Hyperlite Mountain Gear Ultamid 4 Tent

Big space, light weight, storm-ready: the tent that earned my trust in wild weather

Would you trust a single-pole tent in a sideways snowstorm?
I didn’t. Not at first.

But on a wild spring trek through Tasmania’s remote wilderness, the Hyperlite UltaMid 4 kept three of us dry, warm, and very comfortable.

After two trips of use and some Tassie storms with snow and rain, here’s what stood out:

🔹 Comfortable for 3 people, but weighs just 1.9kg
🔹 Fast, forgiving setup even on rough campsites
🔹 Rock-solid in wind and snow with minimal condensation on our gear

That was my mate’s first reaction when I pitched it.

The UltaMid 4 is huge. The insert alone is 2.56 x 2.56 metres. You can sit, stand, get changed, and play cards while the wind howls outside. For three of us, it felt roomy. For solo or duo missions? It’s downright luxurious. Although with four, it would be a tight squeeze and probably something I wouldn’t recommend unless weight was critical.

You can pitch it with a pair of hiking poles although I prefer a single centre pole (I recommend the carbon one that Hyperlite Mountain Gear sell). It’s up in under 4 minutes once you get the hang of it. The pyramid shape lets you go high for airflow or bunker down low when the wind rolls in.

It fit fine on:

But you’ll want to scout bigger sites if you're going off-track. It’s a big footprint and if there’s lots of trees about you may struggle to find a site.

We copped classic Tassie weather: driving rain, strong gusts, and then… snow.

Fully guyed out, the UltaMid didn’t flinch. We woke up to a silent white cocoon. Some sagging? A touch. But no flapping, no leaks. Inside was dry, warm, and free of drips.

Even with the fly pitched right to the ground, condensation was minimal. A bit of moisture on the quilts, but nothing worrying. I carry a sponge, wiped it down, and it dried fast at the next site.

Also, Dyneema doesn’t sag when wet. That alone makes a huge difference.

The full mesh insert clips in easily. No ground sheet needed as the Dyneema floor is tough.

With the 4-person insert, you lose a vestibule, but we made it work. We stashed wet boots and packs between the insert and fly. Stayed dry, stayed clean.

If vestibule space matters to you, use the 2-person insert and turn half the tent into a gear garage. I might grab one for solo or couple trips.

Height matters too — at 1.9m, you can actually stand up to get dressed. No more hunched contortions on wet mornings.

Also, it doesn’t come with stakes. And while it can be pitched with trekking poles, I found the carbon pole far more reliable.

Still, every trade-off felt fair. You get strength, space, and sub-2kg weight. That’s a rare combo.

Tasmania threw everything at us. The UltaMid 4 just took it.

If you want one tent that works for alpine expeditions, group trips, and spacious solo hikes, this one is hard to beat. It’s weatherproof, light, livable, and surprisingly versatile. It will remain as part of my kit for a long time to come and will be great for family trips with a wife and 4 kids.

You can see a full video review of the tent here;

If you’re thinking about upgrading your shelter, ask yourself:

Are you ready for the conditions your tent can handle?
Take my free Multi-Day Readiness Quiz. It’s a quick 4-minute check that shows if your planning matches your gear.

Thanks for reading Mowser’s Musings. I hope this helps you hike further and happier.

Mowser

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