FS[VIC] - MLD Cricket 1.5 person tarp shelter

[jdeks]

Chirp chirp. Sellin' my cricket.







Good little tarp-tent from running lite on your lonesome. Very simple to set up. Takes wind better than you'd expect. No, rain doesn't blow in the front, trust me, I've tested it. Easily enough room for one to sit and cook, and I've fit two under it on occasion. Works great with a bivvi bag, but even just a mozzie net and a ground tarp makes for a very functional, versatile tent, for well under a kilo. Winning.

Has some minor staining on the back side, it's seen some use. But it's absolutely still 100% functional and has no leaks, tears or damage.

Want more info? Check out the MLD page: http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com/sh ... cts_id=175

Or for some feild testing info, Colin Ibbotson's review: http://www.tramplite.com/2013/02/mld-cr ... eview.html

They go new for $175 USD, which I think nowadays is about $230 AUD, plus about another $40 in shipping.

I'll do it for $150 AUD plus post, and I'll even throw in some titanium tent pegs. Mind you, you'll have to find your own center-pole though, thats not included (I can point you in a few places to get one, though).

[jdeks]

Open to offers on this one...

[Moondog55]

It's interesting but if the tarp can't be pitched hard to the ground it doesn't suit my particular winter needs in the snow

[andrewa]

MD, there should not be any issues pitching hard to the ground - peg from the loops on the edge rather than from the guys. Might be difficult to stand under! A nice looking tarp though.

[Moondog55]

I read in the review that it couldn't be done that way Perhaps the reviewer was wrong on that point.
I do need something LW for summer tho, although I just spent this months discretionary income on stuff for Cecile and the house
4 weeks until I get more spending money

[Drew]

Looks pretty nifty and I'm a bit tempted.

It would be great with just a groundsheet when there are no mozzies. But for when there are mozzies...You said it could be used with a mozzie net. I noticed in the review (that you posted the link to) that he said that it didn't work with bug shelters as the mesh would hang on your face due to the sloping edges of the tarp. Any thoughts on this? I don't really fancy spending US$155 to buy the inner that fits, or having a shelter I can only use when there are no bugs. I don't have a bivvy and don't really want to buy one.

Also, is it seam sealed?

Thanks!

[jdeks]

Woops, sorry for the delay, my thread subcription email thingy aint working for some reason.

Re pitching hard to ground: The four corners can be pitched hard to ground, the back 'corner' can't BUT I'e had it in a torrential blowing dwnpour and got no blowback from it. I was really surprised, but this thing does deal with wind very well. If you want a good seal in the snow around the hem, it'd be childsplay to pile up a bit around the back to 'close the gap'.

RE mozzie net: Whether it hangs in yo face or not in yo face depends a lot on the net, I imagine. I bought a real el-cheapo 2-person camping net with a single apex tie point, strung it up inside and then and looped 8 rings of string into it, so I could clip it into the 4 inside clips and the 4 corner pegs. I never had any nights with netface and heaps of mozzie-free playspace. Total cost: about $30 and an hour of my life.

Yes, it was seam sealed by the previous owner to me. Its not neat, but it's watertight.

Honestly, it;s a poo... little shelter. If I keep talking about it I'm probably gonna wind up keeping it. I could ram the mozzie net, the tarp, a groundsheet into a compression sack and have my tent sorted in a bundle the size of soup can. Total weight was like 600g for something that was as useable as any tent Ive slept it, at under half the weight. Thats bivvy-bag weight, and it's sure as *&%$#! more spacious than one of them

[Drew]

Thanks jdeks. One other (possible silly ) question: if you have it pitched with the entrance low, how the hell do you get in and out? Commando crawl along the ground? Or can you release some tension in the guy rope where it attaches to the tent to lift the entrance up a bit?

Cheers

[GregH]

I would like to buy this but to be fair MD and Drew have one more chance. I mostly do day walks and this tarp is just what I need.
Greg

[Drew]

PM sent.

[jdeks]

Drew, PM recieved, but for the sake of everyone else:

yes, commando crawl works, but indeed the linelok on the peak can be slackened to get more 'escape' room'

[puredingo]

Just inquiring, is the broom still for sale?

[Drew]

Just inquiring, is the broom still for sale?

I picked up the tarp from jdeks yesterday. Much to my disappointment the broom wasn't inside in the stuff sack, so it may still be available.

[puredingo]

Nah, he's obviously holding on to the broom...and rightly so, it's a beauty!

[jdeks]

The TrailSweep sadly was not included in sale, however I may put it up on the market in the coming months if I decide to upgrade to a vaccuum cleaner.