My new MLD Cricket. First look. New style main seams. No longer rolled.

Mole

Mole

Thru Hiker
New Cricket arrived a couple of weeks ago.

Interested to see that main seams no longer "triple rolled" and have both raw edges of fabric exposed.

IMG_20181011_111540293.jpg

Don't think it affects seam strength at all. As long as fabric doesn't fray. Tarptent has used this method from the start. ( We have 4 of those, and no problems with the seams).

Edit: Someone on the MLD Shelter Owners FB group wrote that their new Trailstar is stitched the same.




Stitching is all pretty good.

Top triangular corner panels towards peak of both end panels are put together a little too loose/large so there is a bit of bagging at the top - not 100% taut in that area like on the other MLD silnylon shelters I've had. I'll see how it goes. I'm a bit OCD about a taut pitch. Though it won't affect overall pitch, the minor bagging doesn't look nice ( to my eye). Probably most wouldn't notice.
(FWIW, our Trekker tent Drift 2 (silpoly) doors were all even worse for bagging at the top).

I like the olive drab colour.

Communication pretty poor compared to any other company I've bought from. When ordered, lead times were 8 weeks. Though the website announced this was extending to 12 a couple of weeks later, I had no personal message to this effect. Then, couple months later I had a shipping message and tracking number and it arrived about 14 weeks after ordering.
 
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Dave V

Dave V

Moderator
Staff member
The seams must be a relatively new change, my cricket (2017) has rolled seams and I have a TS with me atm that I'm repairing which is only a few months old and also has rolled seams.
 
Shewie

Shewie

Chief Slackpacker
Staff member
I’ll check mine tonight, I haven’t looked that closely since it arrived
 
Dave V

Dave V

Moderator
Staff member
Just took pics of the seams on my late 2015 TS, 2017 Cricket and mates 2018 TS. Attached.
My TS and Cricket appear to be triple rolled but my mates TS dose not look triple rolled, the seam is allot thinner, the cricket and his TS are made from the new pro silnylon.
 

Attachments

  • seamsTL.jpg
    seamsTL.jpg
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Balagan

Balagan

Thru Hiker
Dave Vaughan said:
Ron has replied on Facebook saying the seam is as strong as the old triple roll as the new Silnylon is stronger than the old.
Click to expand...
It probably is. But in the video where he trashed the Trailstar clones, which is his right, he was already using the new silnylon and spent a bit of time expressing his disdain for exposed fabric edges. I'm sure it makes no difference other than cosmetic.
 
edh

edh

Thru Hiker
I guess the question is 'are you happy with it'?

If you're not, you won't be. Well, me, anyway...
 
Mole

Mole

Thru Hiker
FOX160 said:
@Mole The coming months will be the ideal time to give it a good try out
Click to expand...

I doubt I'll use it that much in winter Grant .
It's not what I bought it for.
I like an inner tent and a door in wet n windy weather! Or if in single skin, at least a bit more room such as in the Trailstar or Hex.

We'll see.
 
Mole

Mole

Thru Hiker
edh said:
I guess the question is 'are you happy with it'?

If you're not, you won't be. Well, me, anyway...
Click to expand...
I can only give it a go.

I bought it for usage on trips which might not suit some on here - stealthy cams on coast n countryside trails.

But you are correct. Of the 4 previous MLD shelters I've had, I've moved all but the Trailstar onwards after a while. And the TS has not been slept in the last year or so due to using the Hex or Scarp in winter and Notch or Strat 2 otherwise.
 
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FOX160

FOX160

Thru Hiker
Mole said:
I doubt I'll use it that much in winter Grant .
It's not what I bought it for.
I like an inner tent and a door in wet n windy weather! Or if in single skin, at least a bit more room such as in the Trailstar or Hex.

We'll see.
Click to expand...
Oh, raise your concerns, but give it a go!
 
Shewie

Shewie

Chief Slackpacker
Staff member
Just checked my non-stealth orange version and it's the same as yours @Mole

Not had chance to put mine up yet so not sure about the loose top hat bit, it does look very tidy though and they've done a good job on the seam sealing.
 
TinTin

TinTin

Thru Hiker
If this is all part of improvement in the product, they should have promoted that fact in advance of people being ever so slightly disappointed especially as they made so much of the triple roll seams. "No longer needed" actually sounds more like "triple roll was expensive and we can now get away without it". Fair enough but Ron has made a rod for his own back by criticizing other products quality so heavily.
 
oreocereus

oreocereus

Thru Hiker
PhilHo said:
If this is all part of improvement in the product, they should have promoted that fact in advance of people being ever so slightly disappointed especially as they made so much of the triple roll seams. "No longer needed" actually sounds more like "triple roll was expensive and we can now get away without it". Fair enough but Ron has made a rod for his own back by criticizing other products quality so heavily.
Click to expand...
It seems like quite common practice from MLD. Lots of people get backpacks with new or replaced features that are not mentioned at all on the website. MLD seem to respond with “yeah, it’s our new and improved and yoooooou have it! Lucky you!” But in reality some of those new features and design changes are not what people are spending hundreds of dollars on expecting. Their pictures are always super outdated as well.
 
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