Hyperlite Mountain Gear Ultamid 2

　　My HMG Ultamid 2 is constructed with DCF8 Dyneema® Composite Fabrics (formerly Cuben Fiber) and I use it with a Half Insert made with a DCF11 floor. My flysheet weighs 528 grams while the half insert comes in at 422 grams which gives a total weight of 950 grams. The weight includes perimeter guy lines only and does not include tent stakes, pole straps, additional guy line or stuff sacks. I have used this shelter for one year and 3 months.

　　In November 2019 I purchased the HMG Ultamid 2 full insert so that I could use my HMG Ultamid 2 together with a partner. The full insert weighs 622 grams. Together with the flysheet this two person tent system has a weight of 1.15 kg (without tent stakes, pole straps, additional guy line or stuff sacks), which is nice and light for a 2P shelter.

　　Ultamid 2 setup

　　Create the centre pole first. I use 2 trekking poles together with the HMG pole straps to bind them together. Sometimes I’ll pack the Ruta Locura 600 carbon fiber tent pole instead which weighs 162 grams. However, it is advised to use caution in high winds when utilising the carbon fibre tent pole. The center pole height should be 64″ or 163 cm. Then I just layout the tent with the door zippered shut and stake out the corners. Unzip and open the door to get inside the tent and insert the center pole raising the roof.

　　Then comes the “fun part”. This is the key to the perfect pitch and can be difficult. You need to practice this at home before using the Ultamid 2 out in the backcountry. To achieve even tension amongst all four side walls, you may have to loosen tight guy lines, and tighten the opposing sides. Evening out the tension is the key to flat, taut walls.

　　setting up the insert

　　Temporarily take the center pole out and then place it into the cup included with the insert. Then re-raise the tent with one end of the center pole in the pole cup and the other centered underneath the UltaMid. Spread out the insert and attach the wall side corners to the d-rings at each corner of the tent. I have also attached the insert to the Ultamid before pitching and this method works just as well.

　　Here is what it says on HMG’s website:

　　WEIGHT

　　1.17 lbs | 18.85 oz | 534g

　　Weight includes perimeter guy lines only.

　　FEATURES

　　Made in America

　　Fully seam sealed

　　Constructed with DCF8 Dyneema® Composite Fabrics (formerly Cuben Fiber)

　　Water resistant two-way zipper

　　Comes with an X-Large Drawstring Stuff Sack for storage

　　8 reinforced perimeter tie-outs

　　Line locks on all perimeter tie-outs

　　4 center panel tie-outs

　　Specially designed cone to prevent deformation when using oddly shaped poles, paddles, sticks or skis

　　Dual peak vents with no-see-um mesh

　　Tie out on cone for hanging the mid from a tree

　　Larger than traditional mids

　　Equipped with eight 3’ 2.8mm UHMWPE Core Guy Lines for perimeter tie-outs

　　Includes additional 100’ of 2.8mm UHMWPE Core Guy Line for center panel tie-outs

　　Can be pitched high off the ground or tight to the ground

　　Use for four season Backpacking, Alpine climbing, Ski touring, Packrafting, and more

　　Purchased in May 2019

　　I purchased my HMG Ultamid 2 in May 2019. I also purchased the HMG Ultamid 2 half insert and in November 2019 the HMG Ultamid 2 full insert was acquired. I wouldn’t say that this is a light setup for me; I’m used to packing a lighter DCF tent and even my Silnylon trekking pole tent comes in lighter than this total setup.

　　Specs

　　the weights when I’m using the HMG Ultamid 2 by myself (1P):

　　HMG Ultamid 2 flysheet 528 g

　　HMG Ultamid 2 half insert with floor 422 g

　　2 stuff sacks @ 14 g ea = 28 g

　　4 @ 6″ MSR Carbon Core tent stakes 24 g

　　4 @ 9″ MSR Core tent stakes 56 g

　　stuff sack for tent stakes 3 g

　　2 @ HMG pole straps 36 g

　　Total weight = 1097 grams

　　the weights when I’m using the HMG Ultamid 2 with a partner (2P):

　　HMG Ultamid 2 flysheet 528 g

　　HMG Ultamid 2 full insert with floor 622 g

　　2 stuff sacks @ 14 g ea = 28 g

　　4 @ 6″ MSR Carbon Core tent stakes 24 g

　　4 @ 9″ MSR Core tent stakes 56 g

　　stuff sack for tent stakes 3 g

　　2 @ HMG pole straps 36 g

　　Total weight = 1297 grams

　　At just over one kilogram the weight is still acceptable for me. The big three are the pack, shelter and sleeping system. I use the three for three (343) principle, which requires that the big three do not weigh more than three kilograms in total. This means that my pack could weigh 900 grams, shelter 1.1 kg and sleeping system 1 kg. So long as the total weight of 3 kg is not exceeded then the separate items don’t necessarily have to be lightweight.

