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The Mountain Laurel Designs Supermid is considered the gold standard of full-sized group pyramid tarps. Sized to accommodate up to four adults—or two to three with ample space for winter gear, pulks, or dogs—the Supermid takes MLD's bombproof shelter design and scales it up to expedition proportions. It is a favorite among winter backcountry travelers, river runners, and long-range wilderness guides. Crafted from heavy-duty silnylon or premium DCF, the Supermid uses an oversized apex cone reinforced to handle massive downward tension from tied-together trekking poles or specialized central poles. Its square geometry makes establishing a symmetrical, wind-shedding pitch straightforward, while extensive perimeter and mid-panel guyouts allow the shelter to be anchored firmly against gale-force gusts. The challenge with the Supermid is purely a function of its size: finding an unobstructed nine-by-nine-foot area in dense woods or rocky ridges takes scouting. For alpine plateaus, sandbars, and snowfields, however, few shelters offer this much livable stormproof space at such a low carry weight. **Highlights** - Enormous interior volume easily sleeps four or shelters large groups in storms - Square base geometry provides straightforward, predictable pitching - Heavy-duty apex and tie-out reinforcement engineered for high snow and wind loads - Exceptional headroom allows most adults to stand or kneel comfortably - Fully modular with optional inner mesh tents and floor liners **Watch-outs** - Requires a very large footprint clear of trees and boulders to pitch - Demands heavy-duty staking hardware to hold its large surface area in high winds
Pros
- Vast interior volume shelters up to four adults or two with winter gear
- Exceptional aerodynamic stability and snow shedding from steep pyramid walls
- Heavy-duty apex and tie-out reinforcement engineered for high-tension pitches
- High livable clearance allows adults to kneel and change comfortably
Cons
- Nine-by-nine-foot footprint is hard to site in forested or rocky terrain
- Requires joining two trekking poles or packing a dedicated long center pole
- Large surface area demands heavy-duty stakes in high-wind conditions
Best uses
- Winter Backcountry Expeditions
- Three- to Four-Person Backpacking
- Alpine Base Camping
- Packrafting and Open-River Trips
Specifications
- Weight
- 18-24 oz (512-680 g)
- Base Price
- Around $405
- Capacity
- 3 to 4 adults
- Shelter Type
- 4-sided pyramid tarp
- Base Dimensions
- Approx. 9 x 9 feet
- Structure Support
- Dual trekking poles strapped or single pole
Pricing
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Best for
Winter Backcountry Expeditions, Three- to Four-Person Backpacking, Alpine Base Camping, Packrafting and Open-River Trips
Where to buy the Supermid
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The Mountain Laurel Designs Supermid is an oversized, four-sided pyramid tarp designed to deliver expedition-grade shelter at a fraction of standard group-tent weights. Originating from one of the pioneers of ultralight gear manufacturing, this shelter scales the classic pyramid geometry up to house three to four adults, or two people traveling with winter gear, pulks, and bulky supplies. Weighing roughly 18 to 24 ounces depending on fabric specification, it achieves an interior volume that few freestanding structures can rival without doubling or tripling the packed weight. Built for severe alpine and winter conditions, the Supermid relies on steep, wind-shedding panels and a reinforced apex capable of enduring substantial snow loading. The square base layout simplifies setup by keeping anchoring geometry symmetrical, while an array of perimeter and mid-panel tie-outs allows the shelter to be battened down in severe gales. It functions primarily as a floorless outer tarp, though it supports modular inner nests and ground cloths for seasonal flexibility. The trade-offs are intrinsic to its expansive profile. Pitching a shelter spanning approximately nine by nine feet requires an open, flat campsite, making it challenging to erect on heavily wooded slopes or uneven rocky benches. It also acts as a substantial wind sail if not properly secured with heavy-duty stakes. For travelers requiring cavernous storm protection in exposed terrains, it remains a proven benchmark.
Target User and Expedition Roles
The Supermid is built for backcountry travelers who prioritize livable volume and foul-weather safety over enclosed, double-wall convenicence. It is particularly well matched to winter mountaineering teams, ski tourers, multi-person backpacking groups, and wilderness guides operating in open environments. Because it sleeps up to four adults or serves as an expansive communal mess shelter during prolonged storms, it distributes packed weight exceptionally well across a group. Solo hikers or pairs traveling in warm, mild seasons will find it unnecessarily large and difficult to pitch in dense forests. However, for parties traversing exposed alpine plateaus, expansive tundra, or river sandbars where bad weather is expected, the Supermid offers a secure refuge without imposing the heavy penalty of a dedicated four-season mountaineering tent.
Fabric and Construction Quality
Mountain Laurel Designs crafts the Supermid using high-grade silnylon or lightweight Dyneema Composite Fabric (DCF). The hallmark of the design is its heavily reinforced apex cone, built to withstand the immense downward pressure created when pulling multiple tie-outs taut over a tall center pole. Multi-needle stitching, bonded seams where applicable, and bar-tacked perimeter reinforcements are standard, ensuring high-stress areas distribute loads evenly across the panels. Unlike lighter three-season mids that cut weight by reducing reinforcement, the Supermid uses robust webbing points and burly zippers suited to sub-freezing operation. This industrial build quality prevents seam elongation during sustained high winds, though silnylon versions will naturally stretch when damp, requiring tension adjustment via perimeter linelocs.
