Zpacks - Duplex Classic Tent

ZPacks Duplex with freestanding kit.

I see the Duplex on Ulgeartrade all the time for $500, which is still cheaper and 5x lighter than that heavy ass $519 Kuiu tent. Im not sure why you're saying it's triple the price.

[Kuiu 3p](https://www.kuiu.com/products/mountain-star-3-person-tent-gunmetal-camel) [Duplex](https://www.garagegrowngear.com/products/duplex-tent-by-zpacks) [free standing kit](https://zpacks.com/products/duplex-freestanding-flex-kit?srsltid=AfmBOooaEbUCpQ7opab3eUMTE1Thu0349dJoS6SRzSw1_1sfyQE19Aqk) Even at brand new prices, it's not 3x the price.

In the same weight class a Zpacks Duplex with flexpole option is semi-freestanding. One cannot use the flexpoles without trekking poles, but when one does that tent is bomber with tons of interior volume. It gets no recognition on this subreddit as well. Such is life.

A Zpacks Duplex with the extra 12 oz of Flex-Poles will also work, but be sure to use your trekking poles as well to support the two tent peaks, so you still need to securely use the peak guylines.

669 g is about the same weight as my Zpacks Duplex and my Durston X-Mid Pro 2, so this tent is NOT 100g heavier.

I have a Zpacks Duplex with the optional semi-free-standing flex poles option. I chose it because I could leave the flex poles at home when lower weight was needed and use the flex poles when weather and other conditions dictated that. Always use with trekking poles either way. Trivial to pitch with or without flexpoles. Bomber with flexpoles and trekking poles with 3 poles going to each tent peak. As for condensation -- ALL tents will have condensation whether single-wall or double-wall. If one knows how to wipe it away and/or to create a breeze through the tent to help minimize it, then it should be less of a concern. Apparently, you have a tent that you have used alot already, so which one do you already have?

So a Duplex with flexpoles+stakes+stuff_sack will be about 1.1 kg with the flexpoles being about 0.33 kg of that. But the Duplex is a 2-person 2-door tent much like your existing tent. You probably want to downsize to a 1-P tent to save some weight.

A possibility is to get a Zpacks Duplex 2P with the flexpole option, so that the tent is semi-freestanding, but if your friend bails, then send the flexpoles away with them leaving you with less weight. Note that you will need trekking poles to securely pitch the Duplex even with the flexpole option. I think the Zpacks Duplex with flexpoles is one of easiest tents to pitch after a little practice. Here's a video clip I made about 4 years ago: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTmSV6vJzng](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTmSV6vJzng)

You might consider the Zpacks Duplex with the semi-freestanding flex pole kit. It can be used without the flexpoles if you want a lighter setup. I think one must ALWAYS use trekking poles in the peaks whenever the flexpoles are used. I have pitched this tent in my backyard when Hurricane Nicholas came through and it did great. Winds were strong enough to have pine needles impale the 0.75 oz/sqyd DCF: [https://i.imgur.com/T2ygMkW.jpg](https://i.imgur.com/T2ygMkW.jpg) but the tent was unmoved. I have Durston X-Mid Pro 2 as well, but it is not semi-freestanding. The two tents have different snow holding capacities: [https://i.imgur.com/6DVEcGH.mp4](https://i.imgur.com/6DVEcGH.mp4) For both tents, one must make triple sure that the trekking poles in the peaks are well locked and will not sink into the ground nor shorten their lengths. For the Duplex with the flex-poles, one can pick it up and move it around just like a freestanding tent but the trekking poles should not be inserted until after the final location is chosen. As for ease of set up here's a time-lapse video I made: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTmSV6vJzng](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTmSV6vJzng) Weight of my Zpacks Duplex (without the flexpoles) and my Durston X-Mid Pro 2 are essentially the same.

You are welcome. I enjoyed going back to see my old videos from 2021 which I didn't link showing the behavior of the Duplex in the high winds. It was bomber. That said, I use my X-Mid for longer trips especially with a bear canister to save the weight of not having to bring flex-poles. I use the Duplex for shorter trips where I carry less food weight and the ability to "pop-up" the tent instantly is nice. I have never used my Duplex without the flex-poles.

I would buy this https://zpacks.com/products/triplex-classic-tent I have the Duplex Classic and regret nothing.

I have the zpacks & if you can justify the money I would go for it. I got it for my wife & I but I take it on solo trips now too, I love it so much. The trekking pole tents also feel much more stable than freestanding. Just watch a couple videos it's not hard to set up.

If weight is the primary concern then obviously go with the Duplex. I would certainly practice setting it up before you go on trail as it can be a little finicky to get a good pitch. Once you got it down, it’s super quick to set up.

You can get a used in good condition Z-pack duplex for $450 - 600, I bought mine on eBay for $550 and hiked 3000 miles with it, otherwise maybe with a kid the REI flash 2 it’s a complete tent and I just picked up the older brown model for $110 is a little over 2lb with trekking poles, also don’t know if it still is on sale but I also picked up the MSR front range for Person tarp for $200 Which has a huge footprint and is only 2lb!

I hiked the AT with a Z-Packs Duplex, and it was downright palatial. Can’t imagine doing it in a single person tent, no thanks. Have fun out there!

My Duplex lasted my entire thruhike of the AT and I still use it!

Hi, hiked jmt with a double rainbow. Mine was made in USA before tarptent started manufacturing overseas, so not sure about quality now :( Replaced it with a Zpacks duplex. Loved many things about the tarptent, but also had many issues... 1) Biggest issue I had with the tarptent was that the weatherproofing/seam sealing started to fail. This can't happen with the duplex because the fabric is naturally waterproof 2) Set up is similar but SO MUCH easier & quicker for duplex because it uses trekking poles vs tarptents dedicated tent pole that you have to carry, assemble & shove into a sleeve. I am much less frustrated setting up the duplex vs the tarptent!!! ----- Both tents rely on staking! That being said, if you are new to these kinds of tents they can present condensation issues vs double walled freestanding tents (waking up because water is dripping on your face). Allegedly can be mitigated by campsite selection & leaving doors open etc. Never looked into it much because I don't care Staking is definitely a learning curve and not always possible, might end up having to use rocks to try to secure the tent! Sometimes I didn't have the energy to try to use rocks for every stake, so I just used it like a bivy. These are very loud in the wind if you can't stake well because they depend on staking. My husband hates these kinds of tents, constantly complains about condensation & and will not participate in any complex staking games with me 😂

Second this, had mine since 2017 and still going strong.