Shelter selection: what would you do?

[Studlintsean]

I have pretty limited experience with it but I recently picked up a Duomid second hand. I used it one night so far and it fit my dog and I with plenty of room. I'm planning to get a few more night in it before the end of the year. It's goes up very easily which I like (make sure you square up the back corners). I'm still working out the dual pole use and hope to get it squared away tomorrow when I cut the adapter longer. Also working on a groundsheet. I'd recommend looking into a duomid if you plan to be living out of it for a few months on a thru hike. Good luck.

and don't listen to these old grumps. I've seen some of them ask the same types of questions (multiple types of gear) over the years.

[Venchka]

Totally correct. Never never ever ever listen to someone old enough to follow the evolution of gear. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.

Wayne



Sent from somewhere around here.

[cmoulder]

I'm 6'3, 215. So duomid? The MLD 2016 Solomid on their site. These are the dimensions: 109" Long
44" Wide
50" Tall
Also here's the link if that helps: http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=213

I am all too familiar with the MLD website.

Specs don't say all. If you look at the Duomid, it is actually listed as 104" in length, 56" tall. It's all about the slope of the wall, and those few inches here and there have a large effect on the geometry. Remember, the photos on the website show a 6'1" guy, yes, but with the shelter pitched a couple inches off the ground and, more importantly, without an air mat. Take away 4" or so in height, add in a puffy sleeping bag and you're wiping condensation off the wall with your megabucks Western Mountaineering bag. One thing about pyramids is that overhead and end space start to diminish rapidly, such that the real, usable length and headroom are significantly less than 109"/50".

[capehiker]

Check out Stick's Blog on YouTube. He has a vid on the duomid, with solo innernet.

[cmoulder]

I have pretty limited experience with it but I recently picked up a Duomid second hand. I used it one night so far and it fit my dog and I with plenty of room. I'm planning to get a few more night in it before the end of the year. It's goes up very easily which I like (make sure you square up the back corners). I'm still working out the dual pole use and hope to get it squared away tomorrow when I cut the adapter longer. Also working on a groundsheet. I'd recommend looking into a duomid if you plan to be living out of it for a few months on a thru hike. Good luck.

Tyvek housewrap makes a decent ground sheet. I've been using this one for a while and it's holding up fairly well. Using 2.5mm shock cord and plastic hooks to keep it in place, offset toward the back wall several inches. Made it a bathtub by squaring the corners and using some cut-down bamboo chopsticks for corner stays.

[BenOnAdventures]

I have pretty limited experience with it but I recently picked up a Duomid second hand. I used it one night so far and it fit my dog and I with plenty of room. I'm planning to get a few more night in it before the end of the year. It's goes up very easily which I like (make sure you square up the back corners). I'm still working out the dual pole use and hope to get it squared away tomorrow when I cut the adapter longer. Also working on a groundsheet. I'd recommend looking into a duomid if you plan to be living out of it for a few months on a thru hike. Good luck.

Thank you I really appreciate the first hand account from you. It'seems great to hear

[BenOnAdventures]

and don't listen to these old grumps. I've seen some of them ask the same types of questions (multiple types of gear) over the years.

Thank you for the kind words. Much appreciated!

[Venchka]

Duo mid information:

http://sectionhiker.com/ode-to-the-m...w-and-goodbye/
Compare to the space available in the Lightheart Gear Solong 6 or Duo and the TarpTent Stratospires.

Wayne


Sent from somewhere around here.

[Studlintsean]

Tyvek housewrap makes a decent ground sheet. I've been using this one for a while and it's holding up fairly well. Using 2.5mm shock cord and plastic hooks to keep it in place, offset toward the back wall several inches. Made it a bathtub by squaring the corners and using some cut-down bamboo chopsticks for corner stays.

Thanks. I saw your updates on BPL also. Right now I'm planning on using a sheet of 3 MM painters plastic that I cut for an upcoming trip since my dog is coming. I'm thinking of putting some loops on the 4 corners so I can hook it into the shelter but not too sure yet. Otherwise, I have a baby I can use if needed when solo. What are you using for the 2 pole setup? I cut some PVC to mimic a setup 10K did but with my BD poles set to 140mm it's still not working right (even with an 18 inch piece of PVC vs a 14 inch piece he used).

[cmoulder]

For the 2-pole setup (the only way to go, IMO!) I'm using some REI (Komperdell, actually) carbon flicklock poles and 16-inch Ruta Locura CF pole jacks. I had to narrow down the pole tips a bit with a Dremel drum sander in order for the jacks to slide on.

baby=bivy? I considered that, but even solo I still like having the floor space, especially on snow where things just skitter around and slide out easily. Also the Tyvek tub weighs 7.5oz, which is lighter than all but a handful of specialist bivvies.

The painter's sheet won't last very long. 7 mil Polycryo is much more durable. However, I tried polycryo on snow and found it to be super slippery... very annoying. Seems that all roads lead to cuben, eventually. A 1oz-sq/yd cuben tub of similar size weighs about 4oz, but I think I'll just live with the Tyvek.

[BenOnAdventures]

Duo mid information:

http://sectionhiker.com/ode-to-the-m...w-and-goodbye/
Compare to the space available in the Lightheart Gear Solong 6 or Duo and the TarpTent Stratospires.

Wayne


Sent from somewhere around here.

Thank you I'll check it out. I'm making mu shelter decision this afternoon.

[JohnHuth]

Ground cloths - four ways of going (in my mind):

1.) Nothing - claim is that the newer tent bottoms are waterproof enough that you don't need 'em.
2.) Order from manufacturer - I always lose them after a year or two, however
3.) Tyvek - noisy, and doesn't fold well, although I've gone this route
4.) Visqueen - easier to configure than Tyvek, lesss noisy - my "go-to" - make sure you use 4 mil, though.

There are probably other options, but the above are my gamut of 45 years of camping/backpacking/sea kayaking... (and I'm only grumpy when I get up in the morning, never trust a fart over 50 and all that stuff).

[Hangfire]

I'm 6'3, 215. So duomid? The MLD 2016 Solomid on their site. These are the dimensions: 109" Long
44" Wide
50" Tall
Also here's the link if that helps: http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=213

As a tall person myself, be careful with how much length gets lost in the edges of the tent. Also if you are sleeping on an inflatable pad you lose even more of your end to end room. I went with the LH solong6 which is billed as having enough room to fit a 6'8 person which if you are laying flat on the ground may work, but once I got onto my neoair I was suddenly right at the edge of fitting...

[capehiker]

There's nice flexibility in a tarp/net combo, but I would suggest a Zpacks Altaplex. It's 17oz, built specifically for the taller hiker, and is easy to set up.

[yaduck9]

Hey everyone, I hope you had a great day! So I'm deciding on shelters now for the Continental Divide Trail. I'm debating between solomid from Mount Laurel designs or waiting for Sierra Designs to come out with their new shelter in the spring, from what I read it's supposed to be another mid style shelter, when comparing the two brands, which would you choose and what is your reason why? Thank you again! All of the advice has been great

just my 2 cents.......i would, at least, talk to MLD now. "Now" being like the next few weeks, before their order/production cue builds up. I ordered a product during their busy time and my order slipped through the cracks, which resulted in some anxiety, but everything worked out.

I would talk to MLD and tell them your needs and talk about if exchanges are possible to a larger size. Otherwise, you run the risk of getting caught in a bind. I am sure MLD will appreciate you and your questions much more during their slack time.