I have owned the earlier heavier version of this (Chinese copy) Trailstar tent for several years. It weighed close to 800 grams with pegs etc though I have been very happy with it. I decided to give this lighter version a try. It is available from Aliexpress from around A$80 including shipping. Hard to beat. It weighs closer to 350 grams (plus pegs). It very comfortably sleeps two adults and two dogs plus heaps of room for gear to spread out.
I find it goes up best with a couple of 4′ 6″hiking poles or the equivalent bush poles as shown below. I usually carry a rubber tip to ensure that the sharp end of the hiking pole does not puncture the fabric (as shown). The use of my Sprung Tent Pole Extension will keep it nice and taut.
This is our old heavier version. See Two Great Cheap Tents
Here we are using an old 7′ x 7′ hammock tarp as a floor.
I usually use this old 7′ x 7′ hammock tarp I have as a groundsheet for it. This size works perfectly. I believe you can buy this size tarp from Walmart of similar in the US – or you could use a cheap 2 metre x 2 metre blue poly tarp from eg Bunnings – or you could get involved in a bit of DIY.
I have already made a 7′ x7′ (poncho) tarp out of some .93 oz/yd2 ‘Membrane Silpoly from RipsopbytheRoll which I intend to post about soon but it is a bit light for a floor so I am going to remake it out of some old 1.3 oz/yd2 silnylon I have lying around so I have something a bit more robust – and perhaps a tad more waterproof too.
If I am by myself I could just use one of my ‘Holeless Ponchos‘ which I have made out of silnylon and being approx 5′ x 7′ (plus a small hood) it will weigh less but be big enough for one (plus dog and gear).
5′ x 7’ Holeless Poncho
The 7′ x 7′ version will weigh (approx) as follows 49 sq ft = 5.44. sq yds times 1.3 (oz/yd2 = 7.07 oz times 28.5 = 202 grams. Of course there is a little to add for tie-outs reinforcing, pockets etc.
The 5 x 7 will be 35 sq ft = 3.88 times 1.3 =5.05 oz times 28.5 = 144 grams, a saving of nearly 70 grams as you can see.
However the 7′ x 7′ poncho tarp I have made and am remaking also doubles (for me) as a hammock tarp (I am approx 5’7″). I have slept under the old one in a hammock many, many very wet nights and remained completely dry. This is a big plus. Also you can pitch it diagonally as a completely satisfactory ‘tent’ for one.
With the addition of two small ‘wings’ either side of the entry made from a piece of silnylon ie 5′ x 5′ cut in two and cam-snapped to the main tarp it makes a perfectly satisfactory ‘tent’ for two people (plus dogs). They can also add storm protection when the tarp is used as a hammock tarp. As you can see this 5′ x 5′ piece/s adds 25 sq ft = 2.77 sq yd times 1.3 = 3.6 oz times 28.5 = 103 grams.
7′ x 7′ Pitched diagonally.
I am also working on a triangular ‘rain shawl’ which will consist of a piece of silnylon approx 5′ x 5′ x 7′ with attached hood and cam snap closures for use when the main poncho is being used as a shelter (but you need to go outside to answer a ‘call of nature’ etc). This will only be 12.5 sq ft or 1.38 sq yd times 1.3 = 1.8 oz times 28.5 = 52 grams. It will also be useful to close the open end of the diagonally pitched tarp shelter. There will be posts about this.
Of course I decided to add a couple of mods to the Trailstar. I decided to reinforce the centre where the pole supports it with a circular piece of 3.6 oz/yd2 dyneema. This was a devil to sew as I kept ‘catching it up’ on the tent but I/we eventually managed it. I also added a ‘tube’ to enclose the pole and hold it in place, and added a tie-out to this to hang my ‘lantern/torch’ from. I also added a circle of tie outs which I will thread with some string to create a clothes line. I also added a tie-out to the centre top so I could actually use the Trailstar as a hammock tarp if I wanted to. I may add Tent Safety Anchors as in the post Windy Old Weather. though the tent really seems to stand up well to wind (and rain).
I had trouble sewing this as I kept catching it and had to unpick a number of times but eventually I got it right. I am just sewing it along the existing seams one at a time.
You can see where i went wrong here.
I also made this pouch for the pole which has a draw string to hold the pole in place.
And i added a tie-out to hang my torch from.
Here it is all coming together along with a circle of tie-outs which a will add some string to to make a small clothes line.
And here erected.
The tent has stood here like this through strong wind and heavy rain for several days at this point.
Rear view.
I suspect this is going to become my ‘go to’ tent for many expeditions.
