I've always wanted to longterm test a cuben fibre shelter but never really found anything I wanted to take on a long hike. Cuben fibre was supposed to be a wonder material that would transform lightweight hiking, but after having used it in many roles, ranging from packs to waterproofs, I've been somewhat underwhelmed. Perhaps shelters is where it really shines? My 2 previous cuben tarps didn't fare too well but a shaped tarp SHOULD work better. The difference here is that pegging/guying loads are spread, more evenly, around many more points, which could make a big difference. I already have an MLD Cricket, in cuben, but it's not nearly as flexible as the silnylon version, which I prefer, so I've hardly used it. I looked at a cuben Trailstar but the material has compromised the design so much that I didn't take the plunge. Zpacks make a nice cuben shelter called the Hexamid, and I got to look at many, up close, on the PCT. They looked ideal for that hike but the design puts weight above performance when the weather turns nasty, so again, I kept way. With a hike across New Zealand coming up I wanted a shelter suitable for more extreme conditions and decided I would build my own.
Finished MYOG cuben shelter |