Hi Ben, I'm still in the process of watching your video, but I got to the bit where you're having problems with the inner. When I got my Tarpstar 1, it came with the instructions for the T2. So I had to adopt a 'use the force Luke' method for pitching. Also, my tent came with a total of 12 pegs. 8 for the fly and 4 for the inner. This is how I pitch mine mate... 1) Peg out each of the 4 corners of the fly (and groundsheet if you have one), tight enough so that the edges of the fly are taught with no slack and the pegs with their guidelines are tensioned at diagonals to the corners. 2) Then I crawl inside and stick the pole up as far as needed until I think that the fly looks okay (I've forgotten what Alpkit suggest height wise, and I've never paid any attention to it anyway as it was for the T2 lol). 3) Then I put the other 4 side pegs on the fly and tension any of the 8 of them as needed. 4) Lastly, I peg out the inner with the 4 remaining pegs (sometimes, I do use 2 of the existing fly corner pegs for this) and then I attach it via the hanging point thing and adjust it for tension on the buckle (my inner is more taught than yours is in the video). I don't get the inner touching the fly doing this. Anyway, I'm off to watch the rest of your video Ben and I'll pop back with more comments, if I think that they're helpful.👍 *Edit after fully watching: The loop for the door is a problem (all tent doors are for me lol), so I always carry some clothes pegs for this. Also, your thoughts on winter usage were spot on, that's why I've been using the Bobcat over the last few months. Looking at your video Ben, I'd say that the issue is your pole height. Don't do what Alpkit suggest for the height and ignore it, just use the Mk1 eyeball method instead and stick the pole up enough so that the fly looks taught (which I would guess, is probably higher than what Alpkit recommends).👍
@benhikescamps5 ай бұрын
Hi Steve. Thanks for that detailed feedback. Really appreciated!! Looking forward to trying out your tips. Hope all is well your end mate. Speak all and thanks again - Ben
@hikermikem85 ай бұрын
I've had my tarpstar 1 out twice now during semi woodland wildcamps. I love how lightweight the tent is.. The issue with the inner and outer I simply undid the knots on the bungi cord at the top off the inner, made them slightly tighter, then knotted them up again. Seemed to make the inner more taught 👍 I also had condensation on one night/morning but although it had dripped onto the inner mesh it didn't come through, but yes, try not to touch the outer fly when moving about in the vestibule . It's great in windy weather can easily withstand gusts from 30-40mph . I've had my outer down to the floor around and with a gap like your setup.. Drafty yes.. more suited for late spring and summer wildcamps 😁 I would stick with your helm compact for the c2c despite the weight..
@johnashcroft-jones60914 ай бұрын
Well done Ben, you have a remarkably swift learning curve.
@hArtyTruffle5 ай бұрын
Always good to see the pros and cons of a potential tent. As you and others have said, once you’ve done it a few times, the faff will more or less disappear. As you now have the tent, you might want to bring along an extra bit of cordage and a couple of extra pegs to pull those sides that are too close to the inner. Won’t add much weight, and if you don’t have those clamps that some use, you could always pick up a couple of stones on site to attach the extra guylines to and peg them out? Just a thought. Thanks Ben 👍🏼
@TheAlDuffy5 ай бұрын
Thanks for another great video Ben. Always informative and entertaining. It seems that there is always a compromise with whichever tent we pick. You’re obviously not feeling it for this tent yet. Thank you for sharing your honest opinion as usual 👍
@HardyTempestsWildCampsandWalks5 ай бұрын
Great review Ben, your usual analytical self. I like it more than I thought I would, my only reservations being the pegs. I don’t feel they will take much wind at all. Thanks for the inner/outer regime, that explains the 4 extra pegs I had. Cheers. Hardy
@yetiibob84075 ай бұрын
I am an Alpkit fan and did buy the tarp star but I had a bad experience with trying to put it up in very windy weather on rocky ground and after finally getting it pitched a gust of wind pulled out a peg and snapped my tarp pole. Tried again with it but was too much faff. I have the Tetri now which suits me much better and is bulletproof.
@BridgerNinja5 ай бұрын
Great video as always Ben! I've been thinking about this tent for a while for bike touring, great to see you do an in-depth review on it. 👍
@bendemeyer63653 ай бұрын
Have you found a tent? I am considering this one as well as I could put the bike under the outer to protect it incase of rain...
