thoughts on the hmg mid-1?

A left handed tent? I lay on my right side. If I kept my head at the high end, I’d be staring at the back wall. Otherwise it’s a nice setup.

A left handed tent? I lay on my right side. If I kept my head at the high end, I’d be staring at the back wall. Otherwise it’s a nice setup.

Most sleeping bags are LH zip –  w/ Feathered Friends all men’s bags are LH zip. You don’t switch sides sleeping?

You say it’s a “nice setup” – have you used the Mid1?

From various video, the backwall looks tight. Dunno.

Thx.

I don’t even know how to reply to this. 🤷

I don’t even know how to reply to this. 🤷

I asked you a couple questions 1 page back.. not sure what’s hard to answer about them. Pretty straightforward I thought?

I predominantly sleep on my right side which is reinforced with aging. I haven’t used the tent.. I like how the pole appears to be offset giving more clearance around the head end. I like the single wall hybrids. It’s a good weight. I’m sure it’s HMG quality. If it was all inversed side to side I’d be  interested. I have the TT ProTrek which I consider a right handed tent, though I may have that backwards.

I predominantly sleep on my right side which is reinforced with aging. I haven’t used the tent.. I like how the pole appears to be offset giving more clearance around the head end. I like the single wall hybrids. It’s a good weight. I’m sure it’s HMG quality. If it was all inversed side to side I’d be interested. I have the TT ProTrek which I consider a right handed tent, though I may have that backwards.

Yes, you’re right (pun intended) – The ProTrek is a RH tent. The thing I’ve seen mentioned about the HMG Mid-1 is some people sleep with it as a RH tent, others as a LH tent. Some find it easier to get in with their feet pointed to the door opening, thus using it as a RH tent (even though as you point out it technically isn’t).

I own both LH and RH tents and have never found it to be a thing. As a side sleeper I sleep on both sides through the night, and don’t feel the need for my bag zipper to open to the tent door. That apparently bugs some people I’ve noticed on various forums.

I’ve never heard of a side sleeper only sleeping on one side, but I’m constantly made aware in life of what I don’t know lol – we’re all so unique! I have an Altaplex and I think its big rainbow door is the answer for anyone preferring a RH vs. LH (or vice versa) tent. But then the complaints about that door opening persist too (of course they do). Again, I don’t find it an issue.

I’ve asked all these questions (and the others on the last page) because I think the Mid-1 is a thoughtfully designed and made little shelter but I’ve never seen one in the flesh. Its detailing and mfging certainly looks to be at a higher standard than Zpacks. It’s difficult to gauge the interior space relative to, say, the Altaplex from pictures. However, my guess (and it is just a guess) is I wouldn’t be as happy with the interior volume as I am with the Altaplex. Dunno.

Thanks for responding – cheers!

Switching sides can be strategy in cold weather. Bursitis and such, it helps to keep my left arm elevated.

If all one does in a tent is sleep, it really doesn’t matter. Neither does volume. If you want to lay there and have a view, it might. With a dedicated head end, the slope determines the view or even how it faces into the wind.

I like a rainbow zipper. Didn’t think I would. The disadvantages are over exaggerated. It doesn’t fall in the mud. It falls on my floor where it’s out of the way.

I go back and forth between sleeping on right and left.  That doesn’t matter.

What matters is getting into the tent, and which end is head and which foot.

If there’s a slight slope. I like to have my head at the higher end.

If there’s a bush or tree or whatever in the way, sometimes I like to enter from the right, sometimes from the left.

Better to have a tent that can go either way.

Switching sides can be strategy in cold weather. Bursitis and such, it helps to keep my left arm elevated.

If all one does in a tent is sleep, it really doesn’t matter. Neither does volume. If you want to lay there and have a view, it might. With a dedicated head end, the slope determines the view or even how it faces into the wind.

I like a rainbow zipper. Didn’t think I would. The disadvantages are over exaggerated. It doesn’t fall in the mud. It falls on my floor where it’s out of the way.

Ah, bursitis – no fun.

I’m going to have to disagree that tent volume doesn’t matter, at least for me. Getting yourself and your bag wet in a single wall tent and then dealing with it after sunrise with a long, cold, wet day ahead of one isn’t enjoyable. An extra ounce or two in available volume makes for a far better experience ime. Everyone sees it differently which accounts for me not choosing the more popular Plex Solo over the Altaplex. For 0.9 oz’s more, I’ll take the Altaplex.

Yeah, I got used to rainbow doors back when. My circa 1979 TNF VE24 had a rainbow door. I didn’t find it a thing then, and don’t now. It has its drawbacks, but it’s positives outweigh them imo. As Jerry Adams rightly points out, a uni-directional tent is so nice for site selection. I’m not sure I’ve ever had a truly flat tent site!

“I’m going to have to disagree that tent volume doesn’t matter”

yeah.  I made a small volume tent and it seemed like the condensation was worse.  Although it’s probably surface area above you and distance from my mouth to the walls, but that’s the same as volume.

And, like you said, I like to be able to sit up without touching the inside of the tent.  That equates to volume.

On the other hand, having the pole closer to the headend can create more perceived space along with more headspace while allowing a more compact design. It should also help with condensation from the breath.

Jerry makes a good point. The entrance is limited. Still a very nice tent. Everything’s a compromise, especially when shedding weight.

For sure, everything in life is a compromise weighted one direction or another, and tents prove this truism constantly.

I have a ZPacks Pivot Solo, and I find it a nice compromise of weight, and interior space  (head room, shoulder room, foot room). A brilliant design, and a really fine little shelter. I don’t think I’d trade it for the HMG Mid-1 but I do have a friend who has done just that. I think, like a lot of us, the detailing on the HMG likely won him over. For me, that’s not enough but I do appreciate it! I also like the simplicity of a true one pole design (Mid-1 / Altaplex) with a simple rectangle footprint. The Pivot Solo doesn’t have either.

Compromises…

I like the Pivot. I’d deal with second pole in order to have the main pole closer to my head. It has a nice wide entrance. In a pinch, you could lay backwards.

I like the Pivot. I’d deal with second pole in order to have the main pole closer to my head. It has a nice wide entrance. In a pinch, you could lay backwards.

How I sleep is with my head at what is considered the foot end (or “pivot” end). I prefer it this way. Puts my torso on the door end (effectively making it a LH tent). Tons of head room. Since I only carry one walking pole I take the additional little carbon “pivot” pole which is 1 ounce. The whole setup with pivot pole weighs the same as the Altaplex. And of course you can sleep the other way if the terrain isn’t cooperating.