ZPacks Pivot Solo

[bradmacmt]

The other Pivot Solo thread started trending in a slightly different direction so I thought I’d start a new one.

I mentioned on that thread I’d ordered a Pivot Solo and that I’d post some observations when I got it. I ordered both an Altaplex and Pivot Solo from ZPacks, and received them yesterday. I pulled out the snowblower and cleared a spot in the backyard to set them up on actual grass. Not knowing if I’d keep either, I set them up on Tyvek to keep them pristine. Temps were mild for January (high 20’s/low 30’s) and no wind. Perfect.

Before the announcement of the Pivot Solo, I was fairly certain I’d buy the Altaplex. But when the Pivot Solo was announced I wasn’t so sure, and definitely felt a leaning towards the Pivot – “on paper” it’s a strikingly intelligent design. But without the ability to “feel the space” it’s very difficult to know for oneself based on other’s observations whether it works. We’re all so different, not just physically, but how we respond to space emotionally.

For the record, I’m not an especially large man – I’m a 63 yo, 5′-9-3/4″ tall, 38″ chest, 140 lb guy. However, I’m fairly long in the torso for my size, so my sense of the space sitting up in these tents is more akin to someone who is around 6′ tall. But I am not a big guy, so bear that in mind. My go-to sleeping bag (which I’m completely comfortable with) is a WM Ultralight (59″ shoulder girth), and a 20″ wide sleeping pad. I came of age in the era of mummy bags, and am good in confined spaces. However, I don’t like feeling “hemmed-in” in tents. Go figure.

I don’t use trekking poles, instead preferring a single cane or staff, so a “double pole” design is not something that works for me. With that said, in November I ordered a Tarp Tent Aeon Li during TT’s sale. I set it up, put a 3″ pad and pillow in it, and proceeded to experience the space. I absolutely disliked it. That dislike was mostly immediate, and visceral. Sitting up, my head brushed the ceiling. My head and feet without a sleeping bag were only a couple inches from the ceiling (a sleeping bag would touch on both ends for sure). The corners were difficult to access without hitting the ceiling. The shoulder room sitting up was cramped and narrow. While this was my first “Mid” experience, I was not happy, and thought I’d just stick with my TT Rainbow Li (which I adore). I sent the Aeon back.

Back to the Zpacks tents, I set up the Pivot Solo first, put in a 3″ Thermarest with attached ZPacks Pillow, hopped in, laid down, and started to “experience the space.” To say I was surprised and happy with the experience would be an understatement. Great headroom, foot room, shoulder room. Sitting up, my head did not brush the ceiling. Spatially it’s a completely different experience than the Aeon – far more interior volume. I was actually a bit stunned because I had braced myself for a disappointing experience. I switched my head and feet and found I liked having my head at the 32″ high “foot end” better than the taller “head end.” Sitting up on a 3″ pad from either end, my head in no way hit or brushed the ceiling. Having my head at the 32″ end works well for me since my bags are all left hand zips.

I set up the Altaplex next, and performed the same interior exercises. I found it quite nice, but my head does brush the ceiling sitting up which doesn’t happen from either end in the Pivot Solo. Also, laying down, the head and foot room are less roomy than the Pivot Solo. If the Pivot Solo didn’t exist I’d be happy with the Altaplex, but for me and my sub 6′ frame the interior space experience of the Pivot Solo surpasses the Altaplex. I find it more comfortable, more livable, more inviting.

I’m keeping the Pivot Solo. What an impressive design, and one that shaves 7.6 oz’s off my Rainbow Li. I’ve bought the Pivot for some specific long distance walks I have in mind where ounces matter. As a day-to-day tent, I prefer the Rainbow. But for the purposes I have in mind for it, I don’t think the Pivot Solo can be beat.

Feel free to fire away with any questions and I”ll do my best to answer. Mine is a “first blush” review and there are plenty of details I didn’t mention, and many I’m sure I haven’t thought of.

 

 

 

 

[Monte Masterson]

Looks nice, I’m not surprised the Pivot has so much livable space though.

I’m a Tarptent fan, but the Aeon Li is one model I never considered.

[JG H]

Great review and super informative. Thanks so much for this one, Brad.

Any potential concerns? How is ingress/egress? Vestibule size? Any worries about ventilation or splashback?

Sounds like a winner design.

