ZPacks Duplex - 1000 Mile Gear Review of my Thru Hiking Tent - The BEST Ultralight Tent For Hiking?
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- čas přidán 8. 07. 2024
- After just over 1,700kms, here is my thru hiking tent review. I'll be sharing with you my thoughts on how the Zpacks Duplex tent performed on Te Araroa and whether it is the best ultralight tent for hiking.
In this trekking pole tent review, I'll be sharing how the Zpacks Duplex tent held up in the rain, as well as all the other things I liked and disliked about the Duplex. I'll be referring back to my initial review video of the Duplex in this post thru-hike gear review and telling you all the reasons why I think it just might be the PERFECT TENT for beginner thru hikers.
⬇ Watch Next
○ PLAYLIST - Te Araroa North 19/20: bit.ly/3eeOpbU
○ Zpacks Duplex Tent - First Look: • Zpacks Duplex Tent - F...
○ Zpacks Arc Haul 1700km Review: • ZPacks Arc Haul Review...
WHAT I LIKED:
00:00:58 Weight
00:02:54 Waterproofing
00:06:02 Fast to Set Up
00:06:18 Fully Enclosed
00:07:25 Easy to Clean
00:08:25 Double Vestibules
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:
00:09:26 No Headlamp Attachment
00:10:12 Can’t Roll Doors Away
00:11:11 Noisy
00:12:43 Transparency
00:14:13 Heavier Stakes
00:15:23 Price
00:16:26 Other things raised in my previous review video
00:19:00 Condensation
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I own the Duplex and in fact almost all of my gear is Zpacks. Obviously I like there gear. I use my Duplex with my medium size hound mix Maggie. Prior to this past week I never had an issue with my Duplex. We were hiking the Long Trail in Vermont USA and we hit some extreme weather. I less than 16 hours we received over eight inches of rain. The state had been receiving rain on and off for over a month and many of the area had flooding. I had to keep both doors shut for over 12 hours and my tent was soaked as was my dogs sleep system. It was so bad I never even took my quilt out of its bag. It was almost like raining in my tent. I had a couple of cloths for condensation but they were soaked very quickly. No tent does everything well but I think if I ever have a week of rain in the forecast I will use my BA Tiger Wall. Zpacks now use zippers on their doors and have some type of ridge vent which may help with the condensation issue. I still like my tent but this situation has me very concerned. If we were on a through hike my bag would have been soaked and I would have no way to dry it off. I makes me think I may need to switch to a synthetic quilt for summer use. I have never had any issues with my stakes but I am sure that has to do with the type of soil you are using them in. My tent is the thicker spruce green color. This has been a very wet summer here so I am hoping it never happens again. I think for a trail like the PCT or CDT it’s a perfect tent for the AT not so much. Take care
This is a great point, and thanks for bringing it up. I've seen the Duplex used in cold and snowy conditions, but I think in severe wind and rain it's definitely got its drawbacks. I would certainly prefer a dual layer tent in those kinds of conditions. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Wow I found your channel some time ago as you know for your TA videos. But, this is the first gear review I have seen you do and I think this is truly your groove and looking at the number of views this proves it. I don't know what it is but you pulled me in and I could not stop watching. I found this funny because I have chosen the MSR Freelite 2 person which I love but still I had to watch your review. Well done loved it !!!
Really??!! That's very interesting, I appreciate your feedback George. Glad you enjoyed it, even if you didn't find it 'helpful' in the end for choosing your tent. Hope the Freelite is working well for you!
Best review yet!
Outstanding review of the Duplex! I've been looking at tents for awhile now and am really leaning towards getting a Duplex! Thanks!
You're welcome, Tim. Glad it was helpful!
I've had my Duplex for almost three years. Love it.
I'm hoping mine will also go the long haul too. Although the quest for ever lighter gear may eventually see me switch to a one person!
Hi, Love your accent and review. I too will be using the Duplex on my thru hike of the Appalachian Trail in March 2021. I agree with your points and the video was spot on. John from MI USA
Glad it was helpful! Good luck for your upcoming AT thru hike John!
Excellent review.
Glad you liked it!
I just ordered a white duplex last week, can’t wait to get it!
Didn't realise they're making them in white now?!?! That sounds awesome! Congrats :)
Leaning toward this tent for an upcoming Patagonia trip. You confirmed everything I’ve heard about it, especially the price. I may go with the camo color for a slightly heavier fabric and less light penetration. Thanks for your review!
That sounds like a great adventure! I'm glad you enjoyed the review and it answered your questions :)
I love everything about this video, especially your cute accent and your just so cute in your winter gear... I am def a fan!
I've Subscribed!
