Trailstar Inners - Protection vs Practicality

W

Wingnut

Day Walker
Solo John said:
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.
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The mesh is very fine on the 3F UL inners so i think it will stop midges "nothing got in mine up at Ribblehead" I have a Flame's Creed Trailstar copy and the 3F UL inner fits when pitched at 125cm .
 
TinTin

TinTin

Thru Hiker
Dave V said:
The Ali inners do fit the TS. Depending on the height of the pitch will depend on how well they fit. The J zip inner fits better IMO than the T zip. That said I have modified the top apex of the T zip version to fit for a couple of mates.

Basically, if you fold over the apex around 5-8 inches depending on TS height you can pull it tight.

There will obviously be dead space behind the inner if you put it at the back but they work just as well with one end towards the door too.

View attachment 23103
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Just looking back at this thread, I have the LanShan 1 T door, 4 season inner (as mentioned earlier) that fits well but I recon the one @Dave V has here would work a bit better in terms of going nearer to the edge and less likely for the bathtub to fill up if you got it wrong.
 
Dave V

Dave V

Moderator
Staff member
PhilHo said:
Just looking back at this thread, I have the LanShan 1 T door, 4 season inner (as mentioned earlier) that fits well but I recon the one @Dave V has here would work a bit better in terms of going nearer to the edge and less likely for the bathtub to fill up if you got it wrong.
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How tall are you? I'm 6ft. When inlay in the original Lanshan on a xlite and apex 133 quilt my feet touch the ends and if I use a pille my head is very close.
The J zip innersi have around 10 -15cm above feet and head.
 
TinTin

TinTin

Thru Hiker
Dave V said:
How tall are you? I'm 6ft. When inlay in the original Lanshan on a xlite and apex 133 quilt my feet touch the ends and if I use a pille my head is very close.
The J zip innersi have around 10 -15cm above feet and head.
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Dave V said:
How tall are you? I'm 6ft. When inlay in the original Lanshan on a xlite and apex 133 quilt my feet touch the ends and if I use a pille my head is very close.
The J zip innersi have around 10 -15cm above feet and head.
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I'm 6'2" and am just about OK with the pull outs pulled out as far as possible. The 6" upstarts help. I don't mind feet touching the end as long as that's not touching the outer.
 
Dave V

Dave V

Moderator
Staff member
PhilHo said:
I'm 6'2" and am just about OK with the pull outs pulled out as far as possible. The 6" upstarts help. I don't mind feet touching the end as long as that's not touching the outer.
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Have you tried the 3F Tbzips the sell for about £55?

A mate uses on of those in his 2019 Duomid and he's 6'2.
 
Dave V

Dave V

Moderator
Staff member
This one is what he has. I've just messaged to make sure it works inside ok. He has a first gen Lanshen 1

#Aliexpress ￡44.14 5%OFF | T doors design strut corner Ultra-light 340 grams 4 seasons outdoor camping tent fit most pyramid tent
https://a.aliexpress.com/_dXvgijG
 
TinTin

TinTin

Thru Hiker
Dave V said:
This one is what he has. I've just messaged to make sure it works inside ok. He has a first gen Lanshen 1

#Aliexpress ￡44.14 5%OFF | T doors design strut corner Ultra-light 340 grams 4 seasons outdoor camping tent fit most pyramid tent
https://a.aliexpress.com/_dXvgijG
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The one I have is fine for me. Its 210 long and fits fine in the TS, the pull outs are just in the right place it you pitch it at the back of the TS. I do think though that, the right one without box walls on the bathtub might make better use of space. If I'd not bought this one https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000127835327.html I might have gone for the one you pictured at the satrt of the thread.
 
M

Myles21

Section Hiker
I'd be interested to know if there are any more suggestions for 4 season TS inners. I got a used 2Oookstar from eBay with 30cm walls, and already own the same Bearpaw as Whiteburn, above, with the 30cm walls. A warmer option would be great, the Lanshan 4 season looks good. Any others people are using?
 
Norrland

Norrland

Thru Hiker
Myles21 said:
I'd be interested to know if there are any more suggestions for 4 season TS inners. I got a used 2Oookstar from eBay with 30cm walls, and already own the same Bearpaw as Whiteburn, above, with the 30cm walls. A warmer option would be great, the Lanshan 4 season looks good. Any others people are using?
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wIVsoDE.jpg


fNVPDnX.jpg


Hoping this will work. Asta Gear inner from Uncle Ali
 
S

SeanW

Hiker
Hi John, how are you getting on with the Asta Gear inner? I tried to find it but can only find the Asta Gear tent. Do you have a link for it?

