Cuben Trailstar

Oh but what sheets of fabric

eagerly awaiting my customs bill

It was 'only' $295 for a short while as a pre-xmas offer.

I couldn't resist it.

I wanted one, when I saw it, but I didn't need one - damn!

The Cuben version will have less give in it and will be a bit more "fussy" about where and how it's pitched  - (paraphrasing Ron). But, the weight is fantastic.

And, the Trailstar has proved itself (Scottish) stormproof!

If I was buying one for the first time I'd give the Cuben a shot, but it's just too much for me to have two versions.

Mike, could you give some feedback on the Cuben version - please?

The issue for me would be just how easy it would be to pitch on rough ground with a bit of a hoolie going on? The beauty with the silnylon version is you can pitch it out of line - so to speak - and yet still get a taut pitch.

If anyone is looking for a single skin shelter with plenty of room to play in then I can fully recommend the Trailstar - it is a proper lightweight shelter that will take stormy weather!

vegan-hiker,

The footprint is large. Its not as much of an issue as you would think.

I've pitched over clumps of heather, eg. There is so much room, you could pitch over rocks etc in places where having a fitted in groundsheet would make it impossible.

No problem on feedback, Aguirre.

I was going to buy the silnylon version, but the cuben version appeared on the site last month. I exchanged a few emails with Ron before i ordered it, about the pro's and con's of the cuben version. He reckoned it would be even stronger than the sil version.
Quite big cat curves are on the base of the sil version, to enable a taught pitch. The cuben version doesn't need that, so you can get it pitched closer to the ground.
He reckoned that anyone can pitch the sil version almost perfectly first time, but the cuben version will have more of a learning curve.

I'm looking forward to playing with it.

True.

What colour is yours?

 Mine's grey.

Are you opinionating on having used a Trailstar, or, are you making an ill-informed observation ed h?

vegan hiker,

My prefered set up:

-  is to use a sheet of Wickes secondary glasing - immensly strong and very light.

- a Titanium Goat Ptarmigan bivy - keeps out any draughts and creepy crawlies - and adds to   the sleeping bag range by a few degrees.

- there has been some debate on whther a trailstar can take an inner. I know Sean at Oookworks does one and it looks good. The issue for me is that having an inner (in the traditional sense) limits the pitching possibilities.