MSR Trekker Wing

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I'm thinking about blowing some tax return on it.”

“i kinda like the look of it.”

“Not bad if you don't mind the creepy crawlies crawling all over you in the night!”

“no experience with that particular tarp but I do have a Walrus trekker tarp, the company which MSR bought (they still sell the trekker) and then used some of their ideas for inspiration.

The tarp we have battens down but functions just about the same. IMO, if you're going to have an open tarp you should save some money and weight and buy an 8x10 sil nylon tarp. You'll have many more options for setting it up and it'll work just as well. We use our sil tarp more than the fancy MSR-like model.

We live and mostly backpack in Northern climes. I don't recall ever waking with a creature crawling around on me. Worse thing that ever happened was a brilliant blue lizard came for a visit while I was trying to take a nap. It was cool. Mosquitos can be annoying but a headnet and zipped bag prevent most of the blood letting.
last edited: 2/27/06 9:36:26 PM”

“Thanks for the advice. I'll look for a sil-nylon tarp tomorrow. I can probably get by with a much smaller tarp anyway.

I hike mostly in Eastern MO, Southern IL areas.

I have a good tent for when it's really cold and a good tent for when it's bug season. I'm mainly wanting this for early spring late fall and mild winter nights. (no bugs!!!”

“I have the MSR Twin Peaks, which is my late fall to early spring shelter. Its been a very good shelter for me, but I wouldn't use it on a humid IL/MO night. In warmer weather, I use a tarp just as Sass mentioned with a bivy.”

“Hey T Mac. Based on some previous posts, it sounds like you are heading out west or something. Doing another Rockies trip?”

“Hubcap - I moved to Denver last August! :) I'm working toward the right to call myself a mountainman. You can join me for a trip anytime.”

“WOW...I have both the Walrus Trekker Tarp and the Twin peaks. They are both fantastic. The trekker is great in the summer in Georgia, save money if you need a bug mesh, just get the cheap bug mesh for a cot and hang it from the straps.
These are excellent shelters. I have been in the Trekker tarp in a DRIVING rain in TENN. Rained all night and every other tent we had eventually had some drips.
The Trekker has the advantage of being able to open up for a breeze or close down a bit for blowing rain.”

“You have cool shelters Capt Dan. ;)

Yep, that thing is very storm proof. Birch and I have been through a nasty nasty storm (tornados in the area) in our trekker tarp, but also in our siltarp! We had to hold the trekking poles so they wouldn't blow over for awhile in the sil tarp.”

“That MH Batray Sass and Birch have looks cool. Might wanna check into one of those as it is a full coverage tarp with bug netting.”

“Sass...got to say I was actually happy when I saw someone else had the old Walrus like mine...I sent mine back to Walrus and they added tie out points on the long sides (can really stake that sucker down now).

I actually have 3 forms of shelter I can use. The good old Sil Tarp, the Walrus and the Twin peaks. I like the ROOM. Each of them I can have two people and we still can store our gear.
I actually have used the Trekker with the side used as a porch during a storm. I can sit there in my thermarest chair, brew coffee, smoke my pipe and watch as people stare out of their tiny tents and wish they were with me.
To be perfectly honest....TT bunch got me started on tarping. It is actually pretty easy, as for critters crawling on you....not been much of a problem for me.”

“Sas and XL is this the tarp/tent you are talking about?


I was eyeing it, but I think the footprint is going to be too large for the areas I generally backpack. I know I've had a few occasions where I've had to modify my set up for my 8x10 sil-nylon tarp due to lack of space.”

“The older ones like Sass's which were Walruses were nicer IMHO. They were a subdued color and IIRC much cheaper.”

“Yeah, that's it. Except mine is gren and has a nice walrus on it. Our mesh insert is getting really saggy (it's pretty old though....about six years), I've been thinking of trying to take it in a bit.

It does take up a bit of space in the camp, but it's nice and roomy inside too. It's great to wake up in a heavy rain, flip open the flap, stake it out front porch style and cook from inside.

I need to get my hands on another bat ray, for Abby and her friends that will be coming backpacking w/ us eventually.”

“The Walrus is nice it is the light green ( I like the colors to be a bit subdued. As for the insert, I just started carrying the mosquito mesh that you find for a cot. It has six tie points I can hang it from a line between the two tie in points.
It can take up some room but I have never had trouble.”