[Jason A]

Nice write up. Glad you found the space inside good. I felt the same way when I got in it for the first time as well. As others mentioned, how do you feel that long back wall will do in some weather? I’ve been thinking maybe adding a guy out point. Not sure if it’s necessary at the moment. Also how did you like pitching the tent? I felt it was fairly intuitive tent to pitch. Still need to perfect it though.

Thanks,

Jason

[bradmacmt]

I’m a Tarptent fan, but the Aeon Li is one model I never considered

Hi Monte, I’m a big TT fan too. I find Henry’s designs innovative and thoughtful, and I love how he runs his company. I agree, the Aeon is not for everyone – it’s definitely not for me – but admittedly I’m probably not “the target market” for most mids. I’ just don’t like the spacial experience. My smallest tent’s have been the old MSR Hubba’s, and a current Nemo Hornet Elite 1P. Those two DW tents never gave me any feeling like the Aeon, and both are small. Go figure. I’m a design/build general contractor so I eat, drink, and breathe “space” and how people react to space. One thing I’ve learned through the years is how I react to space is not always going to be the same way someone else responds to the same space. And, as good as I am at looking at a rendering of  space on paper (and I’m very good at it – I have good spacial sense), there is no substitute for building it and walking through the space. Sometimes I still get surprised :)

Any potential concerns?

How is ingress/egress?

Vestibule size?

Any worries about ventilation or splashback?

Hi JGH – you were a big help to me in this process. Thank you.

If I do have any concern about the tent it “might” be the big back panel at the back, but only because so many have pointed it out that it’s now preying on my mind lol. Honestly, looking at it “in the flesh,” it’s not as big as one would expect. I think the center guy, which I doubt I’ll use except in heavy wind, will suffice. At least that’s my impression.

Getting in and out is a piece of cake, probably the same experience as getting in and out of the Nemo Hornet 1P – maybe a little easier.

Vestibule is roomy and very usable, but the big surprise is how large that interior floor pyramid-shaped “bump-out” is on the back wall by the “pivot.” That space is huge. I wasn’t prepared for how much storage space there is there. A real benefit and, unlike mids where the walls taper hard down into these type of storage spaces, it’s very usable space, and easily accessed.

Ventilation seems better than the Altaplex. By “better” I mean I think there is more square inches of it than the Altaplex, and that it’s less likely to be “crushed” into uselessness by the floor drawstrings than the Altaplex. The “Pivot” end is where the benefit over the Altaplex is to be found. The square footage of un-hindered netting there is really impressive, and is worth every bit of the one ounce, 32″ carbon tent pole required to create it (among other interior benefits that pole creates). Of course all this is pure conjecture at this point – the proof will be in the using.

Regarding “splashback” I don’t have any concerns really – the canopy extends down a little tighter to the ground than the Altaplex, and the clever little interior “floor lifters” seem like they’ll accomplish their mission. Also, while the Altaplex has a vestibule which is a “splash-back barrier,” the Pivot also has the pivot area that acts like a vestibule in that it’s another physical buffer against splash.

how do you feel that long back wall will do in some weather?

Also how did you like pitching the tent? I felt it was fairly intuitive tent to pitch.

Hi Jason, so glad you chimed in here. I wanted to pay you a real compliment. After I watched your youtube description of the Pivot, I went on a deep dive looking at dozens of Altaplex, Aeon, and Pro Trail Li reviews. What I came away with was a genuine appreciation of how great your review really is. Most of the reviews I looked at were awful by comparison. You really did a great job, in a short time, pointing out the salient features of the tent, and I think you gave as good a sense of the interior space as one can hope on a video review. Thank you, and again, great job!

I addressed your back wall question in my answer above to JGH, but to your pitching observation, I agree – very intuitive and simple. I tend to inordinately fuss over pitches, but I didn’t find this one difficult to get good enough at first attempt. I’m sure over time I’ll get it dialed, and it will just become an easy muscle memory type of exercise.

When I originally looked at the floor dimensions of the Pivot Solo (before there were any video reviews of it), and saw how the pole arrangements worked, my “inner designer” kicked in and I started trying to imagine being in it. My imagination brought me to the highly guarded conclusion that “spatially” this tent really might work for me. It also led me to think it might be a really brilliant bit of design work. When I set it up yesterday I took some video of myself in the tent for my initial reactions and thoughts (it’s nice to have a record like this since memory gets fuzzy – I did these with the Aeon and Altaplex too). What comes through in the videos is how gratified I am that my sense this tent would work for me, was in fact, spot-on. The interior space surpassed my very guarded expectations. Granted, it’s not a palace and that’s not what I’m looking for. I just want to feel “comfortable enough” in the space. Beyond a doubt, I do.

