Not related to the specific review, I really appreciate your ability to communicate with your audience in every video. It’s a joy to watch and listen to your reviews and shorts because of the clarity of information and intelligent language you (and the wider team in general) use to elucidate the nuances of each piece of equipment or aspect of backcountry hiking. Outstanding in a world of video proliferation in the field. More please!
Just stumbled upon your channel after countless reviews as I have been in the market for a new wilderness home for some months now. Your review nailed down my choice of the Unbound 2P as I was about sold on it, but as it's a fair piece of change I wanted to be sure. The features you covered locked me down, especially being able to pitch right to ground, if necessary. I have been in storms for sure where it would have definitely been more than necessary lol. Thanks for your excellent content and your over the top teaching skills! Had to subscribe due to this single video.
I used this tent on a few trips this summer. After packing up wet, dirt found its way into the zippers and they both started to fail when i tried to use them under too much tension. Tough to move the lower fastener, then seperating apart. Running the upper zip fastener back and forth helped reconnect it. When I can secure the guylines for the vestibule door and the top of the trekking pole w/ a stake, then i can keep the upper guy line taunt while providing some slack to the lower line (less tension on the zipper). When i couldnt secure the guy lines with stakes (only a few inches of sand over rock slab), i just used large rocks. That kept both lines super taunt and led to the zipper failure. Later at home, i cleaned the zippers with soap, inspected the teeth, and tightened the fastener w/pliers...they are both working nice again, however, i cant use rocks like that again.
I'd like to see a direct comparison with the dipole 1 li. I know for a 2p temt the dipole is my number one pick but for a 1p tent im up in the air but leaning towards the mid 1 due to the length and width of the floor.
The Mid-1 and Dipole 1 are very different beasts. While the Mid-1 is very storm worthy due to its asymmetric pyramid design, the floor area dimensions are somewhat misleading - actual usable space is much less. I’m not particularly tall (177cm/5’10”) and on a 2.5” sleep pad my head and feet were regularly touching the walls. The floor tub and condensation drains don’t hold its shape as well as Tarptents either (we have both the DRLi and ProTrail Li, about to purchase a Dipole 2 Li). The Mid-1 is very light (similar to ProTrail) but does require a lot more pegs.)
My tent arrived yesterday and the mesh pockets no longer in the corners. Instead, small rectangular pockets are attached to the tub wall by the doors. Gear stowed in them will just rest on the interior floor next to the trekking poles. So after watching your vid again, noticed you mentioned the floor being DCF 8. Their website currently lists DCF 10. Pics on the website still show older pics w/ the mesh pockets in the corners. Welp, it appears that HMG has made some minor mods for the better?
11:35 "Some limitations [for two]" Maybe it's just me, but I think that 60 inch width is comfortable for two. 50 inches is not, and 48 inches is a non-starter. Nice one-person tent, though.
We've used a Duplex for 2 of us over the past 6 years - this is narrower than the Unbound, yet no problems! Plenty of space for us while backpacking, so I would beg to differ! All the tents under discussion here are UL tents designed for backpacking and play best with minimal, UL gear and a UL mindset. They are clearly not designed for hours of hanging at front-country camp sites! I would want more space than any of these provide if that was my intention, and I would also then not need to pay premium prices for the lightest-possible design. I could get a much cheaper, heavier, bigger tent and I'd be happy to carry it all of 10 feet from the trunk of my car! In the end it all depends on the ratio of "what you want" vs "what you need" ! For me the Duplex is way too much tent for my solo, backpacking trips - I neither need nor want all that space, and I'm happy in a 1 person Plexamid/Solplex which saves weight and pack space, has a much reduced footprint, and has ample space for me and my (admittedly UL) gear.
I would have though the 3D side panels would act more as a structure piece than a normal side panel pull outs like on the duplex, due to the seams and extra tape reinforcing it
Great review. This did not seem to be much improvement over the duplex to me. Interesting you mention the mids having a door buckle…the MID1 does not have it either. 🤷♂️
Don't get a "6-Panel-Tent". Others just offer way more construction for the same price. Which translates in better wind stability and better snow performance.
The 3D side panels have an aesthetic advantage: on the Duplex, the side panels sag significantly when staked out, to the point that the tent looks like it is not properly tensioned, and it just looks incredibly sloppy.
Not related to the specific review, I really appreciate your ability to communicate with your audience in every video. It’s a joy to watch and listen to your reviews and shorts because of the clarity of information and intelligent language you (and the wider team in general) use to elucidate the nuances of each piece of equipment or aspect of backcountry hiking. Outstanding in a world of video proliferation in the field. More please!
Just stumbled upon your channel after countless reviews as I have been in the market for a new wilderness home for some months now. Your review nailed down my choice of the Unbound 2P as I was about sold on it, but as it's a fair piece of change I wanted to be sure. The features you covered locked me down, especially being able to pitch right to ground, if necessary. I have been in storms for sure where it would have definitely been more than necessary lol. Thanks for your excellent content and your over the top teaching skills! Had to subscribe due to this single video.
