MLD Trail Star Tarp Review

[@CDAFishboy]

Glad I ran across this review. I have asked you for the weight of the setup in a previous setup, but all the details in this video answers all my questions. Considering my first trip to the Wind River Range, I experienced a storm from hell. My vestibule only had an inch gap to the ground and was tight. The wind was so strong that the rain was horizontal. The inside of the tent was soaked along with contents. And that with a free standing tent, the MSR Hubba Hubba. On top of that I have had numerous occasions where goats, deer, etc, come looking for salt soaked gear. Boots, trekking pole handles, my laundry hanging, stolen camera bags. In 42 years of backpacking I guess just about every situation has come up. I’ll stick with my tent setups that represent my personal experiences. My first aid kit is 8 Oz, probably more than most people, but it has everything I have needed for me and any partners or others I have helped. I am limited to 10 miles and 2,500 ft elevation gain per day with the extra wt I carry. But if I leave the fishing gear or the heavy Nikon SLR behind I always regret it. Anybody with as much experience has their own setup dialed in to the comfort, experiences, and abilities. Safe travels, and maybe Insee you in the Winds, or Cloud Peak Wilderness as we share those destinations. Maybe I catch you elsewhere, I get around from the Olympics to Wyoming to Canada

[@BryanDeLay]

Glad you watched this review CDAFishboy! Yes everyone with a lot of backpacking experience has their system dialed in based on their experiences and abilities. Although I started backpacking at the age of 12, most of my experience has been in the last 35 years, which includes over 13,000 miles in 25 states. During that time my gear has changed dramatically from carrying 50 to 65 pounds to now carrying 20 to 35 pounds. I've never had any animals attack my gear, but I've been in some very nasty storms in the Winds and especially very heavy rain events in the southern Appalachians. To date I'm very pleased with my gear and have not encountered any issues that I've not been able to deal with.

[@jurgschupbach3059]

Do ya tramp in Idaho?

[@EvansBackpackingVideos]

Great look at your tarp and a very helpful explanation. Thanks!

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Evan!

[@goldilocks878]

Thank you Bryan, for this excellent review and instructional video. I've just bought a Trailstar and this video has been so helpful. I've subscribed to your channel and I'm looking forward to watching more videos. Thanks, again, Norrie (Scotland)

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you goldilocks! So glad my video helped. It seems there are more people in Scotland and the UK using Trail Star tarps than in the US. Also thanks for the subscription and hope you enjoy my channel.

[@titan90000]

Great overview of how you use your tarp. You can definitely tell you have honed your setup with tons of experience in the field. Myself I am just getting back into using a tarp as shelter. I currently have an ultralight poncho tarp, but I am looking at something larger. The trail star is now toward the top of my list.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks titan90000! Hope you find a tarp that you like.

[@DrJohn493]

Based on this and a few other reviews, and on G. Henrickson's reply below, I realized sleeping with a floorless tent is all I ever used growing up, and that was 55 years ago. A heavy canvas army surplus pup tent and an army surplus wool blanket was all I ever needed for shelter and sleeping. And I don't recall anything ever slithering under the tent. Skeeters here in the southeast were always a problem though. With today's mosquito netting like BD demonstrated, in really buggy conditions there's now an ultralight solution to keeping the sketters at bay. So with all this in mind, I just ordered the MLD Trailstar. Tightly rigged, I don't think weather exposure will be an issue. Looking forward to using it when it arrives.

[@BryanDeLay]

John, hope you enjoy the MLD Trail Star. I've been using a tarp since 1998 and have never had a critter come under my tarp in over 1,000 nights.

[@DrJohn493]

@@BryanDeLay Did my first backyard practice pitch using the overhead line method. Do you leave the Easton stakes "permanently" tied to tarp's stakeout lines, even when you pack the tarp in it's stuff sack? The underside hooks on one or two of the seams will be ideal for hanging a Big Agnes Mountain Glo light string from.

