The Dark Art of the Megamid

So, the weight difference between my North Face Mountain 25 and the megamid I saw some folk using in India caught my attention and I got me one of these funky pyramidy things. I've had a pretty good look around the net and found some good info about getting them put up well but I was hoping someone versed in the dark secrets of the 'mid might help me with a couple of probs I've been having.

So far it's only been a story of camping on grass. I've been pitching it by staking out the corners, putting up the pole and then staking down the middle of each side. This has given a pretty solid, taut structure. Only prob is, the corners are nice and close to the ground but the middle of each side rises up higher - giving a nice gap for rain to blow through. Is there a trick to getting the whole of the mid close to the ground?

That's the main issue. Any help would be much appreciated. Mullet

Buy the floor? Or put your pack or a log or a rock on the windward side to form a barrier. If you're on snow or sand you can bury the edges.

Mullet-

I typed up a whole thing and then re-read your problem and don't have a good answer for you, are you actually pulling the stakes up in the middle? I'm wondering how big your gap is cause a few inches won't matter unless it is extremely nasty in which case like hop sed you should bury the edges.

My mid flaps annoyingly in the wind (well did) so I added some tie-downs to the center of each panel and stake those out on some guy wires.

I like the 'mid in the summer. I used mine little in the winter- the conditions in which they really excel.

I used to like to pitch mine with the edges about a foot off the ground so that a nice breeze would come in. That "tent hitch knot???" tied off to a big rock or stake would keep things pretty tight.

Sold it:frown: , wish I had it now...

Sounds like you are setting it up just fine. How high off of the ground is it in the middle? Usually I could get the whole perimeter to within several inches of the ground using the set-up method you describe. Make sure that the center pole is as short as possible and use trucker's hitches to tension everything down.

My take is that having a gap around the bottom is actually desirable most of the time, as it minimizes condensation and keeps things from getting too stuffy. If it's raining so horizontally that you are getting soaked through the gap, then it's time to pitch it in a more protected area, combine it with a bivy sack, or take your Mountain 25.

I bought a used one, the dude had sewed on flaps all the way around the bottom. Adds a little bit of weight/bulk, but not much, and makes it much easier to seal the sides down. Something to think about if you're handy with a sewing machine.

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Originally Posted by corn dog

I bought a used one, the dude had sewed on flaps all the way around the bottom. Adds a little bit of weight/bulk, but not much, and makes it much easier to seal the sides down. Something to think about if you're handy with a sewing machine.

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absolutely - I don't understand why BD don't do this or at least sell a with flaps version.

Yep, I think the floor might not be a bad idea.

I'm in Norway at the moment and it's really frickin' wet at times. Water blows in sideways through the smallest gaps. Luckily I have another tent here too so we're not totally soaked.

To describe the 'Mid: the corners are about 2" or 3" off the ground but the middle of the sides are more like 6" or 8" up. The whole things taut though and I can't see a way to stretch them down. Guess that's just how it's made. The pole is at its shortest. I think the only thing that would make a difference is a shorter pole.

Thanks for the advice. I'll try to take some pictures later.

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Originally Posted by Mulletizer

I'm in Norway at the moment and it's really frickin' wet at times.

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At least that should be no shock after your first time up there ;)