I can honestly say I’ve never built a house I designed, or one another architect designed, where I would not change something (or many things). Houses are big and complicated in comparison to a tent, but a good tent design is deceptively simple. If it were as easy as it looks, there would be dozens of great tent designs. There just aren’t. As a builder I’ve always said too, it’s easier to design large spaces than small spaces. Any fool can waste space, but small spaces require very thoughtful design in order to succeed. The Pivot Solo is a brilliant bit of small space design. Honestly, as good as I’ve ever seen. I really can’t say I’d change anything at this point. We shall see…

[bradmacmt]

[JG H]

Brad, thanks for taking the time to respond and for the well-articulated thoughts and insight.

I bought my brother another DCF tent that will work for him (if you recall from the other thread he’s 6’4”), but after this thread I’m certain that MY next solo tent will be the Pivot. I was considering the Duplex Lite over the Pivot, but not anymore. Again, thanks a ton for sharing!

[bradmacmt]

You bet JGH – I’ll be curious to hear your impressions! Jason pointed out in the video that a 6′ person is likely the workable end of the game for this tent. That seems about right to me, though I’d say someone 6′-2″ could probably make it work. I’m wondering too whether one could sleep at a slight “angle” to gain a little extra length. Dunno – it’s winter here so I may not find out til Spring lol. Like I said, I’m 5’10” and I liked the space better for me than the Altaplex which is renowned for tall people. But, unlike you, I’m not a barrel chested linebacker lol.

BTW, forgot to add the techy bit – tent with stuff sack weigh’s 13.40 oz’s on my scale.

Jason’s excellent video for those that have not seen it:

[JG H]

At 1:47 in the video, it looks like the canopy and the floor don’t have any screen mesh between them and may be sewn together. Are they?

[bradmacmt]

At 1:47 in the video, it looks like the canopy and the floor don’t have any screen mesh between them and may be sewn together. Are they?

Hi JG, no they are not sewn together at that point. That’s a bit of a video-illusion. The entire canopy and floor is attached with a 6″ wide bit of mesh (except of course the front door and pivot area which is more mesh). The entire canopy is connected to the floor via mesh.

[Jason A]

Brad thank you so much for your kind words. Appreciate all your thoughts and experience with the tent so far. Like you,  just waiting to get this tent out more. I think it will be serving me well once my hiking season starts up again. Regarding my YouTube page I’m going to keep it as real as it gets on there. Big thank you to the community here who got a little something out of it.

[JG H]

Good to know, Brad. Thanks.

[Brad W]

Glad you like the Pivot Brad. Question-when testing interior volume on the Altaplex, did you guy out the head/foot ends and if so did you lift them up with a stick or other object? I have to do this to make the Altaplex work.

[bradmacmt]

Question-when testing interior volume on the Altaplex, did you guy out the head/foot ends and if so did you lift them up with a stick or other object?

Brad, I did not guy out the head/foot ends. Being juts 5’10” the Altaplex works for me without those. However, it became pretty obvious laying inside the tent that guying those out is necessary if you’re much taller than me.

Still, I was slightly surprised my head brushed the ceiling of the Altaplex sitting on top of a 3″ pad when sitting up – something that didn’t happen in the Pivot Solo.

[Brad W]

Still, I was slightly surprised my head brushed the ceiling of the Altaplex sitting on top of a 3″ pad when sitting up – something that didn’t happen in the Pivot Solo.

 

For all the Altaplex’s volume, you have to be kissing the screen for one to not brush the dcf.  I am hoping the Pivot spurs other makers to chase similar designs. Maybe a Pivot XL also, something I can fit into.

[bradmacmt]

For all the Altaplex’s volume, you have to be kissing the screen for one to not brush the dcf.  I am hoping the Pivot spurs other makers to chase similar designs. Maybe a Pivot XL also, something I can fit into.

So True on the Altaplex – at my height/size it’s liveable, but I certainly wouldn’t be happy with a smaller Mid. You’re obviously in a different category being taller. How others tolerate smaller Mid’s, even at my size, I don’t know. But I suppose it goes back to how one feels about space as I mentioned earlier in this thread. I know any Mid smaller than the Altaplex is absolutely not for me.

Yeah, it’s funny you mention a Pivot XL. I’d been thinking about that since making this thread – “Expansa-Pivot” :)

 

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