MLD Duomid

[dirtbag]

Why or why not should I buy a cuben duomid? Advantages/disadvantages? Likes/dislikes? Pros/cons? I want to hear it all. Images are welcome. Thanks..

[Ken Thompson]

What stopping you from pulling the trigger? You've been here long enough to have some idea. You know that if you don't like it that the community here will buy it off from you in less than a half hour most likely. Very little to lose if you want to try one for yourself. Only your opinion matters in the end,

I don't like cuben for aesthetics alone. Wax paper. Too translucent. Sil mid is easier to pitch.

[Andy F]

I avoid cuben due to price and questionable seam strength.

[bjc]

My problem with any small mid is that I feel claustrophobic with my head under the sloping end wall. Also if sleeping in the back half with a bug net I can't stand facing the back wall. I have read your posts about the patrol shelter and I suspect I might pull the trigger on one, maybe the duo for more space. I just need more space around my head than any of the mids I have tried. I say that, but the duomid is great for lousy weather.

[David Ure]

The cuben that Ron uses and the bonding process for the seams is exceptional and I am unaware of any failures in seam strength of his shelters. That being said, I would be inclined to use silnylon in the snow because it allows some stretch with accumulated snow and it tends to be more abrasion resistant. But the weight and static strength cannot be denied of cuben.

[Jennifer Mitol]

I sold my long-lusted-after solplex because I missed my cuben duomid. I like the modular capabilities (solo inner, duo inner, no inner…) and it really is a palace for me and the pooch.

I also really like cuben. I like the way it feels, the weird chemical smell after it's been rolled up for a while (or brand new) – smells WAY better than stored nylon! – after playing around with a ton of shelters I really think I've found THE ONE.

Now, if only I could figure out men the same way……..

[Ryan Smith]

Agreed on the Cuben seam strength from MLD. Their bonding process is sound. I have seen a couple tie out failures, however. I don't really know the story behind those failures, could have been someone tripped over a guy line. It wouldnt make me hesitate in buying a cuben mid from them.

Ryan

[Andrew F]

Ryan, do you have a source for where you heard about the failed tie-outs? Can't say I've ever heard of a single failure of MLD's tie-outs. As the owner of a cuben Trailstar I'm curious. Their seam and tie-out construction is some of the best I've seen in the industry.

[Ryan Smith]

Yeah, their tie outs are similar to other designs so I don't think there is a problem there.

This link is the easier one to find.

https://blogpackinglight.wordpress.com/2012/03/26/cuben-duomid-return/

Ryan

[Andrew F]

Interesting – that is not the way I would have expected the tie-out to fail.

[Ryan Smith]

Yeah, probably something else going on there besides a strength or design issue. I remember finding another one somewhere, but I don't remember much about it. I was researching cuben tie out design at the time.

Ryan

[Philip Tschersich]

Not sure what effect it will have, but the current (or what I believe to be the current) MLD reinforcements are pretty aggro. They are backed by a very stiff and thick PVC-coated-like material.

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New:

[J-L]

I think the tie-outs on the cuben Duomid should be fine:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Er9VWmCmbgg

Edit: I do think that tie-outs sewn on with an "x-box" pattern are stronger than bar-tacks. But not many places seem to do this (I can only think of GoLite's SL2 and SL3).

[dirtbag]

I do love my cuben patrol shelter. I am looking into the duomid because I think I want to try something else. I figure it will work nicely for a 4 season shelter along with my bivy. I would really only pitch it if needed..rain/snow. Kind of the same way I use my patrol shelter. I also think it will be nice to use when my son comes out with me..He is 8..so i assume space wise it would suffice, and we both pack lightweight..so our gear is minimal. Do I need it? No not at all. I currently use a cuben patrol shelter/bivy and a BearPaw wilderness canopy 2 cuben tent.
My ONLY grip with the patrol shelter is in nasty wet weather getting in and out. It's not really a problem, I just pull 1 front stake out and flip the flap up..and get out/back in. When inside I replace the stake and tighten the line lock as needed. I like what I see in the duomid that you can open both "beaks" for easier entry/exit. The grip is when it's tough getting the stakes into rocky terrain..I'm the middle of night when I have to go to bathroom..replacing that stake into the rocky hard ground sucks..ex when it's windy and pouring out. With the duomid..I wouldn't have to worry about that.

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