Mid comparison

The Shangri la 3 (Hex) has been my choice tent when hiking with one of my sons and hiking in crappy weather. It is just big enough that condensation seems to dissipate for the most part and to allow room for the solo hiker to have a mud space to remove boots and fiddle around without getting the bag wet as well as dry clothes. At just shy of 5’10”, even I am scrunched a bit the way I pitch it but floor space could be maximized by shortening the pole. Recollection of some prior posts on this tent brings to mind some taller folks who have made use of this great shelter. It might work for you size wise and it is solid in wind.

I found the shelter to be very roomy with two people (one of us a 6' and one at 6' 2"). We tend to gravitate toward the pole in the center and that leaves plenty of space for gear storage near the edges. I would think there would be enough room in these areas for two small or medium sized dogs.

I have also used the shelter for 3 people. Its adequate but not roomy.

Thanks for the thoughts. Still trying to decide if I will go for the compromise.

Unless you are using it in snow, I'd check out the Mountain Laurel Designs Speed mid.

Edit: It does sound like you're looking at snow usage – The golite may be the best deal going then.

Thanks for the input. I decided to go with the Shagrila 3. I haven't had it out yet but I am exited to give it a go soon.

Anyone have experience with Black Diamonds trekking pole converter for mids? At .5 ounces and 5$ it seems like a good option. Is there anything else I am overlooking?

I have a new BD Megalight that I set up in the yard over the weekend. I also played a little with the trekking pole connector.

It seems like it would do the job, but it weighs 1.25 ounces, not 0.5. I'm not convinced that handle-to-handle is the best way to go. Last summer I used a short piece of cord with a loop in each end and several half hitches around the poles to connect poles tip-to-tip. I think this makes a much straighter pole, plus the handles won't poke holes in the ground sheet or peak.

Another thing to look at is the Backpackpackinglight.co.uk pole connector. It is a short piece of aluminum tubing that replaces the bottom section of two trekking poles to link them perfectly in-line

My BD pole connector connects tip to tip. The pockets aren't big enough to take pole handles.

Mine is this one that’s designed to go handle-to-handle but I only tried it out on a pair of kids’ poles:

1.2 oz Pole Link Converter

I have used the BD kit doing handle to handle. I would have been worried about the tips into the pocket… I would have though they would have drilled through.

It's also possible to use a bit of rope to accomplish pretty much the same effect. I am pretty sure that there is something by Ron Bell posted here or at MLD about doing this. This is basically what I do. I like having both handles pointing up and them lashed together with some overlap. The overlap gives stiffness. The handle at the top doesn't risk holing my tarp. The tip at the bottom keeps the handle from getting dirty and give a good firm plant.

I would be a bit concerned with a metal tube connecting the two tips. I would be concerned that there would be too much play creating a weakpoint to fail.

–Mark

“I would be a bit concerned with a metal tube connecting the two tips. I would be concerned that there would be too much play creating a weakpoint to fail.”

Bob of the UK store “BackpackingLight.co.uk” has come up with an extender that replaces the bottom section of both poles. No wobble. Check out his description and video (and subscribe to the podcast while you’re there).

Walking Pole Extender Link from Backpackinglight.co.uk Minimum Weight, Maximum Fun

The BackpackingLight.co.uk coupler looks really great. Thanks for the link.

–Mark

Thanks for the info. The aluminum extender looks great. I just need to check the diameter of Black Diamond flicklock poles as I prefer them for backcountry skiing. The pictures I saw of the bd extender showed tip to tip but it did look a little weak. Tying would be great but my maine application will be winter so I don't want to deal with too many tasks requiring barehanded work. Thanks again for the help.

For winter I think tip-to-tip would be a problem with the baskets. Handle-to-handle would probably be better. The BD Mega Light top grommet would work with the basket still on the pole.

i love my dana design nuk tuk and have been looking to buy a backup. mine has seen much use including a playing tug-of-war with a dog while I had it set up to dry. that required a repair done by the folks at rainy pass repair.

does anyone know of a company, perhaps a cottage industry, that could mimic the dimensions–particularly the catenary cut–of the nuk tuk and make it with silnylon?

I think the Oware 9×9 is probably most similar to the Dana Nuk Tuk. Oware uses steep walls and a reasonable catenary. From a quick web search the Nuk Tuk inner was 8' square.

Matching your Nuk Tuk inner might be harder than rebuilding both inner (floor plus net) and outer.