Kinda defeats Idea of lightweight shelter 🤔 why solid inner what conditions are you camping in? I've never yet missed or wanted solid inner in this type of shelter. If Ron made one I'd probably get one to see what like but I see zero reason. I think I guess his concern is condensation breathability.
@@TonyHobbs Western Norway costal and mountain regions, it’s pretty cold over here! Solid is not heavier than mesh, at least as far as Tarptent specs goes it’s actually lighter. I now use a Borah bivy with the Cricket but I’d like to be able to sit up when there is a lot of bugs and still have the wind protection. Don’t even need a full solid, but at least partial.
That sounds chilly Yes I'd agree solid material probably is lighter than mesh. Do you find wind gets underneath back a problem? You probably trued putting a pack between gap you critical area like head ? Tbf you probably have more experience than me esp out there. But I find sleeping bag warm enough and no bivy works well. But I'm not in sub zero conditions often. Great to chat thanks 😊
@@TonyHobbs If the ground is mossy I find that I can pitch it pretty tight to the ground, but the big open part missing a door tends to let in a breeze hehe! I have been tempted to just get the sts bug net and give that a try in the cricket in combination with what I currently use so I can sit up right when the bugs come knocking. Just not sure if it fits with the top part being off center.
@ThePreparedNorseman what is sts bug net? The MLD inner works well. If you ask Ron he might be able to put material down bottom part but probably not due to how busy they probably are.
Tony, thank you for a great comparison. I have the Cricket, and you saved me a "$285 experiment" to discover the Cricket is the shelter for me. I use the Helinox Ground chair with the Cricket and it gives fabulous head room, and views. I think for the floating Cricket floor, you could try deploying 4 x Yorkies--each one sitting in a corner😀
Thanks for watching new member too thanks 😊 hope you're happy in membership and enjoy as its much appreciated. Yeah the Cricket has the edge in flexibility and weight too. Solomid will suit some who like doors. Great idea for holding floor down lol
Hi Tony, you have tried a star configuration with a 3x3 ? it’s strong and loads of space at a fraction of the cost, mind I am liking the look of the Trail star and Cricket, since I follow yourself If I knew they could take the Cheviots wind far better than a standard Tarp I may well take a punt Cheers Adrian
Tough choice depends what got and looking for... the cricket great but needs more crawling in no door but that's advantage to my mind as front overhang is good once in it 😀 good luck choosing
In terms of the vulnerability of the door in the Cricket - I have a door for my TrailStar - just a triangle of Dyneema - which functions very well on the odd occasion I've had issues with blowing rain. Though I've found that the main use is for privacy on campsites - especially if I'm leaving the shelter empty and want to discourage people from nicking my stuff.
Tony thanks for this video. i'm going to eventually order the Cricket. i like having the open view and i think it'll give me more protection than my current shelter, a 7x9 flat tarp. which has worked well for me even in some rain storms.
I love a tarp and used in poor weather but they have limitations. The cricket then trailstar or other way around really lol is the best of all worlds. For sure cricket is an excellent option. I agree open view is great I like seeing out whatever the weather. Tarps great too but for good comfort and coverage the cricket or ts rock.
Tea bags are like socks you bring plenty but can only ever find 1, I'm secretly hoping you might try the duomid xl inner in the cricket, with the pole angled outwards... please haa I do love the Cricket, mine is in orange so do feel like I can be seen from space but feels wonderfully sunny inside it's a perfectly simple shelter. I've pinned a foam mat with the centre pole and ran it up an angled door pole to shut out all wind and it worked very well. Thought an umbrella might work as well for some privacy/ wind protection hooked around the pole but it didn't really.
Duomid xl inner probably won't work as it's straight front so all angles will be wrong plus it's taller plus mine bit wider than regular version I had a custom inner few years ago. Nice idea but need inner with sloping front. Yes the cricket is fab shelter for absolute sure
The comparison is much appreciated Tony. You have sold me on the solomidXL and pushed me further into the clutches of Ron Bells cult! One question about the solomidXL, how does it compare to the duomidXL in high winds? does the size make much of a difference? thanks!