I'm 6 ft 4 and have just bought a used Trailstar. I'm looking for a suitable inner too :)

I see people keep linking to this Lanshan inner - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000127835327.html

Clicking through the pics on that link, it seems there's a 'plus' version of it. Does anyone know if that will fit in the Trailstar as that should give me more room? :)

Thanks!
 
Norrland

Norrland

Thru Hiker
SeanW said:
Hi John, how are you getting on with the Asta Gear inner? I tried to find it but can only find the Asta Gear tent. Do you have a link for it?

I'm 6 ft 4 and have just bought a used Trailstar. I'm looking for a suitable inner too :)

I see people keep linking to this Lanshan inner - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000127835327.html

Clicking through the pics on that link, it seems there's a 'plus' version of it. Does anyone know if that will fit in the Trailstar as that should give me more room? :)

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Fits good with the trailstar when using a side panel as the door like most people do. Placed directly at the back behind the pole. Probably would work in other formats also but I've only tried at the back . if you look at the official MLD inner for it they are similar in shape but the mld one does make more use of the available space behind the pole

https://m.aliexpress.com/item/32988...er_id=e4da1b2b43f542e9967b2f90ae9ebf9a&is_c=N
 
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S

SeanW

Hiker
Sounds great, thanks for the link. Is yours the 1 person 4 season inner?

Any trouble with condensation?

Is the bottom waterproof and reasonably durable? Can't see any indication of material used for it.

Thanks again!
 
Munro277

Munro277

Thru Hiker
I’d say you’ll struggle a little with an inner at 6-4” I’m 6 ft and used a TS with and without inner for last 10 yrs. I’ve not seen one in the flesh but have you looked at the inner/bivy that valley and peak make ?
 
S

SeanW

Hiker
Munro277 said:
I’d say you’ll struggle a little with an inner at 6-4” I’m 6 ft and used a TS with and without inner for last 10 yrs. I’ve not seen one in the flesh but have you looked at the inner/bivy that valley and peak make ?
Click to expand...
I feared I might! No, I haven’t, I’ll take a look, thanks.
 
Norrland

Norrland

Thru Hiker
Yes that one might also be fine. Pretty similar. Bit more expensive. I think the bottom is 40d, so you'd prob want to use some sort of protection under it if in rocky or thorny areas. I always bring a bit of extra cordage with me if I need to really lower the trailstar a lot for bad wind so that I can bunch up the top of the inner to keep it taught. Not the sexiest system in the world but if I'm having to lower the trailstar for whatever reason I know I can get a taught inner.

In regards to the valley and peak. There is a video online of some fellow Scot testing in his trailstar and it looked horrendous. All that lovely trailstsr space only to shove yourself into a coffin


*Said video*
 
S

SeanW

Hiker
Yeah the Valley and Peak bivy looks too claustrophobic for me!

Do you have a link for the one I quoted in my previous post? Can't seem to find it!
 
T

tja

Trail Blazer
On second thought not sure it’ll fit a trailstar. It’s made to fit a hexpeak like tent (hexagon shape) not a trailstar (pentagon). I have the inner but not a trailstar, so can’t try it out. The angles of the corners will differ (slightly) 120 vs 110 degrees and the head end and foot end of the inner are parallel to each other whereas the corresponding sides of the trailstar would be converging. All this purely theoretically, of course, so depends on how tightly the inner fits the trailstar.
 
Dave V

Dave V

Moderator
Staff member
My Weenest is 220cm long, 70cm wide and it fits in the TS without an issue across the back with a shelter height of 120 or above.

Anything lower and the corner struts can run the fly fabric.

A quick calculation on paper and I think the front and rear corners of this hexagonal inner would likely touch the fly, the rear point would likely be the only one with a gap.

I would recommend pitching your TS and using pegs as markers to lay out the inner inside and join them up with cord. The shame of this inner would make doing this pretty easy.
 
Norrland

Norrland

Thru Hiker
The bathtub height on that inner above looks quite higher than mine, and a bit more of a 90degree angle. I think that's why I didn't go with that one to begin with. My Asta one tapers to the ground much more at the back
 
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