Today I made a stroll up in the vineyards to do some exercise with my new favorite tarp: the MLD Trailstar.
I have some experience with tarps and the learning curve is steep with this one, but I wanted to pitch it in a few different variants under ideal and sunny conditions. And for a Photoshooting too – because its a real beauty!
Thanks to Steven who made my decision for the Trailstar very easy and his pitching guide helps a lot to steepen the learning curve!
I slept already one first night under the Trailstar on a hike with some friends from the trekking-ultraleicht forum. It wasn’t a perfect pitch in the dark – but still, even with a lot of wind it was stable and comfy the whole night.
Some photos from my exercises:
First time: just arrived and pitched on the micro-campsite in my tiny garden. Not so nice – but there wasn’t enough space!
- Peinlich, peinlich!
First field testing:
- Naja – geht so
And now – end of the first training session:
- Mittelhoch und schön abgespannt
- Einfach grossartig
- Ich kann mich beinahe drin verirren
Inside there is so much space, I can even sit in the back behind the stick – and getting lost!
- Flach wie eine Schildkröte
Coming inside is only by crawling – bad weather pitch, flat as a turtle. But I can sit inside near the stick. Opening is on the right side.
- Variante als vierseitige Pyramide
It is possible to use it in a pyramid (four-side) variant like the Duomid (the Trailstar is actually five-side), very high, very good protection with a small opening. The fifth side can be fixed inside.
- Ein schmaler Spalt als Eingang
- Die fünfte Seite kann innen fixiert werden
- Mit vier Stöcken kann das Trailstar beinahe als LeanTo aufgebaut werden
With 4 sticks it is possible to pitch it more open – 3 sides are fixed on the ground, the other 2 sides can be lifted an still be fixed under tension. I had only 2 sticks with me – therefore on this photo I was holding two guylines.
Conclusion: I love it! It is simple and it is flexible: with the same tarp I can sleep completly „indoor“ when weather conditions are bad or worse; or I have the open feeling of a tarp with close contact to nature.