Hey all,

A few months back, Ron Bell of Mountain Laurel Designs had a news item on his homepage about the upcoming "Spirit Shelter". Anyway, there's a "teaser" on his homepage now and he sent me another pic via email along with some preliminary info that he said was ok to share. He didn't mention pricing... but said the new shelters should be added to the site within a few weeks or so.

Here are some details:

- Available in a number of different fabrics... including .60 SpectraLite and .97 Spinntex. The lightest option will come in around 6 oz I guess (the hompage says 5 oz)... but none of this is final!!!

- Add-on options for floors and / or a bug netting door / perimieter... TarpTent style.

- Closeable peak vents in the front and rear.

- Only 4 stakes and one 3' guyline for the basic setup!

Sounds pretty sweet! It seems to me like it's the best of the TarpTent (integrated bug netting / floor options), SpinnShelter (shaped tarp design with doors) and Nomad Lite (a-frame trekking pole setup)... all made with the latest and greatest fabrics. I can't wait until all the details are posted on the website :)

Here's a pic Ron sent me which he said I could share...

Edited by davidlewis on 03/22/2006 18:39:19 MST.

.6 oz."Spectra-lite", hmmmm---- sounds like Nano/Cuben.

Now there's 2 hot uberlite shelters in the pipeline--- for those who know of the BMW nano shelter-in-waiting.

Competition spurs innovation---yeah!

I really like the idea that there will be no poles inside this shelter... and it looks really roomy!!! The only possible negative I could see people raising is that it doesn't have all the pitching options of say... a SpinnShelter. Then again... perhaps you COULD pitch the Spirt with a single vertical front pole and corner stakes / guylines??? Maybe.

Edited by davidlewis on 03/22/2006 19:11:45 MST.

This looks like a great shelter...looking forward to the reviews.

If both trekking poles are used to hold the front up then what is holding the foot end up?

A short (18-24 inch or so???) carbon fiber pole is holding up the foot end... or... I guess... a stick if you prefer. You can see this on the MLD homepage photo... which I will link to so we can see both pics in one place :) So it's a pole in the back with one guyline and three stakes... and then the 'a-frame' trekking poles at the front and one stake pulling out the doors.

Edited by davidlewis on 03/23/2006 11:40:58 MST.

Link to that last photo gives the details.... field testing to destruction ( that's a UL carbon-fiber driver). That Ron Bell...:-)>

http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com/index.php

Edited by kdesign on 03/23/2006 12:00:27 MST.