Locus Gear Khufu (Was "Khufu Inner")
- Thread starter JonB
- Start date
WilliamC
Thru Hiker
You know it's a 'mid, right?
Mole
Thru Hiker
One of my current hiking buddies has used one for over 2 years. 3 Scottish autumn trips, 2 TGO challenges, a few other shorter trips.
He's very happy. Had some serious wind n rain with no issues.
But then, our other buddy has been using an original Luxe Hexpeak in similar conditions for longer, and is also happy.
Well designed, well pitched mids work if one fits in the particular shelter.
In the spirit of investigation (never being satisfied), I've used a different shelter each trip I've been with them
He's very happy. Had some serious wind n rain with no issues.
But then, our other buddy has been using an original Luxe Hexpeak in similar conditions for longer, and is also happy.
Well designed, well pitched mids work if one fits in the particular shelter.
In the spirit of investigation (never being satisfied), I've used a different shelter each trip I've been with them
Arne L.
Thru Hiker
I've been using my cuben Khufu for about 40 nights by now, I guess.
To me, it's a pretty great shelter. I won't talk about the benefits of a mid here but to me it's the easy set-up & the versatility. It offers me privacy whilst (as usual) on a campsite when paired with an inner.
In hindsight I should've bought the Khufu CF3-B, because that one is bonded instead of sewn, like mine. Then again; the bonded version wasn't around when I ordered my shelter.
I taped all the seams and reinforcements with cuben tape, but it adds weight, obviously.
Anyway, here's a 'mid-term review' (
) of my Khufu.
Pitching
One of the reasons I went for the Khufu was that's it needs a pole that extends to 130 cm, which is a pretty common height for most poles.
Pitching is obviously pretty straight-forward: you stake the 4 corners, make sure everything is more or less even and put the pole in the apex. After that I stake out all the other points and guylines if necessary.
One thing that happens to me sometimes is that one of the ridgelines to the back is extremely catenary, if you know what I mean. That way it's hard to get a taut pitch, and it's not as simple to just re-stake the corners: you need to take the whole thing down and start over again.
It's pretty annoying and I haven't found a way to prevent it. Part of me thinks it's partially due to the nature of cuben fiber: it has no stretch whatsoever. Maybe the sil version is more forgiving when it comes to this.
Another part of me is pretty sure it's just my inability to pitch a pyramid shelter
It does not always happen but it limits living space at the head or the feet and it causes the inner to touch the outer, with all known consequences.
If pitched correctly, you have ample living space, even when combined with an inner. People taller then 180cm might have a problem with the length of the Khufu, but I know that @Chris2901 has a custom sized Khufu because he's a German Giant.
Locus Gear uses 2mm reflective dyneema cord for all their tie-outs, in combination with line-locs. I never had any problem with it, but now - after approx 40 nights - some of the cord at the corners start slipping trough the linelocs.
I will replace it with some 3mm Lawson cord, that should solve that problem.
Design & fabric choices
My shelter is made out .74-cuben. All the reinforcement-patches are Dyneema X, but at the corners Locus Gear used some thick plastic/vinyl-esque material to beef things up. They've also used the same material at the apex where the end of your pole sits.
No complaints here. The benefits and downsides of cuben fiber are well known, so I won't discuss that here.
Locus Gear uses a #3-YKK waterproof-zipper without a storm flap. I've been in some pretty hefty weather with my Khufu and I have never seen the zipper leak, nor has the zipper failed me. MLD uses a #5 zipper on their mids which is burlier and more durable but I haven't had a problem with my zipper.
HOWEVER, I have noticed that at one spot the stitching of the zipper starts to come 'undone' on the inside of my tent. I solved that problem with some double-sided cuben tape but obviously it worries me a bit.
I noticed it when I was taping up my shelter; it's located at the middle of the zipper, next to a reinforcement patch. I've used my tent for about 10 nights (or more...) since then and the cuben tape holds up nicely. I inspect my zipper carefully after every trip and haven't found any other spots where it happens.
