Zpacks - Duplex Zip Tent

Depends on how much you want to spend, but it's totally doable. I just did a five-mouth tour across the US during which I carried this tent: [Zpacks Duplex Zip](https://zpacks.com/products/duplex-zip-tent). The price tag looks intimidating but it paid for itself in just a few nights by keeping me out of hotels.

\>is a there a reason why a solo bikepacker would want a bigger tent I'm not thinking about? One of them, and this--which, I'm not flexing, here, just trying to establish my credibility--is stuff management. I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2023 and like I mentioned, rode an ebike across the US in 2024. A two-person tent for a solo traveler makes stuff management SO much easier. When you have a one-person tent, its interior space is gonna be pretty close to the footprint of your sleeping pad, meaning A) it's impossible to lay out the stuff you need at night in an organized way such that you know where it is at all times, and 2) loose objects like an AirPod or whatever are gonna get misplaced and tend to end up under your sleeping pad, which means you have to sit up and dig around under there to find it. This is a constant hassle, a huge pain in the ass. It's a spicy price, sure, but the avoided cost payback is quick. I put easily a hundred nights on that tent during the five months I was on the road last year. It kept me out of hotels over and over and over and over. Ten days of hotel paid for the tent for the entire trip. And since I took extremely good care of it, it's still virtually new and I'm gonna put a lot more nights on it. Another reason to get a tent like that--and this is a side point to the size you want--is that it's made of dyneema. I'm guessing the lower-priced tents you're looking at are all silnylon. [Silnylon is a SHITTY fabric compared to dyneema](https://valleyandpeak.co.uk/blogs/news/dyneema-vs-silnylon-the-essential-guide-to-choosing-the-right-material). (Picked that article kind of at random, but it covers the bases.) $300 vs. $800 might look like a good trade up front, but you're gonna wear out two or more silnylon tents during the lifespan of an $800 tent. So the cost savings aren't that great. Anyway, I'm obviously a dyneema fanboy. My bottom line is to keep your own counsel. But I like that you're attempting to become informed--many people don't bother doing that. They just to to REI or Amazon or wherever and pick something out without considering long-term payback and what their actual needs are. \---- Edit: one more thing to take into consideration about dyneema. You asked about tent weight. When it rains, dyneema works by shedding water. Silnylon works by absorbing it. So your "ultralight" silynylon tent ends up being a hell of a lot heavier when it's wet outside.

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.

We’re hiking the PCT with a Zpacks Duplex Pro, and it’s definitely not bombproof, or even fully weatherproof. When it rains, water hits the ground and splashes inside through the mesh. If it’s windy, you’ll get wind and sand blowing into the tent. The bags also get wet in the vestibule, and even with all the airflow in the world, you still wake up with a ton of condensation in the morning. Also in strong winds the tent loosing its shape and the walls are hiting your head and feet. And yet, for 95% of the time on the trail it worth the weight. If you’re looking for something bombproof, I’d go with the MSR Hubba Hubba. It’s a bit heavy, but it will handle anything and is roomy enough for two people and their gear.

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.

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

I have a zpacks duplexl, so the taller version from the duplex. My amok 220 cm pad fis in there no problem.

try r/ULGearTrade for deals. as for the tent - If it’s for 2 people def need to get a 3p tent, im 6’5” and have a zpacks dupleXL, and there most certainly is not room for another person in it lol

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

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

I’d forget those heavy options - save yourself the equivalent of (considerably) more than a glass bottle of wine in weight on each tent and consider getting Durston trekking pole tents. They are proven options for 3 season UK hiking, reasonably-priced, and way way lighter! Nobody needs a Hilleberg or equivalent for a summer C2C! Truly! Edit: By the way (and out of budget for you), my personal shelter preferences for hiking in 3 seasons anywhere in Europe (Scotland, the Alps, the Med and anywhere in-between) are the ZPacks Plex tents - a Plex Solo Lite for me on my own, a Duplex when I'm out with the Mrs. No need for an even more expensive 1.3Kg - 3.5Kg Hilleberg when you can take a 332g or 507g tent to cover the same conditions. Hillebergs are great if you want a 4 season shelter for exposed environments, and even then I'd only have one for actual winter trips. It's like buying a Ford F150 Truck to go shopping or to take trips down the M4 from London to Bristol - total overkill!

If you are both under 6ft and sleep on 20" wide pads then the Duplex (*still*) has no UL equal as a fully-enclosed, 2P, UL shelter.