Ultralight solo tent recommendations

[maverick]

Happy Birthday Mark!
I was going to recommend the rainbow, especially since it is free standing.
I haven't have had any problems with it, we have been through some heavy
down pours and some very high winds, and it has preformed well.

[markskor]

Mav,
My Rainbow tent has not arrived yet...the old "Tent is in the mail" syndrome...but, I read that Henry does not seam-seal his tents, thus the need to seal it myself, etc. before using.
Never had a tarptent, or had to do this before to an entire tent...since you have one, any hints or recommendations...red flags?
Mark

[maverick]

PM sent

[Cloudy]

The easy solution would have been to have had Henry seal it for you at extra cost if that option is still offered. What I usually do is buy a couple of tubes of SeamGrip, rub the seams down with denatured alcohol and paint the stuff on with a very small paintbrush being careful to coat the threads and fill the holes. I tend to believe that care here will pay off later. I do this in sections and let it dry. Sprinkle talcum powder on the dried SeamGrip and rub it in - otherwise it will bond with itself when you fold the tent. I would do the major seams at the very least. I haven't had much luck with the thinned silicone caulk method of sealing so I settled on the labor-intensive method I've described. You can do it while watching TV...

Alan

[MountainMinstrel]

Just follow the directions Henry gives you. It was not very hard to do.

[markorr]

Anyone interested in selling me your Tarptent Contrail at a good price or trading it for a BD Firstlight?

Mark

[oldranger]

Mark,

Having a Contrail myself I'd have to say "Fat Chance" or "Slim Chance." Take your choice, oh yeah somehow they mean the same!

Mike

[markorr]

thanks I called Tarptent, but the Contrail is backordered for at least a month. bummer

[snusmumriken]

Looks like somebody at Backpacking Light is selling a used Contrail.
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin ... d_id=21561" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
PS. I don't know this person, so can't vouch for them.

[markorr]

thanks, they're selling a floorless version. I kind of like the idea of keeping the mosquitoes out.

Random question - I'm off to Mineral King in a few days, does anyone know where to buy chicken wire in San Francisco? or what else works to keep marmots out of the undercarriage of your car? Does plastic work?