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)

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!

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 😂

I have a Zpack duplex and a Nemo hornet 2p tent both are great but the Zpack is expensive but I think only 14 ounces

Save yourself the headache and get a Zpacks duplex. It didn't become the most popular ultralightweight tent by accident. And yes, it should pack down small enough to fit nicely in 36L.

Another vote for a mid, forget the USA thru hiking tents for bad weather. MLD do mids in various sizes in various materials. Locus gear if you want something a bit more fancy. Tarptent Scarp is good in bad weather as well I don't get as much condensation on the inside of my DCF tents, but as long as the tent is big enough that your not brushing the sides, i've never had a problem, not even in the UK I've got: Locus gear - Khufu DCF-B Colin Ibbotson - Tramplite (DCF) TarpTent - Scarp 2 (Silnylon) Zpacks - Duplex (DCF) Sold TarpTent - Strat 2 Happilly take any of the tents out in re4ally bad weather except the Duplex Mids are fantastic in bad weather and easy to put up, only ball ache is if you decide to also use a inner You can use 2 hiking poles and something called a "Dual Pole Tip Extender" DPTE, rock solid, plus you can hang your inner BUT it is more of a faff

It depends is the answer to your question, which I know is no help so I will offer advice on the three tents I have used, Firstly they are all trekking pole tents, so if you’re not a fan or don’t fancy single skin tents skip this post. They all have the advantage of being light but can without some care suffer condensation and without the second skin this is easier to come in contact with. On to the tents: Six Moon Lunar Solo, cheaper, great tent, very stealth, green and compact. Ultimately too small for my six foot frame and kit, Zpacks duplex, 100% waterproof, great tent, never failed, loads of room, stupid light. Cons PRICE, large foot print and not stealth colours (always a bit concerned about being moved on, although in three years I never have). MLD Duomid, space, colour (I have green) adaptability for pitching,size. Bomb proof, modular Cons for me I can’t really think of any, Hope this helps, my thoughts are my own.

I had to get a "real tent" when i started backpacking with my toddler. I ordered a zpacks duplex and has worked fine i will probably switch to a durston pro 2 soon just to check it out. Coincidentally went on a day hike with her shes now 6yr and we had a discussion about when she will be able to sleep with me under the stars and i said talk to your mother about that.

Oh sorry, I meant the duplex variant (as in, a 2P) my partner and I were using in 2024, not the ZPacks product; too much weight for one person by themselves. Thanks, I'll give the Solomid XL a look. That one's huge!

This is true and I'm not sure what the typical lifespan is of DCF but I've had my tents last longer than this with somewhere between 0 pinholes and two.  My duplex - at least as many nights as yours. Zero pinholes.  My triplex - similar nights as duplex. One pinhole.  My Locus Gear Khafra - 0.5 oz DCF - bought used with unknown life before. Used by me so far for over 120 nights. Two pinholes.  Not sure if they are from the material degrading or from incidents. They are easily patched on trail (way easier than silpoly IMO) and our holes haven't shown any progression or escalation. I get a hole. Patch it. That's it.  But I don't know how my experience stacks up to others. Just wanted to put it here for reference for others looking at this 

If you want a free standing tent and like your MSR Hubba NX, you can’t go wrong with a copper spur. I own an MSR Hubba Hubba, Copper Spur HV UL1, and a Zpacks duplex. The MSR and copper spur are basically the same tent with a few minor differences: - copper spur is marginally lighter - msr has more metal clips so is likely more durable than some of the plastic clips on the copper spur (although I haven’t had any issues) - I prefer the interior pockets on the copper spur vs the msr and like that it’s two perpendicular zips per door instead of one big curved zip which is sometimes harder to open when not pitched perfectly taut.

Very happy with my Zpacks Duplex. It’s lighter and cheaper than the Durston tents

The lightest tent out there is the zpacks triplex. I have the duplex. It’s incredibly light. It’s a trekking pole tent. I’ve flown with poles before and didn’t have an issue. Or you could buy poles when you land.

It’s not expensive because it is bombproof or because it will last a very long time. It is expensive because it is extremely light and there is currently no way around the fact that DCF is $$$ to source. If u want DCF, Zpacks duplex and Xmid 2 Pro are both less expensive than HMG and have completed all major (US, anyway) thrus.

You'd be surprised how stable trekking pole tents can be. I've been in some pretty strong storms in my Zpacks Duplex with standard 6" MSR Groundhogs Mini stakes and it's held up great. A full pound lighter than the Hornet, packs up smaller, dries quicker, very easy to repair if you get a hole in it (which I never have). I would venture to guess that my Zpacks Plex Solo Lite, which weighs 15 oz with stakes, is even more storm worthy. Honestly, if weight is a concern, DCF trekking pole tents can't be beat. I don't personally like the Durston Xmid Pro tents, but those would be another great option. Edit to add: freestanding tents have more vertical sidewalls, which provide more interior volume, but also catch a lot of wind. Pyramid shaped trekking pole tents have more angled sidewalls which makes them noticeably more storm worthy. Check out [this video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0o5LWoaeHcM) to see how some popular tents hold up in high winds.

Depends on your budget and tolerance for extra weight. I swear by my Zpacks Duplex tent but it’s a lot of $$$.

Most Zpacks tents like the Duplex, Altaplex, and Plex Solo have a 5" overhang around the perimeter. The Pivot actually has a 7" gap around the sides and back, so more than normal. The door can be left open in light rain to help with airflow.

Zpacks tents are spendy, but unbelievably light. I have the duplex (2 person), and it suits my partner and me fine, but neither of us is a blanket thief and all we do in the tent is sleep. We have a tarp from them that we can rig up on trees if we need to pass time through some rain (meaning, we don’t have to hunker down in the tent). All that said, the have 4 and I think 4 person versions, each if which is prolly gonna be significantly lighter than anything more substantial than a bivy. good luck!

I would recomend the Durston xmid pro 2+ or the solid version if you expect high winds in a dusty area. This is especially true if you guys are not in a relationship due to proximity because it’s designed to sleep head to toe and has less limitations of many tents. The 2+ version will fit two wide sleeping pads very comfortably and generally feels much bigger inside than its exterior appearance would suggest compared to other tents I have used. I have the regular two person pro version and it is a bit narrow with two wide pads and we have to be careful not to put too much pressure on the inner floor fabric. I would love to have the 2+ version but it was not created when I bought my tent. That being said it is still a huge tent compared to other manufacturers but still much lighter than competitors for similar size. What sets Durston tents apart from competitors is the location of the tracking poles right above the door or your head when sleeping or entering the tent door. It allows you to sit on opposite sides of the tent next to each door. This allows two people to sit up in the tent across from one another and have about 6 feet between your heads with the high tent ridge between you and set your gear up or play cards easily without bumping into one another . If it is raining or simply too cold to be outside, this makes a huge difference when you are in the tent, either setting up gear or hanging out . When I had my Z-Pak duplex, there was not enough room to do any of this without bumping into each other . It was literally impossible for us both to be inside the tent setting up gear at the same time let alone hang out or play cards. The Durston tent design is beyond function and has been a life changing tent experience for us. The zpacks duplex is an antiquated design but was very innovative when it came out and a pioneer in its own time and thus deserves a lot of respect! Having said that I would never recommend it unless you want to feel cramped and have your head a few inches from the wet tent ceiling versus several feet above your head using the durston. Edit: we are tall people with big feet haha… Short people can use smaller options tents…. Some camping locations may only fit small tents. Check all tent sizes to tent spots available in designated camping areas etc… https://durstongear.com/products/x-mid-pro-plus-tent-ultralight-thruhiking