New ZPacks 1P Tent Model

Good spot. That looks interesting.

Upon first glance, it looks way too complicated. Nine stakes? 5 guy lines? Sure some are optional, but it appears you need them all if you want full room inside.

Those mini dual poles add substantial hassle/weight/complexity for only a wee bit of extra headroom, and they’re not going to be very rigid in storms because they’re not connected where they cross, like virtually every other tent with crossing poles is.

An asymmetrical rectangular based mid like the MLD Solomid XL with a sewn in floor would provide similar weight and functionality while being much simpler to use. Probably lighter once you factor in stakes.

Heard about their potential new shelter elsewhere but thought they’d release a head opening design. Besides the crossing mini-poles, looks like a soloplex with a bit less fabric on the top fly. Little less fabric to catch wind though, so a tad more mid like.

Interesting… but that is a lot of cord.

@dandydan – A mid with a skirt and attached bathtub might be a very compelling design. I’ve never seen anyone do that before. You can almost do that with an MLD mid with a bugskirt and bathtub but you don’t get mesh behind the door.

Rectangular mids certainly pitch easily compared to shaped mids and require less line as well.

Interesting but I still like the (discontinued) SMD Skyscape X better.

Will uses the words “our” and “we” as if he’s part owner of ZPacks…lol.

I own a Solo Hexamid in .74 and I love it, however, I’m 5′ 10″ and I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone taller than that, The Solo Plus just has too much surface area and height for 1 pole to solidly support. IMO Joe should have designed a slightly larger Solo Hexamid (between Solo and Plus size) with a solid floor (without the mesh). A higher entry would also be a significant improvement on the Hexamid.

I agree with Dan, too many panel tieouts on the new design. I think when you get more than 2 it says that there’s something not structurally sound about a tent. The expander at the peak of the new design to increase headroom is a nice attempt, but I just don’t think it comes off.

The Hexamid and the Duplex are Joe’s masterpieces. The Altaplex has the same problem as the Solo Plus, too much surface and height for 1 pole. The Soplex is nice with 2 poles (1 long and 1 short), but I still don’t think it’s as good as a slightly larger Hexamid with a solid ( no mesh) floor would be.

Regardless I’m a ZPacks fanboy.

LOVE that he’s stepped in to the realm of a roof beam!

I agree the current incarnation is flawed.  It should be a single, straight rod installed inside the tent.  But getting the back wall more vertical on a single pole solo is a step in the right direction.

I’m also not super sold on the cross-beam on top. I’m only a season into being a cuben shelter owner (took my .51 Grace Solo on the PCT last year), but I’m inherently suspicious of anything that gives extra opportunities to abrade/poke the fabric when stuffing. Someone on Reddit made a comment about wanting a cuben Lunar Solo, and I’d agree that seems like a better tact for something like this (although it would hardly be an original design).

That said, I’m probably not ever going to buy a $500+ all-cuben (sorry, DCF) tent, so my opinion’s kinda irrelevant.

I think the ideal shelter would be a Hexamid Solo with cuben floor.  I originally asked Joe to build this for me in 2013 when I bought my Hexamid Solo tent, and he declined at the time.  For me, the Hexamid is the superior design over the Solplex.  The Hexamid sets up with my LT4’s already at the proper height, and only needs 1 pole.  The Solplex requires two poles.  I’d have to ditch my LT4’s to use the Solplex, as the adjustment is fiddly.  The Hexamid is plenty room for me, but I’m only 5’7″ tall.

New info here: including sub-15oz prototypes, .51, design tweaks, and more.

Email from ZPacks re: new tent prototype from Ultralight

There’s video on it from Bigfoot’s YouTube at Trail Days. They’re saying 14 oz. It looks nice.

14.5oz, for the gram-counters among us, partly achieved by a new type of mesh.  Also, a new design for the top portion.

To me this feels like a lateral step from the Altaplex. I disagree that the Altaplex is too tall/too much fabric for a single pole, and that it is more elegant and simple than this new creation in terms of adding meaningful interior space. I think it is the pinnacle of the ‘plex series in terms of design optimization.

The latest prototype I’ve seen has moved the mini poles inside, but not sure what else has changed. I just don’t get a feeling of sturdiness/security when I look at that upper section.

Anticipated shorter pole requirement is nice if you don’t hike with tall-enough pole(s) for the Altaplex.

I use jacks for the Duplex, but they’re not long enough for the Altaplex, so I’d have to carry straps to couple my carbon z-poles.  More weight.

. mittencampers video LINK .

. Bigfoots video LINK .

Pole jacks or couplers are easy and light. I use a 4″ section of 12mm OD tube (the OD of the lowest section of my poles) to join the upper 2 sections of both my trekking poles together. Very sturdy and weighs about 0.3 oz.

If that’s the only “improvement” over the Altaplex, I’m gonna keep my Altaplex.  :)  Hope they don’t axe it!

I believe they said they will be slimming down the product line to remove redundant products once this launches.

I just hope it is longer than the Hexamid Plus (108″). At 6’3″ I’ve yet to be totally comfortable in a Zpacks shelter/able to avoid condensation on my head or the footbox of my quilt.

“I just hope it is longer than the Hexamid Plus (108″). At 6’3″ I’ve yet to be totally comfortable in a Zpacks shelter/able to avoid condensation on my head or the footbox of my quilt.”

Right!?!? I keep trying all these XL and Plus tents and still don’t fit.

Ryan

I don’t think this is intended to replace the Altaplex.  What is needed in the product line is a Hexamid size shelter with a cuben floor.  Personally, I’d prefer to keep the trekking pole height at 48″ so I can use my pole setup for hiking.

In the Bigfoot video, he says that 6’2″ was fine.

So I finally got around to posting a video of the prototype that Zpacks sent me.  The final version will have more tie-out points to help with interior space.  This shelter may replace my Hexamid solo as my go-to shelter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgEU_aw69Ds&feature=youtu.be

David, can you post a pic with the doors closed?  I don’t think I saw you close the doors in your video.  How low to ground can you set walls and doors?

Thanks for the video, David!  It was great to get a better sense of the interior space versus prior videos.

Here’s some pics of the version I’m using. In a shuttle now headed out onto the trail but happy to post more when I’m back. I’m 6’3” and definitely more room than my Solplex.

Plexamid Prototype Photos