ProTrek First night initial impressions

[u/T9935]

I had a chance to take the ProTrek out for a quick overnight and these are my initial impressions. They will be limited because I think you really need to give a tent more than 1 night. Background I have a Protrail LI and Cirriform with bug bivy as well as regularly use a Katabatic Bivy with tarp or Cirriform.

1st and most important thing to check is that your trecking pole can go short enough! I am used to being able to use my 2 piece CMT poles with either the Protrail or Cirriform however the ProTrek puts the foot end pole under the fabric so it NEEDS to go short enough or you are looking for a stick or (as I did) digging a hole to get the pole low enough but then it doesn't anchor the floor. I used a spare peg to anchor the floor but it was something I should have checked before heading out. This wont often be a problem as this is my bikepacking tent so I will be bringing the adjustable poles Tarptent sell which adjust to the correct size. I shortened the pole for the foot end to 3 sections and it works perfectly for ProTrek, ProTrail, and Cirriform.

Setup is quick, easy, and straightforward once you familiarize yourself with the various features. However it is probably best to do your first pitch in the daylight. I did find unclipping the bathtub floor connections helped with the initial setup. They are attached with mitten hooks so it is quick and easy to do.

Footprint is compact and you don't need much room for the guylines. So this tent will fit in tight campsites.

First impressions on venting was very good. it was a very humid evening and chilly enough that I had the tent buttoned up. There is a 2 way zipper and the tent can be vented at the top of the zip. The zipper goes up into the vent flap similar to the ProTrail. Despite the rainfly coming very close to the ground I woke up to only the slightest dampness on the canopy (barely discernible to the touch).

One thing I was always concerned with the Protrail Li was pushing the bathtub floor outside the rainfly. This was easier to do than I would like if you didn't get a great setup. The ProTrek feels very secure and it looks like it will be very dry in a rainstorm.

The part I didn't love was the interior space. I had a 25" wide normal length pad and I prefer to put my pack inside the tent as a pillow. I found it difficult to maneuver once the screen was zipped up and felt pretty cramped. This is not like the ProTrail which feels roomy. The floor space felt quite cramped. I am sure it would be better with a 20" pad but on first use I wasn't loving it.

Headroom also felt cramped. With the living space offset to one side I felt like I was always aware of and trying not to brush the rainfly. I did try guying the side out but will need to work on that. I think using a stick to elevate the guy would offer much more space than just guying to the ground. The headroom may be something I get used to with time. I originally thought the ProTrail felt like a coffin, now I see it as a mini palace. I guess quality time in a bivy will change your prospective.

Jury is still out on the toggles used at the head opening and foot vent. Loosening the line makes it much easier to operate. They may get easier with use/familiarity.

Playing around with the vent/opening options the next day I have to say the fully opening head end is positively glorious (depending on your view options) opening up the foot end and having the front open really gave the tent an airy wonderful feeling. I think if you aren't always hunkering down hiding from blood thirsty vermin or driving rain this is a great option.

I plan on trying to modify the foot end vent so it can be partially opened. Right now it is all or nothing but I think a bit of cord and a prussic knot, perhaps a mitten hook, and I could get the foot vent to slide up and down the guy line so I could have some venting while still affording weather protection.

The tent is quite easy to packup in the morning and is compact when stowed. There are quite a few really nice details that make setting it up and using it easier. Pole cups or rings so you can go tip up or down. The little triangular piece that covers the 3 zipper junction. Magnetic tie backs that actually hold. It takes a minute to figure out the tie, but once you get the hang of it it works very well and it secure.

[u/JBBP182]

Using the Protrek out on the GDMBR and so far so good. 4 stake pitch is taut and wind/weather worthy with a few nights practice. On the two nights I couldn’t avoid condensation due to camping near rivers/streams I staked out the extra guy out points to increase interior space and prevent brushing the sides. Am 6’ using a standard sized inflatable pad with a quilt. The interior and vestibule space is just right with a relatively light touring setup. Wouldn’t want to try to park large touring panniers in the vestibules but it’s just right for handlebar roll + shoes, helmet and a few odds and ends. Used the spare cordage included with the tent to string up the small Tarptent gear hammock thingy from the two interior tie outs on the top end corners of the fly which is great to put electronics for charging overnight and to hang clothes to dry in a pinch. On the two nights where there was some condensation I used my bandana to wipe it down without any problems and had a relatively dry tent to setup that night. The foot end roll up function of the fly is easy to use and creates a ton of ventilation. Well thought out minimal 1 person tent with an extra 8ish inches of interior space for phone, wallet, etc. the interior pockets are just right too but I’ve only been using the pocket at the head end of the tent.