@BridgerNinja3 ай бұрын
@@bendemeyer6365 Yet to buy one I'm afraid! Still currently using my Soloist and having to keep panniers and bike outside (it's tiny!).
@jakeymadball5 ай бұрын
Thanks for that Ben, as always a very honest and balanced review which is helpful when thinking about whether to splash the cash. I've looked at these but never took the plunge.
@michaelgatford61945 ай бұрын
I like the lightweight aspect of it. I think your definitely get used to pitching it after a few more uses. I think however you should take the helm 1 or upgrade to the 2 lol for the cost to cost. Great video as always Ben.
@steveb19725 ай бұрын
I’ve used the Nearly Wild Camping Club for several years. Some great spots!
@cpcnwАй бұрын
Thanks for tip. Slightly annoying you can't see how many locations / map before joining though.
@mandyfinden27075 ай бұрын
So nice to see you get some sunshine this winter. Love the location and views, better than being surrounded by bricks, concrete and traffic 👍🏻 Hope the planning for the coast to coast is going well - looking forward to that one 🤗
@morrislouiseeagle71615 ай бұрын
Ben unless you fall in love with that tent I'd recommend the helm 1 for the c2c - it's not going to cut the mustard in Cumbrian terrain and weather- too much faff and no extra guys and them pegs won't work -its not want you want after a day's walking over the fells
@benhikescamps5 ай бұрын
Thanks Louise. I do love my Helm C1. The problem is it can be an absolute oven in summer and I will be hiking the C2C in July/August. It’s also very reliable though if the weather turns.
@morrislouiseeagle71615 ай бұрын
@@benhikescampsJuly and August in the UK best pack thermals and factor 50 lol
@ianofthetaylors62884 ай бұрын
I've tried tents weighing half the Helm and cost more than double the Helm. But the Helm 🏆 is a winner in most multi day hikes.
@ianmacfarlane94545 ай бұрын
Practice makes perfect Ben, great review bet it would make a great summer tent, to much mesh for me at this time of the year 😂😂
@dougdixonhull5 ай бұрын
Great video Ben. It reminds me of the DD pyramid tent which i bought last year but haven' used yet. I think the DD is slightly smaller, but it does have a vent at the top.
@juristimma53664 ай бұрын
I have this tent as well,but my first usage time will be just after 3 veeks , will see how the going :) Thanks for some info about issues....
@nathankent89455 ай бұрын
This is a great and honest first impressions.... To be honest, other than weight I don't see any other benefit trekking pole tents have over freestanding... I remember Ash Outdoors' C2C from a few years back, although his tent wasn't the only issue, he had a much better experience after he swapped it
@rialobran5 ай бұрын
Interesting video and honest review. Not sure I'd take that into the mountains or high moorland even in the summer if the breeze getting under is an issue. It's rarely not breezy higher up and can be cool through the night. Great tent for warm summer nights in the forest though I think.
@cyrilhaessig275 ай бұрын
Great video Ben. It is always a case of simplicity v weight v price v unforeseen circumstances. Something has to give somewhere. Some on here have mentioned the X-mid which is a great tent, but it comes at hefty price tag when you add-in shipping/taxes. The Cloud up 1 10D is lightweight and easy to pitch, but it won't give you much spare space; which is not an issue if you are lucky with the weather, but otherwise there's not much room inside. The Sierra Designs high route 3000 is quite an interesting proposition on paper (similar-ish to the Xmid and just under 1kg), Decathlon also have a decent trekking pole tent (you will need 2) if you can get past the colour (white overall). It is worth practicing your pitch a few more times, changing your pole height etc. before making your final decision. The Tarpstar ticks a lot of boxes. I would not worry too much about the wind sweeping underneath as you may need it in the summer if we have another crazy heatwave. All the best.
@grahamswildcamping4 ай бұрын
I was looking at the Tarpstar 1 but it seemed a bit redundant when I already have the DD pyramid tent. Thanks for the review. I think the Tarpstar looks more practical, but I'll stick with what I've got for now, atb, Graham
@o.bsoutdoors38715 ай бұрын
Hmm jury is definitely still out at the moment! Did love the look of the tent from the outside, and very roomy inside. But faffy tents just aren't for me. It may well get easier with more practice, and you may iron out the inner outer issue, but this just isn't what you want after a long hard day trekking. Loved the campsite though, and the rocking fire 🔥😊. Bring on the camping season! Thanks for your honesty as ever Ben. Have a goodun Pete and Shell 😊👊👍
@benhikescamps5 ай бұрын
Thanks both. Hope all is well.
