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I have to agree with Mr. King. I’ve come to the conclusion that if you can only own one UL solo shelter that it should be a DuoMid-sized pyramid of some sort. I own a smaller tarp too, but if I had to pick only one I’d keep the DuoMid. It’s a palace for one: large enough to hold you and your gear comfortably, to change clothes in, cook in, and yes even fit a second person in a pinch. Pyramids are pretty bomber by UL standards, especially when fully staked to a dozen points, though the minimal pitch for mild conditions only needs four. Probably the only more bomber UL shelter is the MLD TrailStar, though unlike the TrailStar the sides of a mid are usually steep enough to shed snow pretty well. Pitching options are limited, granted, but at least you can pitch high or low and maybe leave the door-side open depending upon conditions and ventilation needs. So they cover 95% of the conditions that I’m ever going to be in. Pitching is about as simple as it gets- stake the four corners into a square, then insert the center pole. Perfect every time. You can use a trek pole as the center pole, saving weight. Even if your trek pole isn’t quite long enough it’s usually pretty easy to find a rock to stuff under it, or you can carry a 1oz pole jack.
They are not freestanding, which I know freaks some people out. And they use a center pole, which I know also freaks some people out, though asymmetrical mids like the DuoMid XL mitigate most issues that I’ve heard voiced. So, if you’re not turned off by these points they have many benefits.
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