　　Why did I want to purchase the Ultamid 2?

　　flexibility – I can use the Ultamid by myself with the half insert (1P) or with another person utilizing the full insert (2P)

　　I wanted a shelter that I could use either on my own or with a partner. Using the Ultamid 2 with a partner the weight can be shared. One person can carry the flysheet 528 grams, tent stakes 80 grams and pole straps 36 grams while the other person can carry the full insert 622 grams. Each person will carry just under 650 grams which is very acceptable in my opinion.

　　great to use on my own in rainy weather, I can utilize one side for wet gear and cooking and the other side for sleeping

　　In wet weather the Ultamid 2 will keep my quilt and sleeping pad dry on one side of the tent while I can utilize the other side for cooking and drying out wet gear. In the below photo I was hiking the Bohusleden trail in Sweden with a mate. We hiked in heavy rain all afternoon. I pitched the Ultamid 2 so the backside was facing the direction of the wind and I was able to comfortably sit and make my dinner and enjoy the surroundings. My mate in the background, on the other hand, was forced to use his tent vestibule for a wind screen and wearing rain gear prepared and consumed his evening meal.

　　fairly “wind resistant” if staked out correctly

　　The tent holds up fairly well in high winds but the sides will blow in if not staked out correctly with the extra guy lines from the 4 center panel tie-outs. I tried this on my test camp last year and after that I decided not to pack this tent for my Northern Sweden 2019 trip. I just didn’t feel experienced enough with pitching it in inclement conditions. Take a look from position 2 minutes 40 seconds on the video below. I was using it together with my Borah Gear DCF bivy sack which weighs 137 grams. This is a nice light setup totalling only 528 + 137 = 665 grams.

　　4 season usage

　　This setup is called a double wall shelter whilst utilizing one of the inserts and that is why HMG proclaim that it is a four season tent. It’s a decent flexible system for a wide range of weather conditions.

　　I wanted the shelter to be constructed with Dyneema fabric and not Silnylon

　　I can pack the inner tent and all my gear away dry and then throw the flysheet in the outer net pocket on my backpack if it is wet. It will be wet but not soaked like a Silnylon tent will be which is one of the reasons why I wanted a DCF tent and not Silnylon. I live in Scandinavia and a lot of the time it is windy and wet. When it has not been raining and if the flysheet is moist from condensation then it is an easy task to dry it with a towel and I can pack it “fairly” dry away in my pack. You can not do this with Silnylon tents.

　　pros

　　The Ultamid 2 is lightweight, does not sag, is easy to dry off and does not absorb moisture. I can use it together with my trekking poles or a third party tent pole like the RUTA LOCURA 600 carbon fiber tent pole. You can even use it with paddles from your packraft or just hang it from a tree from the tie out on the central peak together with the supplied flat micro D carabiner. Easy to repair with DCF tape. It looks great and photos of the Ultamid makes fantastic social media posts

　　cons

　　It can be difficult to obtain the perfect pitch. It definitely helps to practice at home first. Pitching may also require utilizing all extra guy lines for center panel tie-outs which means extra weight not only for the guy lines but also the extra tent stakes. The bathtub floor on the half insert could be a little higher to help for wind protection in strong winds. The floor seems to work well for the full insert though. The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Ultamid 2 is very expensive and even more so when importing it from USA to Europe.

　　conclusion

　　Is this the perfect shelter? No, but it does everything that I expected it to do. And with the flexible setup possibilities I’ll be using this tent for many years to come.

　　Disclosure

　　Product(s) discussed in this article were purchased by myself from a retailer or manufacturer. I do not accept compensation or donated product in exchange for guaranteed media placement or product review coverage without clearly denoting such coverage as an “ADVERTISEMENT” or “SPONSORED CONTENT.”