The vent is small and IMO pretty worthless. It even includes bug netting, which I removed since I use an inner anyway. To Locus Gear their credit, on the more recent versions of their shelters the vent seems a lot bigger.
Build quality is pretty outstanding. You won't find a wonky seam and the attention to detail is pretty great.
What is lacking is multiple inner-attachment-points. There's just one clip on the apex and that's it. I know MLD uses mitten hooks to properly fit the inner, but Locus Gear has none of that. That way the inner isn't always very taut. It's not a problem for me, though. But it's worth mentioning.
My inner stays permanently attached to my outer.
Performance
It's a mid; It handles most weather pretty well.
I've only been in one pretty serious Alpine thunder storm, and whilst everything was flapping around and I thought the whole thing was going airborne, the shelter held up great. Since that night I trust my Khufu.
I use a total of 12 stakes: 4 for the corners, 4 for the mid-tie-outs & 4 for the panel tie-outs. You could do with only 4.
Summary
It's a great, versatile and pretty light shelter. 'Out of the box' my outer was 289 grams but after adding tape, extra cord and S-carabiners (for adding my inner) the weight has crept up to 420 grams. Still very light, obviously.
It's my go-to solo shelter and I haven't found any other tent that's so easy to pitch, easy to enter/exit, has this much living space and is weather-resisant.
Recently, Locus Gear started to sell readily available shelters including an inner and stakes, like the Khufu HB. The fly is made out of 10D sil/PU-fabric with taped seams. I'll ask them if they are willing to sell me the fly only since I don't need a full sized inner.
Anyway, if you have any other questions, shoot!
To me, it's a pretty great shelter. I won't talk about the benefits of a mid here but to me it's the easy set-up & the versatility. It offers me privacy whilst (as usual) on a campsite when paired with an inner.
In hindsight I should've bought the Khufu CF3-B, because that one is bonded instead of sewn, like mine. Then again; the bonded version wasn't around when I ordered my shelter.
I taped all the seams and reinforcements with cuben tape, but it adds weight, obviously.
Anyway, here's a 'mid-term review' (
) of my Khufu.Pitching
One of the reasons I went for the Khufu was that's it needs a pole that extends to 130 cm, which is a pretty common height for most poles.
Pitching is obviously pretty straight-forward: you stake the 4 corners, make sure everything is more or less even and put the pole in the apex. After that I stake out all the other points and guylines if necessary.
One thing that happens to me sometimes is that one of the ridgelines to the back is extremely catenary, if you know what I mean. That way it's hard to get a taut pitch, and it's not as simple to just re-stake the corners: you need to take the whole thing down and start over again.
It's pretty annoying and I haven't found a way to prevent it. Part of me thinks it's partially due to the nature of cuben fiber: it has no stretch whatsoever. Maybe the sil version is more forgiving when it comes to this.
Another part of me is pretty sure it's just my inability to pitch a pyramid shelter
It does not always happen but it limits living space at the head or the feet and it causes the inner to touch the outer, with all known consequences.
If pitched correctly, you have ample living space, even when combined with an inner. People taller then 180cm might have a problem with the length of the Khufu, but I know that @Chris2901 has a custom sized Khufu because he's a German Giant
. Locus Gear uses 2mm reflective dyneema cord for all their tie-outs, in combination with line-locs. I never had any problem with it, but now - after approx 40 nights - some of the cord at the corners start slipping trough the linelocs.
I will replace it with some 3mm Lawson cord, that should solve that problem.
Design & fabric choices
My shelter is made out .74-cuben. All the reinforcement-patches are Dyneema X, but at the corners Locus Gear used some thick plastic/vinyl-esque material to beef things up. They've also used the same material at the apex where the end of your pole sits.
No complaints here. The benefits and downsides of cuben fiber are well known, so I won't discuss that here.
