Z-Packs Tent Modification

This Z-Packs tent is a Hexamid Twin, similar to the currently available Duplex. This modification is made is inserting a line on the inside of the tent, and staking out that line. It gives more headroom in the tent, while directing rain toward the corners, where it is  easier to manage the run-off.

Erica

Not following you, Erica.  Can you show what you mean?

Can’t tell from the picture. If you attach a line on the inside and stake it out how does it pull that side out to create more head room. I can see how if you attached a line to the outside and staked it out it could create more head room.

Tough to see from the pic, but it looks like the cordage is touching the inside of the tent.

Personally i would not want thin cordage in contact with any of my cuban fiber tents, it’s not the best fabric for taking friction in it’s stride.

Guessing here …

… it looks like the (red arrows) lines are under the canopy

The issue is created when the 3rd line (green arrow) is taken to a tree (left) creating a tension that the cut of the non-stretchable cuben does not accommodate.

(And sincere apologies if I’m imagining stuff that is just not there.)

Great eyes! Now it makes sense.

Thanks for inserting the red and green arrows. The red arrow on the viewer’s right shows the tension created by the one of the standard stakes. There are four of these lines, one at each corner. This all comes from ZPacks as a stock setup.

There is a pull-out in the center of the panel, and a line going to a tree. The green arrow in the center points to the line. I carry lots of Z-line (it’s very light weight – great stuff), so I can pull out the panel even if the tree is a long way away. If there aren’t any trees, I’ll run the line over a vertical stick (or hiking pole), then stake the line to the ground, still pulling out the panel. This is all stock ZPacks setup.

The modification is shown by the red arrow on the viewer’s left. The line is on the inside of the tent, passing through a very small hole in the netting, and staked out to the ground. It creates a ridge in the panel; thereby creating a significant amount of extra headroom inside. The ridge also directs runoff to the corners, where it can be more easily managed in the case of significant rain. There is no friction between the line and the cuben panel, as the line is taped to the inside of the panel. I made this modification to both ends of the tent.

I do appreciate your comments about cuben not stretching, and it’s susceptibility to abrasion. I’m not seeing these factors as problems with this setup, but perhaps I am missing something.

Thanks!

Interesting idea! I’d keep a close eye on the inside where the line rubs on the tent. If it starts to show any wear just buy a strip of cuben tape to protect it.

Thanks, I will keep an eye on the ridge. I don’t expect the line to move any, as it is taped to the inside of the tent.

Hi Erica, would you recommend the tent for the PCT?

Annie, I don’t personally have enough experience with the tent to really answer your question. I have taken it out for over 20 nights, but I have never had it in significant rain. You may not need too much of a shelter for the California portion of the PCT! It is a great tent to carry, as it is about 23(?) oz, which includes a rain poncho, used as a bathtub floor. It is quite large for one person, you could easily get 2 in it in an emergency. It is possible to lean up against your empty pack and read a book while laying on your back, though this will put pressure on the cuben wall. It is not a warm tent at all; there is lots of ventilation, and lots of interior volume, so condensation problems are not too bad. I do carry a cloth for wiping condensation from the inside. What I don’t like about it is the headroom, therefore the modification. If it is raining, it’s still not great having the loud drops just over your head. If I was going to purchase another tent, I’d look for a front entry tent, which would have more headroom. However, I do have a one person Big Agnes Copper Spur, which has plenty of headroom; i haven’t carried it since I got this Hexamid Twin. This tent is quite a bit lighter.