Tents

Specifically the Tarpstar.

Ive ridden a few multi day bike trips this year and after the Soloist (XL) which I would have loved had it not been for that crawl through the front door (and no space to store stuff) I decided to go for the Tarpstar.

I like and loathe it at the same time. It takes around 16 yes, 16 pegs if you’re using a footprint. Any weight saving on the one carbon pole design is negated by the huge bundle of pegs. The faff of pitching and packing and the fact it’s not free standing nor will it squeeze into tight spots means I’m not a happy camper. See what I did there.

It’s a great size though, especially for kit, you can stash loads and still have room to dress/undress. I do like that but the fannying about with the pegs really got on my tits this past trip.

I think it has merits but multi day not so much.

I’m thinking about an MSR Hubba. I realise it’s a bit heavier but freestanding is a better idea I think.

I’m going to have a crack at the HT550 next year hopefully and I’d like to get my tent sorted well before.

I realise bivvying is a thing but not for me.

I am making plans to swap tents for next year,so looking around atm.

As you have found,there’s always a bit of a compromise.

Search (Gokotta 1 Tent),a bit like a Hubba and comes in at 1.1kg.

I was also looking at Nordisk Telemarks,1 pole and  very light,but the reviews mention horrendous condensation.

Do you need to use the footprint? And if you do can you rig it to use the existing pegs in some way? I use carbon spike pegs which weigh the then end of bugger all so it’s not a huge issue which is another possibility.

If freestanding is a show-stopper for you then I’ve little to suggest. I can’t say that’s ever been a must-have for me.

I flip between a Lunar Solo and a Scarp 1. Neither need 16 pegs :-). For a footprint, try using just a sheet of Tyvek. No need to peg it down, just make sure it’s in the high wear/pressure area (I tend not to bother).

I also get that bivvy bags aren’t for everyone but they have a special feeling that can’t be replicated in a tent, even though I mostly use my Lunar Solo with the door open.

The Naturehike Cloup-up 1 is similar to the Alpkit soloist, but a bit more roomy. Same front door though, but a bit higher I think and designed so it clears the inner so less chance of water running off the door straight onto the inner when opening up. Cloud-Up 2 even roomier & not a great deal heavier.

There’s a good looking Decathlon 1 person tent; the forclaz trekking tent MT900, although it is pretty narrow inside. But there is some vestibule space & it’s side opening. Bit of a shame it’s not 100-150mm wider & in a slightly stealthier colour.

Hmm that’s interesting, had been looking at the tarpstar as quite fancy the single pole type, rather than my zephros 1 compact.

How does it need 16 pegs?

Hubba is pitch inner first isn’t it, that would be a big no for me.

Have you looked at the Durston X-Mid tents? depending on budget they go from 440 grams for the X-Mid pro 1 to 825 grams for the X-Mid 1 Solid. they sell poles at 88grams (Pair) and only needs four pegs to tie out the corners, though an additional two may be needed for the door if you want a taut pitch.

Bags of room for such a light tent and decent headroom and is outer pitch first which is always helpful in the UK.

I’ve never used 16 pegs with a Tarpstar, always carried 4 extras but could normally pitch off 8. I didn’t use the Alpkit footprint but a cheapo tarp of the same size with bungee on the eyelets so only needed the main 8 pegs. Only used it a couple of times but it was a decent shelter.

(Not-so-stealth ad – I’m selling my Tarpstar 1 in the Classifieds… not related to peg problems!)

Granted I could incorporate the groundsheet into the mix with other pegs.

Being as persnickety as I am I like the outer taught and as far away from the inner as possible, and that’s seven pegs.

It’s just a faff, but as I said horses for courses it does some things very well.

Those Durston tents look great, been looking at Zpacks too but firecly expensive..and probably better off with a Lanshan…

I’ve not heard much on here about those. I wonder if they’re any good.

I went round in circles with tent options and ended up with an OEX Pantha II Ultralite partly as I found a keen price.

Almost as compact as my Tarp/Bivibag combo, with exception to the Poles, their not ‘bikepacking’ short but sit ok under the bar in the front harness.

Went up easily, basic peg out needs 6/7 pegs (extras for guys), pretty spacious inside.  Pretty thin fabric so time will tell how long it lasts. Seams might need sealing, but that came in the spares kit.

I’ve got a garage full of tents, but my current favourite that I’ve used for thousands of solo bikepacking miles over the past couple of years is the Weschel Bella:

https://ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/bella-1-person-tent/

It goes up quicker than any other tent I’ve used, is free standing, stealthy and well made. The poles break into short lengths for easy packing and I can sit up in it and I’m a big 6ft 1 lump.

If I wanted very lightweight I’d go for a single pole pyramid tent.

I have a few tents including the Alpkit Soloist and the MSR Hubba NX. The Hubba is in a different league to the Soloist: Better build quality, easier to set up, better ventilation, more inner space, more storage space and much, much easier to get in and out of… and rain doesn’t pour in when you open the door. Only down side is that the back of the tent (non door side) is quite steep and can catch the wind.

Hubba is pitch inner first isn’t it, that would be a big no for me.