Being smaller it'll catch less wind but Being smaller you're closer to sides edges .... I've had duomid xl up in pretty strong breezes and it's done well. I'd get whichever suits your living etc best and just pitch best you can etc for a reasonable night sleep. Welcome to the cult 😆 I've been culting it on TH-cam with MLD kit 12 years before my first camp even lol
Thanks Tony for another idiosyncratic and entertaining video! I agree with you about the unique features of the Cricket and the appeal of the openness it offers. Much as I can see the attractions of something like the X-mid pro 1 for supreme lightness, it doesn't offer quite the same sense of connection to the environment (which is what we seek out in our wild camping adventures) or possibilities for variation in pitch as the Cricket. I also have a Solomid Xl and I just prefer the Cricket as a shelter for the reasons you articulate in the video. Any thoughts on the dcf Cricket?
Given it's a slightly variable pitch shelter the cricket i'd avoid inDCF as the ts in dcf is a pig too, although i like it... i don't recommend it unless really want it and can live with it... the dcf cricket is probably although i dont know for sure.. smaller, it will probably be more difficult to pitch and more difficult to adjust the pitch. DCF in fixed shelters is excellent so any pyramid or tarp put your money down lol I just don't get the hype over the xmid, the 1 pro in dcf might be good enough esp for weight etc but I hear the floor is very thin much thinner I think even than MLDs floors and the DCF on the fly is I believe .5 not .75 and MLD stopped using .5 as it just won't last long. It's like these companies* trying to do what Ron did tried tested and abandonded already lol I just don't like the porches on the xmid that is one of my biggest peevs they just don't suit my camping cooking storing approach. These big open chuck everything anywhere porches much better for me lol *I might be wrong and doing an injustice, it's just a gut feeling, and pretty sure I hear that re the materials. As you know if followed I've used DCF longer than most on YT and have started to wear it out from use and longevity etc Last thoguyths on DCF Cricket - google colin ibbotson and dcf cricket he did a blog post on it long long ago.
Like a lot of ultralight mids, the Solomid has a vestibule that wouldn't give much shelter in driving rain - so you'd presumably need to keep the doors closed. With my TrailStar, I love the way you can enjoy the view in almost any weather. The Cricket offers the same experience with a smaller footprint - at the sacrifice of just a little flexibility and storm-worthiness.
If back to wind as designed the cricket and SolomidXL do a great job keeping rain out. Not yet had issue. If rain did a 180 then probably SolomidXL gives better protection with doors closed. Main difference is i do think low door on cricket will give considerable protection if 180 wind and only middle bit bit higher so pack or something there. SolomidXL gives plenty 180 protection but again if really issue put pack there if able or waterproof over that bit of sleeping bag. So highly unlikely to be issue with either I also usually take MLD rain kilt that coukd be a barrier too. I agree the cricket is amazing
@@TonyHobbs I'm more concerned with being stuck in a coffin while it's raining - after a decade in the TrailStar I don't think I could do that again. As you say, the openness of the TS/Cricket beaked design is rarely an issue. I'm planning on making my own variation, blending ideas from the Cricket, Colin Ibbotson's innovative Tramplite shelter and the Tipik Pioulou. The Tipik has a beak that would keep you dry most of the time if extended a little, plus ziperless doors for severe weather. The doors work by overlap, and I think it would be possible to cut them so they'd work for different pole heights. An idea to play with. The openness of the beak design is wonderful on a remote hillside. Not so fun on a crowded campsite. For longer projects, some kind of attachable batwing or sewn-in door is a must, at least for me. Just the concept of a design at the moment, as the Orange One would say...
