I added a cross pole to my recently purchased Z Packs Duplex Tarp. I just threw the parts together to make sure it works but the final version should be pretty close to an ounce in weight. No backpacking experience with it yet but I’ve used a similar rig on my one person tent (shown in avatar) so I’m pretty sure it will work out.
Advantages of cross pole are small but appeal to me.
(1) It allows me to get the tarp set up with only 4 stakes so I can quickly jump in out of the rain. I can worry about staking the vestibules and end pull-outs later if the rain stops or just ignore them if I can live without them.
(2 There isn’t much stress on the cross pole. It is there primarily to keep the hiking poles apart. This set-up feels more secure and less strained (to me) than the staked out guy line set-up that is typically used. It also seems like there would be less chance of the guy lines ripping out where they are attached to the tent peaks. Some engineer here will probably prove me wrong. My analysis is based upon “feel”.
(3) Vestibules could be secured directly to the poles, thereby eliminating the need for the two vestibule stakes.
More info about the flexible connector can be found:
