MLD Duomid

I found the DuoMid to be the most stable of any shelter I have used in the wind. As far as snow, the one pole works just fine because the snow slides down the steep fabric walls. As long as it is pegged well, it works.

I bought the shelter knowing about the single-pole-in-the-middle but I knew as soon as I pitched it in the yard that I had to figure out a way to get rid of it. it's like…. totally in the way … and as much as I move around it was not a matter of if, but when, I rolled over and knocked it down, bringing the shelter down on top of me.

And it is a brilliant solution. Thanks for sharing.

One could look at the single pole in a positive way.

(1) When sharing a tent it clearly shows the mid point and helps with arguments over who is on who's side.

(2) It could discourage sex between two inappropriate partners (think trundle tent).

On terms of bug shelter: Think the plan was a cuben duomid with inner net as a bug shelter (guess compared to Z-Paks hexamid with bug netting or inner). There's the weight/price difference but just sounds like people wanted more room.

Thanks, Thomas.

OK, I went ahead and ordered a silnylon Duomid (yellow). I have a piece of 3/4" PVC pipe that I think will work for the mod.

I hope they have some of these in stock so the delivery time isn't too long.

I was pretty surprised to see it show up in just a bit over a week after I ordered it.

BTW, another good thing about the 2 pole setup is that you can pitch it to the ground and if you want/need to ventilate the front or back a bit you can stick a rock under the trekking pole handle to raise that side only up off the ground.

Thomas,

Here’s a similar idea using a piece of flexible tubing. I’ve primarily used it with a three pole set up but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work with a two pole pyramid.

One advantage over the rigid connector is that the poles can be adjusted from under the tent/fly. Moving them closer together raises the tent and moving them farther apart lowers the tent.

The connector is flexible enough to allow me to leave it on when I fold the poles for storage.

I carry a spare but have not had to replace one after about 2 dozen trips with it.

here

Randy,

Someone else already mentioned this but one thing I don't like about pointy topped flys is that rain comes in when the door is unzipped.

I prefer tents with a cross pole (like Big Agnes, REI Quarter Dome, etc.)so the rain doesn't come in when the door opens.

The tent fly shown in my avatar is an example. It is the fly for a 1 person tent and has a cross pole/ridge about 2 feet long. The inner tent that goes with this is pointy topped but my rain-coming-in issue doesn't apply to the shape of the inner tent.

I use longer pole jacks. I prefer the handles up and not in the dirt. I have two lengths available depending on if I want to one pole or two.

"Someone else already mentioned this but one thing I don't like about pointy topped flys is that rain comes in when the door is unzipped."

This is definitely true if you're putting 2 people in a DuoMid, but for solo use it's normal to sleep in the back half of the pyramid (which is where a solo inner would go) and then the front half is just vestibule space so its no biggie if some rain falls in. This is one of the main advantages of using a DuoMid over a SoloMid. With the SoloMid rain would land on your sleeping area pretty much unavoidably.

>>I use longer pole jacks. I prefer the handles up and not in the dirt. I have two lengths available depending on if I want to one pole or two.<<

What is the length of your pole jacks? What poles do you use?

Thanks,

Ron will supply you with free pole jacks if you ask with your DuoMid order.

Thanks, I'll give 'em a call tomorrow morning. Nice to have options.

I like the flexible pipe idea a lot!

Granted the two longer pole jack option is heavier than what the OP has done. But since it was asked. I use two of these from Quest Outfitters.

#4107 section w/o insert .625" diam- ECONOMY POLE- black 1.90 oz/56 gm 18" $3.11 ea. $2.89 ea.

.625" ENDCAPS #4059 vinyl end cap for .625" diam $ .65 ea. $ .59 ea.

Here is a link

http://www.questoutfitters.com/tent_poles.htm#TENT%20POLES

This seems to be exactly the same thing that MLD supplies

Just something to consider in the SharkBite-Two-Pole scenario –

Unless the handles on the ground are somehow "captured" by a divot, mud, or bump, they are going to spread apart under load. Maybe the 'Mid walls will hold them, maybe not. (In a Lightheart they Are captured by the walls and the floor.)