Great thorough review. My wife picked up on the lack of spot to hang a headlight inside right away too. We used to use candle lanterns in our REI Expedition tent. I am stringing an interior line inside to allow hanging stuff.
I actually carried a little line of rope with me for the first few days, as I thought I would rig something up. But alas, it didn't make the cut in the Great Gear Shakedown of Days 5 & 6!
You raised a lot of points that most people don't address with DCF tents.Coming from Australia, if I'm camping in summer, and there is no shade, I have to get up as soon as the sun comes up because of the greenhouse affect. All in all though the trade off's are worth it for the weight saving. I had to sell a lot of older gear to be able to justify my Plexamid purchase, but I have absolutely no regrets.
This is a very good point. People don't realise how strong the sun is on this side of the world, and as you say being in a normal tent in the middle of the day can be stifling. There weren't many occasions where I felt that way in the Duplex. Thanks for the comment!
Relaxing scenery
Certainly a great place to have spent some time!
Sold. I need one. Thank you
Really excellent tent, can't rate it highly enough!
Great review. I think I'm leaning away from Zpacks and probably looking at the Tarptent Aeon Li.
The Aeon Li is one of the tents I'd love to take a look at and try out in the future, I think it could be a great option!
great review . and yes i have one great tent i have got my set up not tobad now but i gess a week on the Ta and i will be able to put it up blindfolded. I just love the way you can shake most of the water off after a rainy night . I find the ground hog stakes work well and will handle a make shift rock hammer if needed ; ) just a great light weight tent with plenty of room
I actually had to bash my groundhog stakes in with rocks on the Queen Charlotte Track (*cringe) and aside from a few extra scratches on the head, they held up really well! Probably worth the slightly heavier weight I reckon. Can't speak highly enough of the tent though. I had it up in the stormy weather late last week, and aside from one of the trekking poles collapsing on me, it was completely bone dry inside!
This was a really thorough review! Thank you so much! Your rationale is like the sweet sirens' song luring doomed backpackers to dashed against the rocks of six hundred plus dollars! Welp...there's no use turning around now!
Hahah... yeah that little chestnut of a problem! Who needs to eat anyway?!
Great review. I have the soloplex, it is a great tent but very small and the material is bit thin. Mine lets a bit of water in with heavy rain. You are correct that by choosing a slightly thicker fabric leads to better water proofness.
I appreciate you letting me know how you've found your soloplex. I was considering switching out to a one-person for the South Island, but to be honest, I don't think a couple hundred extra grams of weight loss is really worth what you lose in space. Thanks!
@@LongWhiteGypsy I agree stay with the duplex. Soloplex is tiny. Good for shorter hikes, only weighs about 450g.
the eastern nail stakes are by far the best imho- two eight inch for the vestibules and the rest the six inch -I use them for the triplex and the plexamid here in Tahoe (California/Pacific Crest Trail) and you can hammer them with rocks better than any other stakes- great review btw
Funny you should mention that, as these are the ones I'm looking at! Thanks for the feedback :)
Nice sharing sister..
Thank you so much 😍
You're welcome :)
My duplex hasn't arrived yet. So, this is a big help in getting accustomed to it before I get accustomed to it. :). I plan to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail next March-September. Your extended experience is very helpful. Thanks for sharing. Monk
I appreciate your comment Monk :) Good luck for the AT next year, and let me know if you have any more questions about the Duplex. A lot of people struggle with getting the tent pitched perfectly. My best advice is don't stretch the guys out all the way when you put the pegs in... leave some slack and set them in line with the opposite corner. Tighten the guys last to create the best tension.
Thanks. That makes sense.
@@WanderingMonkHikesdid you make your hike?
@@fredcatella285 I made it from Amicalola to Standing Bear north of the Smokies. My family member became terminal and I had to get off. Since then I’ve section hiked to Damascus and Pennsylvania. I’ve hiked a lot of other trails though.
Awesome review, wow you know so much technical stuff, impressive!
Thank you kindly! It's amazing how quickly you start to talk technical when you immerse yourself in this stuff!
The main thing i dont like about it is to find an open space with deep enough soil to stake it down. In the wilderness, such open areas are often rock ground with just a few inches of soil on top. I later got the Hilleberg Bivanorak, and being able to set up camp directly on the trail is a major benefit if i have not planned to go to a certain spot where i know it is possible to set up my Duplex. Many people talk about condensation being an issue with this shelter, and maybe ill find out why some day, but at least moisture in the air will not settle inside the bivanorak, so any condensation will be from sweating, which should only be an issue if it gets too warm... This means that camping near lakes is not an issue - but the gear left outside of the bivy will of course still get wet, so definitely keep your electronics in a drybag...
You make a good point. The Duplex does require a bit of thought when pitching, but you would have this problem with any tent you chose to carry with you on any trail in New Zealand. The most difficult place I have had to pitch so far was out front of Ada Pass Hut on the St James Walkway a few months ago, where the ground underfoot was very hard to get stakes in, and there wasn't a nice flat patch anywhere without tree roots. Having an inflatable mat in these circumstances is preferential, but also in that case I could see the benefit of not having such a large tent as well.
Regarding the Bivanorak, my personal opinion is that this wouldn't really be a suitable shelter for most people interested in NZ tramping (especially beginners). For one thing, the lack of protection from sandflies would drive most people mad! I know there are a stalwart few experienced trampers in the NZ tramping community who choose to use tarps as shelters, but even they struggle as there aren't always adequate places to set them up (especially if relying on trees to anchor lines to) and the ground underfoot is often soggy and damp and/or uneven making for an uncomfortable night's sleep. Also, there are the weather conditions to take account of in NZ, being a tropical climate with ever-changing and quite violent weather patterns. I wouldn't be comfortable that this could provide enough protection if I were to get caught out.
Having said all of that, of course it is each to their own, and during the summer this might be a good option on some of the milder trails. Thank you for making the comment and giving people another option to think about as well.
@@LongWhiteGypsy When i first got this shelter, i figured i would only use it in the bug free season - but after hearing people talk about using headnets, i decided to give it a try, and it worked surprisingly good. The arms and bottom can be singed down to create a pretty much waterproof seal, so that is also not an issue.
When it comes to weather conditions, i think id feel more safe in the Bivanorak than in most tents. Tents can get blown down in really strong winds, while the Bivanorak will never blow down, as it is not really "put up" in the first place. Also if it gets cold when im out hiking, i can use the Bivanorak as an extra layer of clothing.
Tarps are of course nice to have in addition to the Bivanorak, but i know some people who use it without tarps, and just set up camp under trees if it starts raining. Alternatively i can just sleep on the side, and the big hood should keep me dry (i have not tried this yet). I always bring my small 1x1,45m tarp as a groundsheet for my sleeping pad, but this is not really necessary if i take my time clearing the ground for sharp sticks and pinecones, so if it rains, i can use it for covering the hood area when i sleep, and to have a dry place to cook during the day.
@@LongWhiteGypsy A really nice thing about this shelter is the ability to go for a pee in the middle of the night, without getting out of my nice warm shelter. As long as i use a quilt (or a sleeping bag that opens in the bottom), i can just unsinge the bottom, lift up the Bivanorak and quilt/sleeping bag, and im free to walk around. Much quicker and easier than crawling out of a tent, which makes it easier to go back to sleep again.
Also, if its cold when i wake up, i am free to walk around and find a nice spot to sit and cook my morning coffee, while still staying nice and warm in my shelter.
This shelter may seem like its only for extreme minimalists, but its actually the most enjoyable shelter i have used. Have not tried camping in the rain yet though, but im looking forward to trying it out, and see what the limits of this shelter is.
@@LongWhiteGypsy BTW... The Duplex is the best tent i know about (maybe the Plexamid could be better). Not the best suited for heavy snowfall, but i believe my spruce green Duplex should be able to handle it.
Thanks for dropping the feedback! Hope it's helpful to others out there who are looking for alternatives to hiking tents like the Zpacks Tent. 👍☺️
Awesome review thanks...😊
My pleasure 😊 You're very welcome! Are you weighing up your options for a new tent?
@@LongWhiteGypsy yeah... really like the look of the Duplex and 99% of the reviews are positive..... I can handle the price tag but I’ll get hammered with import charges in the UK😬 I’m hiking the coast to coast in July so will decide soon 😊
@@WoodsmanocD86 It really is a great tent, and a fantastic one to start with if your budget can stretch that far. I am looking to possibly downsize now, but mainly out of a desire to reduce my pack weight just that little bit more (I tend to carry way too much food!).
I can feel a trip back to the UK to complete some of the long trails coming on! Good luck on your Coast to Coast hike, I'd love to hear how it goes!
@@LongWhiteGypsy yeah I’m slowly bringing pack weight down... I can remember a 100 miler with a 25kg pack weight a few years ago😬🙉... I’d be happy with 12kg for the C2C so a lot lighter but still not UL compared to some!!! but I’m good with that... I’ll let you know how it goes... can’t wait
Perhaps you weren't aware that Zpacks sells self adhesive loops that can be attached to the roof of the tent for whatever purpose you may require. I ordered some with my tent so that I can hang a light and string a clothesline.