Locus Gear uses a #3-YKK waterproof-zipper without a storm flap. I've been in some pretty hefty weather with my Khufu and I have never seen the zipper leak, nor has the zipper failed me. MLD uses a #5 zipper on their mids which is burlier and more durable but I haven't had a problem with my zipper.
HOWEVER, I have noticed that at one spot the stitching of the zipper starts to come 'undone' on the inside of my tent. I solved that problem with some double-sided cuben tape but obviously it worries me a bit.
I noticed it when I was taping up my shelter; it's located at the middle of the zipper, next to a reinforcement patch. I've used my tent for about 10 nights (or more...) since then and the cuben tape holds up nicely. I inspect my zipper carefully after every trip and haven't found any other spots where it happens.
The vent is small and IMO pretty worthless. It even includes bug netting, which I removed since I use an inner anyway. To Locus Gear their credit, on the more recent versions of their shelters the vent seems a lot bigger.
Build quality is pretty outstanding. You won't find a wonky seam and the attention to detail is pretty great.
What is lacking is multiple inner-attachment-points. There's just one clip on the apex and that's it. I know MLD uses mitten hooks to properly fit the inner, but Locus Gear has none of that. That way the inner isn't always very taut. It's not a problem for me, though. But it's worth mentioning.
My inner stays permanently attached to my outer.
Performance
It's a mid; It handles most weather pretty well.
I've only been in one pretty serious Alpine thunder storm, and whilst everything was flapping around and I thought the whole thing was going airborne, the shelter held up great. Since that night I trust my Khufu.
I use a total of 12 stakes: 4 for the corners, 4 for the mid-tie-outs & 4 for the panel tie-outs. You could do with only 4.
Summary
It's a great, versatile and pretty light shelter. 'Out of the box' my outer was 289 grams but after adding tape, extra cord and S-carabiners (for adding my inner) the weight has crept up to 420 grams. Still very light, obviously.
It's my go-to solo shelter and I haven't found any other tent that's so easy to pitch, easy to enter/exit, has this much living space and is weather-resisant.
Recently, Locus Gear started to sell readily available shelters including an inner and stakes, like the Khufu HB. The fly is made out of 10D sil/PU-fabric with taped seams. I'll ask them if they are willing to sell me the fly only since I don't need a full sized inner.
Anyway, if you have any other questions, shoot!
gixer
Thru Hiker
You know it's a 'mid, right?
My "thinking" is to use it together with a full or 3/4 inner, so it'd be more like a tent, if ya know what i mean
Scarp2 is too heavy to lug around on me own
Scarp1 isn't really much lighter when you add a solid inner (i like the solid inner of the scarp when it's cold and blowing).
SS2 is lighter but if i'm out on my own i'd need to carry another hiking pole, so that adds around another 300g
Besides i'm not happy with the stretchyness of the fly material of my tarptents
Duplex hits the right weight and space, but i want a bit more protection in bad weather.
Outside a mid there isn't really much out there under or around 1kg
Recon with a larger inner with a mid i might be alright and be willing to overlook the stuff i don't like
Khufu full inner:
230cm L x 135 W x 130 H: 400g (for semi solid inner)
Khufu 3/4:
230cm L x 135/70 W (narrows towards the foot end) x 130 H height: 360g (semi solid)
Duplex internal dimensions:
230cm L x 114 W x 122 H
Khufu DCF-B fly = 320g
So around 700g together with a semi solid inner
My Duplex = 740g (1oz CF version) which i'm happy with, weight wise
Scarp2 = 1760g (solid inner with poles)
SS2 = 1334g (mesh inner) but i'd need to carry an extra hiking pole so another 300g'ish on top of that
If i chose a full interior then i'd have to have my rucksack next to me in the inner
With the 3/4 i should have somewhere around 90cm between the inner and the outer at the foot end, so should be able to get a rucksack there.