@tullochgorum6323 are you thinking SolomidXL a coffin? Not really. I'd agree it's more closed than ts cricket but due to height it's spacious enough for a solo shelter depending on your size lol but absolutely agree I prefer open ts cricket . I'll carry on avoiding camp sites. I'll be in the hotel up the road vs campsite lol 😆
@@TonyHobbs I was thinking more about the ability to keep it open in nasty weather. A major issue with any mid without a beak is that the doors overhang the living space. Even if the pole is offset as in the Solomid, driving rain could easily intrude unless you close it up. The great thing about beaked designs like the Cricket and TS is the openness. Once you're used to that, it's difficult to settle for less. I do long trails around the world where it's often difficult to avoid communal camping of one kind or another, so privacy is an issue for me. The easy answer is a removable batwing, as I have on the TS, but I may prototype a door Idea I've been playing with on my CAD app... The ideal is a beak that retains the flexible pitch of the TS and Cricket, but can be closed up for privacy or extreme weather events without making access too inconvenient. In the Alps I'm often forced to camp on poo-ridden ground - the animals value the rare flat spots as much as we do. And crawling into the TS has sometimes proven less than pleasant...
@tullochgorum6323 the only one where door can be left open is supernid lol it's so huge but yes even that needs do closed if weather really poor I get your points on thise things yes flat areas are welcomed by man and beast lol 😆
Tony - how do you find the space in the Cricket with an inflatable mat and warm bag? Do you have to protect the foot of the bag from getting wet against the fly?
I've never needed to protect foot of sleeping bag yet. Maybe once or twice possibly I put waterproof jacket there but I can't ever remember. More likely to put my pack or shoes there as a stopper lol plenty of space the cricket probably my second fav after ts. Although duomid xl is amazing when space needed in winter I'm 5'8"
Tony, which is your favourite MLD shelter if you could only have the one? The Trailstar appears to be a happy medium being roomy and fairly open and also flexible in changing wind conditions. Is there something you don't like about it?
There is nothing about trailstar to dislike it's what it is and genius design. If I only had one shelter and nothing else it's easily trailstar by country mile absolutely nothing is close for 90% of camps. Maybe 95%... 99%.... the only place maybe is spindrift snow and obviously Arctic lol but for 99% of UK use it easily wins. I guess with the inner net its more constrictive and unlike tent pitched to ground I guess bugs can get in more easily to fly but not inner... so the worst area is Scotland midges ...
You'd need to check material on their website. It'll be about as wind resistant as cricket. Anything over 35mph you're going to have an uncomfortable night . Ignore the youtubers claiming ridiculous speeds. Yes I'm sure you'd survive 40mph but good luck. Seek sheltered spot and sleep well. It's a solo tent so will bow in on you but will be strong enough with sensible use. If you want very windy get trailstar and pitch very low
@@TonyHobbs hm..so generally a decent tunnel tent will outperform solomid? Well 35mph is kinda strong wind ,most of tents will flap and make noise in higher winds..
great vlog....thought lizzy was going to get stuffed in the bag...lol
Yeah care needed lol
Been using the Cricket for years, great shelter! Only thing missing is Ron making a solid inner for the dang thing!
Kinda defeats Idea of lightweight shelter 🤔 why solid inner what conditions are you camping in?
I've never yet missed or wanted solid inner in this type of shelter. If Ron made one I'd probably get one to see what like but I see zero reason. I think I guess his concern is condensation breathability.
@@TonyHobbs Western Norway costal and mountain regions, it’s pretty cold over here! Solid is not heavier than mesh, at least as far as Tarptent specs goes it’s actually lighter. I now use a Borah bivy with the Cricket but I’d like to be able to sit up when there is a lot of bugs and still have the wind protection. Don’t even need a full solid, but at least partial.
That sounds chilly
Yes I'd agree solid material probably is lighter than mesh.
Do you find wind gets underneath back a problem? You probably trued putting a pack between gap you critical area like head ?