Yes I have since been made aware of this, but thank you for mentioning it again. It will probably be something I pick up before I head down to the South Island this year :D
hey michelle !! I hope you have an LanShan 2 PRO review on the way !! its a new tent that came out this year (2020). its a single wall tent. Its basically a more affordable version of the zpacks duplex from ali-express for those of us who cannot afford to pay 600 dollars !!! Your the only decent kiwi backpacking channel i know and would really appreciate your opinion !! also i'm so addicted to ur channel :) thanks !!
Haha nice to hear you enjoy the channel Monica, glad to have you along! At the moment the Duplex is the only shelter I have (I've got some pretty big budget constraints) but I would love to be able to give an opinion on the Lanshan tent too. I don't think it will be something I can test out before the South Island leg next year, but perhaps for some of my upcoming Great Walks?! Thanks for the suggestion!
Long White Gypsy 😋🥰🥳🏕💓 awesome xo
lanshan is chinese crap and sucks big time. unfortunately the zpack is only for the rich
Michelle, I wonder if you have ever considered a career in broadcasting????! Wonderful clear summary of the duplex. Thanks.
Thank you very much for the copliment Jude! I'd love to do something more with video or photography, but not really sure what that might be. Broadcasting unfortunately would require me to go back to university to get yet ANOTHER degree.....
@@LongWhiteGypsy I understand that challenge with academia! Well, I hope you continue to use your natural talent in many ways that bring you and your audience great joy!
Bought a 25 euro 2nd hand tent that lasted me 15.000 km (Cycling, but always wildcamping) It's a totaly different thing i know but don't let budget be an issue for someone to enjoy the great outdoors. ;))
Yes, there are some really great budget options out there. In the future as I hike more of New Zealand's great walks and other trails I'll be trialling out some other budget friendly and more easily accessible options for NZ hikers.
@@LongWhiteGypsy I always wanted to see NZ but haven't got to it yet. Hopefuly someday!
awesome vid! did you purchase the groundsheet? do you think it's worth it?
Thankyou! No I didn't purchase it. I found that the slightly thicker bathtub floor in this version of the tent was more than sufficient for what I needed through the North Island, as I was mostly camping on grass. I would say if you need to camp on sharp or rocky ground on a regular basis, the groundsheet may very well be worth it :)
Thanks for the review, I can share most your experiences.
I also have some tips for you: replace your Zpacks stakes with MSR Groundhogs. There are worlds between the "original" MSR alloy and the knockoffs on the market(which the Zpacks stakes simpy are), it is a lot more durable. They are also a bit twisted at the tip which means they are technically no Y stakes, but the hold better in the ground. Also, Zpacks sells small DCF patches with hooks, you can buy one and stick it into your tent to hold your headlamp.
That's a great suggestion on the DCF patch, I'll have to have a look into that! Ideally I'd like something I can put on and take off as necessary, but that might be a good solution in the interim. And re: the stakes, the groundhogs are actually the ones I ended up swapping to when the Titanium Vs failed on me. Great little stakes (see my response to Darren W above ^^)
@@LongWhiteGypsy Haha, funny that the MSR stakes were your emergency solution. Hope they'll last you well!
Regarding the DCF patch: it comes with a hook you can put on and take off as you wish. Just the patch with the little fabric loop is potentially permanently.
I just had to pay 380$ nzd tax on the xl version of this tent. Brutal, so expensive. Hope it's worth this investment 🙏
Michelle it's a nice tent but no good for me as I only use one walking pole. Good review. Thanks Richard
Fair enough! You might want to consider either the Plexamid (although this does have an issue with the roof stay) or the other one I have been looking at getting for myself just lately is the Tarptent Aeon Li. One of my fellow hikers on TA had this tent, and I have to say I LOVED the look of it. Still looked roomy enough (for a one person tent) and only uses one trekking pole.
@@LongWhiteGypsy Thanks for the detailed reply. I take look at that. Richard
What's the name of the song in the outro?
