zpacks hexamid twin tent: entry and floor Q

I think that this might be the wrong tent for an older person with knee problems. It requires that you really get down to get in. However, I have seen some custom options that allow for easier entrance. One person on this site had a vertical zipper installed that went up to the pole. Joe would probably have other solutions as well.

I am currently 1800 miles into an AT thru and have been using the twin the whole way. I was surprised at how well this tent sets up on wet ground. We have had a lot of moisture and the mesh continues to handle it extremely well. We have had plenty of snow, mud rain and ice. The tent has been amazing.

Also, I believe there will be enough life left in it to make it through our 2014 PCT thru as well.

I love it.

the beak rolls up… you roll it up to get out… then it's up when you get back in.. you don't have to crawl under it…

I'm an old geezer and don't have the best knees, but it has as much clearance as my old one man tent and seems to be no problem for me to get in and out…

bill d

I do not have the twin, but I do have the Hexamid Long I am 45 years old, 6 ft 5 with a beat up body from racing Mountain Bikes(includes several knee surgeries, ligament and tendon reconstruction in my ankle, with several degenerating discs in my lower back) and actually have a surprisingly easy time getting in and out. I do release the beak (unclip it from the shock cord that holds it down and out). I thought it was going to be almost impossible so I went out tot the ATZPCTKO event to check one out in person. As mentioned above, Joe is very accommodating, and I would venture a guess that if you talked it through with him, he would have a solution if you are challenged by the entry.

I can not really comment regarding wet. I live in So Cal and spend most of my hiking days and nights in the Sierra.

james, that is great news. the mesh floor has been my biggest concern. congrats on the 1800 miles! your almost there bro!

Thanks a lot josh. I am getting pretty excited.

1) How easy is entry/exit from the tent?
If you raise the beak, its not bad. Its still lower than the the average 2P tent, it doesnt bother me. Low=weather protection

2) How good is the tent mesh floor on already wet ground? Ventillation is what mitigates condensation. Pitch it high and breezy, and you will have little condensation. The mesh can pick up debris though, I generally wipe it off with my hand as I roll it up. Sometimes in dry conditions, static electricity makes some small debris stick like a magnet. Wet debris is kind of messy as well.

The mesh actually provides a lot of protection for the groundsheet though, no holes in my cuben sheet yet and I pitch on top of hard rocky soil frequently. If you dont like it, you can get it without the mesh bottom, or with some missing, or sewn to the groundsheet, etc.

Ive spent 17 nights in mine this yr on the trail. Starting to prefer it to my "the one" due to room. I also like to hang my pack from the front pole, inside the shelter with all my stuff in it. Out of the way, and accessible too.

You *can* use a polycryo groundsheet beneath the mesh floor with this tent if rain is not in the forecast. This would no doubt help on already wet ground. If it does begin to rain you can just yank the polycryo out from underneath. I've only used my Hexamid solo plus for five dry nights so far. I used a polycryo ground sheet for each of these nights. The mesh floor was absolutely no problem–a bit of dusting off when I packed it up in the morning.

However, since you're in the PNW, I understand your concerns. Some reviewers have complained that the wet netting adds a bit of weight. It looks like Zpacks may be coming out with a bug net inner for this tent with an integrated cuben floor. Take a look at Stick's blog. This might be a good set-up for your rainy clime.

But remember, I'm still new to this tent and may be underestimating how well it can perform in the conditions you describe! I will say that it seems like the netting on this tent would dry out very quickly in a slight breeze.

The Cuben floor on top of the mesh seems pretty bomb-proof. In my limited experience, I've found that this tent needs to be pitched with a lot of net showing all around if you're in a condensation prone site. A little breeze helps a lot.

Finally, I was happy to find that the single pole was not an issue in terms of getting in/out of this tent. It's easier to get into this tent than my former tent, the BA fly creek, imo.

Good to hear from several actual users–particularly the AT experience, that's what I call a real-world test!

In comparing the Solo-Plus and the Twin, the minimal weight difference of an ounce, compared to the extra room seems to make the Twin a better deal, although the bigger price point might be a deal breaker. The extra head room in the Twin would seem to be a major plus, particularly under extended use.

One last question: footprint. I tried the TarpTent Stratospire, and found that the footprint was rather awkward, trying to wedge into smaller spaces, and trying to have sufficient clearance for both doors. Any issues trying to wedge the Hexamid Twin into your chosen spot?

I have used my twin on several rainy nights and had no issues with using a poly groundsheet and net floor. The only negative of the poly is that I have not spent the time to make it bathtub and instead just used sail tape and light bungee cord to connect it to the walls.

On one night, my site selection was so good that despite a solid rain, the ground was pretty dry underneath. On another night the ground underneath was wet, but no moisture inside. The tent was a bit heavier, bug I just swung it around a bit to get some moisture out and then put it in my mesh pocket to dry.

Overall, I am happy with this tent and am surprised how tough it is ( spastic 60# Labradoodle hasn't ripped anything yet).

If you're using the tent solo, I don't think you really get extra headroom with the Twin over the Solo+. The extra height of the pole in the Solo+ (52" vs 48") gives you more headroom at the front of the Solo+ than the Twin.

Hi Entry for older knees is not a problem, I'm almost 60. My bivy/bag are harder to enter than the tarp. I do not have a hex w/ a beak. Nor do I have the mesh floor, just the Solo tarp plus. The is an excellent shelter for humid wet areas. Very airy.
I choose the tarp without the mesh bug net because I wanted versatility. I use it in conjunction with a Borah bivy for extra rain bug protection in cooler months. This combo works well until you get to the hot dog days of summer in the humid east. Like now!!! I just returned from a bike tour of New York and had to deal with conditions that were too warm in the bivy (didn't use sleep bag) or become a feast for skeeters.
So: I just contacted Joe from Hexamid about getting the Hexanet(new style, link below). Still awaiting his reply. If you are only 'hot' camping in buggy areas get the hexamid net tent and not tarp. But if you want a four season set-up I think my system is a good way to go. Anyway you go, Hexamid is a great product.

Hexanet
http://www.zpacks.com/shelter/hexanet_plus.shtml

"If you dont like it, you can get it without the mesh bottom, or with some missing, or sewn to the groundsheet, etc."

I asked Joe about this option before I ordered my Hexamid, and he said that he isn't doing this anymore because this defeats the design of the tent. I think the tent is designed to have water come down the mesh. If the floor is sewn in, the water will then drip on the floor. I haven't seen the tent yet, but the mesh floor was a big concern for me. My hope is that it will work out and I'll be happy with it.