[@BryanDeLay]

No I remove the stakes when I take down the tarp, but I leave the cords attached to the tarp. I have cords attached to the hooks to hang things on, mostly wet clothes that need to dry out.

[@jeffgilpin]

Hey Bryan...great video. I just started using a tarp. I love the deeper connection to nature, but had a night a couple weeks ago where the rain was blowing sideways and I got a little wet. I now try and orient the tarp if I can where the entrance is near a tree or large bush that hopefully would block any rain. Have you found a way to block the entrance in case of blowing rain. I thought of using an umbrella or finding a way to clip my rain skirt. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Jeff! If you are using a flat tarp in blowing rain, it can be a challenge. You might try using some small plastic clips for closing an opened bag to attach your rain skirt, but you may have to put duck tape over any teeth the clip may have. The Trail Star could be set up with all five corners staked down and one side open about three feet high, which provided pretty good coverage. Currently I'm using a Hammock Gear tarp with doors. It's 9.5 feet wide by 11 feet long. Set up in an "A" frame with both doors closed it's about 5 feet by 7 feet of covered area. Another thing I do in a hard rain is to fold a foot or so of my ground sheet over my gear, which helps keep rain from splashing onto the ground sheet. Hope this helps.

[@Bandare]

Fabulous review Bryan. Could you tell me again what the clips are that you use for the cord? I think you said an Sbator and a Nike Cord tensioner? Would that be correct?

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you Bandare! One is a Nite Ize "S" biner and the other is a Nite Ize rope tightener (small) found here: niteize.com/figure-9-rope-tightener.

[@kylep6194]

Bryan - I love your videos. I purchased a ZPacks Triplex for the summer of 2020. I really like it. Seeing how you pitch the Trailstar makes me want to try out a tarp as well. I like how large the Trailstar is and how many configurations you can do with it. I did a Wind Rivers trip with Dave Rock (Fike and Hish) last month and your name came up a couple of times. If you're ever in Utah/Wyoming and looking for a hiking partner (especially if you want to visit the Winds) let me know.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you Kyle! I've been using a tarp since 1998 and have never gone back to a tent. That's cool that you did a trip with Dave Rock. I ran into him and his son last year in the Winds. They were really nice people.

[@Bandare]

A super helpful video. Did you get the DCF version as you said you might? I've heard it's less forgiving to the sil nylon because the material doesn't give at all.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Bandare! Yes I got a DCF Trail Star in late April 2019 and currently have 247 nights of using it. The DCF is more challenging to get the tarp taunt in some configurations because it does not stretch. There are trade offs with the two fabrics. DCF is not as durable and I've had to patch it in five places now. In fact I've ordered a silnylon MLD Duomid and should get it any day now.

[@Bandare]

@@BryanDeLay Great to hear. If you had to take just one, which trailstar would be your defacto choice?

[@davyhaynes6716]

Bryan, Really enjoyed your N. Citigo/Brush Mtn loop video and saw this one. I use a MLD Doumid, and I like your method for supporting your trailstar with the line. I'm going to try that setup with my doumid. Getting rid of the center pole will make a huge difference in the shelter. Best Regards, Davy

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks for watching both videos Davy. Hopefully the overhead line works with your doumid.

[@davyhaynes6716]

Tested it this weekend on a overnighter to Bald River Falls trail. I like how it frees up some much more useable space without the central pole.

[@BryanDeLay]

Glad the overhead line worked for you. For me it's not so much about more useable space as it is about not having to work around a pole in the center of the tarp. I love Bald River Gorge Wilderness and go there two or three times a year.

[@davyhaynes6716]

Well, I guess that's really what I mean--not having to navigate and sleep around the pole. The Falls trail was nice. Lots of folks around the falls, but nobody out beyond a 1/2 mile or so. We had our pick of camping spots along the creek. I was surprised no one else was camping out during a holiday weekend. Still, the other side of the Skyway (Citigo) is may favorite.

