Shelter help needed

Enjoyed reading your post, though you didn't mention if you'll be dealing with much rain =P

Looks like you've done your homework and have good options in front of you, I would just suggest another to add for consideration is the Skyscape from Six Moon Designs, it's a "one-piece" tarptent that comes in a cuben version.

yeah, not sure if you are going to see much in the way of precipitation, like rain, or hail, or maybe strong wind…but if you WERE to encounter those types of conditions, a nice 'mid is the way to go.

I've gone through so many shelters over the past 5 years I'm embarrassed…but I think I'm sticking with my MLD duomid (with the solo inner if i'm by myself, the duo if the dog also needs bug protection, or nothing if it's out of bug season). I have the cuben version and really it's quite a perfect, all-around shelter.

I think the Skyscape from SMD would be terrible in rainy weather. How can you open the door or exit without rain entering?

For solo use, I think Jennifer's recommendation of the MLD DuoMid is excellent. It's quick and easy to setup and should be able to handle bad weather well. If you stick the solo net tent in the back, you'll have a large vestibule that allows for drip-free entry. You may also want to consider the Locus Gear Khufu, a similar design.

Mids or tarp tents seems to be what you are considering.

Mids: MLD or HMG, I prefer HMG because I can get a closer pitch to the ground.

Tarptents (not cuben) then look at Henry's offerings or SMD in cuben it is Zpacks or SMD, BTW as you are in the UK take a look at Trekkertents http://www.trekkertent.com/home/ Enjoy searching for the perfect shelter.

I think there are several important parameters to consider: 1.how much rain you have, 2.how many bugs you have, 3. do you like a floor.

Do you need/want full time bug protection? That decision will cut out a lot of options either way. I live in a pretty buggy part of the country but very rarely feel I need bug protection.

Next, do you want a floor? Some people can not keep dry without an integrated floor. Others (myself included) seem to keep plenty dry without a floored shelter. This decision will remove a lot of options too.

As to the Camino, I'm not sure you need a shelter at all. My understanding is that the weather is pretty dry and you are never a long walk from a hostel or other shelter if needed. My son walked it a couple of years ago with no shelter.

As to the AT, many people spend a lot of nights in the shelters and others avoid the shelters. If mostly staying in the shelters, I would just take a pretty minimal tarp for the nights I didn't shelter. You might want something little more substantial if you don't use the shelters.

My go-to shelter is a cuben MLD Trailstar. Its got good size and sheds wind well. I really like having a large dry area when I'm in the rain. It rains a lot here too.

If I was looking to get a new shelter, I would look at the Zpacks offerings in addition to my Trailstar. They are pretty light and have a lot of options regarding bug protection, floors, and size.

you could always go with a cuben tarp/bivy combo.
MLD Grace solo or duo with a nice bug bivy for warmer conditions and a lightweight bivy for cold/wet. I think this would give you many options depending on the weather and probably be close to, if not the lightest setup.

Well, you are just the most helpful people possible! I'm going to hum and hah a bit.

My next post Is a query about bivis.

I'm going to walk Offas Dyke (the border between Wales and England) in March, there will be, no, wait for it, rain, maybe sun, not too buggy and only 177 miles or so and a leisurely two weeks to walk it in. LA la la. But I know I'll have to sleep in proper camp sites hence the desire for possibly a shaped tarp with a beaky thing or similar to avoid the whole 'ere darlin' wotcha doin' with that bit of groundsheet?.' But I might sneak in some wild camps too – thoughI'm told a farmer regulalry gets at pre-dawn to chuck Trekkers off the hills.

This means I might or might not want an insert or footprint or groundsheet for the wild bits so I need to think bivi! The last one I had cost either £5 from an outdoor shop in the Lake District or came free with an outdoor magazine. Or maybe it was the last two It was orange, it was plastic, you were supposed to bite a corner off to let the condensation trickle out, and it felt like being some kind of shrink wrapped kipper. The few times I used it on the hills I felt terribly worried someone might come and rescue me-which meant I got up predawn every day.

I have a gorgeous Golite quilt and the nicest thermarest women's pad, and a fleece lined sil nylon stuff sack for pillow ness so, a really lightweight bivi, proper waterproof underneath and breathable on top – that's what I want – and that's not orange – I do have a tiny life systems emergency bivi which is orange and is also the size of, err, an orange so green, black ,blue you get the idea you're smart people – after all you're on this forum.

I LOVE my Katabatic gear bristlecone bivy.
I also love my Borah Gear bug bivy.
I dont have a MLD bivy but I would always recommend anything from them because everything I own or have owned from MLD is TOP Notch.

I have an MLD super-light bivy, size large.

It's nice. I feel all snug in it, not constricted. Yet, often it seems that it's holding in moisture despite the breathable top. I'm questioning the utility of the bivy for the Pacific Northwest.

Look at Six moon Designs Cuben solo tents. Skyscape X is my fav. of theirs.

I own a Tarptent Moment DW. Several options are available for this outstanding tent and it can be pitched in 3 different configurations as shown in TT's catalog photos.

If you want a waterproof bivy I can recommend the Terra Nova Discovery Lite Bivy. Around 300g, but nothing for tall people as it's only 2m long. Fits my 178cm perfectly.