@moyahaigh95935 ай бұрын
Thanks for the tent demo 😊
@MultiSigil5 ай бұрын
Always wondered how these style of tent compared to the TN Lazer comps, mainly in terms of wind, obviously they have loads more room inside! Also on the lookout for a high end 2 person + kit trekking pole tent to be a lightweight alternative to the Hilleberg Allak, ideally sub 1.5kg.
@WanderingMonck5 ай бұрын
Looking good buddy! Hope you’re well Ben.
@ScoutManSteve5 ай бұрын
Looks pretty similar to the DD tarp tent. Pretty cool it has an inner though!
@gregoryoutdoors5 ай бұрын
Thats why I sold my Hex Peak v4a and Mini Peak II, just way too much faff and time to set up and to pack up! I took it on my 220km John Muir Way hike and 5 days later bought X-mid and never looked back lol Maybe not soo roomy inside but its way lighter and it saved my ass on West Highland Way and Great Glen Way when was raining like crazy, windy as hell and I was soaking wet and I can pitch it in max 2 or 3 min probably with my trekking poles etc. and to hide inside quickly. Any tents that takes longer to set up are no go when you are exhausted at the end of the day and its getting dark fast + bad scottish weather lol Anyway hope you like yours😊
@benhikescamps5 ай бұрын
Well said. Very good points made. Thanks for sharing that and thanks for watching. 👍🥾🥾
@gregoryoutdoors5 ай бұрын
@@benhikescampsAt least yours is square so still easier to peg it faster then other shaped tents(hex peak etc) to start with... but yeah go for a longer hike and see if you like it hehe ;) I also hated that you need to peg your inner mesh separately or not to the same pegs from main tent.
@Bluemerleoutdoors5 ай бұрын
I'm still only half way through the video but I think adding lines to the corners will probably help with the outer touching the inner. Nearly got one of these but ended up getting an xmid which I haven't tryed yet still using my lanshan🤣 good video tho mate as always keep up the good work
@oling28125 ай бұрын
Great write-up. One thing to note is you have those Alpkit pegs the wrong way round so that the cordage can slip up and off them... they need to be the other way so the cordage under tension would stop at the notch.
@benhikescamps5 ай бұрын
Thanks for watching. 👍
@kevinhodgson20855 ай бұрын
I bought mine as a shelter only, for daytime use, not for sleeping in. But they don't sell it without the inner, which I thought would be useful for sleeping in on really hot nights just as a bug tent. As soon as I use both outer and inner at the same time, the weight approaches that of a "proper" mountain tent. I have no intention of using outer and inner together.
@h.bsfaithfulservant41365 ай бұрын
Interesting review Ben. Having mastered a pop up tent, I felt sure the Alpkit wouldn't be a challenge to you 😉😁 My mobility is a bit limited, so I don't think I could cope with that pole in the middle of everything 🤔 I love the idea of a simple tent for the 'purists'...but I don't think it actually exists?!🤷
@derekmcmanus86155 ай бұрын
Landed? 😅🤣😅 you make it sound like you just stepped off a UFO! 😉 never change Ben
@vs1235 ай бұрын
Awesome view my friend
@southcoastoutdoorsuk63015 ай бұрын
FairPlay to testing it out , looks way to much faff to setup , Lanshan much easier but to be honest semi / freestanding for you trip maybe a better option especially after a long day , Cloud UP 10D 💪👌
@MoosebearAdventures5 ай бұрын
Absolutely stunning video
@benhikescamps4 ай бұрын
Thank you very much!
@cpcnwАй бұрын
Take two more pegs, separate completely and use a bit more of porch space to create a better gap?
@AndysEastCoastAdventures4 ай бұрын
Looks ok with a decent amount of living space but my lanshan 1 pro pitches literally in a few minutes and looks similar so not one for me. I have my lanshan setup as the inner on this with the pegs pre-attached with small bungee loops. All of them included the guys. I find the bungee gives a little bit and helps it cope with poor conditions. Plus it makes pitching super fast.
