MLD Trailstar

[Mickl]

Hi all

Been looking at the MLD Trailstar of late and just wondering if anyone here has one / had one and what their thoughts on it were in particular room in them and how easy to set up etc? Reason asking is I help out on a school trip each year and usually sleep under a tarp as thats what the kids do and thought that the trailstar might be a good option for the times when the weather is a bit iffy! Just after any thoughts people have on them.

Also thinking about looking at an SS2 as a tent option as I have always avoided tents that use trekking poles but am starting to think I might be missing out on some great shelters as a result!

TIA.

[Franco]

You can also use the SS2 as a "tarp" fly only.
In that mode you could have 4 or 5 kids sitting inside having a chat or something.
not having a pole in the middle helps with that...
I don't have a good photo to illustrate that right now but this set up (still including the inner...) should give a good idea.
A family of four did the Appalachian Trail inside that :


about 700 g fly only.
here is one photo from TT :

[photohiker]

Trailstar is great. Needs a pole and a good amount of space. Very strong, and is well regarded in the Scotland highlands. More enclosed than a flat tarp but more open than a tent. Also lighter than most tents. Can accommodate a few 2-3 for sleeping or more for a shelter under the rain.

I use mine anywhere there is enough space so depends where you go.

[Mickl]

Franco, I had considered the SS2 to use as tarp only which would work and might be worth looking at as apposed to buying both items and adding to my already too large tent collection but I have not seen either tents in the flesh so not sure about shelling out the cash without crawling around in it first.

Photo hiker, if you're in SA depending on your location would there be any chance I could possibly take a look at the trailstar one day when its convenient to you? Might make the decision to look at one a bit easier.

[kitty]

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Last edited by kitty on Mon 01 May, 2017 4:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[photohiker]

Mickl, no worries. We're away for a while but will contact you when we're back. June should be ok for us.

[Mickl]

Thanks mate that would be great. If I can find someone near me with a SS2 now for a look I should be sorted!

[Chezza]

You can have a look at mine. It needs a bit of minor repair, though. I'll PM you soon when it is ready to be pitched again.

[Mickl]

That would be fantastic mate. Thanks.

[Eljimberino]

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Last edited by Eljimberino on Mon 01 May, 2017 8:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[whitefang]

Be nice if nearly every thread didn't turn into a TarpTent ad.

Mickl had mentioned wanting to try a TarpTent in his first post.

[Eljimberino]

Mickl had mentioned wanting to try a TarpTent in his first post.

Yes you're correct, thought he was referring to s2s tarps. Edited.

[Walk_fat boy_walk]

Reckon a Trailstar would be a fantastic acquisition. I looked very seriously at them (along with a few other options) and in the end the footprint size steered me towards a mini version (Cricket, I think originally mooted as a mini-star or something like that, not to be confused with the "Little Star" MLD had for a while). In either case I love having the trade-off between a mid and an open side... I know you're suppose to pitch the open side away from the predominant wind but I always pitch towards the view . I'm pretty happy but in hindsight I reckon the size of the Trailstar would have only been an issue 10% of the time and might've been a worthwhile tradeoff for the extra space.