My biggest problem with mids is, i like to have something between me and the outside, so with a small inner the ground that's not covered just seems like wasted space to me.
But the other concern is, with a larger inner my stuff will get wet when i open the door.
I've also yet to see a inner pitched well in a mid, they all seem to sag like Nora Batty's stockings
gixer
Thru Hiker
One of my current hiking buddies has used one for over 2 years. 3 Scottish autumn trips, 2 TGO challenges, a few other shorter trips.
He's very happy. Had some serious wind n rain with no issues.
But then, our other buddy has been using an original Luxe Hexpeak in similar conditions for longer, and is also happy.
Well designed, well pitched mids work if one fits in the particular shelter.
In the spirit of investigation (never being satisfied), I've used a different shelter each trip I've been with them
Thanks Mole
Does he use a inner?
If so do you know which one?
gixer
Thru Hiker
I've been using my cuben Khufu for about 40 nights by now, I guess.
To me, it's a pretty great shelter. I won't talk about the benefits of a mid here but to me it's the easy set-up & the versatility. It offers me privacy whilst (as usual) on a campsite when paired with an inner.
In hindsight I should've bought the Khufu CF3-B, because that one is bonded instead of sewn, like mine. Then again; the bonded version wasn't around when I ordered my shelter.
I taped all the seams and reinforcements with cuben tape, but it adds weight, obviously.
Anyway, here's a 'mid-term review' (
Pitching
One of the reasons I went for the Khufu was that's it needs a pole that extends to 130 cm, which is a pretty common height for most poles.
Pitching is obviously pretty straight-forward: you stake the 4 corners, make sure everything is more or less even and put the pole in the apex. After that I stake out all the other points and guylines if necessary.
One thing that happens to me sometimes is that one of the ridgelines to the back is extremely catenary, if you know what I mean. That way it's hard to get a taut pitch, and it's not as simple to just re-stake the corners: you need to take the whole thing down and start over again.
It's pretty annoying and I haven't found a way to prevent it. Part of me thinks it's partially due to the nature of cuben fiber: it has no stretch whatsoever. Maybe the sil version is more forgiving when it comes to this.
Another part of me is pretty sure it's just my inability to pitch a pyramid shelter
It does not always happen but it limits living space at the head or the feet and it causes the inner to touch the outer, with all known consequences.
If pitched correctly, you have ample living space, even when combined with an inner. People taller then 180cm might have a problem with the length of the Khufu, but I know that @Chris2901 has a custom sized Khufu because he's a German Giant
Locus Gear uses 2mm reflective dyneema cord for all their tie-outs, in combination with line-locs. I never had any problem with it, but now - after approx 40 nights - some of the cord at the corners start slipping trough the linelocs.
I will replace it with some 3mm Lawson cord, that should solve that problem.
Design & fabric choices
My shelter is made out .74-cuben. All the reinforcement-patches are Dyneema X, but at the corners Locus Gear used some thick plastic/vinyl-esque material to beef things up. They've also used the same material at the apex where the end of your pole sits.
No complaints here. The benefits and downsides of cuben fiber are well known, so I won't discuss that here.
Locus Gear uses a #3-YKK waterproof-zipper without a storm flap. I've been in some pretty hefty weather with my Khufu and I have never seen the zipper leak, nor has the zipper failed me. MLD uses a #5 zipper on their mids which is burlier and more durable but I haven't had a problem with my zipper.
HOWEVER, I have noticed that at one spot the stitching of the zipper starts to come 'undone' on the inside of my tent. I solved that problem with some double-sided cuben tape but obviously it worries me a bit.
I noticed it when I was taping up my shelter; it's located at the middle of the zipper, next to a reinforcement patch. I've used my tent for about 10 nights (or more...) since then and the cuben tape holds up nicely. I inspect my zipper carefully after every trip and haven't found any other spots where it happens.
