Solo John
Trekker
New member and first time poster, hoping for advice from the experienced members on the site.
Having had an MSR Hubba Hubba NX blown down around me in a gale on a summit in Wicklow last year, and having previously used a flat tarp, I invested in a Trailstar, which I love.
I've used it over the winter, getting used to various pitches, including low for protection in high winds. I modified a polycryo sheet, strengthening the corners with duct tape, so I could stake it out as a groundsheet. This, used with an army bivy bag (heavy but very spacious) has given me excellent protection against the elements, ground water and from ticks.
However, as we all know we're entering the dreaded midge season. In Ireland, they're almost as bad as in Scotland.
So, I think I need some midge (and tick) protection, but I'm struggling to decide between a couple of different options, taking into account weight, cost, liveability and protection. Apart from helping to keep the midges at bay, I'm thinking some type of inner, with a bathtub floor, will also allow me to dispense with the bivy bag, saving a considerable amount of weight.
Firstly, there's the MLD Trailstar Inner itself, which gives you a space to retreat to when the midges are driving you mad and looks quite liveable in. Expensive, and I'll probably have to wait 4-6 weeks for delivery. As a cheaper, but possibly not much quicker alterative, I've been looking on aliexpress. If anyone has one, do any of these, such as the one linked below, work in a Trailstar and offer midge protection, or are they just for good for mozzies?
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32277242475.html?spm=a2g0s.8937460.0.0.281f2e0ezv6Rdp
Alternatively, I could splash some cash on MLD's Bug Bivy 2. This option is also expensive (like everything from MLD, but you pay for quality), seems to offer bomber protection from the midges, but provides a very small space. It seems only for sleeping in, so I don't think you could sit up in it, and it might not be practical to spend much non sleeping time in. What it does seem to offer, however, is the ability to climb in at the top, and then hook the mesh up above you, which seems more useful than the full inner when you want to pitch low. It also offers splash protection and protection from the wind, but is this overkill anyway with the Trailstar pitched down low, with a small door? Importantly, it's lighter that the larger inner option. I'm also thinking, I'd be more likely to use this in stand alone configuration without the tarp, when there's little chance of rain.
https://mountainlaureldesigns.com/product/bug-bivy-2/
I appreciate that there's no perfect solution here and that it's really personal preference. But if anyone can share experiences of either of those options, or can recommend any other midge protection options for use with the Trailstar, I'd appreciate it.
Having had an MSR Hubba Hubba NX blown down around me in a gale on a summit in Wicklow last year, and having previously used a flat tarp, I invested in a Trailstar, which I love.
I've used it over the winter, getting used to various pitches, including low for protection in high winds. I modified a polycryo sheet, strengthening the corners with duct tape, so I could stake it out as a groundsheet. This, used with an army bivy bag (heavy but very spacious) has given me excellent protection against the elements, ground water and from ticks.
However, as we all know we're entering the dreaded midge season. In Ireland, they're almost as bad as in Scotland.
So, I think I need some midge (and tick) protection, but I'm struggling to decide between a couple of different options, taking into account weight, cost, liveability and protection. Apart from helping to keep the midges at bay, I'm thinking some type of inner, with a bathtub floor, will also allow me to dispense with the bivy bag, saving a considerable amount of weight.
Firstly, there's the MLD Trailstar Inner itself, which gives you a space to retreat to when the midges are driving you mad and looks quite liveable in. Expensive, and I'll probably have to wait 4-6 weeks for delivery. As a cheaper, but possibly not much quicker alterative, I've been looking on aliexpress. If anyone has one, do any of these, such as the one linked below, work in a Trailstar and offer midge protection, or are they just for good for mozzies?
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32277242475.html?spm=a2g0s.8937460.0.0.281f2e0ezv6Rdp
Alternatively, I could splash some cash on MLD's Bug Bivy 2. This option is also expensive (like everything from MLD, but you pay for quality), seems to offer bomber protection from the midges, but provides a very small space. It seems only for sleeping in, so I don't think you could sit up in it, and it might not be practical to spend much non sleeping time in. What it does seem to offer, however, is the ability to climb in at the top, and then hook the mesh up above you, which seems more useful than the full inner when you want to pitch low. It also offers splash protection and protection from the wind, but is this overkill anyway with the Trailstar pitched down low, with a small door? Importantly, it's lighter that the larger inner option. I'm also thinking, I'd be more likely to use this in stand alone configuration without the tarp, when there's little chance of rain.
https://mountainlaureldesigns.com/product/bug-bivy-2/
I appreciate that there's no perfect solution here and that it's really personal preference. But if anyone can share experiences of either of those options, or can recommend any other midge protection options for use with the Trailstar, I'd appreciate it.
