Is the Hyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid 4 the best all-purpose tent?

[David Chenault]

Shame on Max for the clickbait title, bound to engender controversy.

Shame on the interlocuters for un-substantive responses like “we all have valid opinions”, references to “facts”, and “Big Agnes alone makes at least a dozen models that are better for all around  1 or 2  person use.”

The Ultamids do a lot of things right, many of which are not readily visible from the internet.  For me the use of a waterproof, too-small zipper, lack of sod skirt, and expense removes it from uppermost echelon but I think Max makes a fine case.

[James L]

Dean.
I like mids as much as anyone. I also live on the great plains in a county that one of the top 5 year round wind velocities in the US..So I usualIy dont do a casual, half assed 4 stake pitch with any shelter-mids included. I love mids and dont need to be schooled on their advanatges.
BUT unlike some here I am sure not blind to their disadvantages.
FOR MOST BACKPACKERS
ALL tarp type non frestanding shelters(even mids) are NOT easy to set up with a truly taught storm proof pitch compared to a freestanding tent with a pretensioned fly over a engineered pole structure.

Mids are not magic and not every backpacker carries trekking poles or has world class guying/staking skills.

And THAT dear Dean gets back to the crux of the OPs claim that the Ultamid is the Ultimate shelter for EVERYTHING …including car camping,Woodland trekking,Craiging…..Really?

For open country or above treeline environments… Hell yeah- a mid is great (if you have the staking and guying skills to keep the thing upright in high winds.)
But for the average user, a free standing dome tent is simply a better all around choice..)
But me? I like my mids and plan on buying two more in the next few months..

[David Chenault]

“ALL tarp type non frestanding shelters(even mids) are NOT easy to set up with a truly taught storm proof pitch compared to a freestanding tent with a pretensioned fly over a engineered pole structure.”

In my experience this is simply wrong.

The real systemic weakness of mids is the extent to which they are ill suited to providing both moderate weather protection and ventilation simultaneously, which is a far more frequent problem for 80+% of users, and might be a good argument for adding something other than a mid to ones quiver.

[Jennifer Mitol]

I’d also agree that setting up my duomid is the easiest damned tent I’ve ever set up.  WAY easier than trying to figure out poles and which grommet they go into and the separate fly that goes up after the inner….

On my CT I travelled with a couple who used a duplex and another hiker who had a BA seedhouse 2.  I was completely set up inside my toasty dry quilt long before either of those guys were even close to being finished.  I mean – 4 stakes, pole.  maybe 4 more stakes. done.

[James L]

Darnit Dave..
If you are going to quote me –
Dont leave out the qualifying sentence above it-

My complete statement-

“FOR MOST BACKPACKERS
ALL tarp type non frestanding shelters(even mids) are NOT easy to set up with a truly taught storm proof pitch compared to a freestanding tent with a pretensioned fly over a engineered pole structure.”

I stand by that.
For most backpackers (with avrrage skill sets)
Its true.

It just does not come in handy when a bloger is pimping $1,400 Cuben mid systems:)

Reality is a biotch at times..

Otherwise ,I have always agreed with most things you’ve said about mids..for you..

[Dean F.]

You can pitch a mid a bit higher for better ventilation, or you can leave the door open, but yes in truly horrific conditions either of those might not be optimal, so I have to agree with Dave.  That said, I use a 2P as a solo mid, so I’m never in much danger of rubbing against the condensation on the walls.  Other disadvantages are the somewhat large footprint, and the fact that for some reason some people simply can’t stand center-poles.

But they are piss-simple to set up.  Surely more simple than some dome tent that you have to snap multiple poles into multiple points, stake it down (if you don’t think that freestanding tents need to be staked then, again, already doubt your judgement), then wrestle a “pre-tensioned fly” over it, and snap that in.

Both may or may not need to be guyed, so that’s a wash.

[James L]

And Jen,

You had set your mid up many many times..before your CT hile you’d pitch it what at least 50
plus times?

Switch shelters with your friends with you practiced setting up the seedhouse and the results would have been the reverse.

Only with four stakes that mid would not have been much fun to ride a midnight thunderstorm in..No matter who pitched it.;)

[James holden]

depends on the “free standing” tent …

some alpine climbing tents you simply sit inside while the storm is blowing, unfold and clip the poles … theres a reason they set it up that way …

as for “mids” … if you dont have ~800+ yankee dollahs to spend …

 

~80 dollahz …

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/Silicon-coating-2-persons-3F-Pyramid-Flysheet-ultra-light-high-density-mesh-1-person-inner-tent/1302938_32277250747.html

 

~ 80 USD …

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/ASTA-2016-high-quality-2-side-silicone-pyramid-fly-of-outdoor-camping-tent-265-170-135cm/1302938_32690726020.html

they aint HMG or MLD … but im suspect theyll get the job done for 99% of folks here

;)

[jimmy b]

One quick comment on pay to play here. Although UL gear can get pretty pricey it ain’t nothing compared to something like amateur motorsports. Count yourself lucky, present co. included.

