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Z Packs Duplex: 19.5 OZ of joy in the backcountry

Posted in backpacking, Captain's Personal Log, Photography, Reviews, Travel, ultralight techniques with tags backpacking on October 27, 2018 by William Hooks

ZPacks Duomid (blue), MLD Duomid DCF (gray), MLD Duomid Silnylon (citrus)

Thermarest NeoAir X-Therm regular pad included for scale

P1000533 P1000534

P1000518 P1000519 P1000520 P1000521 P1000522 P1000523 P1000524

I decided to add this shelter to my selection because it’s extremely light, made of cuben fiber/DCF, provided full protection including from insects, is one-piece and not modular (ie, very simple/fast setup), and has no zippers except for the 2 interior windows. Very spacious- a palace for one, very adequate for 2 persons.

I got one of their bargain bin shelters said to have minor cosmetic defects, for $25 discount ; haven’t yet had any issues with it.

Its weight is similar to those of my Duomids, especially the one also made of DCF. It is not in my opinion a 4 season shelter like Duomids or my Black Diamond Megalite, and will not handle high winds as well as those; can’t dig beneath it into snow. But for 3 season use-especially where mosquitos or other insects are an issue, and for rain protection- this has become my default tent. No center pole….[yes, I know that the mids can sometimes be used that way]. Unlike mids, this shelter comes pre-rigged with guylines.

Very important features include the 2 spacious-ventilating- windows also allowing 2 people to use without going over each other; simple setup with 8 stakes (I’m using 6 carbon ZPacks and 2 MSR Carbon Cores); ease of packing up in wind since it doesn’t require folding. The 2 vestibules are of useful size.

I plan to rig a very light transverse cord over the interior ridgeline to allow hanging of gear, and add a ridgeline micro-LED as with the Duomids and the Megalite. Eventually I may add the $125 Flex poles, to allow this to be a freestanding tent when I wish; this 2018 model is already set up to adapt for flexpoles.

Postscript: it’s useful to realize that for air travel, the ZPacks carbon stakes will pass inspection. Not insigificant…

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MLD Silnylon Duomid shelter/ Big Agnes Air AXL Insulated sleeping pad

Posted in backpacking, Captain's Personal Log, mountaineering, Photography, Reviews, Travel, ultralight techniques on July 23, 2018 by William Hooks

I can now select between the silnylon and previously described Dyneema Composite Fiber (DCF) versions of Mountain Laurel Designs’ Duomid shelter. I plan to use the silnylon orange ‘mid as my default for these reasons:

1- Half the price of the DCF shelter and almost twice the weight (24 vs 14.5 oz with guylines): reserve the cuben fiber shelter for trips where weight is at a premium, and to reduce wear on that ‘mid

2- Absorbs water, but I do not often visit locales where rain is incessant (at least so far): so little penalty on that score

3-Slightly larger dimensions: slightly more desired for 2 persons or larger gear loads; but still accepts all accessories, such as my inner mesh attachment for insect portection

4- Much easier to pack because it can be stuffed, instead of folded- especially in wind

5-Color easier to locate in snow than white shelter

The new BA pad is very comforatble, offers larger sleeping are than the Thermarest NeoAir for the same weight, and is simple to inflate and deflate especially using the matching Pumphouse Ultra

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Using the MLD Solo Inner Net as a mesh shelter @10 oz

Posted in backpacking, Captain's Personal Log, Photography, Reviews, Travel, ultralight techniques with tags backpacking, camping on December 11, 2017 by William Hooks

Elastic pullout to stake

modified pullout

Solo Sil Inner Net (3)

2 poles used to erect shelter

detail of UL cords securing pole tips

side view of shelter-set poles @ 120 cm or longer

detail of shock cord to pole handle

enter via zipper at right

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MLD Solo Silnylon Inner Net for Duomid shelter

Posted in backpacking, Captain's Personal Log, mountaineering, Photography, Reviews, Travel, ultralight techniques on December 5, 2017 by William Hooks

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Mountain Laurel Designs Cuben Duomid shelter

Posted in backpacking, Captain's Personal Log, mountaineering, Photography, Reviews, ultralight techniques with tags backpacking, camping on November 10, 2017 by William Hooks

P6770026

2 black button-type snaps on the front panel allow closure from inside, releasing tension on the zipper. A third snap is located at the foot of the same panel

P6770031 P6770029

This shelter height is achieved using a total pole length of c 145 cm, including pole jack

4 corner anchors using MSR Carbon Core stakes

Detail of mid-corner guylines attached to bungee cords

P6770016 both doors open one door open

If needed, the attachment clips shown on the interior of the shelter can support a biv sack netting away from the user’s face- as well as use for inner mesh net

Large peak vent- from inside, the upper larger wand or strut can be removed to allow closure in storms

The apparent translucency of the cuben material changes with exterior light intensity and direction

half side view

next to the top of the trek pole is the black, small plastic clip which allows hanging of the inner mesh net- I connect this to microcarabiners to prevent damage to the clip

6 in =10cm pole jack attached to trek pole tip

The Duomid ($440) arrived 5 weeks and 3 days after ordering online from MLD.com, located in Roanoke, VA. The shelter weight is 14 oz for 1-2 persons; I will be writing separately about the modular, Solo silnylon inner tent which hangs within this shell as needed for insect protection ($175).

The tarp was sent with a 10 cm= 6 in pole jack, which extends a standard trek pole if needed for a taut pitch. I find that to pitch near the ground, my 130 cm trek pole alone can work but the pitch is probably more wind-resistant using the extension. I use 12 stakes as standard. The shelter has 8 ground-level tieouts and 8 mid-tieouts, with a peak hang tieout=17 total.

With the option of hanging the tarp from its apex if desired, no pole or stick needed in appropriate locations.

There’s a great deal of covered space – over 45 sq ft- a palace for one with a huge covered vestibule… I would be fine using for 2 so long as the conditions were not very wet, because one person would need to cross the other inside. The peak vent is well designed including an integral stiffener, and can be completely closed if need arises.

Being made of Dyneema/cuben, this shelter is extremely light and does not absorb water, with almost no stretch after pitching. I like that there is adequate privacy, but at the same time I can judge weather as it is translucent and do not need a dedicated window built in.

I will be treating the one front door zipper with care, including closing the base buckle before operating it to reduce stress. I opted to use Zip Care lubricant as well, available from MLD.

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Asymmetric tarp setup: The Bat-wing

Posted in backpacking, Captain's Personal Log, mountaineering, Reviews, Travel, ultralight techniques on April 25, 2017 by William Hooks

I’ve settled on this setup as an alternative to the ‘storm’ mode of using an 8.5 sq ft Hyperlite Mountain Gear tarp. What I like about this mode is the ease of entering and leaving the tarp from one side of the front end, and the degree of weather protection from the batwing feature- while preserving excellent ventilation from the other side of the front of the tarp .

Rear view showing asymmetry of the front portion of the tarp, peaking on the right and dropping on the left where the ‘bat-wing’ partly covers the entrance

DSCN3087