Hyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid 2 Tent Overview

Backside Line

Few tents have as strong a status because the Ultamid 2, which makes it our high choose for sheltering a storm. With sturdy supplies, a wind-shedding pyramid form, and a lofty peak top, it’s one in all our top-performing ultralight tents. Nonetheless, for most individuals, the unimaginable climate safety this tent gives is overkill, and for the substantial value, there are extra well-rounded tents we suggest.

The pyramid form is superb for weathering storms. Being course agnostic helps if the wind is shifting instructions – there’s no weak level to assault this tent from. A wholesome quantity of staking factors and man line attachment loops can flip this into much more of a fortress. We examined the total interior internet with a DCF flooring, and located the inside usually comfy, though no more so than our high picks for comfy ultralight tents. 

We weren’t capable of push this shelter anyplace near its limits throughout testing throughout early winter within the Midwest, however we discovered the unimaginable peak top of 64 inches gave us a way of roominess when falling asleep that we often solely really feel when testing a lot bigger tents. And talking of huge, the mix of a Dyneema Composite Fiber development and large materials sizes means the rainfly and internet tent each packed quite massive for an ultralight tent. That is accompanied by the heaviest tent weight as a result of stronger supplies and extra sturdy development.

When every part is tallied, we’re left with a tent that’s in a unique class than the others on this information. It’s designed for somebody who is aware of they’ll be pushing the boundaries of climate resistance and is prepared to pay the worth (and weight, and area) for that safety. Nonetheless, since few tents on this weight vary can match its unimaginable efficiency, it’s a kind of items of outside gear that’s an funding in security and luxury.

How We Examined

Whereas we haven’t taken the MSR Advance Professional 2 to the Himalayas simply but, we completely examined it in deep-winter circumstances in Colorado’s mountains. Our analysis centered totally on snow-covered terrain beneath treeline, the place we assessed its efficiency in chilly, windy, and difficult environments. To gauge its versatility, we additionally pitched the tent in hotter circumstances on grime, permitting us to raised perceive its setup course of, breathability, and total consolation throughout a variety of climates.

Consolation

As the most important tent we examined, the Ultamid is, unsurprisingly, a snug expertise however has a good variety of quirks that restrict its attraction. To begin with the positives, it has a large 64 inches of inside top, the tallest by far. The ground area can also be big at 50 sq. ft, that means this can be a spacious expertise. 

Nonetheless, when you look previous these spectacular numbers, the expertise is tempered a bit. The peak comes from a central assist, which suggests the pole is straight in the midst of the ground area. This limits inside sleeping positions a bit, and when you’re with somebody you’d like to remain near at night time, the pole undoubtedly inhibits that.

Moreover, the sloping partitions restrict the usable inside area, so it didn’t translate to the enormously luxurious expertise the specs would counsel. The scale of the interior internet tent are 76×96 inches, but we discovered our head and foot field hitting the mesh netting. This isn’t an enormous deal since they’re nonetheless set away from the tent’s partitions, so condensation worries aren’t a problem, however it’s nonetheless a complicated expertise.

The headroom doesn’t disappoint. We might sit up and stretch with our arms totally over our heads, one thing uncommon in a backpacking tent. Altering garments was additionally simpler on this tent than in another. Because it’s a double-wall design, condensation administration needs to be a lot simpler, and the generously sized mesh interior is spaced far sufficient from the rain fly to maintain issues dry. To spherical issues off, two vents on the peak assist handle condensation.

Weight

The Ultamid 2 is a mix of the lightest and most sturdy supplies, including as much as a weight that isn’t ultralight at first look. For each the rainfly and the mesh interior – each fabricated from Dyneema Composite Fiber (DCF) – the combo weighs in at 40.7 ounces on our scales. That is heavier than another tent we examined, even the finances ones, however it’s necessary to maintain that weight within the context of what the tent is used for. No different tent gives this degree of climate resistance, and so in that mild it manages to be surprisingly light-weight for the way protecting it’s.

The 2 elements weigh roughly the identical with the mesh interior being barely heavier, and since that is meant to be a two individual shelter it’s straightforward to see this weight break up up between two folks. Since DCF is a thicker materials than one thing like silnylon or silpoly, these two elements will take up extra room. Every half is sort of as massive as a full tent. Nonetheless, for folks after this degree of climate safety, it’s properly value each the burden and measurement.

Ease of Use

With a mixture of straightforward and arduous options, the Ultamid comes out within the center for ease of use. Staking out the 4 corners is simple sufficient, however strapping two trekking poles collectively to make the lengthy central pole is usually a bit tough.

Moreover, it’s a central pole contained in the tent as an alternative of in a vestibule as seen on different trekking pole tents, which makes setup a bit more durable than standard. It additionally necessitates entering into your tent. This may herald minor grime in the most effective circumstances or splotches of mud within the worst. You’ll must make your individual name on what degree of cleanliness is necessary within the backcountry, however this tent makes it a bit harder than most to maintain clear when circumstances are poor.