[@markmessick8691]

Excellent! I am trying to ditch my tent and go to a tarp set up.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Mark, glad you enjoyed the video. I've been using a tarp since 1998 and have over 1,000 nights using a tarp and have no plans to go back to a tent. Of course you do need to be smart about where you set up the tarp and avoid areas where water can pond. To me a tarp is much better in the Southern Appalachians where it can rain a lot. Rather than being stuck in a small tent for hours, a tarp provides more space with the ability to see out when it's raining for hours at camp.

[@peckshadow]

Excellent video and explanation. Do you ever have any problems with critters of any type coming under the tarp?

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Rikki Peck! I started using a tarp in 1998 and have spent over 1,200 nights under a tarp. I'm a very sound sleeper, so as far as I know I've never had a critter come under my tarp.

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

Thanks Bryan. Very nice review!

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you G Henrickson! Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@lb10445]

I'm a free standing tent user and can't seem to understand the advantages of a tarp setup such as this one. I suppose the immediate advantage is about two fewer lbs of weight. Another advantage might be airflow. Does it get stuffy under a tarp during a humid, windless night? It sure can in a tent. Is condensation a problem with a tarp, to the degree it can be in a tent? Thanks for the informative video!

[@BryanDeLay]

DR Hayden, yes a big factor is weight savings, but also is more space, which is really nice particularly in the southern Appalachians where you may get to camp and be under the tarp for hours because of rain. So rather than being enclosed in a small tent I have lots of room and can see out too. Of course the downside is a splash factor from the rain, but I've learned to deal with that. It's not as stuffy as a tent, but there can be some condensation if the tarp is rigged low to the ground, but not as bad as a tent. Hope this helps!

[@CesarValdez13]

Thanks for such a detailed breakdown, I appreciate all the attention you gave to the various nuances of this shelter. I especially like that you set up the bug net inside and your mods. The golf tees, that's a brilliant idea, and the first time I've heard about it! I see lots of people include that bug net in their gear lists, but rarely see it set up. Seems like a great solution, though I have a few concerns about it that perhaps you could address? One is ticks, mice, slugs, snails, and other such pests getting in by crawling under. Is this an issue? Have you had any problems with pests creeping inside? Next is how fine the netting is. There are lots of midges/noseeums where I live, so I have to have bug nets that are fine enough to not let those tiny biters in. So how fine is the net on the STS bug net? I bought a head net from STS before, and was disappointed to find that it had holes big enough to let midges in. Happy trails to you!

[@jamiethompson1764]

600 holes per square inch is what you need for midges and the sea to summit won't do the trick. Try the ultralight (Nylon mesh) series from Cocoon. Comes in various shapes/sizes to fit your needs and is lighter than most other nets on the market. Only downside is less ventilation, so not as good in hot climates. Ideally you would have a 600 holes per inch for colder midge climates, and ~300 for hotter mosquito climates. www.cocoon.at/products/index.php/p/moskito_netze_en

[@BryanDeLay]

Cesar, thanks for the comments and glad you enjoyed the video. Sorry to be so long in getting back with you, but I've been backpacking in Wyoming for the last six weeks and had limited internet access. I've been using a tarp to backpack with since 1998, which is almost 1,100 nights, and have had very few problems with pests even when I don't use a bug net, which is most of the time. The most common issue is with granddaddy long legs (LOL), although a year ago I had a mouse chew a small hole in my sleeping bag. I compared the Sea to Summit bug net to the no seeum netting on a Big Agnes tent I have and also to a 600 holes per square inch Cocoon bug net that I"ve had for years. The Cocoon has the most holes per square inch and the Sea to Summit has the least. It appears to me that the Sea to Summit bug net is about 300 to 400 holes per square inch. However the Sea to Summit bug net has worked well for me. Most of my trips are in the Southern Appalachians Mountains and I only use a bug net to read in a bug free environment in the summer. When I go out west to the Rockies I use the bug net most of the time because of the mosquitoes with all the flat water and marshes. Hopefully this helps.