Make an inverted "V" with your first and second fingers, and push down on your desk.
Feel them spread? Feel that stress? It would be concentrated at the tip/shaft interface.

A cord connecting the handles would reduce most of it.

(Handles Up, Tips in the ground – no problem.)

I really believe many people seriously under value tarps. They are incredibly versatile and incredibly light and reliable tools well suited to intermediate and advanced hikers for 3 season use in many climates.

So where is a "tent" worth the extra weight? My take is: beginners that cannot consistently set up a tarp under pressure (freezing rain at dusk), people who can't mentally get comfortable in a tarp, serious bugs (think stinging/biting things like scorpions or ticks), heavy wind, heavy rain, heavy snow

I don't see the hexamid variants doing as well as a duo as a 4 season tent in heavy wind, heavy rain, or heavy snow. On the hex, the extensive netting will pack with snow, the zippers seem long, and the shapes are somewhat iffy in winter weather. The duo doesn't have a floor making it suitable as a snow tent, it supports snow ok above it, and is good in wind. So the duo totally beats the hex as a 4 season tent.

The hex is way heavier and has more possibility of a seam tear or zipper failure than a 3 season tarp and is not suitable as a 4 season tent, so what is it suitable for? Bugs. The combo of a bug net and a tarp is probably equal or heavier to a hex weight wise, so the sweet spot is for bugs.

So to review "tents" are well suited for 4 seasons or bugs. Hex is not 4 season. So where the hex lives is as a bug tent.

Sorry guys, I don't mean to offend anyone at all and I respect all your opinions, but this is my opinion.

Snowed on me most of the night. Not a heavy snow, but snow nonetheless. Netting didn't freeze into the snow below me (in fact it was rather easy to pack up in the morning, a quick shake and any snow clinging to the netting fell right off).

Worked for me.

Comparing these two is like apples to oranges. My opinion goes to zpacks by a huge landslide. The hex weighs 4 oz vs the 20 oz duomid. Plus $200 vs $400+.

Also my horrible experience with ml customer service and my glowing opinion of zpacks means a lot.

Save weight, money, and smile more, go with Zpacks please.

I have no dog in this discussion, but what are tho talking about?

The Hex tarp does not have full coverage compared to a DuoMid and is intended for one, not two. Your pricing is strange too. The DuoMid in sil at just under 20 oz is $225. In cuben it is 13 oz, but in 0.74, not 0.34. $400, but complete coverage including more durable fabric.

Your weights are way off in your previous post as well. I just weighed a SoloMid XL and it was just over an ounce underspec. No sure how you are getting a DuoMid in sil at 25 oz! (Claimed in your previous post).

Sounds like you had a bad experience with MLD, but it is important to compare factually.

A sil duo is about 23 ounces with seamsealing and 1mm gline or other sul guylines and sack. A hex solo plus is about 5 or 6 ounces max (my hex solo was 4.3 with lines and sack).

Duo mid is heavy, if you are not counting ounces then the duomid is nice because of the 360 degree protection, where a hexamid you need to pay $60 extra for the beak. Want a cuben duomid? Ok, but it will cost double and weigh double vs a cuben hex solo plus.

All my prices and weights may not be accurate as I am going from memory and typing from my phone. I am entitled to my oppinion and it's a strong one but I have my reasons.

No for sure – you are entitled.

But my DuoMid was 19.1 ounces with all guylines attached and fully seamsealed. In the sack.

My Duomid is right at 24 oz…

It's the Duomid with *exactly* one tube of Silnet that came with it, four 18" 2.3mm Dyneema Reflective Glowire guylines on the corners (makes it easy to find the corners) and four 18" guylines with the provided line that shipped with the shelter.

WTheck?

Maybe there are significant manufacturing variances? Admittedly, my DuoMid was purchased in 2011. I now have a SoloMid XL but will have to weigh it again tonight.

Sorry – did you use all of that silicone? I only used a third diluted with mineral spirits.