Mid mod: in search of a more versatile, human-friendly door

[John D]

Ease of exit was not a required feature of the ancient pyramids, and some 5,000 years later the situation hasn’t improved much. Grovelling on all fours to deal with the zipper at lower end of the hypotenuse is a pain in the neck, especially after re-entry. A two-way zipper offers a tempting and ergonomic solution, but squeezing out between the teeth is a likely path to zipper failure. So how about a different door altogether…luxury!

 

[Todd T]

Grovelling on all fours to deal with the zipper at lower end of the hypotenuse is a pain in the neck

Please explain.  My uninformed eye sees two (three?) lower-end zippers to cause pain in the hypotenuse…

[John D]

My preferred way to exit now is to lower the top of the door – further than in the third image – and simply step out. The multiple zipper options are just a by product of this design.

[Jerry Adams]

I have been trying to solve the same problem.  And have tried the same solution – door in the middle with a stake at the bottom on each side.  But I’ve found it awkward to get out.  Maybe it just needs to be wider.  I’m experimenting.

Normally, I have one side totally open.  easier to get out.  Better ventilation.

If it’s really windy then I do something like yours, but I’m not happy with it, still experimenting

[John D]

I have not used this in a real world situation yet, so we’ll see how it works! For a very amateur sewing machine operator I was quite happy with my hack job, except for the radius of the curve at the top: it is a bit tight. If I like the door I might have to ask Ron at MLD to make me a Supermid without a door :-)

[Jerry Adams]

you modified a MLD supermid?

did you add the strips on the ground on all sides?  I think that’s common for snow tents.

groveling on all fours to reach the bottom of the zipper is the problem I also have.  If it’s not super windy I leave the door unzipped.  I’ll zip it down a little if rain is blowing in.

[John D]

Ron added the valences. Useful for non-snow too…

[Jerry Adams]

That looks very windy

[Sam Farrington]

Yes, that’s why I’m happy only if a tent is a convex, aero dynamic shape. But it is a much greater design challenge.

[John D]

Without the valences and all the rocks, this tent would be lying at the bottom of the Northwest Passage.

[Roger Caffin]

The door on John D’s tent looks the same as the one I put on all my tunnels. Has been fine for many years.

Cheers

[John D]

Good to know, Roger. I was roughly aiming for a Hilleberg Nallo type door. If mine holds for many years it won’t be thanks to my sewing, more the very liberal use of silicone sealant to cover all manner of dodgy work.

[Roger Caffin]

If it is dodgy but it works, it ain’t dodgy.

Cheers

[Author]

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