ZPacks Pivot Solo Tent

[bradmacmt]

But I still need to see a review video of how the setup of this is. Is it super fiddly to get a decent pitch? It takes a lot of stakes for such a small footprint.

Agree, I’d like to see video.

[jscott]

After looking this a bit, I have to admit it’s an interesting design. A short second pole that adds stability and room is pretty neat. My only gripe remains that Zpacks refuses to bring the front beak down closer to the ground. I do see in the description that they claim the fly drops down to four inches from the ground. Hmmm…the pictures aren’t encouraging. But most won’t find this to be an issue.

[bradmacmt]

A wee bit of video:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCZQP4yxJA0/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

[JG H]

Am I the only one that feels like you could replace the tent in that video with a set-it-and-forget-it rotisserie chicken oven and not miss a beat? Is the UL backpacking community ready for the Kardashian level dumbing-down influence? Ugh.

[Dan]

Am I the only one that feels like you could replace the tent in that video with a set-it-and-forget-it rotisserie chicken oven and not miss a beat? Is the UL backpacking community ready for the Kardashian level dumbing-down influence? Ugh.

I’m not sure I understand this comment. Are you suggesting that the tent is too easy to set up?

[bradmacmt]

Am I the only one that feels like you could replace the tent in that video with a set-it-and-forget-it rotisserie chicken oven and not miss a beat? Is the UL backpacking community ready for the Kardashian level dumbing-down influence? Ugh.

I’m with you – kind of obnoxious. They obviously thought it was cute. Me, not so much.

[Barrett H]

I get that the video/advertisement is a bit ridiculous and over the top, but I’m trying to look past that to see if the tent itself is worth a damn. I like the concept and the weight a lot, but will hold off on judgement until I see a reviewer that has set it up in the wild and used it in some decently harsh conditions.

Being on the taller side (6’3”) I appreciate the near vertical head and foot given the smaller footprint. If it’s not difficult to set up and get a decent pitch, and if there are no major issues with QC and storm worthiness then this could be a very viable UL option. Between this and an X-Dome Pro 1+ I could see solo backpackers that are taller having two really great new trekking pole and freestanding options.

[jscott]

Yes that video was more about the beard than the tent. check it out? i thought that’s what I was doing when I clicked on the link. In most instances this sort of video would set off my B.S. alarms. No way I’d buy that tent after that video. I might otherwise–see my comments above.

[Murali C]

I like the Offset solo better….look at the room in the offset solo – the guy is sleeping with a backpack at his foot end. You can see the same guy sleeping in Altaplex with his feet almost touching the tent walls.  In the Pivot, definitely more space at foot end.

Also the Offset solo is 94*36 at head end and 94*30 at foot end.

Pivot is 84*29 at head end and 84*28 at foot end.

Offset solo is more spacious and will be much better is my feeling.

[bradmacmt]

Offset solo is more spacious and will be much better is my feeling.

How much space does one need? The Offset Solo is 3oz’s heavier and requires three poles. A lot of which is “better” really comes down to intended use.

[Monte Masterson]

I’ve really liked some ZPacks tents over the years and others not. The hits that stand the test of time are the Hexamid’s larger offspring (Altaplex, Plex Solo) and the Duplex. Ones which didn’t hit the mark are Hexamid Twin, Hexamid Plus, Soplex and Plexamid. We’ll see if the Pivot Solo ends up being one of the keepers, I think it will.

Offset owners please tell me how a foot panel tieout supports a substantial portion of the fly and keeps the tent from buffeting in strong winds. Just seems like it wouldn’t provide enough solid support. I’d be afraid the tieout might rip in a major blow. But I don’t own an Offset nor am I an engineer…could be totally wrong.

[Murali C]

Do you think the YKK zipper on the doors will last? Is it YKK #3? I think MLD uses YKK #5…..wish they hadn’t used zippers and kept their overlapping doors with toggles..

[Brad W]

After looking this a bit, I have to admit it’s an interesting design. A short second pole that adds stability and room is pretty neat. My only gripe remains that Zpacks refuses to bring the front beak down closer to the ground. I do see in the description that they claim the fly drops down to four inches from the ground. Hmmm…the pictures aren’t encouraging. But most won’t find this to be an issue.

 

I agree. I would love to see more free standing tents have the flexibility to lower the beltline without throwing off the tents structure.

[JCH]

I would love to see more free standing tents have the flexibility to lower the beltline without throwing off the tents structure.

For a single wall where the inner hangs from the canopy that seems like a really tough ask.  Hard to imagine how it would work.

[bradmacmt]

For a single wall where the inner hangs from the canopy that seems like a really tough ask.  Hard to imagine how it would work.

Have to agree JCH. These single wall “mid-like” designs need the ventilation the bottom space provides not to turn into saunas. I tend to think this is just part of the design compromise one has to accept when using them.

[Dan @ Durston Gear]

“I would love to see more free standing tents have the flexibility to lower the beltline without throwing off the tents structure.”

