Making a 2-man Cuben Fiber Tent

This is my first venture into making something from Cuben Fiber, In fact it's the first time I've ever touched a sewing machine, so please don't moan about how I put this together. I'm learning too.

Also, if you're thinking of making something from CF, I'd strongly suggest maybe something slightly easier (with no sewing) like a tarp to start with.

And before you all say that this is a clone of Zpacks Duplex tent…. Well yes it is...It's also the same as the Nemo Equipment Meta 2, Six Moons Haven & Lunar Duo. I tried many different layouts, and because of the 54" roll width for Cuben kept coming back to this same design. You could make a larger vestibule, but you'd then have to add a horizontal seam into it (not hard).

Before you begin, go onto YouTube and look for "Leshy Cuben Fiber", He's got some extremely useful videos of making tie outs for CF Tarps etc. Well worth a watch! I've pinched all his ideas too.

Righto…Materials:

Cuben Fiber: I ordered this direct from Cubic Tech in the US, and man this stuff is amazing, hideously expensive, and when it first arrived I wasn’t really impressed (It looks like plastic), then when I tried to tear it…Wow! This stuff is awesome. I ordered 1.0 oz/yd for the floor, and 0.8 oz/yd for the tent shell. Joe at Zpacks uses lighter material, but I wanted something a bit stronger for the NZ Tops conditions.

I also ordered a ½" roll of double sided PSA tape from Cubic Tech, unfortunately they sent me the 1" tape and then re-sent the ½" I'd ordered. They let me keep the 1" roll (great service!) and this proved to be most helpful. I'd suggest buying one of each if you can afford it. I later ordered a ½" roll of 3M 9460PC tape as well, just to see the difference. The difference is the PSA tape has backing on both sides and can therefore be cut to lengths to use later, the 3M tape has backing one side and has to be stuck down as you take it off the roll, it also feels slightly stickier. Both work fine.

McNett Seam Grip: (Glue): I ordered this from Amazon. Well worth getting some or the Hysol U-09 FL Equivalent everyone uses. You don’t need much of this, so get the small tube.

Carbon Fiber Tent Poles: Carbon tubes came from China (Ali Express), I made them up from bits.

Titanium Tent Pegs: China (Ali Express)

Ultralight NoSeeUm Mesh: Came from Zpacks, as did the Z-line, glow wire & LineLoc 3’s.

You'll also need a scalpel, scissors, pens, scotch tape, a sewing machine, and lots of time and patience!

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