I used this tent on a few trips this summer.
After packing up wet, dirt found its way into the zippers and they both started to fail when i tried to use them under too much tension. Tough to move the lower fastener, then seperating apart. Running the upper zip fastener back and forth helped reconnect it.
When I can secure the guylines for the vestibule door and the top of the trekking pole w/ a stake, then i can keep the upper guy line taunt while providing some slack to the lower line (less tension on the zipper).
When i couldnt secure the guy lines with stakes (only a few inches of sand over rock slab), i just used large rocks. That kept both lines super taunt and led to the zipper failure.
Later at home, i cleaned the zippers with soap, inspected the teeth, and tightened the fastener w/pliers...they are both working nice again, however, i cant use rocks like that again.
Please review the new HMG Mid-1 shelter. Lots of promise for a lot of hikers. :)
I'd like to see a direct comparison with the dipole 1 li. I know for a 2p temt the dipole is my number one pick but for a 1p tent im up in the air but leaning towards the mid 1 due to the length and width of the floor.
The Mid-1 and Dipole 1 are very different beasts. While the Mid-1 is very storm worthy due to its asymmetric pyramid design, the floor area dimensions are somewhat misleading - actual usable space is much less. I’m not particularly tall (177cm/5’10”) and on a 2.5” sleep pad my head and feet were regularly touching the walls. The floor tub and condensation drains don’t hold its shape as well as Tarptents either (we have both the DRLi and ProTrail Li, about to purchase a Dipole 2 Li). The Mid-1 is very light (similar to ProTrail) but does require a lot more pegs.)
My tent arrived yesterday and the mesh pockets no longer in the corners.
Instead, small rectangular pockets are attached to the tub wall by the doors. Gear stowed in them will just rest on the interior floor next to the trekking poles.
So after watching your vid again, noticed you mentioned the floor being DCF 8. Their website currently lists DCF 10.
Pics on the website still show older pics w/ the mesh pockets in the corners.
Welp, it appears that HMG has made some minor mods for the better?
Thanks for this. I haven't seen a good example of what the differences are between the duplex and this one before this.
Great review. Thanks.
Thank you dude 👍
Great review! Very informative and helpful!! Thank you for sharing your expertise!!
Seems like a winner. Only big drawbacks over the Duoplex I see is the smaller bathtub floor and the lack of connection at the bottom of the door.
I saw the SlingFin NFT. I love that tarp.
Thankfully Zpacks sells the double-hooks. Seems like buying one for the Unbound 2P might be the way to go as the tension on the #3 is a deal breaker.
Did you do that?
Wow you do really nice work thanks.
11:35 "Some limitations [for two]"
Maybe it's just me, but I think that 60 inch width is comfortable for two. 50 inches is not, and 48 inches is a non-starter.
Nice one-person tent, though.
We've used a Duplex for 2 of us over the past 6 years - this is narrower than the Unbound, yet no problems! Plenty of space for us while backpacking, so I would beg to differ!
All the tents under discussion here are UL tents designed for backpacking and play best with minimal, UL gear and a UL mindset. They are clearly not designed for hours of hanging at front-country camp sites! I would want more space than any of these provide if that was my intention, and I would also then not need to pay premium prices for the lightest-possible design. I could get a much cheaper, heavier, bigger tent and I'd be happy to carry it all of 10 feet from the trunk of my car!
In the end it all depends on the ratio of "what you want" vs "what you need" ! For me the Duplex is way too much tent for my solo, backpacking trips - I neither need nor want all that space, and I'm happy in a 1 person Plexamid/Solplex which saves weight and pack space, has a much reduced footprint, and has ample space for me and my (admittedly UL) gear.
I would have though the 3D side panels would act more as a structure piece than a normal side panel pull outs like on the duplex, due to the seams and extra tape reinforcing it
As a seamstress I’m a bit disappointed that the zippers do not have suitable clips for strength at the bottom. Huge fail for durability for the money.
Great review. This did not seem to be much improvement over the duplex to me. Interesting you mention the mids having a door buckle…the MID1 does not have it either. 🤷♂️
Is Ryan wearing a Montbell Versalite or a some type of Montbell Shakedry jacket?
👀
Don't get a "6-Panel-Tent". Others just offer way more construction for the same price. Which translates in better wind stability and better snow performance.
The 3D side panels have an aesthetic advantage: on the Duplex, the side panels sag significantly when staked out, to the point that the tent looks like it is not properly tensioned, and it just looks incredibly sloppy.
C’mon, you called out options for tall hikers and then never named them. Shall tall folks always be subjected to laying diagonally?
What hat are you wearing?
Yeah but which tent company supports LGBTQIA+?