Hyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid 2 Tent Evaluate

Backside Line

Few tents have as stable a status because the Ultamid 2, which makes it our high decide for sheltering a storm. With sturdy supplies, a wind-shedding pyramid form, and a lofty peak peak, it’s certainly one of our top-performing ultralight tents. Nevertheless, for most individuals, the unbelievable climate safety this tent affords is overkill, and for the substantial value, there are extra well-rounded tents we suggest.

The pyramid form is superb for weathering storms. Being path 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 complete interior web with a DCF ground, and located the inside usually snug, though no more so than our high picks for snug ultralight tents. 

We weren’t capable of push this shelter wherever near its limits throughout testing throughout early winter within the Midwest, however we discovered the unbelievable peak peak 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 mixture of a Dyneema Composite Fiber building and large materials sizes means the rainfly and web tent each packed relatively giant for an ultralight tent. That is accompanied by the heaviest tent weight as a result of stronger supplies and extra sturdy building.

When every little thing is tallied, we’re left with a tent that’s in a special 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 value (and weight, and house) for that safety. Nevertheless, since few tents on this weight vary can match its unbelievable 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 totally examined it in deep-winter situations in Colorado’s mountains. Our analysis targeted totally on snow-covered terrain under treeline, the place we assessed its efficiency in chilly, windy, and difficult environments. To gauge its versatility, we additionally pitched the tent in hotter situations on filth, permitting us to raised perceive its setup course of, breathability, and general 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 enchantment. To begin with the positives, it has an enormous 64 inches of inside peak, the tallest by far. The ground house can be large at 50 sq. toes, that means it is a spacious expertise. 

Nevertheless, when you look previous these spectacular numbers, the expertise is tempered a bit. The peak comes from a central help, which suggests the pole is immediately in the course of the ground house. This limits inside sleeping positions a bit, and in case 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 house, so it didn’t translate to the enormously luxurious expertise the specs would counsel. The scale of the interior web 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 difficulty, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a complicated expertise.

The headroom doesn’t disappoint. We may sit up and stretch with our arms absolutely over our heads, one thing uncommon in a backpacking tent. Altering garments was additionally simpler on this tent than in every other. 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 manufactured from Dyneema Composite Fiber (DCF) – the combo weighs in at 40.7 ounces on our scales. That is heavier than every other tent we examined, even the funds ones, nevertheless it’s essential to maintain that weight within the context of what the tent is used for. No different tent affords this degree of climate resistance, and so in that mild it manages to be surprisingly light-weight for a 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 cut up up between two individuals. Since DCF is a thicker materials than one thing like silnylon or silpoly, these two elements will take up extra room. Every half is almost as giant as a full tent. Nevertheless, for individuals after this degree of climate safety, it’s properly value each the load and measurement.

Ease of Use

With a mixture of straightforward and exhausting options, the Ultamid comes out within the center for ease of use. Staking out the 4 corners is straightforward 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 a substitute of in a vestibule as seen on different trekking pole tents, which makes setup a bit more durable than ordinary. It additionally necessitates moving into your tent. This may usher in minor filth in the very best situations or splotches of mud within the worst. You’ll need to make your personal name on what degree of cleanliness is essential within the backcountry, however this tent makes it a bit harder than most to maintain clear when situations 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 massive #5 zippers open immediately into the shelter’s inside, making it awkward to get out and in in the course of the rain, and leaving restricted house to place soiled sneakers. It’s value noting that Hyperlite Mountain Gear makes a half web 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 house.

Climate Resistance

If you happen to’re significantly this tent, it’s since you’re after essentially the most sturdy, rugged, and tear resistant shelter cash should purchase at a weight that received’t break a backpack.

Pyramid designs are the very best form for shedding wind throughout storms, and we received’t dance across the matter right here: it is a beast relating to storms. It’s solely in a special 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 strong, and using 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 a different ultralight shelter we’d relatively 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 areas.

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 prime quality building methods means this shelter ought to final a very long time, even on the heavier facet of backpacking.

When organising this shelter, you’re struck by simply how stable every little thing feels, a change from the fragile feeling on a few of our different ultralight picks which can be extra prioritized with weight financial savings relatively than sturdiness. As with climate resistance, this doesn’t make these different shelters poor performers, it simply highlights that the Ultamid 2 targets a special degree.

Ought to You Purchase the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Ultamid 2?

If you happen to’re a backpacker persistently 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 an ordinary ultralight shelter, making it distinctive on the planet of backpacking shelters for a way a lot safety it affords for the load.

Nevertheless, our reward for this tent comes at a giant value. The tarp alone is without doubt one of the most costly in our lineup, and when the price of the interior is factored in, it pushes the value larger than every other in our lineup. For individuals counting on their shelters to maintain them secure in situations the place most others would flip again, the fee is value it.

If you happen to’re not an individual pushing the boundaries of climate resistance, then we expect that different tents ended up being extra snug 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 high-quality for traditional climate situations, and plenty of of them will even survive harsher winds when arrange correctly. To not the diploma that the Ultamid 2 may, nevertheless it’s value asking your self in case you want a tent that may survive the kind of storms that make each different tent really unusable.

What Different Ultralight Tent Ought to You Take into account?

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

Durston X-Mid Professional 2+ Evaluate: If you happen to’ve determined that you just don’t want the ridiculous safety of the Ultamid however nonetheless need a decently stormworthy shelter, the X-Mid Professional 2+ tops our record for climate resistance, but additionally in consolation and ease of use. It’s general 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 follow. 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, nevertheless it’s nonetheless undoubtedly in a special class of product. We cherished the straightforward pitching, large vestibules, peak peak, and so many different issues. It does include a big footprint that allows that fantastic livability and it’s nonetheless an costly tent, however we expect it’s among the finest on the market.

Tarptent Double Rainbow Evaluate: If the value of the Ultamid was so excessive it made you ask for one thing not simply half the value, however extra round 1 / 4 of the value, the Double Rainbow is value testing. With a single arched pole construction distinctive within the ultralight world, the Double Rainbow boasts a powerful floorspace made much more snug resulting from 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 absolutely freestanding with trekking poles, and the doorways conceal a flap of material that may allow a porch mode for ready out rainstorms. The top peak isn’t essentially the most spacious, however that’s one of many few downsides for this in any other case fantastic shelter.

3FUL Lanshan 2 Professional Evaluate: On the entire different finish of the value spectrum, in case you’re curious what you may get for nearer to a sixth the value of the Ultamid, the reply is the Lanshan 2 Professional. And for that value, you really get a decently good shelter. It’s snug, straightforward to make use of, and except for just a few quirks, is a tent we’d suggest to funds backpackers regardless of the expertise degree. The basic A body design received’t climate storms in addition to some others in our lineup, nevertheless it’s high-quality for many situations.