The vent is small and IMO pretty worthless. It even includes bug netting, which I removed since I use an inner anyway. To Locus Gear their credit, on the more recent versions of their shelters the vent seems a lot bigger.
Build quality is pretty outstanding. You won't find a wonky seam and the attention to detail is pretty great.
What is lacking is multiple inner-attachment-points. There's just one clip on the apex and that's it. I know MLD uses mitten hooks to properly fit the inner, but Locus Gear has none of that. That way the inner isn't always very taut. It's not a problem for me, though. But it's worth mentioning.
My inner stays permanently attached to my outer.
Performance
It's a mid; It handles most weather pretty well.
I've only been in one pretty serious Alpine thunder storm, and whilst everything was flapping around and I thought the whole thing was going airborne, the shelter held up great. Since that night I trust my Khufu.
I use a total of 12 stakes: 4 for the corners, 4 for the mid-tie-outs & 4 for the panel tie-outs. You could do with only 4.
Summary
It's a great, versatile and pretty light shelter. 'Out of the box' my outer was 289 grams but after adding tape, extra cord and S-carabiners (for adding my inner) the weight has crept up to 420 grams. Still very light, obviously.
It's my go-to solo shelter and I haven't found any other tent that's so easy to pitch, easy to enter/exit, has this much living space and is weather-resisant.
Recently, Locus Gear started to sell readily available shelters including an inner and stakes, like the Khufu HB. The fly is made out of 10D sil/PU-fabric with taped seams. I'll ask them if they are willing to sell me the fly only since I don't need a full sized inner.
Anyway, if you have any other questions, shoot!
Fantastic, thanks mate
That's a bit worrying with the pitching, is it only on uneven ground you see the problem?
What inner are you using?
Chris2901
Section Hiker
There is not much I could add to @Arne L. ´s review.Main difference is that I´ve been using the Silnylon version in custom size. There´s a short introduction in the review section of this forum.
I always used the DPTE since I can´t stand these single-pole-setups robbing a lot of living space and efficiency .
That´s one point disturbing me about @gixer ´s comparison.You simply cannot compare the double-wall Tarptents to a mid-style tarp. That would be unfair if the shelter´s weight is your main concern.If it comes to livability imho the TT´s will always beat a mid-style shelter especially when pitched with a single pole.Of course that´s a very subjective point of view.
I always used the DPTE since I can´t stand these single-pole-setups robbing a lot of living space and efficiency .
That´s one point disturbing me about @gixer ´s comparison.You simply cannot compare the double-wall Tarptents to a mid-style tarp. That would be unfair if the shelter´s weight is your main concern.If it comes to livability imho the TT´s will always beat a mid-style shelter especially when pitched with a single pole.Of course that´s a very subjective point of view.
Arne L.
Thru Hiker
Fantastic, thanks mate
That's a bit worrying with the pitching, is it only on uneven ground you see the problem?
What inner are you using?
The pitching-issue happens at random. But I'm (pretty...) sure it's my own fault. I tried everything: making sure it's perfectly lined up when staked / staking all corners tight when on the ground / staking all corners looseley when on the ground / ... with varied results. Sometimes it's ok, sometimes it's not.
I think @craige noticed it too on our first pitch near Loch Treig. Other days, no problem. That's why I'd like to try a sil/pu-version, to see if it's cuben's fault or not.
Then again, I've never came up on a report about a cuben Khufu with the same problem. So it's probably just me.
I use a 2/3 custom inner: custom as in it's partially solid/mesh. Works best for the conditions I'm in. Found all mesh to be too drafty.
A not-so-Instagram-worthy picture of my Khufu + inner on a Scottish campsite:
gixer
Thru Hiker
Thanks Chris
As with everything, it's a compromise.
I'm happy with the space in all my tents (SS2, Scarp2, Duplex) as i'll be camping solo the weight of the 2 person tents is "a bit much" for me, the Duplex is the only one i'm happy to carry, but it's not a good choice in bad weather.
