Contrail or Moment

[bmike-vt]

I know several TDrs used the TarpTent Contrail this and last year.
Wondering how it fares in wind and driven rain? Maybe even with a bit of snow?

I'm testing out a bivy setup, but for the weight a Contrail can't be beat for what it offers.

Any thoughts on the Moment vs. Contrail?
Online reviews / comparisons point to both as being stable and solid - if the Contrail is pitched correctly.

Seems the Moment sets quicker, is a bit heavier, and has a long pole to create the arch, but isn't suseptible to wind as much as the Contrail. The Contrail can use a trekking pole (something I would have when not using it with the bike), and no need for the long bent pole.

I have a Contrail on back order, and can likely switch it to a Moment...
Thoughts?

[joeydurango]

No personal experience with the Contrail, but I really like my Moment.  Packs small and light, is quick to set up, and best of all, only uses two stakes to set up very solidly.  I swapped out the stock round peg stakes for a couple of MSR Groundhogs and the Moment is very stable even in wind.  It helps to orient one of the ends into the wind - as with all the TarpTents.  Lots of room inside, can sleep two in a pinch, has a small vestibule for gear.

Took a quick look at the Contrail on Henry's site and I'm not positive what the weight is with a pole (since you won't be using a trekking pole).  I bet that, pole included, the Contrail's weight would be awfully close to the Moment's.

[bmike-vt]

No personal experience with the Contrail, but I really like my Moment.  Packs small and light, is quick to set up, and best of all, only uses two stakes to set up very solidly.  I swapped out the stock round peg stakes for a couple of MSR Groundhogs and the Moment is very stable even in wind.  It helps to orient one of the ends into the wind - as with all the TarpTents.  Lots of room inside, can sleep two in a pinch, has a small vestibule for gear.

Took a quick look at the Contrail on Henry's site and I'm not positive what the weight is with a pole (since you won't be using a trekking pole).  I bet that, pole included, the Contrail's weight would be awfully close to the Moment's.

Contrail with collapsible pole is said to be 24.5 + claimed 2 for the pole, so still under the Moment.
Weight at this scale isn't an issue for me, as I'm looking at a few oz over the pounds I'm shedding...

How small does it pack if the pole goes on the bike?
Website claims 20x4", which would be a pinch in my front harness with woodchippers.

FWIW, the Contrail (without pole) packs to 175 cu. in. The Nemo Gogo (something I looked at but am no longer considering) is much heavier, and packs to 250 cu. in. The Moment packs the same - to 251 cu. in.

[joeydurango]

I carry my Moment, w/ the pole, in a bag I made under the bars.  The bag fits right up against the stem and head tube, under the brake hoses.  I measured mine out to 19" or 19.5", so nominally 20".  Works fine with my normal riser bars, but not sure about Woodchippers.  Remember the Moment has carbon stays in each end that prevent it from packing shorter than about 18" anyhow, even without the pole (not sure if the Contrail has something similar).

The 4" around packed measurement is simply what the drawstring bag measures to.  In the real world, you can smush it down pretty damn small if it's in a bag with compression straps.  I put the tent in its silnylon bag and put that bag in my homemade bar bag, which has compression straps.  I fit rain pants, rain gloves, and some small stretchy warm knit gloves in there as well, and the whole bar bag is about 4" across when packed to go.  The length is where you have to get creative... or at least it was for me.

[bmike-vt]

Yeah, Henry emailed me - the Moment gets no smaller than 18" unless you want to pull the struts out. Might be a deal breaker for use with the Woodchippers... The contrail will go down to 14", pole on the bike somewhere.

[bmike-vt]

Decided to go with the Contrail for its packability. Henry sent over some information on the struts used in the Moment, and the best we could do was get it down to 18" long without removing the struts from the fabric - which I don't want to mess with each night...

That 4" on a flat bar bike would be easy to handle - but on my Fargo (and my road rig) - I've found I like my sleeping bag and pad in the front harness for easy, dry deployment once my tarp or hammock is up. Heavier gear has been riding in the seatbag. The Contrail will likely ride in the harness under the bag, or slid into a pocket on a full frame bag.

[Thumby]

I  used a Contrail on TD.  I cut my struts down by 2" to fit nicely between my 46cm drop setup, gained an inch clearance on each side and had no issues.  I didn't have any rain nights, so can't comment on its effectiveness there.  I did like it, but I sent it home in CO, I just wasn't using it enough and all predictions were for more dry weather.  The Contrail and my bag were a tight fit in my Revelate Sling (the smaller version) but it worked fine. 

[bmike-vt]

Should be here today... test next weekend.
Here in the east I need it for bugs / rain.
For the TD, it may ride along as it is as light or lighter than any setup I've had thus far.

[chrisx]

Sir
In the spring, could you file a report And let us know how much abuse your extra light tent can withstand?
I suppose my question is, Are 1 pound tents a summer time thing, or can they be relied on when the witch of  November comes stealing?

 

[bmike-vt]

plan on using it late this fall... 


i doubt it will work well in heavy snow... but there are some reports of snow, and a few youtube vids. here is one:

http://youtu.be/URRJ4e9byGo

i think the moment is designed to handle high winds / exposure / potential snow better than the contrail.

[bmike-vt]

Tarptent Contrail by mbeganyi, on Flickr

1.8 pounds, with pole and optional rear strut, and whatever else is in the stuff sack.
need to seam seal it, so it will get a bit heavier.

thats 6-7 pounds lighter than my 12 year old tent, and 1.5 pounds lighter than my hammock (without harware), and about 1/2 pound lighter than the bivy + tarp that i carried on my last trip.

[bmike-vt]

first pitch, easy enough. need to seam seal it, and will add a few more stakes, and some additional line for pulling down the sides in bad weather.


IMAG4149 by mbeganyi, on Flickr


IMAG4147 by mbeganyi, on Flickr


IMAG4150 by mbeganyi, on Flickr

[Thumby]

That is a great first pitch!  I had lots of practice, watched the videos, and still have a 50/50 "good job" rate.