MLD Duomid or Trailstar

[Mal Hooper]

I'm opting for the Trailstar myself. I love the versatility of it, and, honestly, I want the fun (and challenge) of seeing what it can do. If it doesn't work out I'll go back to a tent…like the Duomid.

[Jason Elsworth]

I have owned both. Only have Tstar currently. I would probably go for the Duo unless high wind performance is the most important thing for you.

One thing to note is that if you are using a Duomid for two people, with an inner net, it takes up most of the shelter and you end up with a very small vestibule. The Duomid is pretty tight for two people IMHO and when you open the door in the rain one of you is going to get a bit wet.

[David Ure]

"As much as I hate to agree with a socialist"

LOL!

[Brian Johns]

Jason, can I ask why you only have a Tstar now but recommend a duo? Wind on the coast here is sometimes a concern. That said, I think the duo or tstar will handle what we get. it will be a solo tent for the most part. How high is a standard pitch ceiling in the Tstar?

[Jason Elsworth]

Hi Brian. New Zealand can be very windy and my local area spectacularly so. My experience with the Duomid in high winds was that the centre pole really flexed a lot and the sides deflected in. The pole issue can be fixed by binding two trekking poles together or using a proper tent pole. Then if you get it well pegged down it isn't going anywhere.

However, I figured for the same weight as a Duomid I could get better high wind performance for camping above the bush line. I am planning on using a Hexamid for summer camping and camping in the bush. If you don't need absolute maximum wind performance I think the Duomid is a nicer day to day shelter.

One final note though I have just received a picture on my Twitter feed of a Doumid's zip clasp failing in strong winds.

https://twitter.com/Tramplite/status/254145602437398528/photo/1

[Brian Johns]

Thanks, Jason. I've got a lot to work with thanks to the generous collective here on BPL. Will let you know what I decide. In 7 or 8 weeks it'll be mine all mine.

[Anthony Weston]

I pitch my duomid with two poles (titanium goat extenders) and I think it makes it stronger in the wind.

I had a cuben trailstar and didn't care for it at all.

but it's vanilla and chocolate, both are great shelters.

I think the duomid does a better job of keeping snow blowing sideways – horizontal out.

[Mikael Akke]

We have very positive experiences of the Trailstar in strong winds, heavy rain and sleet, far above the treeline in arctic/alpine conditions (short write-up + pictures can be found at http://outtherekids.wordpress.com ). Haven't used it in snow so far. We have the grey silnylon version of the TS. I wouldn't get the cuben version, based on recent reviews.

Our standard decent-weather pitch is at 125 cm, while for bad weather we take it down to 110 cm or so. Never had to take the entrance panel all the way down to the ground, but occasionally had to lower it to the belly-crawl level.

[Ken Thompson]

I always enjoy the fact that with the Duomid, you can unzip and step right in. No kneeling or crawling in the mud to get inside. Dignified. I'll probably get one for the third time.

[Stuart .]

I've used both this year (silnylon versions), sold the DuoMid after disappointing performance above treeline. I concede the point that there's crawling involved to get into the Trailstar in its low pitch, but once in, I feel it's more storm worthy than the DuoMid – at least for wind shedding. Snow is a different matter, and the Duo's steeper walls have the edge there.

This spring I purchased a cuben door shield from OookWorks for the occasions when the bad weather can't figure out which direction to blow. It keeps the worst of it out of the TS, adds a bit more privacy, but still allows good ventilation.

[James Berwick]

Hi Anthony
I am getting a duomid and already use AGPs, I was thinking about using an extention to make an A frame, so it is interresting to hear you are already doing exactly the same with the same gear.
How long are the poles overall when in the A frame position?
How long are the extentions and did you get them to make them specially?
I wondered about just getting a spare pair of lowers, which would act as ectentions and if I ever broke one, I would have a spare!
Thanks
James

[Dean F.]

I recently sold my Moment and was stuck for solo shelter options, and oddly all of my candidates were MLD. Solomid vs Duomid vs Trailstar. What follows is wholly my personal opinions and preferences, so take it with a pinch of salt.

Eventually I decided on the Duomid because what I was looking for was as close as I could come to an all-purpose 3-season solo shelter, and I thought the Duomid most closely fit the bill.

I chose it over the Solomid because I was willing to suck up a 3.5oz weight penalty for the extra room- I tested out both and found the difference in room to make a significant improvement in quality of life, and those paltry extra ounces were well worth it. Lots of space for contorting around to get into a bivy and bag, store shoes/pack/etc., or just get out of the rain and still have space to dress/undress (which came in very handy on my recent San Juan Wilderness hike). A solo hiker could certainly cook in it, too, though I have not yet tried this. And, of course, if you were hard-pressed it can fit two people if they are friendly.

The Trailstar, as many said, does not seem to be designs for any significant snow loading, which is potentially an issue here in the Rockies even in summer. I guess I thought that the Trailstar seems a bit more "specialized" than my "all-purpose" Duomid, if that makes any sense- it is THE tarp for wind. Even then I have a hard time believing that it is SIGNIFICANTLY more wind-worthy than a Duomid if the Duomid is fully staked-out. I do understand the appeal of it's simplicity, though. That did tempt me. But the Duomid has more headroom, too. Meh- pick your poison.

IMO the biggest advantage that the Solomid and Trailstar have over the Duomid is that the Duomid can't use a trek pole as it's center pole without a pole jack. That would be ideal- I'm into simplicity.

[Dan @ Durston Gear]

Dean,

I think there's a few poles that would work for the DuoMid without a jack, but it depends on how high you want to pitch it. The RutaLocura 3 piece poles go to 54", which should be enough unless you want to elevate the mid.

Another option is using 3 piece flick lock poles like Black Diamonds Alpine Carbon Cork, but replacing one of the bottom sections with the lower section from a Gossamer Gear LT4 pole (or any 2 piece pole of about the right diameter). This is what I was doing until I left the Alpine Carbon Cork poles at a trailhead, which was a costly mistake because I needed new poles and a new lower section for my wife's LT4's.

[David Ure]

nm

[Jason Brooks]

I think you have that backwards. The Trailstar is the most wind shedding trekking pole tarp in existence. That’s why it’s so popular in Britain. However, the low angle walls that make it so good at shedding wind also load up easily with snow.

[Paul S]

David Ure, what does “nm” mean in your posts here?

 

[Jerry Adams]

It means that on bpl you can’t delete a post if you change your mind.

All you can do is delete the post and replace with nm (never mind)

[canyon steinzig]

For lunch and emergency I’d say consider Sil Cricket too, they can easily hold two in a pinch.  Only issue with TS is its huge and less headroom for changing clothes. I guess I think the Duo is the goldilocks if you expect to find nice flat areas. Perfect for 1, ok for 2. If you have a flat spot, the duomid goes up faster with less fuss. In terms of wind, I’ve been in such crazy wind in the mids that I trust them. However, I don’t love in Scotland ;)

[Author]

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