ZPacks Pivot Solo Tent

[bradmacmt]

I do have a long torso and short legs, so when seated I probably sit “taller” than I really am. I don’t know how someone > 6’ tall can sit up inside an Altaplex and not feel claustrophobic.

@JGH super interesting. I’ve been pm-ing with @Brad W regarding the Altaplex since he has one. Somehow I forgot you have the Altaplex too. My only mid experience (this past fall) was setting up a TT Aeon Li in the backyard and putting a 3″ pad in it. As I said, I’m 5′-10,” but like you I’m long in the torso and shorter in the legs. However, I’m not a “chest freezer” lol. I found the Aeon Li too confining, and I say that as someone that finds the Nemo Hornet 1P very liveable/spacious. I can’t imagine the Aeon being a workable shelter for someone over 6′. I sent it back.

I mentioned to Brad that I’ll buy the Altaplex and Pivot Solo, try them out in the backyard (when the snow is gone). I’ll keep the one I like. For me, this purchase will be a “mission specific” tent for a long walk I have in mind, rather than a general backpacking tent. For that the TT Rainbow Li just can’t be beat.

I think I mentioned I’m not a trekking pole guy (I use a Komperdell walking cane – I like having a hand free), but in order to make sense of using a single pole tent, I bought a Komperdell walking staff. It adjusts to 59″ (though can go beyond its two stopping points to easily get to 60″) . https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/127739?csp=a&feat=507761-plalander&gnrefine=1*Color/Style*Black

Obviously the Pivot will require a separate 1 oz pole, but that’s no big deal. If I were sticking with my cane, I’d forgo a single pole tent and stick with the Rainbow. Giving up the liveability of the Rainbow to carry dedicated poles isn’t worth the extra couple ounces. Ditto if I’m living out of a basecamp and doing day hikes where I want a third leg (think scree fields peak bagging).

You still have the Altaplex?

 

[Brad W]

Thinking about the Altaplex interior space, I set it up and got inside-again, 6’2+. 170lbs with what I have been told are wide shoulders, sitting up perpendicular to the mesh door, I can sit in between the red box and not touch the DCF material with my head or shoulders-but any movement within that box-1-2″ and easily touch. Sitting dead center, facing outward is fine and I have spent lots of time in that spot making coffee, etc. The vestibule space is generous and when no bugs are present, I leave the mesh ope and it really feels much bigger.

Not knocking this tent at all. I really like it, but I think the sales verbiage that it’s for tall hikers is misleading. I think anyone with a inflatable pad and using a quilt should look elsewhere if they are over 6’1″ and are really don’t want their quilt to touch the foot end. If that doesn’t bother you so much(or you use a thin foam pad), 6’3″ would be max IMO. As it stands, I slide my pad all the way up against the door side to gain as much foot and head end room as possible.

I also think the way the photos are taken-intentional or by accident-are misleading. In the below picture it appears the back wall is much further away from the user than it actually is.

.

The Plex Solo and Altaplex both have that back wall angle toward the door side at a much more aggressive angle that photos show.

Interested in seeing more review of the Pivot.

[bradmacmt]

sitting up perpendicular to the mesh door, I can sit in between the red box and not touch the DCF material with my head or shoulders-but any movement within that box-1-2″ and easily touch

@Brad W great info, very helpful!

When you speak of moving within that box-1-2″ do you mean you hit the “side ceilings” (blue arrows) or the “back ceiling” (orange arrow)? Are the side ceilings closer or further from your head/shoulders than the back ceiling?

[Brad W]

@Brad W great info, very helpful!

When you speak of moving within that box-1-2″ do you mean you hit the “side ceilings” (blue arrows) or the “back ceiling” (orange arrow)? Are the side ceilings closer or further from your head/shoulders than the back ceiling?

 

If I am near the vertical red lines sitting up, my head will hit the side ceiling without too much movement. As I enter the sweet spot-center-then my shoulder would touch the back panel with little movement in that direction. If the mesh is open, I can position myself a little more outward and have more clearance.

Again, sitting facing outward as in making coffee, enjoying the view, dead center,  I can move a little and not hit head or shoulders.

I tried taking pictures of my in the tent but there is no depth perception and you can’t tell how far away the DCF is from me-it’s like an optical illusion. Maybe the same issue with the photos on Zpacks website.