It is an inner pitch first tent (if using the inner). I much prefer inner pitch first tents as they have loads of advantages and just one perceived disadvantage (pitching in the rain). Pitching in the rain isn’t a problem if you understand how to work quickly and methodically. You can set it up outer first, then inner, but it’s a massive faff.

Advantages of inner first: Use the inner on its own; use the outer on its own, more stable pitching as the inner AND the outer are structural elements. And the biggest advantage for multi-day use… You can remove the wet fly and store it separately to the inner. The fly is almost always a bit wet at least (rain, dew, condensation). Keep it apart from the dry inner; even whipping it out at brew stops to air it a bit.

And when it all goes to sh1t and you end up in a B+B, a two piece tent is easier to dry out than one that has the inner attached 🙂

@Merak If you buy direct from Durston in Canada you can claim some of the duty/tax back which makes it a fair bit cheaper than buying in the UK as they tend to put their import mark up on it.

Having experience of the Lanshan and the Durston i’d definitely be happy to pay more and not have the condensation issues of the Lanshan, as even with the mods it still suffers badly. And as the Durston is a two skin tent you have the flexibility to adapt it to suit your needs, ie fly / inner only (and drying separately as per Stanleys post)

Another alternative which i also have is the Aluxe Mini Peak, which is a single pole pyramid tent, this is massive inside for a one person tent and the single inner only takes up half of the inner space meaning you get more space for kit / lounging. It is a touch over 1kg though, but it’s been a great little tent.

How do you use 16 pegs on a Tarpstar?

I have a 4 with foot print and pretty sure we use less than that.  If you’re pegging the footprint down separately because the bungee is too short then you could just add some longer ones.

MSR tents have a terrible reputation for leaking and for MSR being absolute A holes when it comes to dealing with said issues. From what I’ve read and seen its a complete lottery as to whether you get a tent that doesn’t leak. A quick google tells you all you need to know, especially Trustpilot reviews.

New Durston looks good:

X-Dome 1+

@supernova was just thinking same.

+1 looks good, and enough length for us ‘normal’ shaped humans 🙂

If I was buying now I think that X-dome would be top of my list. Freestanding and looks like it can be pitched in all configurations, inner first, fly first and all together. And from the website it seems they are planning a shorter set of poles which will make using it with a bike easier

Sensible price too.

 planning a shorter set of poles which will make using it with a bike easier

I’ve always put poles in my frame bag, so never had an issue with their length – where does everyone else put theirs?

I had advance email notice on that X-Dome because it’s of great interest to anyone who’s a bit taller than average. Definitely one to consider.

Quite fancy a new new tent, then reminded myself that there’s nothing wrong with my current tent (Vango Helium 1) and the X-Dome is all of 200g lighter – and a better sleeping mat would be a more ‘sensible’ purchase.

Any recs on an ultralight, ultracompacting and megastrong sleeping mat that is insulated (3 season) and at least 6’/200cm long?

Thermarest XTherm. Best mat I own, used from desert to Arctic, still going strong.

I wasn’t a fan of the Thermarest NeoAir series, found even the newer version too crinkly. Went for a Sea to Summit Ether Light XT instead – and they’re available in Large/Long versions

I’m a fan of the Exped Synmat. They’re not as noisy as the Thermostat and come in a range of R values but I think that the longest version is only 197 cm.

I like the Sea to Summit mats, party because the pillow attachment system is really neat – basically very low profile hook and loop stuff that holds S to S’s own lightweight inflatable pillows securely in position. Exped also decent.

I had used the Alpkit budget option, canny mind it’s called now. Generic waffle thing it was awful, squeaky and uncomfortable.

Went for the Whisper thing they do, it’s a bit heavier but loads better. I can actually get some sleep on it!

The Sea-to-Summit XT looks good with a 3.2R value, but 12cm x 28cm pack size – that practically the same as my tent…

My 1.4R Alpkit Cloudbase comes in at 7cm x 30cm, so practically 1/3 of the volume.  I’m more bothered about volume than weight.

The Neo’s look a good R to packed size, but even the long is quite short.

And why do manufacturers assume that us tall people are also wide (fat)…

We have a couple of Robens mattresses. As light and as warm as ‘bigger names’, very little noise. One is very long (bought for 6’3″ son) and one a tad too narrow. I think one is a PrimaCore the other a AirImpact

And why do manufacturers assume that us tall people are also wide (fat)…

I’m guessing that’s because if you make a narrow mat for tall but not wide people then wide people can’t use it, but if you make a mat that accommodates tall, wide folk, then tall but narrow ones can also use it, albeit while carrying slightly more weight and bulk than they might. I guess the optimum solution would be a choice of widths, but that’s another product.

Whether it’s viable to make a narrower mat is going to depend on what proportion of tall sleeping mat buyers are both narrow and would care enough to buy an actual narrower mat to suit. A long, but narrow mat might be quite a niche product, or not. Someone probably makes one as a default, so wider, tall people can go on forums and grouse along the lines of:

And why do manufacturers assume that us tall people are also narrow (weedy and emaciated)

None of which, I suspect, you really wanted to know…

Edit: fwiw, when it comes to branding, my experience is that everything works out of the box, but poorly made ones tend to fail further down the line. Alpkit’s original line of mats were prone to this. Eventually they switched factory to avoid the issue.