Black Diamond Betamid Shelter

Took the shelter on series of trails around Colorado. It rained several times. I must have missed sealing some seams in the peaks of the tent, because beads of water were streaming down the inside, and a steady drip was soaking my down bag. This was on the third consecutive night of rain, and it was coming down pretty hard. I found ventilation was poor, and it took an hour to dry the tent out in the sun. Also, the ground clearance permits water to splash under the tent. Ground clearance is adjustable but limits internal volume, significantly, the lower you go. The Betamid might be cheap, but you have to seal the seams yourself, there are much lighter tarp tents, and there are tarp tents that breath better due to vents at the top so you don't have to dry it as long or store it as wet. The MSR Twin Peaks is super light and its seams are factory sealed. The OR Night Haven is heavier, but has some sweet features - compared to the Betamid, the adjustable buckles feature is a great idea; proper tension on the Betamid is hard to come by.

Pros: spacious space-to-weight ratio (roomy fit for 2 plus gear),lightweight, sturdy in high wind, fast and easy setup, clever dual use of trekking poles. Cons: heavy condensation occurs inside even in relatively dry alpine climate and only 1 person inside! must seal many long seams yourself (sealant not provided) or will leak badly, drafty (wind blows under the walls without floor), must add weight of floor/ground cover if you want this, no bug protection

I am very impressed with the quality of the Betamid. The Betamid's design has several advantages over the a tarp. It appears sturdy enough to work well even as a four season shelter. It allows you to pitch it low to the ground in harsh conditions or off the ground for mild weather.