas the Protrek is only 56″….and Protrek is a mere 40″ wide at foot! 3) Pack/shoes at head in vestibule. Unlike the Protrail, ProTrek allows you to set your pack and shoes next to you where they’re far easier to access.

Coming out in DCF later on and should weigh around 16 oz.

Right-handed tent?

Yep, it’s backwards.

I’m torn on this one as a Dipole DW owner. At first the ProTrek didn’t look appealing to me but I’m liking the newer pics. Can’t wait to see the demo/setup video. I absolutely love my Dipole. I was against extra poles/struts in the past, but they’re easy enough to pack and insert when setting up. They’re worth the weight to make the tent absolutely bombproof in winds and provide great head/foot room. Plus when using the solid inner it is toasty warm in the shoulder season. The Dipole has a very competitive footprint as well. It’s only 4 inches wider than ProTrek and 14 inches shorter. Maybe I’m being too harsh on the ProTrek footprint because I think for an intents and purposes you just judge the tent by widest width, even if only 40″ at the foot end. So 94×60 Dipole vs 108×56 ProTrek, which is still very competitive.

The few minor issues I have with the Dipole is the weight, that I tend to not use both doors/vestibules, and if using just the tarp the poles are in the way (though not super inconvenient). I was hoping the ProTrek could be double wall to make me consider ditching the Dipole, or have a tarp only option so I could alleviate the issues I have with the Dipole in the non bug/shoulder seasons. This would be an awesome tarp especially for someone like me who can’t seem to pitch a flat tarp well to save his life!

If it was double wall it would rival and beat the Solomid XL in my opinion. It would probably be similar weight, but much better internal living and venting/viewing. Most people are using two poles anyway so put that 2nd to use.

I can see why they went single wall to really differentiate from the others. It blows away any non-dcf trekking pole tent out there with all the features, materials, livability, and size for the weight. I’d rather have this than the Lunar Solo and the GG One (are listed specs wrong, how is this so wide?).

How do people think it will handle the winds? I see the two side panel tie outs which should help, as well as the lower foot end pole height. Also, is there going to be a discussion on the best angle for the peak guyout lines, with the ridgeline or offset?

The latest ProTrek pics on Tarptent’s website provides a better feel. I like it more all the time. Reminds me of the asymmetrical holden tarp pitch in the video below pic. Simple really, and that’s one of the things that makes it nice.

What I’ve read elsewhere from TT says the front entrance is so the side can be closed up for wind resistance. I’d maybe set the back corner on the lower side to the wind, though the wind will shift anyway. One thing nice about double vestibules and doors.

Not so good for left handed folks with mummy bags. The original picture looks awkward. They changed it. I like it though for lighter weather. A little heavy.

I guess you could use a bivy with it. I’m not sure why. The thought just struck me.  It would be double wall.

Open and simple. Price is right. Hmmm.

For a singe wall tent does this have the most mesh netting separating from the fly than any other out there? It seems at the head and foot and door side there is little to no issue with getting wet from brushing against the fly.

You mean a smaller footprint than my TT NOTCH Li? I didn’t think it could get any smaller.

There’s barely enough room in that tent to change my mind.

This looks like a promising shelter.  I’m currently using a first generation X-Mid 1P but something lighter with a smaller footprint might be appealing – so the DCF version next year could be a possibility.  I wonder how windworthy it is?

“I wonder how windworthy it is?”

Probably not especially good because the walls are fairly steep. but they have to be in order for the tent to have a narrow footprint. However the fly has very small surface area and the foot end is low, so the ProTrek can’t be too bad of a windcatcher. Rear triangle is vertical though. If I buy one I’ll beef up the mid-panel tieout reinforcements with 3.5″ 20D silpoly squares bonded inside and out.

The X-Mid 1 is 65″ wide and the Dipole 1 DW 60″. When you average front and rear widths of the ProTrek it’s only 48″ wide. Granted Protrek won’t have near as much livable space, but at least it’s not like a single pole mid where the fly is in your face when you lay down.

I have used a ProTrail for the last few years as a solo tent.  I’m not sure I’m buying the improvements in the ProTrek. It seems talled, slightly less wind resistant and maybe a bit easier to enter and exit.  But I think I’ll stick with what I have.

My wife and I have used the Cloudburst 3 for years, in just about all kinds of summer hiking weather.  If it ever fails completely, I would buy another one in a heartbeat.

ProTrek isn’t as aerodynamic as Protrail, but for those who put more value on small footprint the slightly lower wind performance of ProTrek is a tradeoff they’d probably be willing to accept. However, in places like Scotland or other more open and windy terrains the ProTrek might not be the best choice. On the other hand, if one is camping in thick eastern US woodlands it would be ideal. Nevertheless, listed under ProTrek’s features it reads: Excellent wind performance due to low drag shape, small panel sizes and multiple tieout points. Henry knows what he’s talking about so perhaps the aerodynamics are better than I think.

Side entry isn’t everything, but for many backpackers front entry is a deal breaker. No slur on the Protrail though, it’s been a classic. Yet sales on them are down and hence their discontinuation.

Really, the ProTrail was wind worthy?  I guess my only experience with the Tarptent was the Contrail and I only used it on a few trips and didn’t find it particularly storm worthy (and I was coming from a GG SpinnShelter at the time).

Side entry isn’t everything, but for many backpackers front entry is a deal breaker.

Side entry isn’t everything, but end entry isn’t anything.  (With apologies to Charlie Brown.)

Saw this 3D rotation of the ProTrek on trek-lite.com earlier. I haven’t bought a tent in years but I’m in on this one.

https://www.tarptent.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/protrek_3drot.mp4?iframe=true

Considering DCF with no timeline. Smaller footprint yet only a few ounces lighter than a TT SS2 li. About the same weight as a Dipole1 Li. If he can get it down to 16 ounces, I’d be tempted.. It’s a nice tent for the price.

A lot to be said for small footprint.

Actually I think has a lot of benefits for a shelter in DCF… simply due to the reduced chances of creating tears and punctures from snagging on vegetation wherever you happen to find to camp.

My dream tent would be a double wall Dipole Mini or Dipole Mid (94 x 54-60). Move the peak pole in/back a few inches, perhaps the struts too, and have the tent be slightly off centered like the MLD/HMG mids. On the back side you get rid of that door and use the 2nd trekking pole in a way like the corner one is used in this ProTrek. This opens up that back side for viewing/ventilation and creates smaller panels for better wind protection. I have no clue how much zippers on the tarp door and inner door add up to, but if the overall weight could get closer to 1.5lbs than 2lbs that would be great. It would probably have to be about that weight difference to make it worth it. I’m not sure how much this would affect the livability of the inner tent or its dimensions. I don’t think they would have to change too much, and with the struts on the end – plus the shorter trekking pole on the back side – it would create better room inside and stability than a typical MID with a smaller overall footprint.

Methinks my Tarptent NOTCH, though a 3 season tent, has the ability to handle a moderate snow storm. That’s one of the reasons I got that design with its solid inner tent walls.

Here in Nevada and Utah mountains we sometimes get surprised when a “light dusting” forecast turns into 2 ft. of snow.

BTW Brad R., Although I’m a Tarptent fanboy, having owned 5 of them, if I were you I stay with yer Durston X-Mid 1 P over a Pro Trail. TheX-Mid P is just a better design for a solo tent IMHO.

Hmmm…eyes open. This could make a nice summer tent. Single wall, the inner wouldn’t hang in my face.

https://www.backpacker.com/gear/tents/first-look-tarptent-protrek-shelter/

They’re online and available.