Hyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid 2 Review

The UltaMid 2 is designed to be versatile for all manner of outdoor missions, from backpacking to mountaineering. The amount of livable space inside this shelter is hard to match for its weight, although this comes with some compromises. You need an extra-long pole right in the very center of the living area, and there's no real vestibule, so you're sharing all that space with all of your gear.

Livability

The Hyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid 2 stands out from almost every other tent in our lineup for its usable space. Unzipping the frontside dual zipper and stepping inside, the approximately 6'11" by 8'11" floor dimensions garner you almost 63 square feet of interior space, with a peak height of around 48". Steep tent-side angles help make much of this area usable, because you can shove your gear around the perimeter, and use the taller portion to move around. Two people and their gear fit easily within its four walls.

This volume inside may be hard to believe, and there are some important compromises you should be aware of before buying into the Ultamid 2. The proverbial elephant in the room is the single pole used to pitch this tent, which resides in the very middle of the living space. The center mast occupies the prime center space, not to mention that it's far more in the way than the exterior poles on most tents.

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We also tested the Ultamid 2 in its base configuration, without a floor or bug net. As a pyramid, this shelter doesn't feature a vestibule, so you'll have to stow any gear inside the living area. And because there's no vestibule, unzipping the door fully exposes one-quarter of the livable space to the elements. If you need to sneak out during a storm, you should push your sleeping bags or anything else you want to stay dry against the opposite wall.

As it is with all single-walled tents, condensation can be an issue with the UltaMid 2. Two vents at the top of the peak help, but with only one door, there is no real way to create a consistent cross-breeze. One way to solve this problem is to pitch the pyramid slightly off the ground to allow airflow around the base, but that will also expose you to more wind and rain.

It may be best to think of the UltaMid 2 less as a tent and more as a very large, two-person tarp. Like other modular tarps we tested, this one won't come with accessories (which can be quite expensive), so you'll have to bring your own solutions to the table. For example, combining this tent with a lightweight bivy sack is an excellent way to address the lack of a ground cloth and bug netting.

Weight

Included with your purchase is the tent body, cordage for each of the eight points to stake the tent out, extra cordage for guying out the sides or rigging it from a tree, and a Dyneema stuff sack.

Here's the breakdown by individual components:

• Tent body: 19.4 oz / 551 g
• Stuff sack: 0.5 oz / 15 g
• Extra guy lines: 4.0 oz / 113 g

Tent and stuff sack: 20.0 ounces / 567 grams   Credit: Justin Simoni

Stuff sack: 0.5 ounces / 15 grams   Credit: Justin Simoni

Tent: 19.4 ounces / 551 grams   Credit: Justin Simoni

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The UltaMid 2 does not include stakes. You will need at least 5 stakes, though 9 is ideal for staking down the bottom of the tent completely, and a few more could help set this tent up for very bad weather. You will also need a pole to pitch this pyramid – two trekking poles lashed together with a Voile strap does the job. If you do not want to use trekking poles, you can purchase an extra-long carbon pole directly from Hyperlite as an accessory.

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Weather Resistance

When it comes to weather resistance, there is no doubt that Dyneema is in a league of its own. Unlike its main rivals – silnylon and silpoly – Dyneema is also basically completely waterproof, and the UltaMid 2 is almost completely made of this specialty material.

Dyneema also doesn't absorb water, so it won't stretch and sag when it gets wet, keeping the pitch taut during a rain shower. It's also not prone to ripping, and Dyneema is very easy to fix in the field using DCF repair tape. The one downside is that Dyneema has poor puncture resistance, which may come into play if you get caught out in a nasty hail storm.

Adaptability

The UltaMid 2 has a fixed design – it can only be set up in its pyramidal shape. However, it is designed to use a variety of pole-like items to pitch the shelter. A canoe paddle, for example, works just as well as two trekking poles. Alternatively, you can hang it up by a webbing loop, using a piece of line tied to a tree branch. As long as it's pulled up from the middle, you can get creative.

In the winter, you can dig into the snow beneath the tent body. The ability to stand up underneath the UltaMid 2 makes it a popular option for a glacier base camp. Be mindful, however, if you choose to cook inside, as Dyneema has a significantly lower heat tolerance than other tent fly materials – even boiling water will melt Dyneema.

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Ease of Set-up

In theory, the UltaMid 2 is a fairly straightforward shelter to set up. If you're using trekking poles, you just need to lash them together with a pair of Voile straps. If you need to use your trekking or ski poles to travel from a base camp, you can also purchase the correct-length pole from Hyperlite.

Whatever you use as a center mast, setting the UltaMid 2 is as easy as staking out all four corners, unzipping the door, crawling inside, and propping up the center. Adjusting the tautness of all the lines is easy thanks to the linelocs already in place at the staking-out points. Optionally, you can add stakes to the wall midpoints for enhanced weather resistance.

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The setup process is easy for one person, even in a storm. If you're using two poles lashed together, you may want to prep beforehand by marking where on the poles it's best to lash them together to prevent a bodge job in inclement weather. (Just don't forget to bring the necessary stakes, pole straps, and adjustable poles, since this tent doesn't come with them!)

Should You Buy the Hyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid 2?

The UltaMid 2 is a super spacious ultralight option. We'll admit that this tent is quite expensive, especially for what is essentially a shaped tarp. But for those familiar with the price of other Dyneema shelters, this price tag should come as no surprise. For couples and climbing partners seeking a lightweight, incredibly weather-resistant tent, the UltaMid 2 delivers on its value. It's also versatile enough for four-season use, especially when used as a base camp or cook tent.

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