Hi All,

I saw a few people on this year's Chally with tarps called "Trailstar"? and was impressed. Can anyone tell me who makes them and is there a website?

Cheers.

Only 5 weeks to Christmas.

Goddess, they are made and sold by Mountain Laurel Designs. I ordered one at start of October, and they estimate 12 weeks delivery. There was a great article on pyramid tents in TGO by Chris Townsend in Sept or Oct issue.

I have one of these fine items.
Get them from Ron at MLD
http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com/shop/index.php?cPath=21
Worth getting the 9" stakes from Ron as well, unless you already have some.

They are brilliant, but unless you are going to use a bivvy in them, you will also need an Oookstar from Sean at http://www.oookworks.com

Which makes it into a proper shelter.

Zpacks used to make a cuben/nanoseeum half pyramid inner for his hexamid that was a good fit under a trailstar, the one i was using last TGO was weighting 190g ( cuben 0.5oz and nanoseeum).
http://www.randonner-leger.org/forum/viewtopic.php?id=19908

roomier than a bivy , you can sit in it, but lighter than ooworks inner.
he first started doing it with only heavier floor :
http://zpacks.com/shelter/hexanet_solo.shtml
but he doesnt sell it anymore, maybe a custom order ...

otherwise, there is an inner for the MLD cricket tent ( a smaller with less pitching options trailstar ) that should fit well under and isnt too heavy ( but $$$$)


http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=47&products_id=174

I've used the Trailstar on two TGOCs and can say that it is easily up to coping with anything the Scottish weather throws at it.

It does take a while to arrive: mine was 6 weeks - but times can be longer.

If you look at the TGO Mag write up on Pyramid shelters: the silnylon wins out over the cuben version. For ease of putting up the silnylon is the better choice IMO.

Oookworks do some great inners. My personal preference is either a Bug Bivy -from MLD or a bivvy bag - Titanium Goat Ptarmigan.

Guys,

Why not just simply buy an Akto and forget about then having to buy all the additional goodies.....????---simples

I've got one. Akto - that is.

If anyone wants it - £200.

Used for one TGOC and a couple of small trips.

Replaced by Trailstar.

BTW you get very wet inside an Akto on very cold nights

Thanks guys for all your advice. Better get saving my pennies.

Good luck to everyone.

I ordered a Trailstar in September - took 8 weeks for delivery. Can't wait to get away for the 1st time in it.

I was hoping to order one just after Xmas (pennies requested from Santa!). However, money is tight and there are loads of other things I need (well, want) for the challenge so I have just bought a used golite hex 3 and floor. I know it's in good nic as its only been used twice by my mate since I sold it too him originally!

I'm going to order the rectangular bathtub floor from oookworks for it for the challenge though.

Don't get me wrong, I still want a Trailstar... One day!

Mine was ordered end of November.

MLD has updated their order delay message: