Tarp Tent

[BrianLe]

"I saw a number of people on the trail last year with the Contrail, didn't see anyone with the Moment."

The Contrail has been out for some years, whereas the Moment is fairly new. I did run into a couple of Moment owners at Trail Days in Damascus this year, one was thru-hiking.

I used my Contrail for most of the AT this year, or rather I should say I carried it for most of the AT --- started with a Gatewood Cape and switched fairly early on, but slept most often in shelters.

The Contrail is a great tent, I like it a lot.

My sense is that the Moment is a great tent too.

I'm nevertheless personally moving to a Lightheart Solo, one of Judy's new "awning enabled" versions, and I'm opting for a silnylon floor and cuben upper. My sense is that this will be a very nice "sweet spot" in terms of weight and functionality, better in humid/rainy situations, hopefully as good as the Moment in windy conditions (if enough stakes are used), wonderful in clear and buggy conditions. Not cheap with the cuben option (which is, however, just an option), but pro-rated on a per-day basis, not bad if used on even just one thru-hike I think.

[Tinker]

I saw a number of people on the trail last year with the Contrail, didn't see anyone with the Moment.

Hammocks were by far more popular.

That's because no matter how light, breathable, waterproof, quick pitching, etc, etc, etc, your tent is,
You STILL have to deal with sleeping on the ground.
My campsites are always level and my floor never gets wet or muddy.
But there are some nice tents out there. I still own a Hilleberg Akto, though it's definitely NOT a warm weather tent (unless you buy the optional mesh liner).
I can vouch for the wind-worthiness of the basic single pole hoop style tent, though. The smoothness of the curve minimizes the flapping that heavy winds cause in flat sided tents. Snow loading (in the Akto) is a weak point, though, due to the broadness of the curve (a flat topped tent or one with slightly angled roofline would be worse, however). Knocking off the snow before it builds up too much is a must with my Akto.

[Ramble~On]

Looking to purchase a one man tarp tent. Not sure which one to get. Looking at the Contrail and the Sublite Sil. Any opinions on either? TY.

I have a few and in 2009 I found the Lightheart. I thru hiked with it and it was perfect. What I like most about it is that it's a double wall..the fly can be rolled up which is really nice when it's hot. With the fly down it's full coverage and a nice size vestibule. Weighs under two pounds and has more headroom than anything I've found that compares to it.
http://www.lightheartgear.com/LightHeart_Gear/Solo.html

[SmokeEater]

Thanks for all the help. I went with the Contrail. I called the company and one of the designers really helped me out with making my mind up. Great people to work with. Now waiting for it in the mail. I did buy it from backcountrygear.com they had free shipping and tarptent could not match.

[Graywolf]

Im stuck in the Moment..