[bradmacmt]

Thanks Brad – that’s a very helpful and a good explanation. I agree with you, it’s very difficult to get a sense of interior space with a camera. As the old preacher said, “it’s better felt than telt.” :) I’m still sticking with my plan of ordering each the Altaplex and Pivot Solo.

[jscott]

“Again, sitting facing outward as in making coffee, enjoying the view, dead center,  I can move a little and not hit head or shoulders.”

when I’m able to enjoy the view, the weather is good. In that case, I exit my tent and find a comfortable spot to sit and make breakfast, etc,  outside of my tent.

I’m only 5’8” so headroom is not nearly the issue it is for taller folks. Still, I’ve never understood the necessity of taking in a glorious view from inside my tent. It’s always better still outside.

I’m mostly sleeping or reading on my back in my tent. Hence, I’m more concerned with not having my head or the bottom of my bag brush against a wet tent wall than tent height.

[bradmacmt]

Still, I’ve never understood the necessity of taking in a glorious view from inside my tent. It’s always better still outside.

@jscott of course I agree with you, and I know the other Brad does too. However, in obnoxious mosquito country or during rain, it’s nice to sit inside a tent and take in the views from shelter.

[Murali C]

I have an Altaplex tarp (bought the tent and removed the floor/net). I don’t know if you all have set it up using the method prescribed by “Darwin on the trail” where he sets up the two rear tie outs and then the pole and then the rest of the tieouts. According to Darwin, this method maximizes the room and he is north of 6 feet tall and he is very comfortable he says.

I am 5′ 10” and use my own method and sometimes it has lots of room and sometimes not. I think having a sit pad or keeping the backpack between your toes and walls helps in case your pitch is not that great.

I guess a flat tarp is attractive for taller folks as your head and feet will never touch the walls! And with a bivy, you can solve many issues – bugs and splash back etc. But, yeah, it has a learning curve and site selection is very important etc.

[JG H]

I don’t have my Altaplex anymore. I don’t like brushing up against the sidewalls in my shelter and especially in the morning when they’re sheeted in condensation.

I’m trying to find a single-wall DCF shelter for my brother who is 6’4” but I’m not convinced one exists where the occupant won’t be banging on walls. I may get him a Tiger Wall 2 Platinum and he can just deal with the extra weight. He may still have his quilt pressing into the mesh at the foot, but it won’t end up covered in frost by morning.

Any users 6’4” tall or better who can recommend something?

[Barrett H]

My suggestion would be the Tarptent Rainbow Li. Definitely long enough, with steep enough walls at head and foot, for a 6’4” person. The walls do come in a touch on the sides, but given the crossbar holding the sides out it is way better than the single trekking pole shelters.
This option obviously isn’t as light as these Zpacks options, but has quite a few advantages being semi-freestanding with a full freestanding mode option as well as a “porch mode” option, and even the option with a liner to block your sleep system from touching the sidewalls. Nice tent. I don’t own one, but it may be my next purchase if the Pivot Solo doesn’t deal well with the tall user issues.

[baja bob]

Locus Gear Hapi Grande mid can be setup with single or dual pole gives plenty of shoulder room with the dual pole setup.  Sufficient with the single pole as well. Footprint is 120”x70”

[bradmacmt]

Any users 6’4” tall or better who can recommend something?

@JG H As Barrett said, Rainbow Li. One of the most underrated tents out there. Love mine. While I’m only 5’10”, I’m fairly certainly it handle someone 6’4″.

Based on what I’m hearing about the Altaplex, I’m quite curious to see if I find I’ll like the Pivot Solo more… I might just have to order them this winter, shovel an area in the backyard, and set them up on a piece of Tyvek. Not sure I want to wait until April or May :)

[JG H]

Funny, I was looking at the Rainbow Li last week. With a floor length of 88”, I was concerned that with a 78” long pad the distance between the pad and walls would only be 5” on each end. I can see the end walls look steep, but it’s hard to tell from pics just how steep. And that the tent tapers as much as it does from floor to ceiling was also a little worrisome. He’s a back sleeper with size 14 feet. Still think he’d fit w/out his quilt brushing the ends?

[JG H]

@ Brad Mac

I’m definitely curious to hear your report back on the Altaplex vs the Pivot. Is site selection a critical concern for you? Do you often find that you’re limited to narrower sites?

