My new modded Hexamid Twin

$500+ for the Lightheart seems about right. With a cuben floor, this shelter has gotta use ~8-10 yards of cuben which costs Lightheart $200-$250. Add in zippers, bug netting etc and their materials cost is probably $250-$300.

Wow Doug, I thought Brandon at Warbonnet was the only one to do that. There is a fiberglass layer at the bottom of my hammock that allows me to build a fire right under it! Paul at Arrowhead equipment sells a burrito oven attachment that basically turns anyone inside as toasty as a casserole. What the reaaallyy amazing part is that somehow I'm still living!

FWIW, Oware makes a bivy for two!

Yeah I thought about that double bivy but I think it might get uncomfortable, just like a double bag. I sleep warm and she sleeps really cold and then personal space and tossing and turning.

I think for both of our sanity seperate would be better.

But when I make our bivies I might try and make some sort of zip-together…

Doug… When did you order yours?? I am waiting for mine now and had to wait until June 1st to place my order..I know it will not make the tent get here any faster but you know how it is when you are waiting for new gear to arrive HA HA. Thanks for the pictures.

Hi Sunny,

I think there was a huge rush of orders on June 1! Probably a long electronic line outside Joe's store like the lines outside the Apple Store on iPhone launch days!

I'd say the best thing, if you want to know when you might get yours, is to just email Joe and he'll let you know.

Take care,

Doug

I am sure I will have it by the fall. I am not backpacking much down here in the Southeast since it is SO hot. I went to Pine Mtn last week and there were cars overheating all over the park..that is very unusual for June. I am heading up the Approach Trail at Springer this weekend but am cheating and will stay at the Hike Inn. Please keep us posted on any tips or advice you have for using the tent.

Hi Douglas,
That modded Hexamid of yours does indeed look mighty nice. I got a twin hexamid a couple of months ago and it is currently working great in the chilly currently bugless conditions of winter however when it starts to heat up I reckon I might need to add a mod like your own. How hard do you think it would be to sew on a detachable floor/ bug net? I was thinking of sewing on the bug net but keeping it pinned up when I don't need it and maybe rigging up some kind of hook system to attach it to the floor. Anyone have any thoughts?

Hi Jeremy,

Can't really answer your question as I don't sew at all. I know someone on here posted a custom bugnet for their Hexamid not too long ago. You might consider that route.

There is a photo of a modified BearPaw Pyra 1 under a floorless Hexamid at http://www.bearpawtents.com if that is what you are thinking of.

I recieved my Heximid Twin Tent Saturday. WOW…I love it. The space is great and it is very easy to get in and out of. I tend to over do it when I seam seal and I put it on thicker than required. I also added the BPL micro tensioners to the guy lines because I get a better pitch on everything when I use them. The tent weighed 10.3oz when I was done. I have not decided which stakes to use yet. Since I hike with a group I camp where the group camps so I do not always get the best or most protected tent site for the shelter I am using. I prefer to use 2 heavier stakes on the main guy lines and light stakes for the rest. I sometimes have trouble pushing the light ti stakes into hard ground so I am considering using 6 MSR Needles with 2 MSR Groundhogs. I would appreciate any stake reccomendations.. Good stakes that hold well and micro tensioners should allow me to get a good pitch in crummy locations.

I also ordered the floor and the door and think they are well worth the weight.

I highly reccomend doing business with Joe. My customer service experience has been Excellent.

Tyler…I am not sure if you have seen a Hexamid in person but I live in Atlanta…please PM me if you want to check this one out and I will be happy to show it to you.

That would be awesome! I would love to actually crawl in one and try it on!

It said you haven't entered an address for pms but if you want you can email me at like.sisyphus at gmail.com

Sunny, I bent a y-stake like the Groundhog, so I can't recommend that for hard ground. Easton stakes might be better, although you risk breaking off the head. I think Lawson (mountainfitter) was going to make some solid aluminum or titanium stakes in the fashion of the Easton stakes. That'd be my vote. Right now I'm using 8" Easton's and y-stakes for the front/rear and side lines on my solo Hexamid, and BPL titanium hook stakes on the rest. I've had one Easton stake pull out on one windy night.

If you use the door on a windy night, you might want to stake the rear of your Hexamid directly to the ground or the door will catch air like a sail. I've done that, and fortunately the Hexamid was strong enough to take the abuse.

Eugene… I will have to ask Lawson about those stakes. I was just re-ordering a mini drybag from him this morning. I had one that was the perfect size for my iphone. It went missing during one of my backpacking classes I teach. I may have to put a lo-jack on the Hexamid :) Thanks for the tip about the door.

Tyler.. I will jump in there and put my email in there now but I will sent you an email in a bit.

Doug,

Nice shelter. It's got my mind spinning in a whole new direction. What are the dimensions of your floor? And to what extent do you think that could be pushed? 84"x60"? Is the netting attached right to the edge of the tarp? Or is there a slight overhang of the tarp? Hard to see for sure in your pics, but looks like you do not use a hiking pole? If not, what tent pole? Thanks for the post!

Hey Doug,

What are the specs on the quilt, and where did you get it? (Oh, lordy, I'm impressed by the 7.4 oz weight!)

Have you used the Hex Duo in a heavy rain yet? I've been using my Hex Single with a 1.5 oz polycro ground cloth, and it works pretty well. I'm hoping to order the Duo soon, but I'm trying to justify the cost of the cuben ground cloth ($110?) and the extra weight (only a couple of oz, actually).

I'm also wondering why you had it sewn in. The nice thing about the noseeum floor, I've noticed, is that the ground cloth is less likely to slip on it than, say, silnylon.

Stargazer

Hi Brian,

Not sure of the dimensions, but I believe it's just a regular twin ground sheet sewn in. Next time I set it up I'll measure it and let you know. Netting is attached to the edge of the tarp, like all Joe's Hexamids. I've never had an issue with it (I've owned three, I think, maybe four). I do use a hiking pole, a GG Lightrek 4, both front and back.

Doug,

Thanks for the reply. Sorry, I should have explored Joe's site more before I asked the question. Presuming you are using the "solo-plus" ground sheet, the dimensions listed are:

" 36" wide at the ends, 46" wide at the center, 7 feet long, with 3" folded up all the way around "

This is the widest he goes due to the pesky limitation of Cuben roll width.

Love the look of this hexamid. Would love to see one in person. Anyone in Wisconsin with a Hexamid Twin?

Brian

Hi Doug, Its been a while since you first told us about your modded hex. Just curious if you could give us some details about how it holds up under heavy rain? I know rain running down the netting is often an issue with the hex, but were you correct in your original belief that the netting is sewn into the floor low enough so that the groundsheet remains dry throughout? Any splashing?

Any comments or caveats you would like to mention to any of those that are eyeballing this shelter? Thanks!!

Hey Konrad,

Unfortunately, I haven't yet used it. Been out of the woods for a bit — stuff happens kind of thing. Actually been thinking of selling it. But only thinking….. ;-)

I like Joes' designs, and your mod looks pretty functional and light!

I agree with everything that's been said about Joe….the guy is a stud, great with his clients, totally customer oriented, and fast. Can't say enough about him in the little I've interacted with him.

Just received a few items from him, the quality is top notch…cuben food sack, small cuben cases for iPhone & camera, and the cuben shoulder pouch…the shoulder pouch is AWESOME.

Don't sell your baby until you get a chance to sleep in her a few times!

Dug
http://thf2.wordpress.com

bump again for konrads question..

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