[@kylep6194]

Bryan - How can I get a ridgeline tensioner like you show at 5:52? Dutchware has some that are similar, but I can't find anything that look like what you're using.

[@BryanDeLay]

Here's what I've been using for many years: www.niteize.com/product/Figure-9-Small.asp.

[@kylep6194]

Thank you

[@jeremyking3986]

Very informative, I was going to ask you about the set up, but as a see, the more videos I watch, the more questions are answered. And 450 nights? Are you a professional backpacker? I’m trying to work up to 10-15 nights a year. And have you ever done any of the big 3 in there entirety in one hike?

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Jeremy! Not sure I would be considered a professional backpacker, but since 2011 I've averaged 75 to 100 nights a year. Although I've never done a thru-hike, I've backpacked over 12,000 miles in 25 states in the last 30 years. Multi-day trips, 5 to 7 days, are my favorite, but I've never had any interest in thru-hiking.

[@LtJAS]

Does SOL emergency blanket actually help reflect/deflect cold? If so, I could retire my Tyvek and save a few ounces! :)

[@BryanDeLay]

Probably not very much the way I'm using it. The SOL is certainly lighter than Tyvek and from my experience more waterproof. It's 5' X7' and cost $5.00 at REI. Normally I get 30 to 40 nights before I have to replace it.

[@DrJohn493]

What was the biggest mental block you had to overcome switching from a tent to a tarp set up? I'm currently using a BA Seedhouse UL1 or a Copperspur UL1. I'm thinking about making the switch to a tarp rig but still have a few lingering reservations, mostly related to dealing with rainy, wet weather.

[@MrRourk]

Using a Ooworks or Borah Bivy there is not much of a difference.

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

You just need to shift from being separated from nature and... embracing nature. Rarely does a denizen of he forest come under you tarp to visit and it they do...who cares? For the times when you are clouded with bugs, I can get by with a scrap of softer bug netting that has elastic or cord sewn around the edge to cover whatever is not covered by my sleeping bag while sleeping. If its warmer or you are spending a day in camp, you will want a roomy bug net such as is available on aliexpress or from MLD itself, as your budget allows.

[@ndixie]

Just curious as to how you have dral with snakes during the warmer months.

[@BryanDeLay]

I've never had an issue with snakes ndixie and I've slept under a tarp over 1,200 nights since 1998. Not much different than sleeping in a three sided shelter on the AT.

[@tombarber860]

Thanks for this very informative video. I’ve been using tarps for 50 years and still learned a bunch from your presentation. I’ve since been looking for the cord tensioner you used but have not found it. Do you have any sourcing info on it? Thanks again!

[@BryanDeLay]

That's a long time to be using a tarp Tom. The cord tightener is by Nite Ize and you can buy one directly from them here: niteize.com/figure-9-rope-tightener. Hope this helps!

[@tombarber860]

@@BryanDeLay thanks Bryan. Not the same tarp for 50 years. Now have DCF.😀

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

Very nice video. Thanks! UPDATE: Yikes...I am back a third time to watch how you pitch your Trailstar. I almost never watch a video three times.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you G Henrickson!

[@rtucker51]

Thanks for the review. Always love your videos. I spend a lot of time in Pisgah...Shinning Rock, etc...always wonder if I'll pass you some day.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks rtucker! Glad you enjoy my videos. If you ever see me in Pisgah please say hello.

[@rtucker51]

Will do. Taking a MLD Duomid to Yellowstone soon. Can't wait.

[@BryanDeLay]

Just got back from six weeks backpacking in Wyoming. Did three trips in the Winds, a 4 day solo, a 7 day with a friend and 3 day solo. Then did an 8 days in Yellowstone with two friends. Videoed the 7 day Wind trip and the Yellowstone trip. Will get the videos uploaded as soon as possible. Have fun in Yellowstone.

