Just received my ZPacks Hexamid Solo Tent

Well no wonder it is so light – it is only as large as the dollar bill or is that a giant dollar bill?

; )

That's about what mine weighs too. I am waiting for my fibraplex pole so have not had it out to try it yet even. Mine is green, I think I like the white looks better though.
gl

That is a small shelter.

looks more like a 2.8 oz shower cap..

shower cap?

I'll set the tarp up tomorrow and post more pictures and observations.

Roger

Please do!

while we're on the topic… I saw the price with screen is around $280. is there any similar solo tents with screens that are cheaper that doesn't require a treking pole?

Why don't they also make a silnylon version?

Why dont you ask Joe: valesko@gmail.com

FYI – Joe is not taking orders until June 1 because he is so backlogged. Did anyone order a Dyneema pack from him?

Technically, Joe's shelters don't REQUIRE a trekking pole, any pole of sufficient length and strength will work. Pretty much any shelter requires some sort of pole (though some mids have a loop at the top so you can tie them to a limb…)

I don't know, I would feel worried about the material ripping from using just any stick. And plus, the stick breaking in the middle of a thunderstorm would be a total bummer.

It's ironic. The lightest backpackers rarely need trekking poles, yet the lightest tents are designed to use one. What came first, the lightweight shelter or the trekking pole? Now there's a chicken or the egg.

I didn't say just any stick. But I'm not sure what you're trying to get to. Any shelter is going to have to be held up by something. You can carry a single carbon or aluminum pole for the Hexamid, you don't need a trekking pole. I guess that's my point. But I don't know of any shelter (except the Nemos that use air) that don't need some type of pole to keep it up. Same with tarps, unless you're always tying them off to trees.

Or you could just use a bivy — light and no poles required.

The one time that I have set up my hexamid tarp, I did use a stick for the pole. I was worried about it poking through so I wrapped one of my spare socks around the tip of the stick to protect the tarp.

I have ordered a fibraplex pole to use in lieu of a trekking pole.

gl

Second Observation: I’d like to state that I am very picky about gear and critically searched for any flaws with the Hexamid Solo Tarp. After checking the material, stitching and over all construction I’d have to say Joe’s attention to detail on my Hexamid was impeccable.

Tarp setup was fast! Joe gave detail instructions for placement of the included guylines and setup instructions.

The above picture shows the ZPacks Hexamid Solo Tarp with a Western Mountaineering Caribou MF Large 6'6", Gossamer Gear ThinLight Pad and Polycryo Ground Cloth.

Hexamid setup required the support of one trekking pole adjusted to 46". I found the entrance height of 28” adequate and was surprised by the interior headroom. My biggest concern was for the Hexamid’s ability to accommodate my 6’4” frame when I stretched out… Again I was happily surprised.

I would recommend the Zpack Hexamid Solo Tarp to anyone wanting an excellent tarp that’s wicked light, packs small and doesn’t take a huge bite out of your wallet!

Great reviews and commentaries!

I definitely have the buying fever for this one (with the bug floor — we have a lot of bugs in Ohio), you betcha, but Joe at Zpacks folks isn't even taking pre-orders until June.

Oy. I'd love to have it along when I take a long walk along the AT at the end of June, but I guess I'll have to wait.

Any chance that can get on some kind of waiting list to get on the waiting list to pre-order the shelter? ;-)

The line above sounds like that line in _Animal House_ about being engaged to be engaged.

Stargazer

P.S. Joe, please. Factory seconds? Returns? Pant, pant.

Roger, beautiful tarp and I was thinking of going this direction for shelter, how do you think this would perform in high winds?

I dont feel it would present any problem with the Hexmids back side to the wind

What about durability? I have zero experience with cuben fiber, haven't even seen or touched the stuff..

The Hexamid should hold up fine in the wind. Here’s a little picture to ponder over:

Hexamid at Rodriguez Spur on the PCT

I put it on the edge of a small bluff so that it would get the full force of the storm that was starting to blow in that night. By the end of the night the back was a little floppy, but I think that was because I used the optional door and the wind blowing thru the tarp may have pushed against the door which pushed against the trekking pole and may have slightly dislodged it.

The Contrail in front of my Hexamid had already fallen down that night, but had been repitched before this picture was taken.

The closest thing I’ve had to a problem with the Hexamid in the wind was when I had a 9″ Easton stake pull out of the ground.

What about durability? I have zero experience with cuben fiber, haven't even seen or touched the stuff..

It doesn't like when other people trip over your guy lines repeatedly, but even that has only caused very minor elongation of the thread holes at the front loop. I set up my Hexamid as often as possible, but unfortunately I was taking yet another zero day in town when the Mesa Wind Farm recorded 89 mph…I assume the winds were quite high in some commonly camped in saddles too…at least they were high enough to rip at least one shelter to shreds.

I hope that this is not out of line but ,b> "the Contrail had already fallen down that night" sounds less than an ideal situation for me.
So this is my observation.

Looks like that Contrail is an 08 or 09 version. So first thing I would do is to drop the tail end.
Next I would have the rear pole further back so that the guylines pulls the ridge line back rather than up .

I really do not know how strong the wind was in this pics but during one of the gusts this is what it looked like.
The front part (beak) is pushed in , the rest is standing up as usual.
Note that there is a lot of tension between the front and rear guyline.
Franco
franco at tarptent dot com

We improved the pitch of the Contrail further down the trail, but unfortunately that hiker left the trail before we had a chance to know if it really helped. Unfortunately that hiker didn't have enough rope to adequately utilize the center attachment point at the rear of the tent.

Eugene cheers from another SoCal brother (Orange County).

I haven’t experienced any serious weather in the few times I’ve used my Hexamid but have with my silnylon tarps/tents. I believe it’s all about location and realizing your tarps/tents limitations.

Eugene, what happened with your PCT thru!?