zpacks duplex: .51 oz or .72oz ?

I bought a used one here with the .71 and think it is worth the 2.2oz weight penalty. It doesn't cost much money-wise to get the thicker cuben either.

Having prior experience with an MLD grace in .74 oz Cuben, and no experience with .51, I opted for the heavier fabric and have no regrets…would order it again in this configuration.

I have the Duplex with 0.72oz cf and I'd select it again. It seems perfect the way it is and I can't imagine going any thinner with the material.

I have the .51 and it's going fine.

Either way not a huge deal, but If I were going for the extra bit of weight it'd be for camo simply for the slim possibility of serious stealth camping.

I have shelters of both 0.51 and 0.74. The 0.74 is nice, but there is no problem with 0.51 either. both are quickly and easily repaired with a piece of tape should something ever happen.

Thanks everyone. I appreciate your feedback.

I honestly do NOT like the green .74 cuben. It looks really bad when it gets wrinkled over time. Wheras white .51 looks great all the time. The green when it gets wrinkled over several trips and packing / unpacking, it gets a weird uneven abrasive flaky look. Hard to explain but it turns a dull, whitish green and doesnt hold a GLOSS pretty look like white or black cuben.

Have the .74oz but would prefer to go for a 1oz next time if it was an option

I got the camo fabric for privacy, and I think it is great. This is my first cuben fiber shelter, so I don't have anything to compare to, but it is supposed to be the same "strength" as the 0.51 fabric, although it is a little heavier. Is clearly more delicate than my nylon tent, but hasn't given me any concern.

The one other thing to think about may be bulk. It took us aback at first packing up the tent how bulky it is for the weight. If the heavier fabric takes up more space, how tight is your kit and will that make a difference for you? As we work with the fabric, squish and fold it more, I think it is easier to pack as the fabric relaxes, but it may be something to think about.

Where I live in the south there are lots of loblolly pine trees that drop LOTS of pine cones with VERY sharp, pointed tips. In spinnaker, .51 and .74 oz cuben, I have had to seal lots of pin-size holes in my tarps or tents. Unfortunately most of the time you don't realize you have a hole until it's raining. Sometimes I have used a drop of seamseal and others' cuben tape. I cannot tell if there is any difference in the number of holes created in my .51 cuben Hammock Gear Winter Tarp or my .74 MLD Hex Hammock Tarp. During cooler weather I like to sleep out in my woodsy yard in my hammock but am beginning to hesitate because of the cost of my shelters. Has any else had this issue with either .51 or .74 cuben?

For car camping or backyard, I would get something cheap for shelter/tarp and save the good stuff for actual backpacking! ;^)

Even for canoe camping, if there will be only a couple of short portages, I'll be using the heavier, cheaper stuff.

So far I've had no cuts or holes in my Duplex, but the Arc Blast has gotten a couple of small abrasion holes in the water bottle pockets. Repaired with cuben tape (on the inside), which works very well — not a hint of it peeling up. So when the time comes to patch the Duplex I have confidence it will work fine… anyway, looks like the same stuff they use to tape the seams at the factory.

Bob,
Thank you for your response. I agree…I need to get a cheap tarp for most backyard use.

However, there are times I want to test the stormworthiness of a shelter or test my own skills in storms so that I am prepared for actual trips. And sometimes I get a new piece of gear that I want to test out. For instance, I have a new MLD Patrol Shelter coming in the next couple of weeks for ground sleeping. When it cools down some I will want to test it out a few times in the yard before going on any trips.

For tape, I have used both cuben tape and tenacious tape. For tiny little pin holes, both seem to work. Any opinions on one over the other?

"For tape, I have used both cuben tape and tenacious tape. For tiny little pin holes, both seem to work. Any opinions on one over the other?"

I have a Duplex and carry small rolls of both cuben repair tape and tenacious tape. I've wouldn't hesitate to use the tenacious tape on cuben, but would probably choose to use the cuben repair tape if it were available just cause…you know…cuben!