MSR Treker Shelter

“http://www.msrcorp.com/tents/trekker_tarp.asp

It's awesome... I want it!”

“Yep, that's the Walrus trekker tarp. I guess MSR bought Walrus.”

“I've been thinking about getting a tarp, that is awesome! $100 pretty normal for tarps?”

“I think it's $120 or something.

For a waterproof, well designed, structure, that's not bad!”

“MSR did buy Walrus.”

“Right on, now if OR buys TNF and MSR and calls itself TOR we will have some awesome gear to buy!”

“I've just always been a tent guy... want something lighter than a tent, but heavier than the stars... looks like the perfect thing”

“"want something lighter than a tent, but heavier than the stars"

WHAT?”

“...a tarp.”

“The sun weighs something like 2 x 10 to the 3oth power kg. Too heavy for backpacking IMHO!”

“You should take a look at Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight 2. The entire tent weighs 3lbs 10oz but it can be used as a very stable and weather-proof tarp with a zippered door for under 2lbs including poles and stakes. I think it's on sale at Campmore right now for $149.00. I am really pleased with mine. If the weather looks real bad I can take the enire tent and if not just the fly and poles. Works great for me.”

“a gigantic nuclear furnace”

“Yeah but it would boil water in a jiffy...right into a gaseous state.”

“MSR's Trekker Tarp is 1/3rd the size (100sqft -> 66sqft) as Walrus' original version. If you set it up strung by chord between two trees you got tons of room 'cause they're no poles to get in your way.

I paid ~$90 for mine and now they are ~$130. The insert was ~$50, and now they are ~$90.

I really dig the roomyness of it and will most likely never use my tent unless forecasted inclement weather dictates otherwise. I used my SD Omega rainfly as my shelter last Nov, using the tent poles to make it a freestanding tarp. It was nice, and served its purpose, but it just didn't have the mobility under it that the TT does. Once you taste the tons of space, a tiny tent just ain't no place!”

“I really like my Megamid. Black Diamond has a Betamid that is similiar to the Trecker Tarp.”

“Now dagnabbit Mr.bacpac, wha'did'ja have to go and do that for? A Teepee-style tent is THE ONE piece of gear that I'd love to have...just to have it...even though I don't need it. Sierra Trading Post has been advertising a Moss Superfly 4 that keeps catching my eye. There's just something about that primitive design that makes it so rad. I know I'd use it if I had one, but I don't need another shelter (I keep telling myself).”

“Keep in mind - REI is still selling last year's TT from Walrus for $70. The bug insert can still be found for less than $35.”

“I am in the process of purchasing gear since I am new to hiking & bping. Can someone tell me what are the advantages/disadvantages of a tarp vs a tent. I looked at the web site for the tarp you were talking and found it interesting. I was wondering how your stuff stays dry but I just saw that you can buy an insert with a bottom. Do all tarps come with inserts or do you take a chance on bad weather (water running threw the tarp). Would it be good for a "newbie" to buy a tarp or should they stick with a tent till they get more experinced in bping?”

“One major reason I am considering a tarp purchase is ventilation.
No matter what time of year it is you sweat somewhere around a quart of water through the night.

Another advantage is space versus weight a tent with the same ground space as a tarp typically weighs more.

Another advantage is cost. A good tarp costs less than 100 dollars..add a mesh insert for another $50 and you have a very versatile shelter system for almost anytime of the year except heavy snow.

One thing you should think of when you buy gear is "How Versatile Is This Piece of Gear?"

If you don't have to worry about bugs you can leave the mesh insert at home and use the tarp and a ground cloth at under 1.5 lbs!

If you want to learn more about lightweight backpacking search old threads or visit www.backpacking.net

There is also a Yahoo Group named backpacking lightweight.”

“Walrus, Moss, who's next for MSR?”

“ewker,

i like a tarp in the spring and fall when i'm alone. i just use a 8 x 10 nylon tarp ($20 at BRMS)and a tyvek ground sheet. the weight savings is great. in buggy weather, when my wife is with me or in mid winter, i use a tent. i may try to find a mesh bivy of some type so i won't mind tarping during bug season. i like the light weight very much. i also feel like i need to set up my tent if i carry it, with a tarp i just sleep under the stars if weather permits. you can set tarps up to be rather weather tight. the trekker looks pretty weather tight as far as rain as do the megamind and betamind. just make sure you have a ground sheet of some sort.”

“I like that tarp, its kewl but if I was to get a 2 man shelter it would be a Seara Designs meteor ligt CD”

“Tarpy, it looks like you have to carry FOUR TREKKING POLES to use that MSR tarp!

My tarp cost $35 at Campmor.

Ewker, I think my tarp may be dryer than my tent cause if you pitch it on a high spot, the rain soaks into the ground, vice puddling in your tent. I'd take the tent before I'd mess around with mesh inserts - that would defeat the purpose of a tarp.”

“HAVE TO USE FOUR POLES??? I string my TTarp up via chord strung between two trees...no poles needed there. When I want to use the awning I use either my hiking poles or most of the time I use a long sticks with a V ontop to hold the awning up. And how does a mesh shelter under a tarp defeat the tarp's purpose?”

“My tent is not heavy or complicated, but the tarp is less heavy and less complicated. If I started adding stuff to pack with the tarp, I may as well have the tent.

It's a personal preference thing, and I don't bring the tarp if I expect bugs!”