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The DuoMid is a bombproof safe house for year-round backcountry travel in exposed areas. This model is one of the best pyramid shelters we've tested, and it's ideal for people that mostly venture solo or want to go ultralight with two people. Ordering the DuoMid is not convenient because it is not available from major retailers, and only directly from the small manufacturer in VA (made-to-order, involving a 1-4 week delay in delivery). Our highest rated shelters immediately available from retailers are the Rab Element 2 and the Black Diamond Beta Light.
REASONS TO BUY
Sheds wind and snow very well
Stable in high winds
Easy to pitch
Fits in small campsites
Reinforced watertight zipper and zipper flap
Two fabric options
REASONS TO AVOID
Relatively small for two people
Not adaptable
Not as light as flat tarps
The DuoMid is the smaller version of the Mountain Laurel Designs SuperMid, which our testers prefer for use with two or more people because it is much larger, more comfortable, and weighs a modest 8 oz. more. In our research and backcountry encounters, we find that most people use the DuoMid primarily as a solo shelter and occasionally with two people. The interior can be cramped for two people, especially two tall people, so our testers prefer a larger shelter for most trips that warrant the protection of a mid.
The DuoMid is a pyramid style single wall tarp that pitches with one pole (trekking pole, paddle, or any sturdy, long object). Pyramid tarps like the DuoMid have steep walls that shed snow and wind from all sides. They are the most storm resistant type of ultralight shelter and are suitable for the worst conditions imaginable. Smaller mids like the DuoMid make tank-like backpacking, and skiing shelters and larger mids are great for winter expeditions and use as a group shelter.
Two Fabric Options
The DuoMid is available in two fabric options: silnylon and cuben fiber. This review assesses the silnylon version, which we believe is a better value. See the bottom of this page for more details on the pros and cons of each material.
The Mountain Laurel Designs DuoMid's unipolar design (right) sheds wind better and has a higher floor area to weight ratio than bipolar pyramids (left). Bipolar mids shed snow better than unipolar mids and are best for winter mountaineering.
Credit: Max Neale
Weather Resistance
The DuoMid is made of the best materials available, designed and fashioned with impeccable attention to detail, and is safer in serious storms than any tent tested in our best backpacking tent review. This model is a true four-season shelter that can be used nearly anywhere on the planet. The top of the pyramid, where a pole rests, is reinforced with ultra burly 210D Dyneema grip ripstop. The DuoMid's zipper closure is the strongest and most weather resistant of any tent of any type we've ever tested! It uses a watertight zipper covered with a waterproof stormflap and has a buckle-style clip and a snap at the base to relieve tension from the zipper. Higher up two snaps help to keep the storm flap in place during high winds and reinforce the midlevel guy-point. The DuoMid has a significant advantage over two-pole mids: its lower profile design catches less wind, which is a big bonus if pitched in unprotected areas with high winds.
The Mountain Laurel Designs DuoMid has a snap and a clip that relieve stress from the zipper.
Credit: Max Neale
Livability
The DuoMid is tight with two people and luxurious for one person. The shelter is as livable as possible given its 54-inch peak height (which can't be increased further while still pitching with a single pole). There's plenty of space to sit upright near the pole and less room as you move away from the pole. There's a single door on one side, which makes it necessary to crawl over the other person to get out--bummer. We prefer larger mids, like the SuperMid and UltaMid for extended trips with two people or if we don't mind carrying the extra weight.
Of all shelter types, mids are the most vulnerable to condensation. The DuoMid has a vent at the top, unlike other mids such as the Black Diamond Beta Light, which helps to promote airflow. Playing around with pitching configurations, such as elevating one side or one end, can significantly reduce condensation. We believe the benefits of the DuoMmid's, and all other mids', storm resistance far outweigh the increased susceptibility to condensation.
Of all the shelters and tents we've tested, pyramids are the easiest and fastest to pitch. Loosely stake the four corners, insert a pole, tighten the corners, and guy out additional points if necessary. It's ridiculously fast compared to self-supporting tents and modular tarp systems, such as the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Echo II.
Inside the DuoMid.
Credit: Mountain Laurel Designs
Materials
The DuoMid is available in a 30 denier silicone impregnated ripstop nylon with a warp break strength of 15 lb/in.--far stronger and more durable than ultralight fabrics found in self-supporting backpacking tents (the Brooks Range Foray 15 denier polyurethane/ silnylon fabric breaks at 7 lb/in). For an additional $200 the DuoMid can be cut from 0.75 oz./ sq. yd. cuben fiber that saves four ounces and is significantly stronger (105 lb./ in. warp break strength!), and more durable than silnylon.
Weight and Packed Size
The DuoMid is lightweight, given its incredible storm resistance. When fitted with the stock guyline, our seam-sealed silnylon DuoMid weighs 22.4 oz. The cuben fiber version saves 4 oz.
Size comparison for three classes of shelters: Sierra Designs LT Strike 2 (two door self-supporting tent), Easton Kilo 2 (single door self-supporting tent), and Mountain Laurel Designs DuoMid (ultralight shelter).
Credit: Max Neale
Adaptability
Mids are the least adaptable type of shelter. The DuoMid doesn't respond well to campsites that require a suboptimal pitch. Flat tarps are the most adaptable type of shelter and therefore our preferred shelter for backpacking.
The DuoMid's grey color is stealthy in a variety of landscapes.
Credit: Max Neale
Best Application
Fast and light adventures in any season, anywhere.
Value
The silnylon DuoMid is an exceptional value if you need the protection of four walls. The Mountain Laurel Designs Grace Tarp costs half as much and will perform very well for three-season backpacking in all but the most exposed conditions.
Is the cuben version worth the additional $200?
The cuben DuoMid is far superior to the silnylon version; it's lighter and more durable, and cuben doesn't absorb water or stretch. But for many people, the four-ounce difference (less than two Snickers bars) may not be worth the cost. That is, spending $50 per ounce is a costly way to reduce weight. Unless you already have a top-tier sleeping bag, stove, pack, etc., we don't believe the cuben DuoMid is a cost-efficient way to reduce weight. More importantly, if we were to cough up the cash for a two-person cuben mid, we'd choose the Hyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid because it's considerably larger and more comfortable.