Tbf you probably have more experience than me esp out there. But I find sleeping bag warm enough and no bivy works well. But I'm not in sub zero conditions often. Great to chat thanks 😊
@@TonyHobbs If the ground is mossy I find that I can pitch it pretty tight to the ground, but the big open part missing a door tends to let in a breeze hehe! I have been tempted to just get the sts bug net and give that a try in the cricket in combination with what I currently use so I can sit up right when the bugs come knocking. Just not sure if it fits with the top part being off center.
@ThePreparedNorseman what is sts bug net?
The MLD inner works well.
If you ask Ron he might be able to put material down bottom part but probably not due to how busy they probably are.
Tony, thank you for a great comparison. I have the Cricket, and you saved me a "$285 experiment" to discover the Cricket is the shelter for me. I use the Helinox Ground chair with the Cricket and it gives fabulous head room, and views. I think for the floating Cricket floor, you could try deploying 4 x Yorkies--each one sitting in a corner😀
Thanks for watching new member too thanks 😊 hope you're happy in membership and enjoy as its much appreciated. Yeah the Cricket has the edge in flexibility and weight too. Solomid will suit some who like doors. Great idea for holding floor down lol
Hi Tony, excellent demo, always fancied the Cricket, but love a Tarp too much !!
cheers Adrian
The cricket is a tarp just shaped and gives more coverage protection for similar weight
Hi Tony, you have tried a star configuration with a 3x3 ? it’s strong and loads of space at a fraction of the cost,
mind I am liking the look of the Trail star and Cricket, since I follow yourself
If I knew they could take the Cheviots wind far better than a standard Tarp I may well take a punt
Cheers Adrian
@northumberlandmountainhopper not tried 3 by 3. Trailstar pitched low will take winds. Uncomfortable night but you'd survive.
Thank you Tony for the video. The cricket is for me to open. when i choose a Mld mid then i go for the Duomid.
Brilliant option :)
Great video Tony , am seriously considering adding one to my collection, just got to decide what one ☝️
Tough choice depends what got and looking for... the cricket great but needs more crawling in no door but that's advantage to my mind as front overhang is good once in it 😀 good luck choosing
In terms of the vulnerability of the door in the Cricket - I have a door for my TrailStar - just a triangle of Dyneema - which functions very well on the odd occasion I've had issues with blowing rain. Though I've found that the main use is for privacy on campsites - especially if I'm leaving the shelter empty and want to discourage people from nicking my stuff.
Hiya
Ive an MLD rain kilt had it years there's a vid on it where I demo it plus it makes a great ts or cricket door 😀
Tony thanks for this video. i'm going to eventually order the Cricket. i like having the open view and i think it'll give me more protection than my current shelter, a 7x9 flat tarp. which has worked well for me even in some rain storms.
I love a tarp and used in poor weather but they have limitations. The cricket then trailstar or other way around really lol is the best of all worlds. For sure cricket is an excellent option. I agree open view is great I like seeing out whatever the weather. Tarps great too but for good comfort and coverage the cricket or ts rock.
@@TonyHobbs i agree Tony!
Tea bags are like socks you bring plenty but can only ever find 1, I'm secretly hoping you might try the duomid xl inner in the cricket, with the pole angled outwards... please haa I do love the Cricket, mine is in orange so do feel like I can be seen from space but feels wonderfully sunny inside it's a perfectly simple shelter. I've pinned a foam mat with the centre pole and ran it up an angled door pole to shut out all wind and it worked very well. Thought an umbrella might work as well for some privacy/ wind protection hooked around the pole but it didn't really.
Duomid xl inner probably won't work as it's straight front so all angles will be wrong plus it's taller plus mine bit wider than regular version I had a custom inner few years ago. Nice idea but need inner with sloping front. Yes the cricket is fab shelter for absolute sure
The comparison is much appreciated Tony. You have sold me on the solomidXL and pushed me further into the clutches of Ron Bells cult! One question about the solomidXL, how does it compare to the duomidXL in high winds? does the size make much of a difference?
thanks!
