ZPacks Duplex mod question

Hey Greg,

I think the list of modifications is getting smaller and smaller – as zpacks has been very active in listening to hiker feedback and integrating a lot of the ideas/suggestions/modifications that I and others have presented. They have now made every suggestion I put forth as well as two ideas by others, so huge praise to zpacks for listening to hikers feedback.

I have two suggestions:

The first is the use of LineLoc 3 WSR Side Release Buckles as I present here in this video. ZPacks can make this modification for you and probably free of charge, as I would suspect that the LL3WSR is less expensive than the little Dutchware clips they are now using.

The second is to ask them to not place the internal pockets at the head/foot of the shelter – unless you happen to like that location. When I am laying in the shelter, trying to reach up above my head to get to my glasses or whatever, just is too much of a bugger. Instead, ask to have pockets placed on the side of the bathtub floor, near the zipper termination points. It is what I have done (bought four and installed them myself) and it really does make for a nice modification.

My only final thought/suggestion would be to go with the camo cuben fiber. The extra money and little bit of additional weight for the camo is absolutely worth having the extra bit of darkness inside of the shelter.

Thanks, that's a good summary of alot of the info floatig around here. How about linelocs for the guylines? Useful…?

Greg,
Where and just as importantly when are you intending to use the Duplex?

A summer in Spain will pose dramatically different problems that a winter in Scotland

The lineloc release buckles might work if it's not to windy in your area, really wouldn't advise you to have them fitted as in sewn in though as they have a tendency to go brittle over time and break, also found that they lose some of their spring after a while so don't clip in as tightly as when new.

As you are not in the states it would be a nightmare shipping the tent back to replace a clip.

This is part of the reason why i didn't have my lineloc's fitted on the corners.

I think linelocs are a wprthwhile mod, they do give you the chance to move your pegging point if you hit a rock, they also come in handy for getting nice tight pitch.

I ordered the linelocs with the loops, and would again.
The work on the hardpacked ground here in Greece as it means i can run some line out and use rocks as pegs, they also work well in the UK as i can lengthen or shorten the guylines to avoid rocks or really soft ground.

John, if you place the internal pockets on the side I feel they would get in the way of the air mattresses with two people, especially if one is using a 25" pad. For solo use I can see this being a good option.

My personal preference is to have a tent that allows light in. The filtered light makes me feel more cheerful. After spending time in my green Golite Shangri La 5 using a wood stove in the winter there's no way I'm buying another dark tent. Wished I had a yellow one instead. I dont place much emphasis on wether people can see me across the valley or standing next to the tent. Another thing is many people say you can see through the standard version of cuben that Zpacks uses. I find that see thoroughness goes away quickly after using. Either due to wrinkles and creases that happen from stuffing it, or just gets dirtier or dusty.

Mark – it's hard to say where I will use it as I don't have any true "local" backpacking options, and plan my trips one at a time. The immediate use-case is a September trip to the Japanese alps. As I live in HK, the most accessible places with mountains would be Japan and Taiwan. A bit further afield there's obviously also Nepal and China, but not sure if this tent would cut it, even at peak season, so I probably wouldn't use it there. But I do travel to Europe and the US, so those are possibilities too. I'll mention – as it's relevant to you ;) – that I'm half-Greek so there's a high chance I'll be backpacking there one day or other. So, basically, I hope it will be versatile enough as a 3-season tent so I can use it in most places outside of winter.

Thanks everyone for all your good suggestions.

If wind is going to be a factor especially together with rain i would not recommend getting the Duplex.

It's impossible to hunker it down so even in mild winds it's a very windy shelter to be in, if you throw rain into the equation as well then it's tough to keep your kit dry as the wind will drive the rain inside the tent.

The tent stands up to a hell of a lot of abuse in wet and very windy weather, but it's not a warm or dry place to be in.
We had ours dropped down as low as we could get it, but still we when i removed my jumper from it's stuff sack there was enough wind passing through the tent that i blew the stuff sack around, this is inside the tent with the doors as closed as we could get them.

For mild and even warm nights i honestly don't think there is anything that comes close to the Duplex, it's a great tent even more so for it's weight.
But if there is even a chance of bad weather then to be honest i'd sooner hike out than spend the night in the Duplex.
It's just not designed for that type of camping.

Might be worth considering a mid or something like the TT Scarp if bad weather is a possibility.

Other possibility is to buy just the tarp version of the Duplex and use a lightweight bivvy bag.
Advantage with the tarp as opposed to the tent is that you can drop it as low as physically possible without having to worry about the bathtub.

Only worry then is the doors

Mark, you say it doesn't hold up well in wind, how strong of wind are you talking about? I haven't had any problem with wind or rain coming in, but I don't live in a high mountain elevation area either. I have had all night down pours with wind steady at 30 mph and gusting 40-45 mph without any problems. Also pitch my tent tight and low to the point where I have about a 4" wall on the tub with no problem.

Found it to be a windy place to be even in the wind speeds you describe, not uncomfortable but coming from tents i found it a surprise and can't say as i like it.
That's really down to each person though, i know some prefer a open pitch so they can feel the wind.

Much past 50mph and i found the doors bowed out, it wasn't helped by the fact that we were getting wind from 360 degrees round the tent.

As i say it's a great tent and the fact that it kept us safe and sheltered for most of the night, in reported 90mph winds testifys to it's design and quality of manufacture.

If there is a chance of 50mph+ winds though i would not recommend this tent.
Yes it will stand up to higher winds, but it's really not a pleasant or particularly sheltered place to be in at those wind speeds.