Yet Another Shelter Thread
I'm looking to replace my MLD Grace Duo from the era when Ron only sold on Ebay.
I want something simple to set up that doesn't require any more stakes or guylines than I'm using now. I've ruled out hammocks, not because they aren't comfortable but because I don't want to have to set up two different pieces of gear. I know its a lazy reason… I've also ruled out the Zpacks Hexamid and similar shelters (Bearpaw Cub Den, etc) because they seem to require a lot of stakes and I don't want to have to crawl underneath the beak. I've had a beaked tarp and didn't like it.
Here are the options I'm looking at:
Smallish flat tarp(5×9 or 6×9) and bivy. Can set it up lean-to or half pyramid style with 4 stakes and 2 guylines. Added bonus of having the bivy for cowboy camping. I like doing it but dew can be an issue, especially in the spring. Cheapest option since I have a MYOG poncho tarp I could use for now.
Tarptent Notch. It seems the easy to set up and having the bug protection would be nice especially in Missouri. I've had bad experiences with condensation in single wall tents which is why the Notch is a little more appealing that other TT offerings. Being able to use just the fly in the early and late seasons is appealing as well.
Pyramid shelter. Seems easy to set up and offers more protection than a small tarp. Also lighter and cheaper than the Notch. I'm leaning towards the MLD Solomid but don't like it when rain drips on my sleeping bag when I open the door. I assume the Duomid would be better in this regard? Would be great if I could roll back the doors on nice nights since I won't have the bivy to cowboy camp.
Any opinions on these shelters or any others you would recommend? Here are some additional considerations: I just need a solo shelter. I want to be able to enter the shelter from the long end, I don't like crawling in then squirming around to get facing the right direction. Simplicity in set up is the real key for me, the less fiddling I have to do in camp the better. Also a small footprint when pitched is a plus, the undergrowth here can limit campsite options. As nice as a cuben shelter would be, its out of my price range and I'm ok with the weight penalty of boring old silnylon. If the shelter can come in yellow that would be nice too. I like how a yellow shelter looks in pictures :D
Thanks in advance!
Adam