Being smaller it'll catch less wind but Being smaller you're closer to sides edges .... I've had duomid xl up in pretty strong breezes and it's done well. I'd get whichever suits your living etc best and just pitch best you can etc for a reasonable night sleep. Welcome to the cult 😆 I've been culting it on TH-cam with MLD kit 12 years before my first camp even lol
Great info, thank you. A cricket vs trailstar detailed comparison would be so helpful.
Sounds a good future plan :)
Thanks Tony for another idiosyncratic and entertaining video! I agree with you about the unique features of the Cricket and the appeal of the openness it offers. Much as I can see the attractions of something like the X-mid pro 1 for supreme lightness, it doesn't offer quite the same sense of connection to the environment (which is what we seek out in our wild camping adventures) or possibilities for variation in pitch as the Cricket. I also have a Solomid Xl and I just prefer the Cricket as a shelter for the reasons you articulate in the video. Any thoughts on the dcf Cricket?
Given it's a slightly variable pitch shelter the cricket i'd avoid inDCF as the ts in dcf is a pig too, although i like it... i don't recommend it unless really want it and can live with it... the dcf cricket is probably although i dont know for sure.. smaller, it will probably be more difficult to pitch and more difficult to adjust the pitch. DCF in fixed shelters is excellent so any pyramid or tarp put your money down lol I just don't get the hype over the xmid, the 1 pro in dcf might be good enough esp for weight etc but I hear the floor is very thin much thinner I think even than MLDs floors and the DCF on the fly is I believe .5 not .75 and MLD stopped using .5 as it just won't last long. It's like these companies* trying to do what Ron did tried tested and abandonded already lol I just don't like the porches on the xmid that is one of my biggest peevs they just don't suit my camping cooking storing approach. These big open chuck everything anywhere porches much better for me lol
*I might be wrong and doing an injustice, it's just a gut feeling, and pretty sure I hear that re the materials. As you know if followed I've used DCF longer than most on YT and have started to wear it out from use and longevity etc Last thoguyths on DCF Cricket - google colin ibbotson and dcf cricket he did a blog post on it long long ago.
Good video Tony.
Thank's for the upload.
Thanks Tom 😀
Like a lot of ultralight mids, the Solomid has a vestibule that wouldn't give much shelter in driving rain - so you'd presumably need to keep the doors closed. With my TrailStar, I love the way you can enjoy the view in almost any weather. The Cricket offers the same experience with a smaller footprint - at the sacrifice of just a little flexibility and storm-worthiness.
If back to wind as designed the cricket and SolomidXL do a great job keeping rain out. Not yet had issue. If rain did a 180 then probably SolomidXL gives better protection with doors closed. Main difference is i do think low door on cricket will give considerable protection if 180 wind and only middle bit bit higher so pack or something there. SolomidXL gives plenty 180 protection but again if really issue put pack there if able or waterproof over that bit of sleeping bag. So highly unlikely to be issue with either
I also usually take MLD rain kilt that coukd be a barrier too. I agree the cricket is amazing
@@TonyHobbs I'm more concerned with being stuck in a coffin while it's raining - after a decade in the TrailStar I don't think I could do that again.
As you say, the openness of the TS/Cricket beaked design is rarely an issue. I'm planning on making my own variation, blending ideas from the Cricket, Colin Ibbotson's innovative Tramplite shelter and the Tipik Pioulou. The Tipik has a beak that would keep you dry most of the time if extended a little, plus ziperless doors for severe weather. The doors work by overlap, and I think it would be possible to cut them so they'd work for different pole heights. An idea to play with. The openness of the beak design is wonderful on a remote hillside. Not so fun on a crowded campsite. For longer projects, some kind of attachable batwing or sewn-in door is a must, at least for me. Just the concept of a design at the moment, as the Orange One would say...
