I just got my contrail and pitched it really quickly. Looks okay from my untrained eye. I'd appreciate any criticism that can be shared based on these 2 marginal cell phone photos. My intention is to master the basic set-up before I Franco it.

Eric, it looks like you have alot of dogs lol j/k! Looks pretty tight to me.

Hi Eric
Just had lunch and having a cup of tea and a biscuit..
Nice pitch , makes me enjoy my tea even more.
That is of course the standard , most common and useful pitch, but do try some of the others , just for fun and you never know you may need them.
Franco

That would be a LOT of poo....

Thanks.

The one thing that strikes me when I look at the pictures is how the tension on the side looks to be from the top of the back strut to the front guy. Shouldn't the tension be along the bottom of the sil?

Hey Franco! I've made your name into a verb regarding the Contrail.

Thanks for the encouraging words. I'm just having a glass of cheap Bordeaux and some dinner.

For the side guys, do you just stake through the webbing or add some line?

I'll definitely be adding line to the apex and tail guys and using my other trekking pole to create that nice ridge you inspired.

That pitch was in a little green (brown still actually) area across from my apartment. I'm going to try to pitch inside tonight and seam seal with permatex.

Did you weigh it and measure the opening, height, etc? Do share.

Of course I weighed it. It's 26.3, with 4 easton stakes and the stuff sacks, pre seam sealing.

I didn't take any other measurements. The sun was going down and I was hungry :-)

"For the side guys, do you just stake through the webbing or add some line?"
I have a short guyline there , about a foot, with a loop in the middle and one at the end.
That gives me three spots to insert the peg into.
Because it isn't an area under a lot of stress, I use thin pegs there.
Franco

Eric,

Your pitch is fine. I like the bathtub floor sides as high as possible. You may want to treat the floor with silicone blobs to help with slip n slide (http://jwbasecamp.com/Articles/Silnylon1/index.html).I keep my trekking pole angled to one side to make entry and exit in the dark easier. Uneven ground can be a challenge but the Contrail is a veratile design.

Safe Trails,

Bill

Eric, thanks for sharing. I thought about the trekking pole being positioned to one side like mentioned above. Good idea. Enjoy your new shelter.

Eric,

I owned a Contrail before I got my Moment and found that I preferred to use both trekking poles at the entrance. That way I had a clear entrance and could tension it more evenly than with one offset pole.

Of course now (for 4 more ounces) I don't need trekking poles for tent support.

"The one thing that strikes me when I look at the pictures is how the tension on the side looks to be from the top of the back strut to the front guy. Shouldn't the tension be along the bottom of the sil?"

missed that one. yes Eric, your observation is correct. A little bit of extra tension on the bottom tie-out of those struts would have fixed that.
Franco

Thanks Franco. I didn't play much with the strut tie-outs much on this pitch. I'll experiment next time.

Seam sealing only added 0.3 oz so I'm at 26.6 total oz as shipped. I still need to add the all the extra guys and 4 more stakes. Going to play with setting it up some more today and hope to hit the foothills for my first overnight of the season tomorrow.

Cheers!

This Tarp Tent is so advanced, it has a built in air suspension system so you can leave your Neo Air at home. If it's breezy, my otherwise good looking pitch floats.



At least I think it's a good looking pitch otherwise.







It was breezy and there was very little buffeting so I was happy. Except that I'd forgotten my Triptease, so I wasn't able to add all the other guys. I guess I'll have to do that tomorrow.

This thing is palatial too. I'm 6"1. When I lay with my head against the door end of the floor (with 40" of space above my nose which is nice) there was a good 10" between my feet and the other end of the floor.




At half the weight of my Copper Spur, I think I'm going to like the Contrail.

Edited by palumbo on 04/18/2011 20:02:18 MDT.