Including to that may be a design that makes getting out and in a bit totally different than different shelters. With no vestibules, the big #5 zippers open straight into the shelter’s inside, making it awkward to get out and in throughout the rain, and leaving restricted area to place soiled sneakers. It’s value noting that Hyperlite Mountain Gear makes a half internet model of the interior for one individual with one half of the shelter dedicated to a vestibule that solves these points on the sacrifice of inside area.

Climate Resistance

Should you’re significantly taking a look at this tent, it’s since you’re after probably the most sturdy, rugged, and tear resistant shelter cash can purchase at a weight that received’t break a backpack.

Pyramid designs are the most effective form for shedding wind throughout storms, and we received’t dance across the matter right here: this can be a beast in relation to storms. It’s fully in a unique class than the opposite shelters in our lineup. With burly 0.8oz/sqyd DCF for the rainfly and 1.1oz/sqyd DCF for the ground, these are a number of the strongest materials on the market. The stitching is thick and sturdy, and the usage of bigger zippers solely provides to the safety right here.

When correctly staked, few different shelters can compete with the climate resistance of the Ultamid. With 8 totally different attachment factors on the perimeter and extra on the midpoint, there isn’t any different ultralight shelter we’d quite be in when dealing with down the worst of nature’s storms, and it’s a motive why this shelter has turn out to be a favourite for adventures that go to the windiest of places.

We haven’t had an opportunity to personally check this in a storm to validate the specs and status, however we see little motive why it wouldn’t carry out properly.

Sturdiness

Along with wonderful climate resistance, the sturdiness on the Ultamid is high notch. Using thicker DCF materials and top quality development methods means this shelter ought to final a very long time, even on the heavier aspect of backpacking.

When establishing this shelter, you’re struck by simply how strong every part feels, a change from the fragile feeling on a few of our different ultralight picks which are extra prioritized with weight financial savings quite than sturdiness. As with climate resistance, this doesn’t make these different shelters poor performers, it simply highlights that the Ultamid 2 targets a unique degree.

Ought to You Purchase the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Ultamid 2?

Should you’re a backpacker constantly pushing your gear to the restrict and chasing the fantastic thing about nature by way of the harshest of storms, the Ultamid 2 is your tent. This factor is a tank however weighs solely barely greater than a regular ultralight shelter, making it distinctive on the earth of backpacking shelters for the way a lot safety it gives for the burden.

Nonetheless, our reward for this tent comes at a giant value. The tarp alone is likely one of the most costly in our lineup, and when the price of the interior is factored in, it pushes the worth greater than another in our lineup. For folks counting on their shelters to maintain them protected in circumstances the place most others would flip again, the associated fee is value it.

Should you’re not an individual pushing the boundaries of climate resistance, then we expect that different tents ended up being extra comfy regardless of the wonderful numbers on the spec sheet. These different tents are cheaper, lighter, simpler to arrange, and pack a lot smaller.

Moreover, most of them are simply wonderful for normal climate circumstances, and lots of of them will even survive harsher winds when arrange correctly. To not the diploma that the Ultamid 2 might, however it’s value asking your self when you want a tent that may survive the kind of storms that make each different tent actually unusable.

What Different Ultralight Tent Ought to You Think about?

Listed below are just a few different four-season tents value exploring. If you’d like extra choices, try our full Ultralight Backpacking Tent Information. 

Durston X-Mid Professional 2+ Overview: Should you’ve determined that you just don’t want the ridiculous safety of the Ultamid however nonetheless desire a decently stormworthy shelter, the X-Mid Professional 2+ tops our checklist for climate resistance, but additionally in consolation and ease of use. It’s total a pleasant tent to make use of, and regardless of the smaller dimensions on paper in comparison with the Ultamid the intelligent geometry makes it really feel extra livable in observe. That intelligent geometry additionally means it sheds wind higher than an A body model tent, and when oriented correctly it cuts by way of wind with ease. It’s the tent that comes closest to the Ultamid, however it’s nonetheless undoubtedly in a unique class of product. We cherished the straightforward pitching, big vestibules, peak top, and so many different issues. It does include a big footprint that permits that fantastic livability and it’s nonetheless an costly tent, however we expect it’s probably the greatest on the market.

Tarptent Double Rainbow Overview: If the worth of the Ultamid was so excessive it made you ask for one thing not simply half the worth, however extra round 1 / 4 of the worth, the Double Rainbow is value trying out. With a single arched pole construction distinctive within the ultralight world, the Double Rainbow boasts a powerful floorspace made much more comfy as a consequence of close to vertical finish partitions. When correctly staked out it’s a decently storm resistant shelter that ought to shrug off most storms on path. It can also convert to be totally freestanding with trekking poles, and the doorways cover a flap of cloth that may allow a porch mode for ready out rainstorms. The top top isn’t probably the most spacious, however that’s one of many few downsides for this in any other case fantastic shelter.

3FUL Lanshan 2 Professional Overview: On the entire different finish of the worth spectrum, when you’re curious what you may get for nearer to a sixth the worth of the Ultamid, the reply is the Lanshan 2 Professional. And for that value, you truly get a decently good shelter. It’s comfy, straightforward to make use of, and except for just a few quirks, is a tent we’d suggest to finances backpackers irrespective of the expertise degree. The basic A body design received’t climate storms in addition to some others in our lineup, however it’s wonderful for many circumstances.