Fresh Air: Mountain Laurel Design’s Cuban Patrol Shelter

I recently bought a MLD Cuban Patrol Shelter and set it up in the park by my house.  After having a few other cuban products like packs and stuff sacks, I wanted to try out a shelter next. My initial reaction to set up was that it was relatively easy and self explanatory compared to a regular square tarp. The Mountain Laurel Designs website says “Fast Set Up: Stake out rear corners, set rear pole, set front pole, stake out front corners”, which worked out swimmingly. The coverage under the shelter is surprisingly large with seamingly ample protection provided by the beak and rear triangle, with lots of real estate to move around, sit up or fasten gear to the provide loops of the interior. If a storm moves in and conditions change simply adjust the trekking pole (located inside the shelter) to accommodate driving wind or rain, pull in the line tensioners and your set. The .74 cuban fabric seems tough, does not hold water or stretch like sil nylon does and at 7 ounces for the shelter, cannot compare to the weight either. I will follow up with a review after the Patrol Shelter has seen some trail miles.

From the front of the shelter

Pitched low for bad weather!

Bivy inside