Tarptent - ProTrail

I have the Cloudburst 3, and while it's not "UL" enough for this sub, it's only 3lb 6oz, and it's damn palatial for 2 people at 62 inches wide, and as a hoop tent, it's a constant 40" high the entire length of the tent. Yeah, it's single wall, but the ventilation is great unless it's zipped up all the way, but being a hoop tent, I've found that most condensation runs down the sides and out of the tent through the sidewall mesh skirt. And it's wide enough that 2 people can sleep in the middle and never have to worry about rolling up against a moist wall. The clip-in condensation liner eliminates drips, but it weighs a couple of ounces more, and the third pole makes this essentially a (mild) 4-season shelter. I love my Cloudburst 3, if you couldn't tell. I've also had the Double Rainbow and Protrail, and I found both of them to be stellar shelters, but I sold both of them- I didn't need the DR space for solo, and it's too tight for 2p. And I got to the age where I'm not a fan of end-entry tents where I have to contort around a pole on my hands and knees, so I sold off the Protrail. I'm going to move my Slingfin Splitwing along as well. Great tent, but I vastly prefer side entry shelters- GG The One, X-Mid, Yama Cirriform and Hilleberg Akto are going to be my 1p keepers. Wow, I really got off topic there...

Love my protrail!

I would avoid all DCF tents - it’s significantly more voluminous than nylon or polyester. Where on the bike do you plan to store it? Tailbag? Between the handlebars? Off the top of my head, the only single pole single wall not-DCF tent I can think of is the SMD lunar solo. GG the one should also pack down pretty small but it’s two-pole. If willing to add another two pole design - consider the Tarptent Protrail (not li) since I believe it’s fairly tall-person friendly. It’s not side-entry though. Others may chime in with other options.

between three options: (GG the one, tarptent protrail, SMD lunar solo), looks like advertised packed size is similar enough between the tents that it should be a non-issue (they're all approx 2.5L packed). GG the one will be the most delicate/least robust. It's also the lightest. It's got a 10D floor which is....pretty thin to put it mildly. Personally I would want a footprint with this (so factor into weight and size calculations). SMD lunar solo is made of the most robust materials. It's also the heaviest at 26oz. 20D fly and 40D floor. TT protrail is between the two. 20D fly and 30D floor and 24oz. Beyond that - it's just a matter of side entry vs head entry and what features you want.

Tarptent ProTrail. LI Packsize 35 cm x 10 cm that is about 2.75 L. (Tarptent has a photo of the packed tent with measurements). And for side entry the Rainbow LI. Packed size just a bit bigger 44 cm x 10.2 cm., or 3.6L I owned both. the protrail is a minimalist, but with plenty room. The Rainbow is a joy.

My Tarptent Protrail has dealt with some nasty wind above treeline. It's not the perfect tent, it's small and it has front entry but I've been through some serious storms.

Lots of good gear is available on the used market, check out Geartrade and ULGeartrade here on Reddit. I purchased a couple of Tarptent models for under $200, in fact my Protrail was $110 shipped.

Agree with the Geartrade suggestion. I got a Tarptent Protrail for that amount earlier this year.

I came here to suggest the Protrail. I have an older version (not LI).

Can you define "affordable"? Take a look at used gear, r/geartrade and r/ulgeartrade. I picked up my Tarptent Protrail for a $110 shipped.

I'd argue their Protrail is one of the best fully enclosed, high-bug-pressure shelters on the market 

I switched from the Moment DW to the ProTrail because I didn't like packing with struts.

Love my Protrail, it's my go-to for high bug pressure. Plenty roomy inside. No major condensation issues, especially once you learn to properly pitch the side walls. Never any issues with staying dry inside either

The bathtub floor on the protrail is great, never had any issues with rain While you're shopping for tents, consider the Preamble

I've got [this](https://www.tarptent.com/product/protrail/) 3 season tent. It's cramped but incredibly light. Used it for as cold as 10 deg F nights. Not ideal but it works. You wake up to tall the moisture from your breath frozen to the inside of the tend. Works well in heavy rains too but you need to make sure the base is set up so that the venting around the bottom doesn't let water in.

