Cuben tarp comparison: MLD Patrol Vs Zpacks Hexamid Solo Plus

BTW, I recently posted a WTB ad for an MLD Patrol on Gear Swap. A fellow user offered me the Zpacks Hexamid Solo Plus and that's when I finally checked out the specs and believed it might be a suitable alternative.

I don't have experience with the patrol shelter but setting up a hexamid is very easy. One of the few tarps I was able to set up perfect my first time around with no fuss.

In setting up many an a frame style tarp I would say while the patrol is likely pretty easy, it won't be as easy as the hexamid. YMMV but that is my experience.

Logan,

Thanks for the response.

It really boils down to how weather worthy is the Zpacks? It seems many of the threads I've read regarding the Zpacks have naysayers who say it won't hold up in high winds, yet those people don't seem to actually own and use a Hexamid Solo Plus.

I have read several threads praising the MLD Patrol in bad storms. Again, my only concern with the shelter is the tight fit in a prolonged storm.

Only reason I stopped using my Hexamid tarp was because I didn't think it was well suited for attaching a bivy to (downslope, doesn't pull netting off of face enough). If you don't hang your bivy then it's fine. I've since moved to a flat tarp for this very reason.

I have a solo plus Hexamid, used it for a Sierra High Route trip with Borah Bivy worked fine. I added a couple loops to tie off to for the bivy. Have also done trips with my 75 pound Boxer, plenty of room. Have been in 30 mph sustained winds for several hours, it stayed up…Not as bombproof as my TT Stratospire 1, but the obvious trade off is weight..

My understanding is the Hexamid is good in pretty high wind, but not in VERY high wind. It handles a lot but it is not a bomber tarp like a Trailstar or Duo/solomid. If ultimate wind protection out of a tarp was your main goal, I would look at one of those models, and probably eliminate zpacks from your search all together. Zpacks are made to be the absolute lightest option in their class that can handle most thruhiking weather a long distance hiker will face. They are not meant for above the treeline/alpine stuff.

The Patrol Shelter will be more storm worthy than a Hexamid. But if ultimate wind protection was your goal I would go with one of the other MLD tarps mentioned. Without knowing exactly where you plan to be using this most, I would think a PS would be a good compromise.

I like my grace solo but when it get's stormy, I have to pitch it low which prevents me from sitting up during a storm.

I like my Hexamid Twin, but at 6'3", I don't like having the walls slope that close to my face and feet. I've used it in some rain storms but I've always found natural protection from the wind so it has never been blasted.

For the bivy/tarp combo you're describing, I'd go with the Solo+. Here's why.

When the weather is clear and the bugs are at their worst, you're going to be sleeping without the tarp. When the weather is windy and/or wet, the bugs will be gone and you won't need to pull the bivy off of your face. This will also give you an opportunity to sit up and fiddle around with your gear, read a book, whatever while you're waiting for the storm to pass.

I have been using a cuben MLD Patrol for a few years now.

Regarding roominess, it depends on the pitch and in fact one of the big reasons I like the Patrol is it's flexibility.
I suspect it is more flexible than a Hexamid, but I haven't had enough experience with the Hexamid to confirm.

I have pitched the Patrol high and open for Arizona desert shade and low and tight to the ground for gale force rain in the Atlantic North East.

It works well with a UL bivy. I run a line along the inside ridge on mine so I can hang my bivy at three points.

Getting in and out requires removing one corner line or stake when pitched low, not a big deal when you get used to it.

I've never had a problem with room and keep everything inside, even when pitched low.

Thanks to everybody who has taken the time to reply. If only I could get away from this pesky job thing to reply sooner.

Besides these awesome posts, I've also received a couple of detailed PMs with great info, so thanks to those users as well.

At this point, I'm leaning towards the Zpacks Hexamid Solo Plus w/extended beak. I think it currently checks more of my boxes for what I'm looking for in a cuben tarp.

I suspect you will be quite happy with your choice.
People who have them tend hang on them.

Have you looked at the cuben Patrol two person for more coverage? I would choose MLD simply because the quality of the product is so much better.

Thanks Dave,

I can see how many would like the extra room, and for not that much more money or weight.

It has been tempting me for a while!

I've been tempted too. Someone buy it and post pictures; maybe that will make the itch go away for awhile.

Just my thoughts…

Why not let the decision rest on if you want a head entry shelter or a side entry shelter.

Both are going to be about the same, when it comes down to everything else… we can sit here and argue about which performs better in the wind/rain all day long….

At the end of it all, is do you like getting into and out-of an a-frame shelter or a side entry tarp.

I think that is the issue that too few people talk about, and really should be.

Just posted today:read the whole thing; includes updated spreadsheet.

http://hikelighter.com/2015/02/12/lightest-fully-enclosed-shelters/

"The honour, the top spot, now goes to Mountain Laurel Designs: ‘Patrol Tarp‘ + ‘Serenity Bug Shelter‘ which specs out at: 398 grams / 14.03 ounces / 0.877 pounds / $530 cost / $1.33 cpg"

Technically, I think, it goes to a bigsky shelter… but their website is so screwed up and hard to understand I cannot make heads or tails of their shelter specs… so, yeah, MLD Patrol it shall be!!

ps, thanks for reading the whole thing – hope it helps some folks out there!

Can't speak to the patrol shelter, but I took my hexamid solo plus through a pretty good wind/rain/lightening storm in the sierras. Was at about 11.5K ft with virtually no tree cover. Out of 39 backpacking trips, that was the worst storm I experienced.
Flapped a lot like any shelter, but held up strong with no issues. Didn't have to adjust or anything. Made a believer out of me :)
Joe actually linked my trip video on his Hexamid page.

Awesome video Chris thanks for pointing that out. I'm glad to hear the solo plus did well in those condition!

@John Abela – I have to comment on you putting the second shelter list out there. Good work!

However, now that you've included the international gear makers you missed one fantastic and possibly the lightest bomber tent out there – Locus Gear Khufu in cuben or silnylon. It's slightly bigger than MLD duomid and also fantastically built. I own the Patrol + Serenity (Ron built them slightly wider for me for extra space), the Hexamid and both Khufus. So far Khufu is my favorite, with Patrol close second. Khufu gives you a ton of space and looks amazing in photos (the one in yellow.) Hard to beat shelter for winter.

Would add it to your list.

Gary, it was my understanding that the dimensions of the Khufu's were a bit smaller than the Duomids? At least at one time… I haven't been back to check the specs out for some time… but have they changed? Anyway, I got to check out Barefoot Jakes sil Khufu on a 7 day hike in the Olympics some time back, and I agree, it was nice.

I have extensive personal experience in widely varying 3-season conditions with a Hexamid Twin, it has been my principal tent for the past 2 years. If set up correctly, Hexamids are totally bulletproof in wind. I've been in a Hexamid in 60mph winds in the GC. See my prior post here:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=97311&skip_to_post=838338#838338

Chad – khufu are slightly longer in length, not sure in width, I think about the same. Length matters more here, I think because in Duomid when it snows, it touches the bag a tad more than Khufu. Khufu also has middle guyline hooks – gives you even more length.

@Gary,

Thanks for the kind comments, and suggestion.

I looked at the Locus Gear, but I failed to see an insert made by them.

So that nullifies it as a "fully enclosed" shelter.

And, as per my new qualifications for 2015, no "mix-and-matching" between companies.

If LG makes an inner and I missed it, please let me know the URL to its website page.