franco
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Post by franco on Jun 2, 2020 14:36:34 GMT -8
Another DCF shelter from Tarptent. Should be announced today but given that here in Australia today was yesterday, I felt like posting some photos of it .    I take this opportunity to point out that I have not been working for Tarptent for a while, there wasn't enough for me to do although it was a very small part time job anyway and pretty much the continuation of what I had been doing , as a hobby, for over five years before. I am still very much in contact with the owners as they are really nice people and the sort of Americans I like. |
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Post by bradmacmt on Jun 2, 2020 15:02:30 GMT -8
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Post by swmtnbackpacker on Jun 9, 2020 17:55:57 GMT -8
The description is nice. Like that it only requires 4 stakes unlike many other pole supported designs. With encroaching vegetation (which is good btw), tent site space is becoming a premium ... and trying to level 6 stakes is often a pain.
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biffnix
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Post by biffnix on Jul 5, 2020 10:49:52 GMT -8
So the Tarptent Protrail Li is my first piece of DCF gear, and also my first non-freestanding tent. My last backpacking shelter was a Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2, which is still a great tent. But, having more money than sense (and arthritic knees), I bought the Protrail Li to save some weight and try out the simplicity of the pitch. I really like it. Super easy to set up, and held up well in some really gusty winds while I was up in Granite Park. I sort of wished there was an anchor point in the middle of the long edges, just to keep the mesh gutters spread, but it didn't really affect ventilation at all. Rock solid piece of gear. Worth $500? Well, it is for me...    |
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franco
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Post by franco on Jul 5, 2020 16:17:07 GMT -8
Setting up a non freestanding tent takes a bit of practice and not all can get a good pitch even after repeated use. Sort of intuitive for some, not so much for others. A couple of tips if you don't mind... At the bottom of the long side there are two tie out points , they are there not to put the tent in tension but to help the long side not to cave in in strong winds. You can see one in use in this photo of the sil version as set up by Cam Honan :  (make sure you don't pull it far enough to deforme the set up) looking at your pitch, it can be improved. Compare these two photos   as you can see from the TT photo, the bottom of the long side should be a straight line from the back to the front corner. So you need to reposition that front corner to get that. Make sure you always have the door panel done up when you set it up. BTW, if you use rocks INSTEAD of (not as well as, as in your photo ..) stakes, you need a total weight of 20 kg or more otherwise they will not do all that much in strong winds. |
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BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on Jul 5, 2020 17:51:15 GMT -8
The original Contrail was my second-favorite tent (after the Notch). After initial setup, I often had to go around and tweak the stake positions to get everything just so. I never considered that a problem, especially since it was still a quick setup, just part of the deal.
Seeing the new one in action makes me nostalgic.
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franco
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Post by franco on Jul 5, 2020 18:32:46 GMT -8
I liked the Contrail a lot . The ProTrail ( a play on words...) has benefited from the mods and user suggestions made on the original Virga and then the different Contrail versions. I made my own ProTrail before it came out...  |
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biffnix
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Post by biffnix on Jul 6, 2020 12:33:48 GMT -8
as you can see from the TT photo, the bottom of the long side should be a straight line from the back to the front corner. So you need to reposition that front corner to get that. Make sure you always have the door panel done up when you set it up. BTW, if you use rocks INSTEAD of (not as well as, as in your photo ..) stakes, you need a total weight of 20 kg or more otherwise they will not do all that much in strong winds. I appreciate the tips! It is my first non-freestanding tent, so thank you. I just used the rocks to hold the stakes in some strong winds that day. Cheers |
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Jul 13, 2020 20:35:06 GMT -8
franco I'm looking hard at that Protrail LI. But I use the BD folding poles, and I got the short version--95-110cm. Since the longest form of that is shorter than the front pole, would I have to buy a pole? I see TT also sells some kind of pole extension...
ETA: the shortest setting, other than folded, is also pretty long for the back pole. I'm just wondering if this would work at all.
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franco
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Post by franco on Jul 13, 2020 22:20:56 GMT -8
The front pole can be anywhere between 107 and 120cm . 110 cm is towards the low but if on a particular situation you want the tent higher you can always sove a shoe under the pole to get that extra bit. As for the back pole, that is also adjustable. In this photo the tip is probably at around 95cm  |
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gabby
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Post by gabby on Jul 14, 2020 9:36:06 GMT -8
Seeing the new one in action makes me nostalgic. I hear that. I have 2 Virgas: 1 with floor, 1 without floor. I have no idea why I ever stopped using them. It's really all I ever needed. (I'm hearing echoes of someone who used to post here ... when I think about him, I see a big-eyed gecko. Tivoli? Teaddle? TDale?)  Guess I need to pull 'em out and use 'em. Calculating:NEW Tarptent ProTrail Li, $499, 16oz.
OLD Tarptent Virga, $175?, 22oz. No, I think I'll just keep the TT I got. I'm not going to help the ailing economy. |
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franco
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Post by franco on Jul 14, 2020 15:13:34 GMT -8
Comparing like for like, the ProTrail in sylnylon is $ 229.
The Virga was out in 2003, $175 then is , inflation corrected, $245 now.
So you are getting a better shelter for less.
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gabby
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Post by gabby on Jul 14, 2020 16:10:34 GMT -8
Comparing like for like, the ProTrail in sylnylon is $ 229. The Virga was out in 2003, $175 then is , inflation corrected, $245 now. So you are getting a better shelter for less. I know, I know, franco ... but, hey, dude: beck uff der uber umsatz! :^D I already got 2 Virgas. And I be poor to the max. |
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Jul 14, 2020 18:24:37 GMT -8
Just pulled the trigger, with pickup from the Nevada City base. My pack just got smaller and lighter. Which leaves more room for food 😁
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franco
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Post by franco on Jul 14, 2020 18:37:27 GMT -8
Say hello to Henry and co from me.
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