Hyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid 2 Tent Evaluation

Backside Line

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

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 inside web with a DCF flooring, and located the inside usually snug, though no more so than our prime picks for snug ultralight tents. 

We weren’t in a position to 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 enormous, the mix of a Dyneema Composite Fiber development and large materials sizes means the rainfly and web tent each packed moderately giant for an ultralight tent. That is accompanied by the heaviest tent weight because of the 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 keen to pay the value (and weight, and area) for that safety. Nevertheless, 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 filth, permitting us to higher perceive its setup course of, breathability, and general consolation throughout a spread of climates.

Consolation

As the biggest tent we examined, the Ultamid is, unsurprisingly, a cushty expertise however has a good variety of quirks that restrict its enchantment. To start out with the positives, it has a large 64 inches of inside top, the tallest by far. The ground area can be big at 50 sq. toes, which 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 implies the pole is straight in the midst of the ground area. 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 area, so it didn’t translate to the enormously luxurious expertise the specs would counsel. The size of the inside 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, however 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 must be a lot simpler, and the generously sized mesh inside 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 inside – 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 price range ones, however it’s necessary to maintain that weight within the context of what the tent is used for. No different tent gives this stage of climate resistance, and so in that gentle it manages to be surprisingly light-weight for the way protecting it’s.

The 2 components weigh roughly the identical with the mesh inside being barely heavier, and since that is supposed to be a two individual shelter it’s simple to see this weight cut up up between two folks. Since DCF is a thicker materials than one thing like silnylon or silpoly, these two components will take up extra room. Every half is almost as giant as a full tent. Nevertheless, for folks after this stage of climate safety, it’s properly price each the load and measurement.

Ease of Use

With a mixture of simple and laborious 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 generally is a bit difficult.

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 tougher than traditional. It additionally necessitates entering into your tent. This may usher in minor filth in the perfect circumstances or splotches of mud within the worst. You’ll need to make your personal name on what stage 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 completely 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 in the course of the rain, and leaving restricted area to place soiled footwear. It’s price noting that Hyperlite Mountain Gear makes a half web model of the inside 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 this tent, it’s since you’re after essentially the most sturdy, rugged, and tear resistant shelter cash can purchase at a weight that received’t break a backpack.

Pyramid designs are the perfect form for shedding wind throughout storms, and we received’t dance across the subject right here: it is a beast in relation to storms. It’s completely 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 few of the strongest materials on the market. The stitching is thick and sturdy, 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 completely different attachment factors on the perimeter and extra on the midpoint, there isn’t a different ultralight shelter we’d moderately be in when going through down the worst of nature’s storms, and it’s a purpose why this shelter has grow to be a favourite for adventures that go to the windiest of areas.

We haven’t had an opportunity to personally take a look at this in a storm to validate the specs and repute, however we see little purpose why it wouldn’t carry out properly.

Sturdiness

Along with wonderful climate resistance, the sturdiness on the Ultamid is prime notch. The usage of thicker DCF materials and top quality development strategies means this shelter ought to final a very long time, even on the heavier facet 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 moderately 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 stage.

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 great thing about nature by 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 this planet of backpacking shelters for the way a lot safety it gives for the load.

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

Should you’re not an individual pushing the boundaries of climate resistance, then we expect that different tents ended up being extra snug regardless of the superb 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 circumstances, and plenty of of them will even survive harsher winds when arrange correctly. To not the diploma that the Ultamid 2 may, however it’s price asking your self in case 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 Contemplate?

Listed below are a number of different four-season tents price exploring. If you’d like extra choices, take a look at our full Ultralight Backpacking Tent Information. 

Durston X-Mid Professional 2+ Evaluation: 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 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 observe. That intelligent geometry additionally means it sheds wind higher than an A body model tent, and when oriented correctly it cuts by 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 liked the straightforward pitching, big vestibules, peak top, and so many different issues. It does include a big footprint that allows that great livability and it’s nonetheless an costly tent, however we expect it’s among the finest on the market.

Tarptent Double Rainbow Evaluation: 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 price testing. With a single arched pole construction distinctive within the ultralight world, the Double Rainbow boasts a powerful floorspace made much more snug on account 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 absolutely 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 essentially the most spacious, however that’s one of many few downsides for this in any other case great shelter.

3FUL Lanshan 2 Professional Evaluation: 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, simple to make use of, and apart from a number of quirks, is a tent we’d advocate to price range backpackers regardless of the expertise stage. The traditional A body design received’t climate storms in addition to some others in our lineup, however it’s high quality for many circumstances.