” Form and Function are One “

I am NOT a fan of FLW but I love the idea of thinking about backpacking shelters as architecture that blurs the lines between inside/outside.

Beautiful! Cricket Pro?

Cricket XL.

Buena Vista

My view for the evening.

Absolutely stunning. It looks like the sky is on fire in that second-to-last one.

Is the Cricket XL a recent acquisition? Any impressions so far?

Brand new. I was up by Bailey Colorado last week. It was waiting when I got home
Set it up in the front yard and took a nap. Found it very easy to pitch and very comfortable. Typical MLD quality except for a ruffled seam in one area. A little disappointed but it really doesn’t affect anything and doesn’t stand out. Not a deal breaker. I was able to seam seal it and it’s still a nice looking tent. Blame it on the new guy. The inner net and floor are for the Duomid. They fit well but the tie outs are a little off between the inner and the tarp. Again not a big deal if you figure it out ahead of time. The pros and cons of having no door are fairly obvious. I got the XL to address my fears where I’m tucked further under compared to the regular or the pro model, plus room for my dog. My second pyramid.

The Supermid is beautiful, too. That’s all very good to know, thank you. I’ve been admiring the assorted Crickets for a while and have been toying with the idea of ordering a silpoly Pro with a DCF Pro inner, but also have some fears about how far under (or not) I’d be.

Nice shots! Nice set up too.

Thanks Dirt. I’ve developed an affection for the mids.

Jen, Dirt could tell you more than me about the Pro. The Solomid anyway. I find the beak on my cricket offers plenty of protection. More than the Super duo with an open zipper Especially in storm mode.  You can always block off the entrance. I think any rain would have to blow sideways to get in.

The shot of the Supermid is near Bailey. A couple miles from segment 4 of the Colorado Trail. The others are by the headwaters of the Arkansas River near Buena Vista.

Near the Collegiate Peaks. Lots of 14ers in the area. Somewhat underwhelming after the driving the pass out of Colorado Springs. I compare that drive to Big Sur. Too much to take in. Green mountain meadows, tall trees. Towns named ‘Santa Claus, the exit to Pikes Peak. Even where they cut through the rock for the highway, which is a brilliant red. You only catch a glimpse with the winding road and heavy traffic.

Thank you for that info, Terran–sounds like my fears may be more or less unfounded, particularly given the option to block the entrance. Dirt’s video on the Solomid Pro/Gatewood comparison is also really helpful.

You’ll have to use a little imagination in blocking the door.

I passed a line through a mini carabineer on an adjustable piece of bungee hooked to the top on the inside, then connecting the line to opposite corners at the stakes front and back. Then a second line to the other two corners in the same manner. Taut, not tight. A little loose even as not to effect the pitch. Using Prusik knots on the lines to attach my inner netting to keep it tight or to possibly hang a tarp. Diagonal ridge lines.

Wonderful photos.

Thanks. I’ve been doing a bit of boondocking, day hiking. Trying to get my bearings. Decide where I want to be. I’ve found some beautiful spots. Really a lot of the beauty was on the drive. It hasn’t been crowded. The few people I see are very pleasant and the spots have been very clean. However, they appear well used. Over grazed by decades of campers. Still I would highly recommend it. Hoping to get out once more before the Forth.

Be sure to get enough ventilation to avoid condensation or you could have Falling Water.

Thank you for the door recommendations, Terran, and apologies for the delayed reply. If I do end up going for a Cricket of any sort, I’ll take a stab at replicating your approach.

All good. I mostly don’t want to create any false expectations. A door may only be necessary if wanting privacy in a busy area. I’m gaining confidence in the beak. All and all, it gives better protection than a flat tarp. The opening can be reduced to a crawl space. The Pro inner with the 7″ bathtub walls , even with a tall pad, it should have good blockage.

MLD has changed their ordering policy. They open space on the first until booked up.

If I could have only one shelter, it would be this one . . .

Truly a form follows function, as it has yet to see winds it could not handle . . .

(above) the morning after 70+ MPH wind gusts. The open end was staked to the ground during the windstorm.

My go to shelter is a Six Moon Designs Deschutes (last year it replaced my 12 year old DCF version Deschutes because it was beginning to delaminate in several places, a common DCF problem, which is why I am done with DCF).

My favorite shelter is my TarpTent Scarp 1, which is the one I use the least.

I didn’t realize how much coverage the Deschutes gave. Six Moon’s website doesn’t do it justice.

Love the pictures. From the back it has a stealth batplane look. Certainly looks functional . It Illustrates my point exactly. There’s beauty in function. It also helps keep you dry and shaded. Modernism in the desert.

I didn’t realize how much coverage the Deschutes gave. Six Moon’s website doesn’t do it justice.

I’m pretty sure that’s an MLD Trailstar in the photos, not a Deschutes.

The pictures are my TrailStar. I mentioned at the end of my post that my GoTo shelter is a Six Moon Designs Deschutes, which has about 44 sq ft of coverage. The other 1P mids I have used in the past were in the 35 sq ft range. The Deschutes is spacious compared to the zPacks Hexamid I owned eons ago.

The TrailStar has 65 sq ft of coverage — however the perimeter areas don’t have a lot of height. Sometimes I have to get creative to pitch it in places with a lot shrubs & bushes. IMO the design is so simple, it is genius.

And so . . . if I could have only one shelter it would be a TrailStar (definitely not the DCF version if it is still made).

I knew something wasn’t clicking.