Three Points of the Compass has just completed a simple ten minute mod that makes securing one or both doors open on the Duomid a lot simpler and quicker.

Having successfully fitted magnetic door closures to the four doors on the two vestibules on my Zpacks Duplex in 2021, I finally got round to doing the same to my Duomid from Mountain Laurel Designs. I had already sourced and shaped the four DCF repair patches at my desk in advance, it then took a grand total of ten minutes to carry out the mod, including putting the shelter up and packing it away afterward.

All that is required for this mod is a square of adhesive DCF and four rare earth magnets. I sourced a 150mm x 150mm square of tough black DCF repair tape from Wild Sky Gear and cut four 50mm squares from this, rounding the corners of each. This 3M adhesive backed tape will stick to DCF and other fabrics such as PU, TPU but not silicone coated fabrics. The four patches weighed slightly less than 2g with backing paper removed. The magnets were already sitting in a toolbox. These measure 10mm x 3mm and weigh 1.7g each. I could have gone smaller and thinner but wanted something that is going to easily resist coming unsnapped in a breeze.

When I did this mod to my Zpacks Duomid, I rolled the door outwardly, for the Duomid I decided to roll it inwardly. This not only gives a neater appearance but also takes loose material away from breezes outside the shelter, where wind might pick up the rolled door and unsnap it. If it rains with the door rolled outward, the water can gather slightly inside the door, dumping it inside when unrolled and closed. This doesn’t happen when furled inward. It is also easier to roll inward, when actually inside the inner nest reaching out. I had also considered whether to put two closures on each door but having settled on just the one and having seen the result, one is suffice.

The DCF patches I used have the silicone release paper on their reverse in narrow pre-cut strips. You can see this in the accompanying image. This made the job even easier as the central strip could be removed, magnet applied, then positioned and stuck to the shelter. Once determined that it is exactly where required, the remaining release paper could be removed.

Zpacks are now selling their own magnetic toggle closure kits (linked here) for retro fitting to shelters without these. It certainly removes the hassle of sourcing magnets and tape and cutting to fit. Personally, I see no need for the toggle itself if my method is used and it is easy enough to find what is required, this side of the pond.