MLD Duomid with no trekking poles

The problem with the zpacks pole and ones like it is with a mid it is really helpful to be able to adjust your pitch height. IIRC 58 is the highest they recommend pitching the duomid so if you need to batten down the hatches for serious weather it would be difficult to do.

Something like this pole from seekoutside is what I would go with if I weren't going to use a pole for hiking: http://store.seekoutside.com/carbon-fiber-adjustable-small-shelter-pole-in-stock/

As a non trekking pole user I was faced with a similar dilemma and ended up having ruta locura custom make me a carbon fiber hiking staff that was adjustable to the heights I wanted for all of my shelters (52-64 inches). It is 7 oz, and while I don't use it all day everyday when hiking, I use it much more than I thought I would and it has saved my butt from hitting the ground a couple times on rocky icy terrain. It can also house a tenkara rod for fly fishing. While that wasn't a huge part of the reason I bought it, I'm interested in fly fishing and enjoy that I have that option.

Zpacks also came out with a pretty adjustable hiking staff. It looks very nice but it is more than I paid for my custom and it appears it is only adjustable in specific increments. Good for their shelters but not as good for my uses. I like to be able to adjust it up an inch or two down or up.

http://www.zpacks.com/accessories/staff.shtml

Awesome, thanks. So this can be used occasionally to hike with as well?

Andrew,

There is another option offered by Ruta Locura.

This is what I believe would serve you best:
http://www.rutalocura.com/Tent_Poles.html

Look at the Ø0.600" option, and consider ordering the 52" kit.
There are numerous accounts floating on this forum of people who use this setup with a MLD Duomid. The stiffness of this pole is where it needs to be for any sort of weather coming your way.
Don't get put off by the "out of stock" marking – call Josh, the owner, over the phone, and you would be delighted to realize that he makes these to order, and will get you one in no time.

I'm not sure which you are referring to as I mentioned 3 different poles. The Seekoutside one is just a shelter support but adjustable. No hiking. The other two are hiking staffs that can and should be used for hiking.

ETA: The ruta poles mentioned in the post above mine are another good option, but not ones that can be hiked with. Just wanted to clarify that for you. Josh makes all kinds of poles some for trekking and shelter support and some just for shelter support.

Sounds like what I want is the carbon fiber hiking staff. I'm going to request he makes a 62" version for me. Thanks for all the suggestions!

The hikingstaff is heavier than many trekking poles……

Yes it is. But only by 2-3 ounces at most vs the lightest poles on the market. It is more adjustable and capable of being a center pole for much bigger mids than a regular trekking pole and is also far more sturdy for putting total body weight on. Like when using it to cross a stream. Your point is valid it is heavier. But many will find the extra functionality worth the very small weight increase. I do anyway.

Well I actually ended up going with the seek outside small adjustable pole, as I decided the extra weight wasn't really worth it when I've been fine without trekking poles for so long. That and I'm kinda scared, knowing how bad I treat gear, that I'll break the staff while hiking and end up with no way to support my shelter. 5.3oz ish for the seek outside one, and they are in stock which is important since in out of the country right now and need the pole when I get back. Grabbed some Lawson to stakes too. I really appreciate the suggestions.

I use the zpacks pole on my hexamid solo. 3 ounces, works fine. I haven't been in heavy winds with it however. I might double up with my hiking pole in brutal winds; it feels a little flimsy. (Yes I use hiking poles but also use the dedicated zpacks pole. 3 ounces!)

Remember that you can also use the apex loop, or a small tree branch.

I use trekking poles (REI/Komperdell CF) and pole jacks for the inverted V set-up, but only because I need all the floor space for myself and the dog.

However, last weekend I was camping in the same spot for a couple of nights and of course needed the poles for snowshoeing during the day. But while I was gone I wanted to keep the tent up so the sleeping bag could get some air, and some other stuff could get nice and dry. It took about a minute to find a suitable tree branch and break it to the proper length. Worked absolutely fine, and if I were a solo/no-pole kinda person I would do this all the time.