[bradmacmt]

@jgh I wish it were nicer weather here I’d set up the Rainbow and get some measurements and pictures for you. 6′-4″ is tall and size 14’s are big for sure! I can’t really answer you from memory – I’d really have to set it up to be more sure. I “think” it should work as the ends are fairly vertical, but can’t be certain.

As to site selection, tough to answer. Sometimes tight little spots for sure. Do you feel like the Altaplex requires a lot of room? The Rainbow doesn’t, which is another nice feature.

Got a $200 gift certificate for Zpacks for Christmas from my wife, so now I’m very much itching to order these lol.

[JG H]

The floor is what matters most and the Altaplex floor is 4” wider and 2” longer than the Rainbow Li, so that’s essentially a push. On the whole, though, the Altaplex is about 10” longer and 10” wider so its total footprint is somewhat bigger. Where the Rainbow really separates itself is when you add in the length of the guy lines you’ll be using which gives it a clear advantage over the Altaplex. We’ve never had issues with site selection, so this isn’t a big consideration for us.

[Brad W]

Any users 6’4” tall or better who can recommend something?

My friend has a Zpacks Offset Duo, he is 6’3″, 250lbs, size 13 shoes and loves it. Has plenty of room. He had the Triplex before and fit diagonal in that but it took up too much space and finding a site was tough. He’s had no issues with the Offset.

 

I have an Altaplex tarp (bought the tent and removed the floor/net). I don’t know if you all have set it up using the method prescribed by “Darwin on the trail” where he sets up the two rear tie outs and then the pole and then the rest of the tieouts. According to Darwin, this method maximizes the room and he is north of 6 feet tall and he is very comfortable he says.

Yes, this is the way for the Plex Solo and Altaplex. If you watch his pitch video, the floor is almost fully floating before he puts anything inside. This makes a huge difference in interior space.

[William Chilton]

My friend has a Zpacks Offset Duo, he is 6’3″, 250lbs, size 13 shoes and loves it. Has plenty of room.

Yes, we have the Offset Duo, and I’d say it has the most useable length of any tent we’ve used, including the Double Rainbow Li.

[JG H]

And the offset doesn’t have those obnoxious rainbow doors! Thanks for the heads up.

[bradmacmt]

@JG H I wonder if you’ve looked at the Durston X-Mid Pro1?

[JG H]

I had one. I found it too confining, too. I was actually perplexed at its popularity when I pitched mine. It went right back.

We have an X-Mid Pro 2+ now and I think Dan got it right with this one. My girlfriend loves it. The best feature to me is that we can store our BA Skyline stools inside the vestibule which then act like a shelves and doubles up our storage there (we put our packs inside DCF pack liners at night and hang them so they’re never in the vestibules).

[Todd T]

Any users 6’4” tall or better who can recommend something?

I’m 6’5″.  The Tarptent Dipole 1 Li is the most tall-friendly one-man tent I’ve ever used.

I have a Rainbow as well, but it’s fairly easy to slide sideways into the end walls and it’s more prone to heavy condensation.

[bradmacmt]

I have a Rainbow as well, but it’s fairly easy to slide sideways into the end walls and it’s more prone to heavy condensation.

@Todd T is your Rainbow silnyon? I ask because I had the silnylon version, and experienced intense condensation every time I used it, no matter where I pitched it. With the DCF version, I have yet to experience any condensation.

[Jerry Adams]

That’s consistent with the theory that since DCF is fairly transparent to IR, it doesn’t cool as much as nylon and polyester from radiative heat loss.  Therefore you don’t get as much condensation.

And, the tradeoff, is that then you cool off a little more.  Maybe, a nylon or polyester tent would allow you to sleep comfortably at a temperature 5F colder.  Theoretically.

[bradmacmt]

That’s consistent with the theory that since DCF is fairly transparent to IR, it doesn’t cool as much as nylon and polyester from radiative heat loss.  Therefore you don’t get as much condensation.

For sure, that’s one theory of why DCF is less prone to condensation. Another is that DCF’s surface holds moisture differently than silnylon. Moisture on silnylon tends to bead up, whereas DCF spreads some of the moisture out more evenly in its fibrous surface, and the rest runs off it, and down to the mesh venting. IIRC Dan @ Durston Gear mentioned something like this.

It may be a combination of several of these theories too… it’s funny, no one seems 100% certain.

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