Then when you figure in the expenditures of top athletes of just about any sport and the pay to play numbers go way up. So even considering  $800 plus for a shelter in CF that has a limited life span may be very reasonable for the OP.

just sayin’

[James L]

Dean -yes – all things being equal, yes both types need staking for storms obviuosly..

But JUST TO STAY ERRECT any tarp type shelter HAS to be staked and guyed out..Thats pretty obviouos.Even a mid. Increase the wind velocity and it needs to be staked out WELL. Most properly designed dome tents simply dont require that much Guying and staking all things being equal.

It only gets argued here because people here most have skill sets and equipment in terms of staking and guying WAY beyond the average backpacker..so tarp type shelters are cake to them.

Bravo!

Good for you guys..the rest of the average backpacking world stands in awe of you..lol

Which gets back to the ULTIMATE shelter for every use BS.
Unless its qualified as to the target users its pretty much meamingless..

[Richie S]

Not sure why everyone gets so bent out of shape. A good review and one that stimulates some discussion is a good thing. No one is making you agree with him or buy the shelter.

I would say I do support buying the original rather than the clear and obvious ripoff though.

[Dean F.]

If you can tell us what the “original” pyramid tent was, we’re all ears.  :)

Probably some paleolithic contraption made of animal pelts…

James- I would of course disagree that a pyramid is the ultimate shelter for all conditions.  But I might go so far as to say that I think that they are the best general-purpose UL shelter for almost all conditions.  And the only real difference between that and what Max said in his review was the degree of hyperbole, and that he specifies one particular product whereas I would stick to generalities.  But absolutely, if I could have only one shelter in my quiver it would be a pyramid of some sort.  Hands down.  No-brainer.

Also, James, I would disagree with you again that the ease of pitching a mid has something to do with our experience level here on BPL.  First, there are a surprising number of novices here on BPL.  Further, I would propose that you could take an absolute camping novice, describe the pitching technique in my first post on this thread once, and they would get it right (and tight) on the first try.  I challenge you to do the same with a mass-market dome tent.  Or, hell, even most TarpTents.  (Nothing against Tarptents- just an example.)

But, I already confessed that I’m a pyramid fanboi.  :)

I would also state my opinion that the people getting bent about this review need to have a Coke and a smile, and realize that any reasonable person would immediately recognize that it is an opinion piece (both of those “opinions” being in the broader meaning).  So calm down.  You’ll give yourselves an apoplexy.

[Jim C]

Now we can fight about whether to have a Coke or Pepsi to go with that smile. ;)

[Dean F.]

Hell- that’s right, I’m a Coloradoan, now.  It’ll have to be a Pepsi.  :)

(Actually, I’m still very much a Coke guy.  Please don’t tell the Boulder people- they’ll rescind my membership.)

[Paul Magnanti]

I don’t get the Cokes vs Pepsi joke for Colorado to be very honest.

I’m a root beer guy myself…

Partial to Polar soda from my childhood…  Just up the road from me in Woostah.

(AH! The Pepsi Center! I don’t follow sports..so I totally blanked on it..until I googled it)

 

[Roger Caffin]

That original pyramid looks a bit woosy to me. One bad storm and it would collapse or blow away. ‘Call that a tent? Now THIS is a tent.’ (With apologies to crocodiles.)

This is a REAL pyramid. Four corner poles so you don’t have that nasty collapsable middle pole, and plenty of guy ropes in the right places.

Tech details for those interested: poles are 50 mm Al alloy tubing, guy ropes are 6 mm alpine cord. Don’t know what the fabric is, but I can assure you it is not Cuban Fiber! Tent was designed for the Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition (ANARE) for field use, guess where. I gather it is carried on a pulk. I think it sleeps four.

Cheers :-)  :-)

 

[Franco Darioli]

And this is the same Scott Polar Tent after a bad night :

in spite of the 60lbs structure (it is a 2-3 person tent…) even those 4 beefy poles can get bent and that is why I suggested on another forum that leashing together two trekking poles is not ideal.

(mind you I have posted ways of doing that without buying extra purpose made gadgets but for much smaller   two person tents in protected areas, not for climbing type expedition)

[Brad Rogers]

I am not sure why everyone is bashing on the guy, it is a pretty good review and even though the Ultamid 4 isn’t the best tent for everyone, he makes his case fairly well.  He seems like he spends a lot more time in the backcountry than most of us do (nowadays that includes me).

The downsides to the Ultamid 4 are quickly evident, the price and large footprint, but if you have the money, and hike in places where the footprint isn’t and issue, it is a great shelter.  I wouldn’t say it is my ideal shelter since most of my trips are solo – so I use a MLD Solomid, but I do have a Golite Shangrila5 and an HMG Ultamid 4 that I use with my wife.  The size is nice to sleep on one side of the pole and have a super large “vestibule” on the other.  It offers a good tall place to change clothes, stand up, cook (in non bear country), etc even in bad weather.

While shelters are not as personal as say shoes or a backpack, but I have found that everyone has their own preferences and hiking styles, and their shelter needs also vary greatly with climate, terrain and hiking conditions.

 

 

 

[Author]

Posts