I'm not buying anymore tarptents as i'm not happy with either of them, plus the 1 person versions is not THAT much lighter to warrant the extra expense.
I've got a couple of Chinamids i bought to try the "mid experience" to be honest i wasn't impressed.
The inner hung like wet toilet paper, and i just thought it was an inefficient use of space.
The space under the tent itself was good, but the inner was claustrophobic with barely any space to turn around or sit up in, together with the drappy walls it wasn't a place i'd want to spend much time in.
It's crazy because there is plenty of space in front of the inner, but the floor is open plus it's not sheltered by bug netting or the wind (as much as the inner)
So in buggy or windy conditions i felt i'd be going mental stuck inside the tiny inner, especially considering i had all that space just in front of it.
My thinking is, that a mid with a inner that covers most or all the floor would be a better choice for me
gixer
Thru Hiker
If the semi solid version has the same dimensions as the mesh, your inner should be 230 x 100, is that right?
Recon that'll be a tight for me
I'm worried if i go wider the inner will get wet when i open the door though, any thoughts Arne please?
cathyjc
Thru Hiker
@Arne L.
The "too much" caternary curve - in my experience it may be due to your centre pole not being exactly upright and/or exactly centered. Once you think your pegging points are right, then experiment with the centre pole and see if that helps.
Re. the lack of atttachment points for hanging an inner - thats not such a problem - fixing (bonding) cuben patches with loops or mitten hooks where you need them for your particular inner is easy enough. Call it "personalising your mid"
The "too much" caternary curve - in my experience it may be due to your centre pole not being exactly upright and/or exactly centered. Once you think your pegging points are right, then experiment with the centre pole and see if that helps.
Re. the lack of atttachment points for hanging an inner - thats not such a problem - fixing (bonding) cuben patches with loops or mitten hooks where you need them for your particular inner is easy enough. Call it "personalising your mid"
gixer
Thru Hiker
The tents size is fantastic, the weight isn't that bad either
Pitching is "finicky" and i've not woken up a single (damp) night where the outer hasn't sagged enough to touch the inner.
Last time i used it was about 18 months ago, the tieout strap tore.
Wouldn't buy another one meself, unless TT started using a different fly material
Arne L.
Thru Hiker
@Arne L.
The "too much" caternary curve - in my experience it may be due to your centre pole not being exactly upright and/or exactly centered. Once you think your pegging points are right, then experiment with the centre pole and see if that helps.
Re. the lack of atttachment points for hanging an inner - thats not such a problem - fixing (bonding) cuben patches with loops or mitten hooks where you need them for your particular inner is easy enough. Call it "personalising your mid"
Thanks for that @cathyjc !
The pole could very well be the 'problem'. I'll experiment next time I'm out and about.
Indeed, I've been meaning to buy cuben patches from Z-Packs for some time now but since I'm a total loser on the sewing-machine I'm still figuring a easy way to attach some shock cord to my inner without, well, sewing.
To me it's a perfect size but if I'd take a wider pad it could become tricky. The main reason why I chose an 2/3 inner is because I have ample space to cook and store wet/dirty gear and the inner doesn't get when I go outside when it's pouring (unless the wind has turned overnight...
)A solution could be the DPTE. You'll gain some space because there's no pole in the middle, but it adds weight and it doesn't look that convenient IMO.
I perfectly understand why you'd take a full sized inner or a 3/4 but I'm pretty sure your inner will get wet
Then again, a 2/3 is a perfect comprimise... At least for me. With a full sized you don't have a porch for cooking or storing those stinky shoes... a 3.4 will be better in that regard, but it's not a popular choise it seems. Most people I know who have a Khufu either have the 1/2 or the 2/3.Aaaaah, all those options, right
You don't happen to visit Belgium in the near future? Could buy you a few beers and show the Khufu
Arne L.
Thru Hiker
Well,I´m not that far away from Belgium for a couple of Leffes or Duvels.
