I had been wanting to get a pyramid, tipi-style floorless shelter for awhile for bike packing trips, backcountry skiing, and also to cut a stove jack in, for the chimney of a wood stove for hot tent camping. The BD Mega Light was on sale, and I figured this would be the perfect excuse; but I ended up liking it so much, I didn’t want to put a hole in the tent (and it was too small anyway) and after a trip on the C&O Canal in the winter, I’m really happy with it. It’s lightweight and is easy to pack on a bike, super simple to set up, and really spacious for one person. I’m looking forward to using it for years to come.
My setup for car camping:
Since I was car camping, I decided to go all out for luxury and bring then BD Mega Light, my Exped DownMat Winter HL, and MHW zero-degree bag. Paired with a wool hat and base layer, I was really cozy all night and the venting of the BD Mega Light meant that I was not at all sweaty or clammy in the morning. We arrived in the dark and I actually had no trouble setting up the pyramid in the dark for the first time. Out of the box, there are two modes to set it up, one with the edges of the shelter staked to the ground, leaving minimal room for air to pass between the shelter walls and the ground. You can also use the loops to pitch the Mega Light a little bit higher, giving a few more inches of headroom and creating a 5 or 6-inch space between the shelter walls and the ground. Since I knew I’d be plenty warm and we were camped out somewhat near the Potomac River, I decided to pitch it higher up and leave room for a breeze to ensure I had no condensation or clamminess issues overnight. After staking out the corners in a square, I assembled and pitched the shelter with the included carbon fiber pole, which is extremely sturdy and quite simple to adjust.
While it was a little breezy inside, I had no trouble with condensation, and I could have easily ‘cinched’ things down overnight if I had gotten cold.
The extra room in the Mega Light made camping with the cot really easy and the whole setup was spacious and the envy of my camp mates, one of whom was in his 1998 Buick Rendezvous and there other in an Alps Mountaineering 1 man silnylon coffin. The material of the Mega Light is slippery and light weight, and the pole sections can fit along the top tube of my bike for bike packing in the spring. You can also use trekking or ski poles, a ski, or a rope suspended between trees to pitch the shelter and I’m looking forward to trying it out in lots different conditions.
How I think I’ll Use it
I think the ML will actually be as good for car camping as it will be for bike packing and backcountry ski tours. Sleeping on a cot was so comfortable, and it’s hard to get everything to fit in a ‘traditional’ 3 or 4 person tent. That said, its light weight and easy stuffability make it really versatile, and I can also see shoving into the dry bag on the front of my bike and strapping the pole to the frame during another trip along the Great Allegheny Passage. I have not yet gotten to use it as an on-snow shelter, where you can dig out a bench and a table in the snow (which sounds really fun), but that is on the list of goals this year as well.
I’m glad I didn’t cut a hole in the top of the BD Mega Light to use as a hot tent; it’s so much more useful and versatile than I thought. I think if I’m doing a hot tent setup. I’d want something larger and burlier as well so the search continues. Stay tuned!