Quick Summary
Built on field notes from NOLS instructor and Andrew Skurka Adventures guide Jeff Wohl, a lifelong lightweight backpacker, he reviews HMG's trekking-pole-pitched shelters. He breaks down his take on the Mid 1, Unbound 2, and UltaMid 2/4, praising their weight-to-performance value, weatherworthiness, ventilation, and livable space. Throughout, he highlights shared design details that can help tent seekers find their perfect match.
Words and Photos by NOLS Instructor and Andrew Skurka Adventures Guide, Jeff Wohl
Jeff Wohl has been lightweight backpacking since he was five. He has been a guide and outdoor educator since the mid 90’s and thoroughly tested many evolutions of backpacking equipment. He’s pretty into our tents and shelters, pun intended, and his reasons why tell us we have a good formula going when it comes to designing trustworthy, reliable, and durable backcountry coverage. Here he focuses on some of our line-up that pitches with trekking poles, both fully enclosed, or when used in tandem with available inserts. Using your trekking poles to create the framework you need to set up your tent means one less extra thing you need to carry (collapsible freestanding tent poles), which is why many backpackers who prioritize making their kits as streamlined as possible prefer them.
It’s possibly the most versatile one-person shelter out there. If you want to own only one shelter and camp with one person per tent, this will do it all. You could have a lighter tarp or less functional one-person tent, but by adding only a few ounces, with the Mid 1 you get: bug protection, a floor, and great liveable space even for taller folks. It will perform well anywhere you are brave enough to take it.
Pros:
• Light! There are lighter shelters out there, but for what you get, it is probably the best value per ounce of any one-person tent. I highly doubt that anyone can really feel the difference between a 10-ounce tarp and a 16-ounce tent in their pack, but they sure will know the difference in shelter performance when the weather gets rough.
• Big, or should I say, “appropriately sized”, one-person shelter.
• Great vestibule for cooking and gear storage and other needs.
• Easy to set up. Can go up with 4 stakes, but you get the most out of it with 8.
• Excellent ventilation even when fully zipped.
• Well-built and durable.
• Top and bottom zipper slides for ventilation also mean you have a spare zipper slide if you need field repair.
• The Mid 1 bottom-up style bug mesh allows for easy cooking without opening the whole door, unlike the rainbow-style insect mesh door on other shelters.
• Good views out the door when lying down and the tent is pitched tall; something I love!
My top choice for a “Do anything, anywhere” tent or on trips where I expect frequent rain. Well worth the 7 oz extra over the Mid 1 if you expect nasty weather. If I could only own one tent, the Unbound 2 would be it, hands down.
Pros:
• Spacious interior. Two good-sized vestibules, a meaningful size increase over similar tents.
• Extremely storm-worthy.
• Easy set up.
• Bottom-up style insect mesh door for easy cooking without opening the whole door.
• Has a second top zipper slide-on fly doors - the extra zipper can offer meaningful redundancy so you can still close the door if your primary zipper fails
*I’m referencing the ‘Mid 4 here.
The one to two person UltaMid 2, or two to four person UltaMid 4, is lightweight yet unbelievably protective during rain, snow, and or wind events, challenging assumptions about what a 19.1oz and 22.4oz shelter can provide in the gnarly stuff. With an assortment of available mesh-walled inserts with or without a Dyneema bathtub floor, you can further tailor your coverage to any place you want to camp for the night.
Pros:
• Great space for two travellers in extremely wet or harsh locations.
• Extremely weather worthy and a true four-season shelter.
• Can fit in extra people if needed.
• Super versatile.
• Has a second top zipper slide-on fly door – again with the meaningful redundancy.
