Black Diamond Betamid Review

"This tent is great for pack weight reduction. At 2 lbs. 4 oz. - it can't be beat! It is simplicity itself. It uses either hiking poles or is tied off to trees for support. The betamid can accomodate two and gear. This tent does not have a floor and is not suitable for bug infested areas. It has worked well for me during late fall- Winter- and early spring. I typically use it a a roomy enclave for one. It is single wall and does accumulate moisture on the interior walls."

"Very tough, nice and light . . . only complaint was that some straps, that form loops on the outside and inside of the tarp, got saturated and dripped during a prolonged rain. Some sealant solved the problem.

I would recommend purchasing the floor. Adds a lot of comfort to your night, is very easy to use and will fit with the tarp in the supplied betamid stuff sack. Bugs are a problem, but when used with the floor, the Betamid should provide ample but spartan protection from just about any weather. Condesation will occur in humid conditions."

"What a bargain! A lightweight shelter that easily sleeps 2 tall (I'm 6'2"), for only $100!
Pros: light, roomy, inexpensive, well-made, versatile (use sticks or trekking poles, or hang it!)

Cons: Loud color, hard to find, small door"

"Low-tech tent, high-tech tarp. Pros: lots of room for 2 plus big packs (or dogs) for the weight, quality construction, sheds wind amazingly well (stayed up! no rips!)in freight-train winds above treeline, simple and fast to pitch and ditch with your trek poles--much better than your average tarp. Cons: heavy condensation even in drier climates, very drafty on cold windy nights (wind and dirt blow under walls), poor choice for buggy/snaky places, many yards of seams you must seal yourself (sealant not included)--downsides of any tarp. A favorite for several seasons until I was nearly exsanguinated one night by breathable volumes of mosquitoes--reverted to tent with netting and floor. Tried and failed miserably to pitch it in snow while needed "deadman" stakes continually pulled out in the wind. Most recently I used it at the hot beach for a sun shelter--worked great there where it felt good to have the cooling wind blow through the tent."