MLD Solomid Pro DCF – 7.2 oz

I’m actually about 37″ when I’m not slunk down in a chair.

FYI.. the Gatewood Cape is Silpoly.  Maybe older version was silnylon?

Yea dirtbag, the GWC’s were definitely made with 15D silnylon, and if you go even further back they were 30D silnylon. I guess Ron figured he needed to join Tarptent, Durston and MLD and use 20D silpoly. Heck, a lot of ultralight backpackers won’t even consider silnylon anymore. The big mainstream companies such as Big Agnes, Nemo and MSR still mostly use silnylon, but they target the masses.

A lot of people like the GWC’s. I know some sew perimeter netting around them to get a 14 oz tent (without floor). I believe you’ll like the Solomid Pro better, however you might prefer the Serenity Net over the Pro inner.

I’m getting ready to head out for a few days with my 5.8′ X 9′ silpoly flat tarp and the new bug bivy I made. I copied the HMG Bug Bivy entry. I’ll see how it goes and if all is well I will make one with 7D floor and .50 netting. This bivy has 30D silnylon floor and .7 monolite netting. Weighs 7.9 oz and is 27″ tall at head and 24″ foot. I also went with 7D silnylon on the lower half of front triangle to block rain, but kept the top half mesh to see out. Foot triangle is solid 7d. That’s big for staying dry with a flat tarp. Also has 4.5 inch bathtub floor.

Very nice!! Good Ol flat tarp n bivy… my favorite style!! Be safe, have fun!

Nice job Monte. I need to get that sort of confidence in my sewing skills. I was inspired by your last one. Nice modification on the end.

I have to see out. Bad eyesight. Being too closed in makes me dizzy. I think the Solomid Pro would be too close to my face for comfort. The Protech works because my heads at the the high end. The Supermid has a higher ceiling overall.

So much for my PP’s..

With the HMG Splash, (my first and only bivy)  I drop the front end to enter. Otherwise I find it awkward.

I hesitate to call these bivies. They’re a little more complicated. The Splash is more of a mini tent requiring support.

Regardless of name, it looks very nice.

Four to eight weeks lead time turned into ten days.🤠

You got it?

Set it up last night. Maybe he wanted to get me out of the way so he can concentrate on the Pros. IDK. Not complaining.

Nice opaque grey color.

I want to make a clarification about the Solomid/Cricket Pro innernet pricing. Apparently if you buy a Pro inner by itself without the fly it cost 25 dollars more for silpoly or DCF. That’s done by clicking on the net grouping which includes inners for all the other mids. https://mountainlaureldesigns.com/product/mld-pyramid-innernets/

But if you buy a Solomid or Cricket Pro fly the “Add Options” shows up after choosing which fly and material. So you get a 25 dollar discount on the Pro innernets when you purchase a Pro fly.

So far,  I’ve only broken one tent pole from the wind. (Supermid)

I started a new post on the Super.

While this might not apply to the Solo, I wanted to clarify here that I believe my pole breakage was from tying out from the vents. As a result, when the wind blew, it caused the pole to bend in the middle rather than sway. User error.

@dirtbag so what did you not like?

the solomid pro in silpoly is beautiful, its a great size, great color and as usual, top notch quality from MLD. The innernet with .67 dcf floor is also top notch quality and a nice size too.  I am not a fan of the zipper opening on the bug net and dropping down, however that would not be a deal breaker.  Like I said earlier, my current set up that I use I am so comfortable with and it works so well for me that it would be hard to beat and justify. I kind of knew this already, but I am always willing to try something new and see how it is. I feel like I had the same thoughts when I used the Solomid XL with innernet a year or 2 ago.  Something just didnt quite click with me while using it. Personal prefrence I guess?

Im still on the fence with keeping the Solomid Pro.. I have to set it up next to my other shelter and give it some time and thought.. it is a tough decision for me without doing this side by side, as it does have plenty of space under there, height, length and width. I pitched it last night after work as sun was setting and was so busy with other things that I didnt get enough personal 1 on 1 time alone with it to bond and make any legit connections.  However, the innernet I knew right away, I am fine with what I currently use and my bug bivy is just as well for me… so thats not needed.

I’m glad you got it. I was almost feeling guilty.

I didn’t think that I’d like the drop down door on the inner. I kind of do though. It’s not flopping over my head. It’s easier to work through the door. Easier to get around the pole. Bundled up under the opening, it’s out of the way.

yeah, not the deal breaker for me.. the whole thing just didnt feel right for me. I cant really pinpoint it.. and what I already have and have been using has always worked and I have been comfortable with it, from carrying it, to pitching it, to sleeping and sitting up in it, changing clothes, eating (oops), and breaking it down and back to packing it up again..

Swayed by a pretty face. I guess my favorite tent has always been the one I’m in at the time.

Hey Dirtbag, if you happen to set it up again it would be awesome if you could post a few pics or a video from the inside to give a better feel for the interior  space, if it’s not too much trouble that is.

Ive been thinking hard about getting one in DCF.  I’m also a happy 7×9 silpoly flat tarp and bug bivy user most of the time but I am attracted to the lower weight and increased simplicity  of this setup paired with my Yama Y-zip cuben bivy  for fast packing missions.
I am worried though that I might feel a little too hemmed-in  in there coming from the tarp setup especially here in the humid NorthEast where I do most of my trips.
I am also trying to get a better idea on how well the Yama bivy might integrate with the sloping walls of the shelter.

Definitely will. I wanna pitch it again anyway and decide keep or not.  Maybe today when I get home from work if its still daylight out..

Ok. Im home and I set them up side by side. Took a few pics and about 5 minute rough amateur video.. ill post later tonight to show you. FYI.. I am DEFINITELY keeping the Solo Mid PRO! Its a small palace and I do think Im gonna love this piece of gear. The unicorn has arrived? Ron nailed it with this one!

Those pads are cut down, not full length.  Ill post the video later this evening..  thats both pitched at about 49.5 inches hi.. 125 cm poles. One Pic shows the width.. Sol mid is wider.

One Pic also shows the back of Gatewood Cape slightly arches,  so when I sit up under it, my head brushes is slightly.  The Solo Mid does not arch at all.. its actually really nice and when I sit up under it, my head no touch that back wall. Keep in mind, I sleep on that thin pad 95% of time.. and I am 5’10 185- 200 lbs.. if that helps at all.

Thanks for the pics, and video would be great too. I see no one has posted a review of the Solomid Pro on YouTube yet.

So when Solomid Pro is set up, from the bottom of the pole what does it measure to the back edge of the fly? I’m guessing 36″. In other words, how much ground space behind the pole?

Awesome! Thank you so much for posting these. I’m going to take a harder look at these later when I have more time.

Its at 42- 42.5 inches right now as it is set up in photos..

I will try to get the video up soon. Ran out of storage on my phone so have to delete some old stuff then I can upload it.