Hyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid 2 Review
October 23, 2023 – As iconic as it is versatile, the Hyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid 2 is a seriously strong, seriously ultralight shelter. Weighing just 19 oz yet offering 2x the floor plan and significantly more wind resistance than traditional 2p tents, this minimalist pyramid is ready to rock it in the backcountry.
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- Price: $699
- Weight: 1 lb 3.1 oz
- Fly Material: Dyneema
- Interior: 63 ft² | Vestibule: 0 ft² | Area/Pound: 52.7 ft²/lb
- Length: 107″ Width: 83″ Height: 64″
- Pros: Very ultralight. Best-in-class materials. Spacious. Sturdy. Vents.
- Cons: Expensive. Not freestanding. Perfect pitch has a learning curve. Floorless. Single wall condensation. Not inherently bugproof. Inner nest+floor sold separately. Zipper bears tension. Center pole separates partners.
Construction & Features
Why choose a pyramid? Because they’re the most wind-resistant shape in the tarp shelter genre, which is necessary for a lightweight 4 season tent. They’re also the most spacious!
Sure pyramids come with baggage too – they’re floorless, not bugproof, and require a bit of extra work to setup. But in cold or wintery conditions when there are no bugs, and your other options are a 3-5lb 4 season tent, the juice is likely worth the squeeze. Plus, you can always add your own floor, or the bug mesh+floor insert (though this makes it much less weight efficient).
What makes this otherwise simple pyramid so expensive and ultra premium is its Dyneema fabric construction. Dyneema is waterproof, much stronger than sil-nylon, much lighter weight, and perhaps most importantly, has no stretch. This means that, when properly tensioned, it will not sag! Extra important in damp, rainy, or snow-loading conditions.
The Hyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid 2 has a few specifics we like, and dislike. For starters, it has tons of tie out points for reinforcement, another bonus for winter users. The dual top vents are great at reducing condensation. However, the component most likely to fail and cause problems are its zipper. This is because it bears lateral pressure from the corners, and can become damaged if over-tensioned. A buckle at the base helps solve for this, but not completely. What’s more it’s a waterproof zip instead of a storm flap, which is fine at protecting against the elements, but makes the zipper a bit more finicky.
