Hi, new subscriber here. I've just ordered a Cricket Tarp after watching this excellent, informative review. The Trailstar tempted me for a while but this is more practical for a one man shelter I've decided. I particularly like the fact that you've got plenty of headroom and overall space in this. I'm nearer to 70 than 60 years of age now and no longer feel attracted by coffin sized tents and shelters. I'll probably use mine with just a bathtub ground sheet and bivvy bag most of the time. Occasionally maybe with a mesh inner. I understand the inner from the Lanshan 1 is a good fit. Impatient now for it to arrive so I can test it out.
Great video, thanks. I have a cricket and absolutely love it. I just take a single lightweight tent pole as I don’t use trekking poles, and find a stick to prop up the beak. I love the simplicity of the beak, it works great and you get a nice view when you’re lying down. Cheers.
Hi nice setup I agree tarps are more versatile. I had the same idea of gaffer tape on each corner with bungee loops but i use painters drop cloth basically the same stuff, but I use four golf tees to secure it saves the weight of the pegs. I need to get back to the lakes to, but it will be a wile till the busses are back to normal.
Like others, I've been looking at this tarp for quite some time. Your video was the clincher for me so I've got one on order. Thanks for your most excellent video! Best I've seen.
Best cricket review I have seen. Been looking at getting one for the past four years. Finally decided I'm ready to part with the funds, lol, and I come across your video. Now I know for sure I'm getting one. Again great video!!
i love your review of both the MLD Cricket and the bivvy! Those are definitely now on my wish list to invest in whenever i have the finances available. I have the MLD Trailstar but due to it’s size have inly used it a couple times. The Cricket however has been on my mind for sometime now as a more suitable 1-person shelter, as i’ve seen quite a few good reviews if it allready.
Great vid Scott, I picked up a cricket on your recommendation, out to Dartmoor for a test tonight 👍 The recent Wales vids have been awesome too. Keep up the good work 👏
The longer shock cord weighs more than the 2g titanium needle pegs and is more faff than just using the pegs. I find the pegs more versatile too. I sometimes sleep the opposite way with my bivy foot box popping out the front so longer cord wouldn’t reach the distant side.
Absolutely cracking video and a great help to understand where you can use it and the variety of pitches! Where did you buy the extra pole segment and rubber bits? I did wonder what made you choose the Event Bivy over the superlight soul bivy from MLD?
Forgot to ask you! Seemed so easy for you to adjust the guy lines, will it come with adjustable guy lines from MLD or will I have to tie my own? Do you have any video or links for showing me those adjustables guy lines you have? Thanks again
New subscriber mate....i like your delivery skills...was you in the Forces by any chance.....your accent sounds like you are not a million miles away from Manchester...guessing North Lancashire ish...Fantastic review btw, well done.
Thanks for that man, just watched it: another great video! The Cumulus 150 has a limit of 4 degrees. For UK 2 season camping that seems safe, and should temperatures dip a little lower, do you think the right layering system / sleeping pad would get you down a little further to make it 3 season?
No worries! Yeah using a layering system will definitely work. Just depends how you sleep that will decide what extra insulation you’ll need. Merino base layers, silk liner and hand warmers thrown inside the quilt work for me. 👍🏻
You should be on commission.. Cracking review and a really good overview of the shelter.. still on the fence between this and the Solomid xl. I think with this you will obviously have to pay a lot more attention to your pitch re wind direction and I have zero experience of tarp camping (MSR Hubba NX1!) but I do feel the need to be a bit more lightweight & more open The space looks amazing. Have you pitched it and then woken up to find driving rain and wind coming at you? I can imagine it would be a bit uncomfortable? Thanks again, great review. ATB Sean
Haha thanks. Never had any rain get in as far as where you sleep. It'd need to be horizontal rain and very windy to blow it inside. Even then you could pitch it very low to stop it.
Thanks for replying. Appreciated. I’ve got an Ali express lanshan type 4 season inner on the way. That and a bit of experience with it will help. Thanks again 😊 Sean.
The inners fit ok, you may need to modify the rear mounting points as they're in a different position to those on the cricket. I cut them off and restitched them back on lower. 👍🏻
@@itsmescottp managed to find myself a Cricket! I have another quick question if I may.. I have some Black Diamond FLZ poles that max out at 125cm ... do you think I could get away with a longer 30cm section of carbon tubing (approx 155 total)? Or do I need to spring for some new longer poles and a shorter length of tubing? theres not a lot of info re pole length for the cricket. Although if its the same as the solomid then according to MLD then 140cm is enough.. I notice you set up at 155. is that for the extra offset and room? Thanks again.
155cm will give a nice bit of offset. I've pitched at 130cm and it's doable, just better with a little more height. The longer the extension, the more torque in your poles during wind, so more chance of a failure. 125cm with the 15cm jack will be fine. 👍🏻
I’ve never actually measured it but you can totally adjust and dial in to suit your needs. At a guess probably around 48” You can get it nearly to the floor and you can do it from the inside too.
Just was able to use my deschutes plus for a couple of overnight trips and I’m very unhappy with the sil sag. It’s making want to get the cricket in dyneema.
Sil sag is annoying but I’ve never really had any issues with the Cricket. I wouldn’t get the Cricket in DCF, doesn’t pitch anywhere near as well as the sil version.
Great overview of your setup - I've been enjoying all of vids. For the polycro groundsheet, would you mind telling me the dimensions? I'm still experimenting with mine. Cheers.
Nice overview! I'm strongly considering picking up a Cricket. It looks like you haven't used it in your more recent videos. Do you still like it or is there a reason you've gone away from it?
I've actually switched out the Cricket for its brother the Solomid XL, mainly so I can use in winter easier as it has doors. The Cricket is still great if that's the style you're looking for.
@@itsmescottp thanks for replying …interesting… so in severe weather it doesn’t quite keep out the elements? I just liked the extra space that the ‘beak’ seemed to offer for cooking chair chilling etc…
@cawoodsob Yeah it keeps out the majority, just sometimes in heavy snow if the wind is strong enough and changes direction you may need to adjust the pitch to prevent spindrift which is just more faff than zipping down a door.
