Mids vs arch supported

There have been plenty of articles and threads about this, as well as several books written. I'm sure Link will be in here shortly to direct you. I'm far too e-lazy to have them bookmarked at the moment.

It all just depends on what your backcountry goals happen to be. If a shelter needs to be as light as possible but still western-US storm worthy, then a pyramid is usually the winner.

If you need to survive days and days on end of super humid, super wet weather in the PNW or the UK, a mid wouldn't be ideal. That's where the double wall preference comes into play. Or for the gram weenies, they make do with a super ventilating flat tarp. Again, all depends on what your stated goals and comfort levels are.

There is almost never a clear winner in the 'best shelter' category. That's exactly why there are so many threads about them.

>> If a shelter needs to be as light as possible but still western-US storm worthy, then a pyramid is usually the winner.

That's how I ended up with a 'mid (MLD SpeedMid). Backpacking mostly in Grand Canyon, where water is heaviest thing in pack and everything else must play second fiddle. But it almost never rains. So I wanted the lightest possible thing that would keep us dry on the rare occasion that the need arises. My last trip was typical: 5 nights, we only set it up one of those nights, and we did not actually get into it except for about half-an-hour for a dawn rain shower.

Some will say, why didn't I get a tarp instead, at least a half-pound lighter than the 'mid. The reason is, the 'mid is much simpler to set up (seems to me, at least). This is a uniquely desert issue, but because it so rarely rains, even though it looks like it probably will rain, I've had the experience of not setting up my shelter (the previous one, a Lightheart Duo) because I just didn't want to hassle with it. Also, desert rainstorms tend to be very windy, or at least you're more exposed to whatever wind, and the 'mid seemed better in that regard.

I thought all U.K. walkers had Trailstars!

(or at least that's the impression I get from posts to MLD's FB page)

I'm with John – pitching a square mid is about as easy as it gets. At the end of long days, I want something that is fairly lightweight, easy to pitch, and storm worthy. The mid hits all those points as a do it all shelter.

The pole down the middle can be a dealbreaker for some, but it hasn't been particularly bothersome in my experience.

Why do some people (notably those from the UK) seem more attracted to double wall arch supported tents

Because that is all that the main stream retailers sell over here. If you want anything 'different' then you either have to find a specialist online retailer (that uses exchange rate 1£ = 1$) or face the hassle + import duty + VAT + collection fee of importing yourself.
I have yet to see a Trailstar, or any kind of tarp in Scotland. But then that could also be due to 'environmental' factors!

Because of the geometry mids require more fabric to achieve the same usable space, compared to the arch in a tunnel or wedge tent. Mids are lighter and simpler (personally I care more about the later) in conditions when you don't need a liner, bug netting, or floor. Having a nest for occasional use in a mid makes sense, but for consistently buggy and/or wet conditions I think a light double wall tent makes more sense, both from a weight perspective and especially ease of use.

> Because of the geometry mids require more fabric to achieve the same usable space

partially mitigated if part of the space is used for gear. Gear doesn't need the same vertical clearance than people do so the perimeter areas in the mid become usable space.

"Because of the geometry mids require more fabric"

With an arch, you use a little less fabric, but your pole(s) weigh more

Incidental comment by Chris Townsend

Regarding the simplicity of a mid, compared to a rectangular tarp, it depends on the pitch.

A flat tarp pitched flying diamond is insanely easy to pitch and a pitch I have often used when I am lazy and/or it's the best pitch at the time.

I'm not putting down any other shelters, just stressing the versatility and sometimes simplicity of a flat tarp.

Regarding the TrailStar, A very high percentage of well known UL hikers in Scotland use the MLD Trailstar for it's ease of pitch and wind shedding, but there are other UL shelters that also have these qualities, including other MLD shelters like the Patrol, Cricket, …

I've used both. I've sewn up a few different pyramid tarps. I'm now sewing up a dome tent.

A poled tent will require less fabric to get the same useable interior room as a pyramid tarp. They require poles (which can weigh as little as 11 oz for aluminum, or 8.1 oz for carbon fiber). But pyramid tarps can also require a separate center pole (if you don't use trekking poles) or a pole extender if the tarp is tall enough. I think pyramid tarps will always come out lighter, but if you look at total shelter weight (tarp, inner, poles/pole extender, stakes), then a poled tent can come pretty close, maybe within 5-8 oz depending on design/features and assuming similar fabrics are used.

Unless weight is super critical for a trip, I have begun taking a poled tent. I can squeeze my tent into smaller and more protected camp sites than my pyramid tarp. I can pitch it more easily in sandy areas or in rock-hard areas that don't take stakes (I always anchor it down somehow though). In general, I feel less constrained about where I have to camp with my poled tent.

I think wind performance depends a lot on design. And maybe the user too. So kind of hard to compare.

If expecting a lot of snow, I would prefer a poled tent. Pyramid tarps can lose a lot of room at the edges with snow. I can see digging down in the snow being nice with a pyramid tarp. Or using a wood stove.

Lots of great comments and insights. I appreciate all the feedback. I guess a lot of the choice comes down to the trip and personal preference. Part of what I was looking for initially was whether there are any instances in which one option is superior (or why one or the other is more popular in a given region) but I think as long as you're comfortable using the shelter in the conditions you're in that's what matters. Cheers