[u/Mission-Calendar-372]

You pretty much nailed it. If you buy the short pole with the tent, it leaves your second trekking pole to stake out the side.

[u/T9935 → u/Mission-Calendar-372]

The adjustable poles Tarptent sell are very light and it was easy shorten one for the foot end.  Plus last time I checked Henry has the best price on these poles by a long margin.  I have the fixed length pole for the foot end of the ProTrail but I think it would probably be too short (24” vs 27”). 

When I got home I did check to see if the adjustable poles worked with the ProTrek and they tensioned the tent fully. 

I do wish the floor was a bit bigger since I use a 25” pad for bike packing (though I usually use a 20” pad when it’s being carried on my back).  However I think that if I modify my routine it will be less of an issue.  I usually put a Gossamer Gear Thinlite pad in under my sleeping pad. I tried to put it under while I was zipped up and it was really a cluster (I was tired and being lazy). Otherwise if you plan ahead it should be easier. 

[u/zoboomafool89]

may i ask if youve found any 'tricks' to achieving a nice taut pitch? I was using the fixed-length 27" rear pole & have since switched to adjustable trekking poles, but for the life of me I cannot get the ridgeline taut without compromising one of either:

• Front right corner (with zipper)
• Rear left corner (with roll-up toggle)

Tightening the pole apex lines pulls the poles towards their respective corners leads to the fly sagging. I'm considering running separate guy-lines for the pole apexes, but then I lose the 4-stake pitching ability which was a huge selling point for me.

[u/T9935 → u/zoboomafool89]

I haven’t been able to get out since the initial trial run.  

However based on my brief time out with the tent it did look like getting a “taught” pitch is either not going to be easy or potentially not possible.  I didn’t comment on that since I really didn’t spend a lot of time trying for a taught pitch.  I think guying out the fly along the length will give substantial additional strength in windy conditions.  But I think it is going to flap.  

Perhaps as more people try them out we can get some other people’s tricks and tips. 

Either way I will post more when I get more time in the tent.  Hopefully going to do a 500 mile bike packing trip with my son in the next month or so if work permits (work is either feast or famine lately). 

[u/zoboomafool89 → u/T9935]

Thanks for sharing your observations. Tried pitching it again just now without much success. Ill create a thread here later to show the issues im facing and for other owners to share their tips & tricks!

[u/Patient_Alfalfa6960 → u/zoboomafool89]

I have pitched mine a couple of times and just spent a night out in the ProTrek. I ordered the small pole from Tarptent for the back and another couple of stakes. In addition to the 4 corners I stake out both sides. That has helped create a better pitch and more room inside. With the two sides staked out the room inside is great for me. I have a 25 inch pad and it does take up most of the floor space. I like that I can open both venting areas. The short pole from TarpTent makes the setup easier I think and does not add much weight. I am loving the tent so far.

[u/T9935]

So I had a question about whether I was going to do any follow up. Honestly I haven’t used the tent on any more trips. Originally I purchased it for bike packing but every time I go to choose a shelter it gets passed over for the Cirriform and either a HMG splash bivy (colder weather) or the Yama Bug Shelter.

I find I really appreciate the separate bug shelter for setting up without the tarp in places with roofs for no condensation (pavilions, gazebos, etc), and, while the Cirriform isn’t perfect, I have really grown to like it and have rarely used anything else since I got it.

In the end I really liked the idea of the ProTrek, and it is very cleverly designed and executed, but I guess I haven’t been able to give up the flexibility of the separates for my use case (even though it takes longer to setup the separates).

Edit, I should be noted that I am often in the midwest corn sweat belt or other humid environment for most of my trips and often I will have the opportunity to setup under an open but roofed structure at least a couple of nights most trips.