Hi Gypsy, The best duplex review that I've seen and I have watched a ton of them. I've only had two problems using with my duplex both were avoidable. 1 was, i had to pitch my tent in a downpour in the dark on a slope. The ground was rocky and one of the stakes on a corner came loose. I woke up to a tent full of water on the downward side because the tent body fell inward on the inside of the netting around the bottom. The only other problem is the tent floor and air pad are slick and my xlite pad slides into the wall if not on a flat surface which gets my quilt damp from condensation. If you have an idea of how to keep my pad from sliding I would love to hear it. Thank you in advance. Happy Trails! From: Capt. America Appalachian Trail class of 2015
Wow, thanks for such a generous assessment John! Yes, I see this can be quite a big issue with the Duplexes. Because they're not freestanding, if one of the stakes come loose at any point it can result in disaster! I haven't experienced issues with my sleeping pad 'sliding' but then I do always try to aim for the flattest spot in camp! Usually it will just be me rolling off the mat, rather than sliding! Perhaps you could try carrying a lightweight foam pad with you to put under your mat? You could just cut it to torso length (that would probably provide enough friction) and put it under your mat. Also makes a great sitting pad for breaks during the day. This one from Gossamer Gear comes to mind: www.gossamergear.com/products/thinlight-foam-pad?variant=30497164620
@@LongWhiteGypsy I saw a video where someone put silver dollar size daps of silicone sealant on the bottom of the pad to keep it from sliding. Another showed a person putting a rolled up shirt under the pad, in the area under the crest of his back above their hips to keep their body from sliding up and down on the pad. I will check out the thinlight pad! Thank you Gypsy.
In Denmark/europe the Duplex cost over 1000 us dollars. I will use it for the length of Norway this spring/summer.
Wow, that's crazy! It certainly is an investment, but I have to say I can't see myself ever needing anything else. My continued desire to get my pack weight as low as possible would be the only factor swaying me towards purchasing a one man version, for example the Plexamid, but it would always be a DCF tent (or maybe even some form of tarp in the future?) all the way!
embrace the madness! leave those doors open. It's like cowboy camping without the bugs. There is nothing better than the sheer walls and the silhouette of the trees in the morning..
... unless there's a downpour or gale during the night, which happens more than you'd like in NZ! But yeah, i'm looking at doing more of this style camping on the South Island next year :)
Does it feel claustrophobic having your feet and face so close to the sloping roof like that? Im used to dome or tunnel tents which feel more spacious in that way
I'm about 167cm tall (ish) and I actually don't find that my feet and face are close to the roof at all. I thought I might have an issue with bashing my head on the walls every morning when I got up, but it never happened once! It's just really well designed, like they've thought of everything. If you're a little taller and you find this is an issue, then a lot of people also sleep diagonally in the tent to give themselves more room.
On what ? Theadadora ?
Was it watching Dixie, (Homemade Wanderlust), that convinced you to buy one?
She was the first person that I saw using one, but it was conducting a bunch of research and watching plenty of reviews from other hikers that helped me make a final decision. The top consideration was that I didn't have the strength or fitness to carry a tent that weighed 1.5kg or more. And out of the lightweight options, I thought this would be my best bet.
I won’t buy a tent if it doesn’t have a light hook in it, it really bothers me that much but! This tent because of the weight and space I might make an exception and I hear ya with the condensation issues just deal with it I say
As many have suggested, there are option add-ons you can purchase from ZPacks so you can attach a light inside. I might look at purchasing one of these before I head out onto the South Island leg of my journey :)
Just tie a piece of cord between the ends where the trekking poles go.
Nice one bud great wee upload looks great. Why don't we support each others channels looks like we enjoy the same stuff
Thanks for your comment! Glad you enjoyed the review! I'm not actively doing any collabs at the moment, but I'll check out your channel and bear you in mind for the future :)
What's a "Teent"?
Do you mean a "Tint?" Lol
Let's see how it goes in a gale in the South Island high country.... ;-)
I'm curious about that too
Well, I had it up all last week and we had some pretty monster downpours and high winds. I was very nervous about it (so much so that I got up at 2.30AM and sat inside watching it to make sure it wasn't going to fly away). When I got up the next morning it was still there, and it was completely dry in the morning. One of my trekking poles had collapsed a little, so it had slackened off in one corner, but otherwise it was great! I'm sure the stronger winds down south will give it a battering, but tbh I'll probably be in the huts on those evenings anyway!
The Dan Durston X-mid 2 is 10X better and half the price.
I guess it's just each to their own. Personally, I still prefer the Duplex because it's a good 300g lighter than the Durston tent, but thankyou for the recommendation. It looks like a great little tent for those who aren't so weight conscious as me!
Objectively, the review was very helpful and I bought one... but that accent kicks my ass LOL, it does make her a bit more attractive
Haha thanks Danny, should really have a 'translate' button on this one!
@@LongWhiteGypsy no translation needed though:) you english is great:)
its a tent not a tint :)
There is no "e" in the New Zealand English dictionary 😂
@@LongWhiteGypsy no offence :) couldn't resist
costs more than my rent
Yep! It's a problem alright!
hearing "tint" every time instead of "tent" just hurt my ears and i am not even native neglish speaker. :)
You'll have to get used to it if you want to continue watching my adventures :D