Trailstar question(s).

The catenary cut, surely it's a negative point in the UK where a straight cut could see it less open to horrible winter weather, after all there's no need for ventilation with that massive gaping "door". ?

Is there a UK version. ? (or is that a sl3? i'd be needing  ) 

Being a dedicated tent man largely due to being a cold arse could i cope with that door for 4 season use. ?

Any die hard true tent people that have gone the trailstar route that can comment?, i would deffo go for a solo solid inner btw. 

---

Include a little history in your walks. Pecsaetan - Ancient Derbyshire, Staffordshire and South Yorkshire - http://pecsaetan.weebly.com/

The cat cut is there to give better tension on the edges, you can hunker it down to block the wind though. I usually leave a gap of around 6" so there's plenty of airflow for cooking but it's still keeping the weather out.

The cat cut isn't as severe as it looks on some pics, Colin Ibbotsons' review on Andys' site looks much more exaggerated than mine.

http://www.andyhowell.info/Colin-Ibbotson/Trailstar-review.html

Thanks for that.

Can you pitch it limpit like tight to the ground. ?

Being a cold sleeper used to a "proper" tent this is my main worry, add a solid inner to that though.

Also if you do pitch it so, what's the headroom like?, i never use walking poles, i hate them so have no reference. 

---

Include a little history in your walks. Pecsaetan - Ancient Derbyshire, Staffordshire and South Yorkshire - http://pecsaetan.weebly.com/

You can keep the pole at the same height and just tug the sides in a touch so they're a bit steeper, if you pegged it right at the webbing loop it'd be near enough on the deck. Plenty of room to sit up, I usually have my centre pole set at around 120cm (7 on my Pacer Pole)

I use a 200g bivvy in mine so that keeps any draughts out, I'm used to sleeping under tarps anyway so don't mind a bit of extra air. You definitely get the feeling of being outside rather than cosy in a tent, on the colder nights you notice an arm escaping the sleeping bag. No probs there though just a case of matching the bag to the season.

As long as you get the door pointing away from the wind and rain you'll stay dry. If the wind switches you can change the door to another side in the matter of minutes or close it right off.

Shewie wrote (see)

you can change the door to another side in the matter of minutes or close it right off.

Thanks again Shewie.

That's the crux of it for me, given you can pitch it tight to the ground.

Does closing the door off completely leave that area at all flappy, and is it a simple operation. ?

I've never used a tarp before btw. 

---

Include a little history in your walks. Pecsaetan - Ancient Derbyshire, Staffordshire and South Yorkshire - http://pecsaetan.weebly.com/

You can unpeg the door guyline and pull it in towards the centre of the shelter, it gives a kind of V shape and fairly loose. The only other option I've tried was to shuffle the sides in a bit and then peg the door panel down and behind a neighbour, you get a square pyramid then instead of five sided.

This too twiggy...

http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/forum/forummessages/mps/dt/1/UTN/52189/last/1/V/100/SP/

I'm not a great fan of tarps either; but 400g all-up is a silly weight to be able to carry for a decent amount of protection. I prefer some nice 'solid' walls about- its an anxiety thing

twiglegs wrote (see)

Being a dedicated tent man largely due to being a cold arse could i cope with that door for 4 season use. ?

Any die hard true tent people that have gone the trailstar route that can comment?, i would deffo go for a solo solid inner btw. 

Tried using your tent with the flydoor wideopen in winter?  That will give you an idea

I might consider a (sil) TS if I could test drive one first

I know you are considering an inner, but for any others who haven't tried it:

In winter,  I've used (without bivis) Saunders spacepacker (fly only occcasionally -all seasons)  for years, the Golite Hex with and without inners, and an Oware pyramid (single skin) .  The warmth/draught free experience from a solid inner is very significant!

Single skin in winter is quite a different experience from a 2-skin tent.  Much colder/draughtier IME.(though often less condensation, can get frost on your sleeping bag!)