UltaMid or Duomid?

The Duomid is really more of a solo shelter especially if it’s pouring rain.  You CAN sleep two in it, but it’s tight.  There is no way you could fit two adults plus a kid in one.

That being said the Duomid is an awesome shelter – I have one that I use on solo trips.

Yes, for 2+ folks, get a Supermid or UltaMid 4 (unless you are fine with no bug mesh insert and leaving some of your gear outside the shelter).

I own a few MLD mids (cuben Solo, Duo, Super, and a silnylon Super) and a couple of my friends have HMG mids. Based on seeing them pitched side by side and spending a few nights in the friends’ HMG shelters, I would not buy an UltaMid over their MLD counterparts. The finish, construction, shape, and details on the MLD versions are simply better. I like the close-able vent flap on the HMG, but otherwise I’m not that impressed. And the way the lower hem on the HMGs seems to stretch and make for a flappy pitch drives me nuts. And the price difference… are you kidding me?? The HMG costs 60% more (in the 2-person flavors; the 4-person price diff is smaller) for what I personally consider to be an inferior product.

/rant

:^)

If you’re wanting to use an inner definitely don’t do HMG. Their inners are a pain to pitch and are less adjustable than the MLD. Sounds like bugs are an issue so if you are going with an inner then a Supermid with inner might be a good pick.

public service announcement: A silnylon supermid with silnylon inner only weighs maybe 1oz more (after seam sealing) than a DCF Ulta 4 with inner and costs $750 less. Of course there might be other  considerations.

Some folks use a Seek Outside Silvertip pitched to the ground to keep out bugs. Anyone know how well this works? Size would be comparable to Ulta 2.

BTW if you’re sticking with cuben the cuben supermid with inner is 0.6oz lighter and 18 square feet bigger than Ulta 2 with inner.

These specs are based off a spreadsheet i made last year. correct me if i’m wrong.

Also, as much as I love a mid for solo use (I have a Cuben MLD Duomid with a sil Solomid inner), I really don’t care for them for multiple people when you ALSO need bug protection.  This is due to the fact that the pole is in the center (inside the net tent) and it is difficult to set up “fly first”).  When you don’t need bug protection that isn’t an issue and mids work great.

For that reason I have settled on the TT Stratosphere 2 for use when the wife comes along.

I’ll have to agree with Brad. I too have a cuben duomid with sil solomid inner and it’s perfect for solo use. but I use a hilleberg Anjan 2 with my girlfriend. Weighs about the same as a sil supermid but the space is utilized differently.

I can’t compare to the Hilleberg, but I did own a TT Stratospire 2 for a while. I prefer a SuperMid with a half-nest for 2 people. It’s a veritable palace. But different strokes… ;^)

Well, thank you, folks. I guess I’m trying to achieve the impossible: strike a balance between the ability to use the shelter for two and using it as a superlight version for one. And without spending a fortune on it!  Clearly, I want the cake and eat it too!

We have a Tarptent DR and on family trips, we have combined it with a siltarp pitched like a mid. So I sleep in the tent with one kiddo and my husband sleeps in the tarp with the other. While there is plenty of space for both of them under the tarp, they complain about bugs and being annoyed when getting in and out.  All in all, they aren’t happy with the siltarp and want their own “tent”.  And I want my personal shelter when I go alpine climbing or backpacking by myself. I don’t like the idea of carrying TDR as my solo shelter. So the lighter the outer tent, the better. And I guess the bigger it is, the better, cause it needs to work for at least two with the inner net option.

How about MLD Duomid XL? any experience with this one? is saving 5oz worth $325? any other advantages cuben has over silnylon?

I’ve only used the Duomid and Supermid but I could see the Duomid XL working for what you’re talking about. I think the regular Duomid may be too small for this application as most have said. You could use a solomid inner or bivy for solo use with the Duomid XL. That sounds like a pretty good setup. You could do the same with a supermid. I know it sounds weird to use a supermid solo but if it’s cuben and you’re using a bivy or something for bugs then you’re still under 2lbs with stakes.

A very very generalized consensus on cuben is that it’s worth it for shelters if you can afford it. Check out that latest bpl podcast if you haven’t already.