SO much more/better then Leffes or Duvels over here...
Totally right about the 2/3; it's a decent compromise between livability, storage and weather protection.
craige
Thru Hiker
gixer
Thru Hiker
To me it's a perfect size but if I'd take a wider pad it could become tricky. The main reason why I chose an 2/3 inner is because I have ample space to cook and store wet/dirty gear and the inner doesn't get when I go outside when it's pouring (unless the wind has turned overnight...
A solution could be the DPTE. You'll gain some space because there's no pole in the middle, but it adds weight and it doesn't look that convenient IMO.
I perfectly understand why you'd take a full sized inner or a 3/4 but I'm pretty sure your inner will get wet
Aaaaah, all those options, right
You don't happen to visit Belgium in the near future? Could buy you a few beers and show the Khufu
The worry is that with the solid lining and saggyness the inner is going to feel tight.
Don't really have any problem with claustrophobia, but the Chinamid inner felt like a bloody closed coffin
I think the solid Chinamid inner is about 100cm wide isn't it?
If so i'd want something wider.
I'm not too worried about porch space
When i'm on my own i usually have most of my kit inside the inner.
If it's wet or smelly i stick it in a bin bag.
Never cooked in a tent either, so any open floor space is just wasted on me
I'd sooner have that space covered with with bathtub, flyscreen and be dry and bite free
The only worry with having a larger inner, is my kit getting wet every time i open the door.
A 2 person inner 1/2 inner inside a larger mid would work, but then you've got the huggeeeeeeeeee footprint and weight
I think you've all just saved me 700 euros
Drinks are on me next time i'm in Belgium
Arne L.
Thru Hiker
@Arne L. I think that was the flattest ground and your worst pitch? Iirc it was pretty much perfect the second night on that lumpy, sloping trail
I had the same issue on that first night with my 'mid.
I'm not sure if it is your pole... you do have a patch telling you exactly where to put it?
Correct about the patch, but that is on the inner and that inner isn't always on the exact same spot
So... the patch is always slightly different.Just received an email from Locus Gear about buying the Khufu HB-fly seperatly:
"Hi Arne,
The Khufu HB Kit cannot be sold in piece.
Which is made by our cooperate factory and sold only in the kit.
We even do not have the fabric in hands as all is handled by them.
Best regards,
Yuki Yoshida
Customer Service"
el manana
Thru Hiker
I've been using my cuben Khufu for about 40 nights by now, I guess.
To me, it's a pretty great shelter. I won't talk about the benefits of a mid here but to me it's the easy set-up & the versatility. It offers me privacy whilst (as usual) on a campsite when paired with an inner.
In hindsight I should've bought the Khufu CF3-B, because that one is bonded instead of sewn, like mine. Then again; the bonded version wasn't around when I ordered my shelter.
I taped all the seams and reinforcements with cuben tape, but it adds weight, obviously.
Anyway, here's a 'mid-term review' (
Pitching
One of the reasons I went for the Khufu was that's it needs a pole that extends to 130 cm, which is a pretty common height for most poles.
Pitching is obviously pretty straight-forward: you stake the 4 corners, make sure everything is more or less even and put the pole in the apex. After that I stake out all the other points and guylines if necessary.
One thing that happens to me sometimes is that one of the ridgelines to the back is extremely catenary, if you know what I mean. That way it's hard to get a taut pitch, and it's not as simple to just re-stake the corners: you need to take the whole thing down and start over again.
It's pretty annoying and I haven't found a way to prevent it. Part of me thinks it's partially due to the nature of cuben fiber: it has no stretch whatsoever. Maybe the sil version is more forgiving when it comes to this.
Another part of me is pretty sure it's just my inability to pitch a pyramid shelter
It does not always happen but it limits living space at the head or the feet and it causes the inner to touch the outer, with all known consequences.