@tullochgorum6323 are you thinking SolomidXL a coffin? Not really. I'd agree it's more closed than ts cricket but due to height it's spacious enough for a solo shelter depending on your size lol but absolutely agree I prefer open ts cricket . I'll carry on avoiding camp sites. I'll be in the hotel up the road vs campsite lol 😆
@@TonyHobbs I was thinking more about the ability to keep it open in nasty weather. A major issue with any mid without a beak is that the doors overhang the living space. Even if the pole is offset as in the Solomid, driving rain could easily intrude unless you close it up. The great thing about beaked designs like the Cricket and TS is the openness. Once you're used to that, it's difficult to settle for less.
I do long trails around the world where it's often difficult to avoid communal camping of one kind or another, so privacy is an issue for me. The easy answer is a removable batwing, as I have on the TS, but I may prototype a door Idea I've been playing with on my CAD app... The ideal is a beak that retains the flexible pitch of the TS and Cricket, but can be closed up for privacy or extreme weather events without making access too inconvenient. In the Alps I'm often forced to camp on poo-ridden ground - the animals value the rare flat spots as much as we do. And crawling into the TS has sometimes proven less than pleasant...
@tullochgorum6323 the only one where door can be left open is supernid lol it's so huge but yes even that needs do closed if weather really poor
I get your points on thise things yes flat areas are welcomed by man and beast lol 😆
Tony - how do you find the space in the Cricket with an inflatable mat and warm bag? Do you have to protect the foot of the bag from getting wet against the fly?
I've never needed to protect foot of sleeping bag yet. Maybe once or twice possibly I put waterproof jacket there but I can't ever remember. More likely to put my pack or shoes there as a stopper lol plenty of space the cricket probably my second fav after ts. Although duomid xl is amazing when space needed in winter
I'm 5'8"
@@TonyHobbs Thanks Tony - very helpful!
Tony, which is your favourite MLD shelter if you could only have the one? The Trailstar appears to be a happy medium being roomy and fairly open and also flexible in changing wind conditions. Is there something you don't like about it?
There is nothing about trailstar to dislike it's what it is and genius design. If I only had one shelter and nothing else it's easily trailstar by country mile absolutely nothing is close for 90% of camps. Maybe 95%... 99%.... the only place maybe is spindrift snow and obviously Arctic lol but for 99% of UK use it easily wins. I guess with the inner net its more constrictive and unlike tent pitched to ground I guess bugs can get in more easily to fly but not inner... so the worst area is Scotland midges ...
Trailstar is your favourite in which fabric
Poly now. I'd not advise dcf.
Good comparison between the two shelters Tony , atb Mick 👍
Thank you 😊
I have a question about solomid.. is it more windstable with an A frame rather than 1 pole?..
Imo one central pole is better as long as a sturdy pole.
Great compare. Was pondering both and you helped me decide. Cricket it is!
Great choice 👌 enjoy
Would you recommend solomid? Is it really that strong and wind resistant as they claim? Is fly 30d nylon?
You'd need to check material on their website. It'll be about as wind resistant as cricket. Anything over 35mph you're going to have an uncomfortable night . Ignore the youtubers claiming ridiculous speeds. Yes I'm sure you'd survive 40mph but good luck. Seek sheltered spot and sleep well. It's a solo tent so will bow in on you but will be strong enough with sensible use. If you want very windy get trailstar and pitch very low
@@TonyHobbs hm..so generally a decent tunnel tent will outperform solomid?
Well 35mph is kinda strong wind ,most of tents will flap and make noise in higher winds..
@@TonyHobbs trailstar seems bit too technical for me lol. But seems very versatile.
Ive been dreaming of the solomidxl for years , even bought an inner net 5yrs ago now 😅 but still not got one
Hopefully Santa is kind 😇 😊 😆
Nice weather , the Cricket. Bad weather , the Solomid. Would I have to choose I´d rather choose the Duomid
The Duomid getting a lot of love ❤️ 😍 😀
Hello, Tony! Is it SoloMid XL InnerNet?
Yes correct
It fits duomid solomid xl and cricket
Not duomid xl
You are on a sticky wicket here as you do like to play with your pole......
Looking to see how extendable it is 😆