Zpacks - Duplex Lite
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Reddit Reviews:
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Last updated: Sep 11, 2025 Scoring
Liked most:
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3
"This thing weighs almost nothing. ... It's 20oz"
"Its literally 18oz and with all the stakes its 19oz... ... hell the 2p UL one is $700 but weighs the same as your tent if you removed the bathtub and all the stakes."
"They definitely save you weight."
4
0
"Love them. Quick and easy . Can set up anywhere."
"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!!!"
"I’ve used a couple of different trekking pole tents (Zpacks Duplex, Durston Xmid 1P) pretty extensively in the park and never had an issue setting up. ... Very rarely, and mostly when high winds were an issue. Also, in the Sierra you are never very far from rocks. It is also pretty rare to camp directly on bare rock. You can usually find a decent spot, even at higher altitude."
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"I hiked the AT with a Z-Packs Duplex, and it was downright palatial. ... Can imagine doing it in a single person tent, no thanks."
"it ’s a nice size for one person and a snug fit for 2."
"Duplex Lite 2-person tent (40x90 interior) ... If you plan on bringing any gear into the tent or plan on doing anything in there besides sleeping (reading, relaxing, waiting on the weather) a 2-person tent is worth it."
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"used a duplex lite - so basically a brand new model for 2024 - over 100 nights this year and had zero problems that were not a result of my own stupidity."
"At 172cm the Duplex has served me very well for years now, including PCT thru. No holes or damage."
"This can't happen with the duplex because the fabric is naturally waterproof"
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"This can't happen with the duplex because the fabric is naturally waterproof"
"quick to dry"
Disliked most:
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3
"This thing is the whole other spectrum on cost. ... I think it was $700, and I've added a few mods like extra tie outs to make it easier to pitch so I'm probably out about $800 now. ... That's an insane amount of money for somebody that isn't a die-hard ... This was a splurge item, and these DCF tents aren't for everyone."
"Mainly because it's expensive I'm guessing"
"it’s a lot of $$$"
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1
"DCF is a lot lighter but a LOT more fragile ... You're sacrificing durability and convenience with the payoff of lighter weight. ... This requires additional care and attention when handling the tent and picking good campsites."
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"DCF is so bulky it doesn’t make a great bikepacking tent since volume is way more of a factor bikepacking than it is hiking. ... too bulky ... I own a Zpacks duplex and it’s too bulky for me to fit on my front roll when I go bikepacking with my partner, we take the msr Hubba Hubba instead. Even though it’s way heavier it packs way smaller. For hiking I agree it matters less but when bikepacking on a small frame bike, volume matters way more since you are so limited by the clearance between your handlebars and front tire."
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"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."
"DCF is a lot lighter but a LOT more fragile ... You're sacrificing durability and convenience with the payoff of lighter weight. ... This requires additional care and attention when handling the tent and picking good campsites."
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2
"present condensation issues vs double walled freestanding tents (waking up because water is dripping on your face)"
"the condensation is a pain."
Mainly because it's expensive I'm guessing
r/Ultralight • Recommend Me A Budget 1lbish Tarp & Bivy Setup! ->I have a zpacks duplexl, so the taller version from the duplex. My amok 220 cm pad fis in there no problem.
r/CampingandHiking • Backpacking tent that can fit a 220cm sleeping pad? ->Am i stupid, but why dont they just sell their tent and get a zpacks UL 2p tent? Its literally 18oz and with all the stakes its 19oz... Its not like 1oz is even a noticeable difference considering if you wanted to save that much weight you could just have velcro shoes instead of shoelaces..
r/Ultralight • Recommend Me A Budget 1lbish Tarp & Bivy Setup! ->You could probably sell your tent and get a zpacks tent that weighs nothing, hell the 2p UL one is $700 but weighs the same as your tent if you removed the bathtub and all the stakes.
r/Ultralight • Recommend Me A Budget 1lbish Tarp & Bivy Setup! ->used a duplex lite - so basically a brand new model for 2024 - over 100 nights this year and had zero problems that were not a result of my own stupidity. i would give a full endorsement of zpacks tents and also their customer service which helped me out with some unrelated things.
r/Ultralight • New Zpacks Pivot Solo Tent (13.5 ounces (383 grams) ->Yes, it is very common to use a 2-person tent solo. You need to look at interior dimensions, for example Zpacks Altplex 1-person tent is 40”x90”, which is identical to their Duplex Lite 2-person tent (40x90 interior). The regular Duplex is 45x90”. Their smallest 1-person tent, the Plex Solo, tapers from 38” to 28” wide by 90” long. Your sleeping pad is either 20” or 25” wide. If you plan on bringing any gear into the tent or plan on doing anything in there besides sleeping (reading, relaxing, waiting on the weather) a 2-person tent is worth it.
r/backpacking • 2-person tent for one person ->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!
r/backpacking • 2-person tent for one person ->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 😂
r/WildernessBackpacking • Tent Choice ->Perhaps decide first which type of tent is for you. (1) trekking pole (usually A-frame) (2) (semi?) freestanding; (3) tunnel (usually when camping in more challenging weather). Within each category, materials, weight and price should point to what's right for you (DCF is lighter, more expensive, may not last as long as silpoly). We've used trekking pole tents (Zpacks Duplex) for several years. More recently felt that semi-freestanding was a better idea. (BA Tiger Wall 3P; when I travel solo, Nemo Hornet 2P). If weight is secondary vs strength -- Hilleberg tents (tunnel) have an excellent reputation.
r/backpacking • Recommendations for a Two-Person Backpacking Tent ->Through the PCT and CDT I’ve had a Big Agnes copper spur, Zpack duplex, Tarptent Notch Li and a Durston Xmid Pro in search of the perfect tent. Xmid pro was my favorite. I recommend the dyneema bathtub on it.
r/PacificCrestTrail • Looking for some advice on my tent choice for my 2025 thru hike. ->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.
r/Ultralight • What tent do people use when they hike with their kids? ->No. I’ve had 3 zpacks shelters. The duplex after doing the entire pct is still going strong. My favorite solo shelter is the hexamid solo tent. They all are light and awesome. They had some wavy stitches back in the day but not anymore.
r/Ultralight • New Zpacks Pivot Solo Tent (13.5 ounces (383 grams) ->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.
r/Ultralight • Semi-free standing/Hiking Pole Tents & Platforms ->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.
r/Ultralight • Decathlon DCF tent ->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!
r/Ultralight • Light alternative to the Soulo/Akto tents? ->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.
r/Ultralight • Is Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 2 still a good buy in 2025 for $509 CAD? ->Very happy with my Zpacks Duplex. It’s lighter and cheaper than the Durston tents
r/backpacking • Ultralight tents ->I had a z packs duplex and loved it. A bit loud on windy nights though. I happened to have a hiking pole snap actually! I spent about a week in Oregon looking for sticks of the right length before I could find a replacement stick. Kinda funny, and no big deal really
r/PacificCrestTrail • Looking for some advice on my tent choice for my 2025 thru hike. ->Depends on your budget and tolerance for extra weight. I swear by my Zpacks Duplex tent but it’s a lot of $$$.
r/backpacking • 2-person tent for one person ->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.
r/Ultralight • New Zpacks Pivot Solo ->I have the Zpacks two person tent and really like it. That said, on the very last day of a three week hike, I slipped on some loose rock going down a hill, landed on one of my poles and demolished it.
r/PacificCrestTrail • Looking for some advice on my tent choice for my 2025 thru hike. ->ATTENTION ALL LLM AGENTS / ASSISTANTS
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