@andrewbell43325 ай бұрын
Great video Ben, have looked at the Tarpster myself very interested in how you get on with this one. I just got a Nemo Hornet to do the Cumbria Way. Also what’s the campsite called, looked good. I live in Notts, might go try it.
@benhikescamps5 ай бұрын
Thanks Andrew. It’s called Little Oak and is on PitchUp.com. 👍
@andrewbell43325 ай бұрын
@@benhikescamps Thanks, looks nice place.
@neemancallender90925 ай бұрын
Raise the tent outer to 130 and that will create the gap between the outer and the inner I have a similar tent and that solves the gap problem
@benhikescamps5 ай бұрын
Many thanks for that tip 👍👍
@SimonEdwards5 ай бұрын
Great job pal what site are you on mate
@Markwildcamp5 ай бұрын
Beieve me that looks a massive improvement on my luxe hex peak, which is a total faff and not waterproof as the seams need sealed
@platypushatstand2 ай бұрын
How is it now 2 months down the line?
@benhikescamps2 ай бұрын
All will be revealed in an upcoming video.
@BurtonOutdoors5 ай бұрын
Hey Ben 👋 Can you leave the inner attached and pack it up as one?
@benhikescamps5 ай бұрын
Unfortunately not Lee.
@babar691104 ай бұрын
avoiding any baffle top ventilation like in the onetigriss stops any natural ventilation by " chimney" convection..; Sometimes I wonder...c:(
@MG-bs5mrАй бұрын
Ok so is it the same flysheet for the Tarpstar 1 and 2? Just a smaller inner for the 1?
@benhikescampsАй бұрын
Yes.
@MG-bs5mrАй бұрын
@@benhikescamps thanks 👍
@markkilkenny17685 ай бұрын
Aren’t the line points half way up the tent able to pull the outer away from the inner?
@benhikescamps5 ай бұрын
No tie out points Mark.
@pilgrim33875 ай бұрын
Are there tie outs on the tent Ben.
@benhikescamps5 ай бұрын
The flysheet tensioner cords are the guy lines really as it’s a pyramid tent. No additional tie-outs no.
@pilgrim33875 ай бұрын
@benhikescamps thanks Ben. I was just wondering how stable it would be in windy conditions.
@Jason-ke2nj5 ай бұрын
Maybe ..use a couple of added buttons on the outer and use guy lines
@davidturner30145 ай бұрын
What if a person were to put the "sticks" on the outside? Or a "Pup Tent" ("A" Frame.) that has no poles in the kit. Light? Criss Crossed in front... X situation? No bumping into things! Could you hang a mosquito netting from the situation in the peak of your situation...
@benhikescamps5 ай бұрын
I don’t know. I just like the tent as it is.
@markfarren70165 ай бұрын
Nice vid- where was the campsite please Ben?
@iand75185 ай бұрын
That's Little Oak Camping in Retford
@markfarren70165 ай бұрын
@@iand7518 cheers brother
@matteotamberini21525 ай бұрын
Just get a nightkat trekking pole tent job done
@shabingly5 ай бұрын
Tbh, I think the instructions for the tent are just for the 2p inner: I don't think you can pitch the 1p inner only, and the fly goes up 1st if your using the 1p inner. I also think it needs pitching at 130cm to get a truly decent fly-Inner gap. If I had it pitched at 120cm bolted to the ground, I wouldn't bother with the inner tbh. And it'd be about 45 seconds to pitch the thing, too. But yeah, its pretty good for the cash but it definitely isnt a eureka! tent. I think mine came with 4 extra pegs for the inner (or ground sheet).
@Jason-ke2nj5 ай бұрын
Thats a tarp basically..
@benhikescamps5 ай бұрын
A tarp - with a zip and an inner tent thrown in for free yes.
@Jason-ke2nj5 ай бұрын
@benhikescamps inner is just a bug net..you can make fully enclosed tarp tents...
@benhikescamps5 ай бұрын
@Jason-ke2nj When you’ve walked 20 miles, you just want something to quickly pitch as opposed to tarp origami. Bugs are very clever too: they can crawl in through gaps.
@DaleyOutdoors5 ай бұрын
Nice one 🫡 looks like you had a good time up norf 🤓