Wind Shedding and Snow Management
The symmetrical four-panel pyramid shape is inherently one of the most aerodynamic structures available for high-wind environments. With perimeter edges pitched flush to the ground, wind sweeps smoothly up and over the steep canopy rather than catching on flat vertical sidewalls. In heavy snowfalls, the steep pitch encourages accumulation to slide down to the perimeter rather than loading the center of the canopy, provided proper internal tension is maintained. However, due to its massive surface area, the Supermid acts as a substantial sail under crosswinds. Proper stability requires utilizing every mid-panel tie-out and anchoring the corners with robust stakes, snow pickets, or buried deadmen, as standard wire stakes will quickly pull loose under heavy gusts.
Pitching Dynamics and Camp Siting
Setting up the Supermid is mechanically straightforward due to its square footprint: anchor the four corners at right angles, insert the center pole, and tension the perimeter lines. The primary difficulty stems from site selection. Finding a clear, flat nine-by-nine-foot area without tree trunks, rocks, or root hummocks can be deeply frustrating in dense eastern woodlands or tightly terraced alpine terrain. Pitching also requires either an extra-long dedicated center pole or two standard trekking poles joined together with sturdy pole straps or a specialized pole jack. Getting the peak to its intended height is critical to achieving proper wall tension, meaning users must practice pole joining techniques before heading out in severe conditions.
Modularity and Interior Livability
Inside, the Supermid provides significant vertical clearance, allowing average-height adults to kneel, organize gear, and change clothing comfortably around the center pole. Used floorless, it permits occupants to walk in with snow boots or dirty footwear without damaging delicate fabrics, making it an exceptional base camp kitchen or winter sleeping den. For three-season use where biting insects and wet ground are concerns, MLD offers modular accessories including full mesh inner tents, half-inners, and standalone bathtub floor groundsheets. Adding an inner tent increases total weight and financial investment, but it converts the shelter into a fully sealed, double-wall sanctuary when mid-summer bugs or splashback demand it.
Market Position and Key Alternatives
Positioned around $405 for the base silnylon model, the Supermid sits in a specialized market tier. Its closest direct competitor is the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Ultamid 4, which is built exclusively from DCF and offers similar four-person floor dimensions, but at more than double the price tag. For travelers who only need room for two, smaller shelters like the Mountain Laurel Designs DuoMid or the Black Diamond Mega Light provide similar pyramid geometry on a more manageable footprint and lower weight. The Supermid remains distinct because it retains true group-expedition volume, bombproof craftsmanship, and flexible custom configurations while keeping pricing accessible relative to high-end composite competitors.
How we picked
We started with a long list of ultralight pyramid backpacking tarps that people actually buy, cut anything that could not clear our baseline for durability and field performance, then ranked the 10 that were left against the same criteria. Rankings are editorial. No brand pays for placement, and affiliate links never move a pick up or down.
- Storm worthiness and livability
- Pitch tension in wind, condensation management, and usable interior space for the weight.
- Load carriage
- How the suspension handles the loads the pack is actually rated for, over long days.
- Real-world durability
- How the material, stitching, or steel holds up after a season of hard use — not how it looks new.
- Performance in bad conditions
- Wind, rain, cold, and grit are the test. Anything that only works on a nice day gets marked down.
- Weight and packability
- Every ounce has to earn its place in the pack, but not at the cost of something that fails in the field.
- Ease of use
- Setup, adjustment, and maintenance with cold hands, in the dark, without the manual.
Supermid — frequently asked questions
- Is the Supermid worth it?
- We rank it #9 in Ultralight Pyramid Backpacking Tarps. The Mountain Laurel Designs Supermid is considered the gold standard of full-sized group pyramid tarps. Sized to accommodate up to four adults—or two to three with ample space for winter gear, pulks, or dogs—the Supermid takes MLD's bombproof shelter design and scales it up to expedition proportions.
- What is the Supermid best for?
- Best for winter backcountry expeditions, three- to four-person backpacking, alpine base camping and packrafting and open-river trips. Standouts: vast interior volume shelters up to four adults or two with winter gear and exceptional aerodynamic stability and snow shedding from steep pyramid walls.
- What are the downsides of the Supermid?
- Nine-by-nine-foot footprint is hard to site in forested or rocky terrain, Requires joining two trekking poles or packing a dedicated long center pole and Large surface area demands heavy-duty stakes in high-wind conditions.
- What are the key specs of the Supermid?
- Weight: 18-24 oz (512-680 g) · Base Price: Around $405 · Capacity: 3 to 4 adults · Shelter Type: 4-sided pyramid tarp · Base Dimensions: Approx. 9 x 9 feet
- Target User and Expedition Roles — what should I know about the Supermid?
- The Supermid is built for backcountry travelers who prioritize livable volume and foul-weather safety over enclosed, double-wall convenicence. It is particularly well matched to winter mountaineering teams, ski tourers, multi-person backpacking groups, and wilderness guides operating in open environments.
- Fabric and Construction Quality — what should I know about the Supermid?
- Mountain Laurel Designs crafts the Supermid using high-grade silnylon or lightweight Dyneema Composite Fabric (DCF). The hallmark of the design is its heavily reinforced apex cone, built to withstand the immense downward pressure created when pulling multiple tie-outs taut over a tall center pole.
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