Yeah as JCH said this is not really possible. The floor has to connect to the fly on all sides to be bug proof. To connect, mesh can run from the floor horizontally to the bottom edge of the fly, or mesh can run vertically up to the roof. The horizontal mesh connections (to the bottom edge) do allow flexibility in the fly height (because the slope of this mesh can easily vary) while the floor stays pitched nicely (if it is tensioned somehow with adjustable straps or struts) so this works.

The problem is the vertical mesh walls. Any side of the floor with a vestibule can’t connect horizontally to the bottom edge so it needs to have a vertical mesh wall. This wall will unavoidably become looser if you lower the fly and tighter if you raise it. So there is a certain height where it pitches best (the “natural” height of the tent). You can go a bit higher but pitching higher will lift some of the floor up into the sidewall to give a smaller floor and risks over stressing/tearing the mesh wall and other side effects (e.g. raising the pole tip connect off the ground), while pitching lower slackens the mesh wall so there are side effects like zippers don’t operate as nice and the floor sidewalls get shorter and may lay on the ground (in addition to the side effect of reduced headroom).

So a singlewall tent can only adjust the fly independently of the floor pitch if you have no vestibule. As soon as you have a vestibule, the pitch can move up and down some (a few inches), but you aren’t going to have a big range without some side effects. Doublewall tents can do this better because mesh sidewall doesn’t connect to the fly.

[bradmacmt]

Great explanation Dan. I can visualize this easily based on your description.

[Brad W]

Yeah as JCH said this is not really possible. The floor has to connect to the fly on all sides to be bug proof. To connect, mesh can run from the floor horizontally to the bottom edge of the fly, or mesh can run vertically up to the roof. The horizontal mesh connections (to the bottom edge) do allow flexibility in the fly height (because the slope of this mesh can easily vary) while the floor stays pitched nicely (if it is tensioned somehow with adjustable straps or struts) so this works.

The problem is the vertical mesh walls. Any side of the floor with a vestibule can’t connect horizontally to the bottom edge so it needs to have a vertical mesh wall. This wall will unavoidably become looser if you lower the fly and tighter if you raise it. So there is a certain height where it pitches best (the “natural” height of the tent). You can go a bit higher but pitching higher will lift some of the floor up into the sidewall to give a smaller floor and risks over stressing/tearing the mesh wall and other side effects (e.g. raising the pole tip connect off the ground), while pitching lower slackens the mesh wall so there are side effects like zippers don’t operate as nice and the floor sidewalls get shorter and may lay on the ground (in addition to the side effect of reduced headroom).So a singlewall tent can only adjust the fly independently of the floor pitch if you have no vestibule. As soon as you have a vestibule, the pitch can move up and down some (a few inches), but you aren’t going to have a big range without some side effects. Doublewall tents can do this better because mesh sidewall doesn’t connect to the fly.

 

 

Thanks Dan. I knew there are some compromises to the bathtub floor/mesh and could deal with those when there is room to play-seems the 8″ bathtub tents-Altaplex-are a little more forgiving with going up or down on the recommended pole height-compared to a 4″ or less bathtub floor tent for the reasons you explained.

It’s a fine line to walk I assume, when designing the tent-setting the fly height high enough to have decent air flow yet not enough to have large amounts of wind passing though.

[Link .]

. Zpacks Pivot Solo Tent | Set Up & Breakdown Video .

[bradmacmt]

Thanks for the link, Link :)

[Monte Masterson]

The video is better than nothing but not very thorough. As the title says it only shows set-up and breakdown. I’m waiting for an in-depth buyer video on YT showing a slow walkaround and a 6’2″ tall human inside (on 3″ air pad). With 52″ head pole there appears to be an immense amount of livable space inside the Pivot, at least for its footprint and weight. However the tent’s shape is very asymmetrical and walls are steep so it remains to be seen how wind worthy it will be.

[bradmacmt]

Since the tent just came out this week I’m thinking it may take some time for any user reviews. If it were not full-on winter here I’d order one to try, but there’s no point since it wouldn’t see any use until next July. I’ll order one late spring and set it up in the yard. My gut feeling is it’s going to be a good design for someone like me that doesn’t use trekking poles (two poles are a 4oz penalty), and doesn’t like single pole mid designs.

[jscott]

Yes thanks Dan for that explanation. and it certainly matches my experience with the Hex solo. I just never put it all together conceptually. So now I can finally stop bringing up this point. And just revert to plumping for double wall tents.

[Sam Farrington]

Murali,
I’ve found that the no. 3 Zippers used by Warmlite are much stronger. With the demise of the owner, Jack Stephenson, and the relocation of the business from New Hampshire to Colorado, I contacted the family member who took over and ordered a supply of the more robust No. 3’s, including a supply of of the zipper pulls.
Any thing to keep the weight down while maintaining strength. I’ve found that many small reductions in the weight of parts, along with careful design, the tents can be kept stronger without adding a lot of weight.. Kind of like the the building of the first space shuttle.

[Murali C]

Thanks Sam – I pulled the trigger on the Offset Solo – it has two sets of doors like Duplex. Zpacks confirmed it uses #3 zippers. I am hoping even if one door has issues, having an extra door will help. If both die, I will add an overlapping door with some toggles like in other Zpacks tents. Also will try to keep the zippers lubricated when I hike in the desert.

[Author]

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