[@rtucker51]

Can't wait to watch them.

[@marbles8901]

Great video Bryan. I'm now looking into the ridgeline setup for my Trailstar. Have you considered making a fitted groundsheet? I'm looking at 30D silnylon cut to the trailstar dimensions, with a 3-4 inch tub wall. Without the pole in the centre, this becomes an easier project.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you Mark! I've looked at some cuben fiber (now DCF) bathtub ground cloths in the past, but haven't decided to change from the ground cloth I'm currently using.

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

A fitted groundsheet would be difficult as the different heights give rise to a smaller/larger footprint. Why not instead embrace nature...use a ground cloth just larger than your sleep system and a bug bivy as needed.

[@vincevarriale3294]

Brian Thanks for the review of the tarp. Got to ask the question do you feel there is a big difference between this and a square tarp? Which one do you consider more versatile regarding pitches?

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks for watching Vince. Thought you would be the first comment. I've never used a square tarp, but for about 11 years I used a 10' X 12' silnylon tarp. The 10 'X 12' tarp had more versatile pitches and was certainly cheaper, but with the ability to use a hiking pole, or stick for that matter, for support I've never not been able to pitch the Trail Star. The big advantage of the Trail Star is it's ability to withstand strong wind. Hope this helps. Just let me know if you have any more questions.

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

Square and rectangle tarps are great...until the wind becomes a problem. You can re-pitch a flat tarp for wind but still the large sides are really great wind catching surface and can adversely affect you sleep.

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

A shaped tarp is much better in windy/scary conditions. A good trade off.

[@zettle2345]

Bryan I have to ask... 45 ft. of string for 1 attachment point? Why not just look around you and make a bi-pod or tri-pod to hold up the tarp?

[@BryanDeLay]

As mentioned in the video I can use my hiking pole to support the tarp and do often, but I prefer not to have any obstruction inside the tarp so I use an over head line. Forty five feet of the cord I'm using weighs about an ounce and takes less than 5 minutes to tie off between two trees. I can have the entire tarp erected by the time I found large sticks to make a bi-pod or tri-pod.

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

That is way too much work. Plus the branches needed would be too long, too awkward and a disaster waitng to happen. Why not carry one ounce of line? Also...most folks use a hiking pole inside to hold it up.

[@paulsutton5686]

Excellent video!! Thanks

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you Paul! Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@armstrong916]

Hi Bryan, Great review and I'm considering the Trailstar. I hike mostly in California and I need to find a tent that can handle the weather and bugs and rain. I'm concerned that the Trailstar will be an issue with the high sierras and the mosquitoes that can be hell and sometimes strong bug spray wont stop them. In addtion, the wind can really pick up in the mountains and has blown down several tents in the past. Would you recommend this tent for high winds and heavy mosqutoes?

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you Ricky for watching my video and commenting. The Trail Star can be staked out with ten stakes and if you can get the stakes in good firm ground it is very wind proof with all five corners staked down and a hiking pole or stick in the middle of one side for access. I've used it in 50 plus MPH wind and the tarp did great as long as I had the stakes in good firm ground. Occasionally I might have a stake pull out if the ground is soft, but in that case I'll put a rock on top of the stake or stakes. You can find several videos on KZbin of the tarp in high winds. Regarding mosquitoes, I've used the tarp on nine Wind River Range backpacking trips with a bottomless bug net and I didn't have a problem. I would think that the mosquitoes in the Wind River Range are similar to high Sierras. Also MLD sells a bug net with a floor, which you may consider. Hope this helps.

[@tullochgorum6323]

Hi - like you i've got the sil version. From what I hear the cuben version is less flexible in terms of pitching options. You might want to have a good chat with Ron before you take that step. With my usage, Ron advised me strongly to stick with the sil.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks for the advice. I've read about the differences on MLD's web page. I may talk to Ron before I make a final decision.