I love my ProTrail.

I think the Tarptent pro trail might be about the same as the GG The One. Listed as 12x4 cylinder. Similar price and similar that it's a single wall with bug mesh at the openings. Big difference is which design you prefer, with side entry vs A-frame style end entry. But I guess the Tarptent uses 20d nylon while the GG uses 10d... So that would lead me to believe the GG packs down smaller.

I personally found the Tarptent Protrail to be one of the most spacious feeling single person UL tents and even spent a couple nights using it with me and a girlfriend though that requires really being close. Costs $240 and weighs 680g all in. (Plus You do need a hiking pole to set it up or get their single pole replacement instead.) The floor is 84” and even at the very very end there is still room for my feet.

Protrail and Motrail both awesome tents from Tarptent. Had a protrail for years. Edit: I guess now they have the protrail and the preamble, which is sort of the 2-person version

You’re looking for a TarpTent ProTrail. It’s the best of this design. I had the “Li” version made of DCF. I used it for the first 500 miles of the AT and loved it. It also fits tall hikers since it’s pretty long.

Look at something like a Tarptent Protrail for an example of how this *general* idea can work more practically. You have ventilation on all of the sides, and the potential for quite a bit more at the head and foot. There's STILL a lot of condensation in those tents, but it's more manageable. The other thing that sucks about this tent format is getting in when it's raining. If it's pouring, there's no realistic way to open it up, get in, remove your rain gear, possibly change into dry pants, etc., without soaking EVERYTHING.

Probably one of the most elegant tents ever designed. It's not perfect for everyone, everywhere, but it's an incredible value and extremely well thought out.

Consider Tarptent. I have both the Notch and Protrail and like both for different reasons and applications.

For solo trips, the Tarptent Protrail is a good tall person tent.

I have a protrail in silnylon and it’s great. Packs down to nothing which imo is better than bulkier but lighter fabrics. Took it to British Columbia for a climbing trip due to space issues, and it held its own. The silpoly version would be an upgrade imo.

A few random thoughts: While you work out what gear suits your needs, start with lower cost or second hand gear. I used a Coleman Raid tent, £30 second hand on eBay for a few years. It was under 1kg. Now I have a Protrail. If you don't use trekking poles, but want a trekking pole tent, you can make pretty cheap carbon fibre poles. The cheapest and best weight saving is to not take stuff. Good luck. Enjoy.

I got the ProTrail Li, only used for one trip that was 6 days but I love it. Getting used to single wall however. Next time I'm bringing a sweedish dish cloth to dry, hoping that helps. I also have Stratospire 2 Sil. I'm debating the Li as my tent is from when the SS2 first came out (like 10-15 years?) and has like 500 nights on it, just starting to see some failures here and there. I'm a slim 6'1" and can easily use either of these tents happily.

I fit fine with my 4 and 6 year olds in a 2 person tent. Kids use half CCF pads. When everyone comes (us 3+ mom and baby) we use 2 tents. Easier to fit at campsites and divide weight. When it was just parents and a kid or two, I would tarp camp while they shared the tent. Just got a protrail li, and I can fit a kid in there with me too!

I like it a lot. I bring an extra bug net when needed, which is rarely the case for me. I also have a Protrail Li for buggy and less windy trips. The solo is viable up to 175 cm, and I use the Duo also with another person sometimes. It's also a little less steep than the Solo ans thus more wind resistant

Tarptent Super light tents, good value. I’ve been happy with mine. I have a double rainbow and a single person. The single person uses trekking poles to setup.  I’d probably stick with free-standing if I buy a new one. Just out of convenience. 

I thought about the xmid and the Tarptent Dipole. Ended up with the Dipole because I'm tall and I didnt like the large footprint required to set up the Tarptent. I got the 1p and it's huge in the inside (for a ul tent).