If pitched correctly, you have ample living space, even when combined with an inner. People taller then 180cm might have a problem with the length of the Khufu, but I know that @Chris2901 has a custom sized Khufu because he's a German Giant
Locus Gear uses 2mm reflective dyneema cord for all their tie-outs, in combination with line-locs. I never had any problem with it, but now - after approx 40 nights - some of the cord at the corners start slipping trough the linelocs.
I will replace it with some 3mm Lawson cord, that should solve that problem.
Design & fabric choices
My shelter is made out .74-cuben. All the reinforcement-patches are Dyneema X, but at the corners Locus Gear used some thick plastic/vinyl-esque material to beef things up. They've also used the same material at the apex where the end of your pole sits.
No complaints here. The benefits and downsides of cuben fiber are well known, so I won't discuss that here.
Locus Gear uses a #3-YKK waterproof-zipper without a storm flap. I've been in some pretty hefty weather with my Khufu and I have never seen the zipper leak, nor has the zipper failed me. MLD uses a #5 zipper on their mids which is burlier and more durable but I haven't had a problem with my zipper.
HOWEVER, I have noticed that at one spot the stitching of the zipper starts to come 'undone' on the inside of my tent. I solved that problem with some double-sided cuben tape but obviously it worries me a bit.
I noticed it when I was taping up my shelter; it's located at the middle of the zipper, next to a reinforcement patch. I've used my tent for about 10 nights (or more...) since then and the cuben tape holds up nicely. I inspect my zipper carefully after every trip and haven't found any other spots where it happens.
The vent is small and IMO pretty worthless. It even includes bug netting, which I removed since I use an inner anyway. To Locus Gear their credit, on the more recent versions of their shelters the vent seems a lot bigger.
Build quality is pretty outstanding. You won't find a wonky seam and the attention to detail is pretty great.
What is lacking is multiple inner-attachment-points. There's just one clip on the apex and that's it. I know MLD uses mitten hooks to properly fit the inner, but Locus Gear has none of that. That way the inner isn't always very taut. It's not a problem for me, though. But it's worth mentioning.
My inner stays permanently attached to my outer.
Performance
It's a mid; It handles most weather pretty well.
I've only been in one pretty serious Alpine thunder storm, and whilst everything was flapping around and I thought the whole thing was going airborne, the shelter held up great. Since that night I trust my Khufu.
I use a total of 12 stakes: 4 for the corners, 4 for the mid-tie-outs & 4 for the panel tie-outs. You could do with only 4.
Summary
It's a great, versatile and pretty light shelter. 'Out of the box' my outer was 289 grams but after adding tape, extra cord and S-carabiners (for adding my inner) the weight has crept up to 420 grams. Still very light, obviously.
It's my go-to solo shelter and I haven't found any other tent that's so easy to pitch, easy to enter/exit, has this much living space and is weather-resisant.
Recently, Locus Gear started to sell readily available shelters including an inner and stakes, like the Khufu HB. The fly is made out of 10D sil/PU-fabric with taped seams. I'll ask them if they are willing to sell me the fly only since I don't need a full sized inner.
Anyway, if you have any other questions, shoot!
Great write up @Arne L.
, i wish there was more reviews like this for the smaller manufacturers"One thing that happens to me sometimes is that one of the ridgelines to the back is extremely catenary, if you know what I mean."
The Asta is like that, which is why i ended up getting the less catenary Duomid.
craige
Thru Hiker
Correct about the patch, but that is on the inner and that inner isn't always on the exact same spot
Just received an email from Locus Gear about buying the Khufu HB-fly seperatly:
"Hi Arne,
The Khufu HB Kit cannot be sold in piece.
Which is made by our cooperate factory and sold only in the kit.
We even do not have the fabric in hands as all is handled by them.
Best regards,
Yuki Yoshida
Customer Service"
Ah, hadn't thought about that. I do remember you messing around with tensioning the inner now you mention it.