[@tullochgorum6323]

I like the look of that SOL blanket you're using - better than the generic Mylars I use, with very little weight penalty. Think I'll get hold of one. The tree suspension is pretty cool too - not something that would get much use on the treeless UK hills, but worth knowing for my trips abroad.

[@kentmulter]

Hi Bryan, very nice video! I just went to your KZbin home page to check out your other videos. Something is wrong there. I had a lot of trouble pulling up your Videos and Playlists pages. Occasionally it works, but I usually get either a blank page or an error message. Hope you can get that fixed. Thanks!

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Kent! Glad you liked the video. Also thanks for the information about my channel. For a little while this afternoon I couldn't even access my channel or several other channels, so it must have been a KZbin issue.

[@wyopobo5339]

Great video Bryan. Very informative. Did you ever buy the Cuben Fiber Tarp? thanks for taking the time to make this video.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Martin! Haven't bought the Cuben Fiber tarp yet, but I'm still planning to. I'm heading to Wyoming the end of July and will be there for 4 or 5 weeks. A friend is coming out from 8.15 to 8.25, but I haven't put together our trip yet or any others for that matter. Maybe we can do a trip together.

[@wyopobo5339]

I just finished a 60 mile loop in the Big Horns and i've done 6 smaller trips in the Big Horns since early May. i would like to plan a trip with you. i have a huge loop hike, 20 days, planned starting Aug. 4th till the 24th. this will be in the Teton Wilderness. Let me know what your plans are for July. if you want you can email me. [e-mail] or however you want to keep in touch. thanks Bryan.

[@BryanDeLay]

Martin, I just sent you an email.

[@crawfordsixtyfive453]

Thank you for doing this review, I have been looking at this tarp for quite awhile. I have a couple of questions, one how tall are you? I'm 6'2 do you have any problems entering or exiting the tarp? Second would there be enough room to stretch out and not have to worry about condensation on my head or quilt? Thanks!

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks for the comment Crawford Sixtyfive. I'm 5'9" and don't have any issues. I have a friend who is 6'2", 67 years old and has the Trail Star tarp. He does not have any problems getting in and out of the tarp or stretching out, but he's not been out in really nasty weather. Depending on how you set up the tarp it's not any harder getting in and out that a backpacking tent. However if you have all five corners staked down and the middle of one side up it can be tighter getting in and out. Condensation can be a small issue at times since my ground cloth does not cover the entire tarp area so moisture from the ground can collect on the tarp, but it's never been a serious issue. I've used this tarp in some heavy rains and there can be a splash factor around the edges, but more space and being able to see out is worth it to me, especially if it rains the entire time at camp. I prefer to have the space rather than being cramped in a small backpacking tent. Hope this helps!

[@crawfordsixtyfive453]

Thanks, I appreciate the reply. I think will try this out, there is something about this tarp that really intrigues me.

[@friarrodneyburnap4336]

I would highly recommend using a a silicone waterproofing spray you can put it on the outside and the inside of your tarp it will dry and they'll be spotty areas most likely but your tarp will not leak none of the seams will leak... If you use your Trail Star much I would recommend re using the silicone waterproofing spray every 6 to 8 months of heavy use...

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Friar Rodney Burnap! I've been using a silicone seam sealer, but next time I'll try the spray. Normally I have to seal the seams about once a year and that's using the tarp 75 to 100 nights a year. Maybe I'll put some masking tape on the edges of the seams to keep the spray on the seams only. Again thanks for the tip!

[@onemanwulfpack5954]

Brilliant!

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks! Glad you liked the video.

