New Shelter- SMD Skyskape X , Zpacks Hexamid Solo Plus, or Other?

If you don't want to carry/use trekking poles, consider the Tarptent Moment or Rainbow.

That said, both the Skyscape X and the Hexamid Solo Plus have optional poles that can be ordered with the shelter.

I've always figured that if I have to carry tent poles, they might as well do double duty and be trekking poles – even if I only use them when crossing streams, logs, or any place I need an extra leg or two.

True. I used to use trekking poles all the time, but now I mainly use them for stream crossings and snow, and end up carrying them in my hands most of the time. The Moment and Rainbow are a little heavy for me and I don't want to go back to silnylon. The misting was much more noticeable than on Spinnaker and hopefully cuben eliminates it completely.

You could consider the Hexamid fly (116g) with a separate net inner (Solo+ bug shelter 221g) for 337g total. There is possibly a weight reduction once you factor in the weight of the groundsheet (Hexamid 289g + groundsheet) means the groundsheet needs to be less than 48g. This is lighter and cheaper if adding a cuben groundsheet but provides less screened area.

I am currently using a Gatewood Cape and Serenity net inner but should have my Hexamid Solo+ fly next week which I expect to use with the Serenity inner.

This setup gives you more versatility by being able to leave the net inner behind and just add a groundsheet saving approximately 150g. It also means that wet gear is kept under shelter outside the inner tent so it can't dampen your sleeping gear. In the conditions I walk in this my preferred option. I also find the confines of the net inner means that my quilt stays in place when I toss and turn.

"I think the perfect shelter might be a bigger SMD Wild Oasis in Cuben without the perimeter bug netting and with a removable insert (something bigger than the serenity shelter)."

I recall seeing a cuben wild oasis without but netting for sale over in gear swap recently. Might save you some $ over paying for the custom work yourself.

EDIT: found the thread http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=51360

I really like my Solomid.I'd be glad to lend it to you if you wanted to try it out.I even have the net liner.It's pretty well used : – )

I am looking at the Hexamid Solo Plus with beak and the inner tent. For a groundsheet I will continue to use the window film (Polycro) that I have used for the past few years. It is lighter than cuben, and you could buy enough to last everyone at BPL a lifetime for the price of a cuben groundgloth. I currently use a SpinnShelter and Alpinlite Innertent in bug season and the Spinnshelter and groundsheet when bugs aren't an issue and agree that I like that versatility.

Dont think that Wild Oasis hasn't tempted me, but I have the Gatewood Cape, which is the same basic shelter and it is too short. Even with a 20* quilt and a CC Foam pad I am just an inch or two from touching the ends, and I am not that tall. Of course coming from the SpinnShelter I guess anything feels short.

Thanks Alan. I have looked at the Solomid, but it looks short as well, particularly with the inner tent.