[@brianbassett4379]

I had mine built with a top hang point so it can be suspended from inside or hung. Sometimes I stop the bike in the rain and use a lanyard to pull the TrailStar up as high as I want, throw out a few lines to open it up, and sit and eat breakfast or lunch staying dry along with my bike. The more wind the lower I go. It can be staked to the ground nice and tight, lifted with one or more hiking and/or tent poles. or canted back for a view, even in driving rain. - photos.google.com/album/AF1QipOF9Y1z-jC-kWykED0Vrt-3ldiMGr_0MIKc_8vb Cuben Fiber is noisier in the rain than other materials but doesn't absorb moisture. The sound actually helps me sleep better in heavy rains knowing that I am staying dry. It's more translucent than other materials which can be both good and bad. Best of all it's light... that also means that it is more fragile, get a repair kit. Worst of all, Cuben Fiber is still expensive. If your top priority is weight, then Cuben Fiber is the way to go. The TrailStar tarp can handle massive winds and keep me very cosey.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Brian for the info, although I get a 404 error when I try to check out the photos. I bought the DCF Trail Star last April and really like it. Having used the silnylon Trail Star over 600 nights and the DCF Trail Star over 70 nights and used both in some pretty nasty storms, I agree the Trail Star is a great tarp.

[@brianbassett4379]

@@BryanDeLay Maybe this one will work for what's it worth. - photos.google.com/album/AF1QipOF9Y1z-jC-kWykED0Vrt-3ldiMGr_0MIKc_8vb

[@wisenber]

Only 656 nights when you made the video? Once you've had a bit more time, I'm sure you'll figure it out.

[@BryanDeLay]

Yea, I just need a little more practice.

[@wisenber]

@@BryanDeLay I never seem to find the ground. That's why I settled for a hammock. I'm thinking about going to Horse Creek and hiking up to the AT in Greene County this weekend. Should be even fewer people than in Citico.

[@DavidKD2050]

No one is ever going to sneak up on you at night. They will break their neck tripping over the labyrinth of lines pegs and poles. 🤣

[@BryanDeLay]

Don't think I've ever had anyone try to sneak up on me at night. Although one night an animal, a deer I think, hit one of my cords.

[@DavidKD2050]

@@BryanDeLay placing little bells 🔔 on the cords, particularly in bear 🐻 country, could put those tie-outs to very good use.

[@BryanDeLay]

After more than 1,500 nights sleeping under a tarp, all most all of which were in bear country, I've never once had a bear try to get in my tarp.

[@DavidKD2050]

@@BryanDeLay obviously you don’t have a “welcome” sign hanging on the door. Bear etiquette dictates this I am told.

[@CDAFishboy]

@@BryanDeLay I had a grizzly circle my tent at Brown’s Pass in Glacier NP. All without incident. But I have had goats get at my leather boots and chew them up. Porcupines have hit gear of my camp mates. Flying squirrels, deer, everything except bears.

[@mikel9567]

Why the hell would someone pay that much for a tarp? That's the price of a decent tent. Seems like the manufacturers just like to rip off people due to it being a niche item.

[@BryanDeLay]

To answer your question Mike L, someone would pay that much for a tarp that: (1) is looking for a lightweight backpacking shelter, (2) prefers the openness and large space of a tarp rather than an enclosed small tent, (3) is not afraid to sleep in the woods without the full enclosure of a tent, and (4) can afford the price. As of today I have used the tarp for 537 nights and I paid $185, so that's a little over $0.34 per night. Pretty cheap in my book!

[@MrRourk]

Wind and rain. The MLD handles them amazingly.

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

Note how many times Bryan has pitched this tarp. And the winds it can handle. And the usable area it covers and how small it packs. That is why the hell someone pay that much for a well designed, shaped tarp. Serious hikers need a serious shelter. And the price is reasonable from where I sit. See you on the trail!

[@friarrodneyburnap4336]

Mister you need to be doing as action as you talk...

[@ovp2go]

Golf T's are a brilliant idea.

[@BryanDeLay]

Just happened to be at a friend's house and we were getting ready to go backpacking and he had some golf tees on the counter. I picked one up and the idea just popped up. So I asked him if I could have four, since I don't play golf.