Zpacks - Plex Solo

Do you just carry one pole when you use a Plex solo lite? I have a Plex solo (and xmid) but always use 2 trekking poles anyways, so a one pole tent feels sort of like a waste, when I could be utilizing both poles for more room. Thoughts appreciated 🙂

First tent I ever bought and I love it. Would take it on my next thru if I didn’t have a plex solo already. I swear by this tent and it’s my recommendation when people come to work looking to buy tents.

So I should clarify, I have the plex solo lite. I’d get the regular plex solo if I were to get one again. The lite is stripped down, it’s not worth the weight savings versus the lack of features. I had a Lunar Solo that I used for most of the AT which I absolutely loved, and the plex solo (regular, not lite) reminds me of that but DCF. I think they’re the same price, so you’re just saving an ounce or two on weight.

I have a Gossamer Gear Whisper, which resembles this in shape and mechanism. It is a palace inside: 102” long, 49” wide at the head end. I was amazed how roomy it is given its light weight. The Zpacks Pivot is significantly smaller according to the published specs. Max width is 42” and length is 1.5 ft shorter at 84”. But it adds a floor and the weight is impressive for a fully enclosed tent of this size. Not sure I’d prefer this to the Plex Solo, which fits my dimensions well and only requires a single pole to pitch.

With experience with a Duplex, Plex Solo and The Two, I'd probably pick The One if bulk was a big factor. It's not as sturdy in high winds as a non-stretchy DCF tent, but I've slept through some heavy gusts in my GG tent. A good pitch goes a long way. The sag is there, and some hikers I met find it bothersome while it's only a minor nuicanse for me. I'd say get the GG, try it out in a wet environment and see if you manage. If not, resell. You won't lose too much money. One inconvenience the Pivot Solo shares with the other Zpacks 1p tents is the low beak attachment. Getting in and out can be pretty inconvenient. But I guess that's where lower weight impacts comfort. The arched zippers in the Zpacks tents is a nuisance under high bug pressure. GG and Durston designs are much better there as theirs have the mesh fall into place even when the zipper is open, so you don't invite an army of mosquitos into your tent each time you get in or out. Think Yosemite right after snow melt. I'm going to take my The Two on the JMT this summer, and I've hiked in the Sierras before so I know what to expect.

Speaking of Zpacks, why aren't you considering the Plex Solo Lite? I have the tarp verion, and except for the no bug protection part, it's ideal for occasional fastpacking in the Sierras (no experience at the lower elevations you mention). And I'd have a Plex Solo, too, if it didn't cost so much and I already owned the tarp. Maybe this year, though.

I'm 5'9" and it's okay. But you mentioned fastpacking, when livability isn't really an issue. I'm not hanging out in it, that's for sure. It's just a place to sleep when not grinding out the miles. As for the DCF, I think it's a lot easier to set up than my huge (by caparison) silpoly SMD Lunar Solo. You don't have to constantly adjust it, and it stays taught. And while the tarp has no floor, I do use a DCF ground sheet from Borah Gear (0.8 oz Dyneema) that's held up pretty well. But I do spend extra time clearing out sharp stuff underneath.

I didn't like mine very much. I found it to be hard to pitch mostly because it was too big and a little unwieldy. Always has problems finding a spot with enough good space for it to fit easily, and had to resort to securing the guy lines to logs, tree branches, etc. And I don't think I ever got the floor to be a bathtub (just a sad groundsheet). That said, it is very roomy inside and I never had a bad night in it. I never had it in much rain though, only high-ish winds, which when secured properly, did just fine (except for dirt blowing in, due to my inability to get the bathtub going). And while I realize all trekking pole tents involve more hassles, I think the Lunar Solo is at the higher end of that scale. I now have a Plex Solo. Which still comes with "problems," but at least it's about half the weight, so I'm willing to put up with them. The Lunar didn't weight much less than my Nemo Hornet 1P, so I found myself just using that instead (before the Plex Solo). Edit: I should practice what I preach, that tent review/opinions should include where they've been used. In my case, it was summertime, in the Sierra Nevada, CA.

Always sharing. I have a three person tiger wall for me and a kid (or both kids). I have 3 20 inch pads (last model Nemo tensors) when it’s both kids. For one kid, we use two wide REI helix pads (25 inch). If all 4 of us go, then I bring a 5 person copper spur, and then it’s 2 helix and 2 tensors. I use a quilt, but my wife and kids are all in sleeping bags. Solo, I mostly stick to my plex solo (with wide helix and quilt).  I carry most of the gear under any group configuration. The 5 person tent is tough. I like the copper spur, but any tent that fits 4 is going to be a pain in the ass. The tiger wall 3UL is not too bad, poles and all. Be mindful of usable space. If you share a 2 person tent, it may limit your pad selection. 

I’ve really liked my plex solo for about 500 miles of mostly Sierra hiking. I’m very rough on everything and I’ve had to patch a few small pinholes but I blame myself, not the design, materials or manufacturing.

I’m not familiar with Volpi, thanks for sharing. I have a Salomon XA25 but it has a bit of a bounce when running and so I’ve been looking to try something new. Looking at a Joey but have heard mixed reviews about its stability while running. Im worried I’ll get the same results as my XA25. I have a plex solo lite and love it. Can’t speak to the Hmg tent.

Zpacks plex solo is super light, condensation is a problem though I would get the Alta plex

My issue with ZPacks tents is a pretty simple one. I have a Plex Solo. It has survived the CDT and 2/3s of the PCT and it is still truckin' with nothing beyond a small hole in the floor. It just wont die. But if it does, I have my eye on the Pivot. I will admit I am not a fan of the storm doors on the Plex. If they were a tad bigger, it would be perfect.

My Zpacks Solplex tent. I used it on my PCT thru hike, and its still in such great shape I plan to use it on my next thru hike. I love being able to pitch such a small footprint in a tiny site but I can still squeeze my pack and shoes inside with me its raining a lot. It also weighs less than a pound.

mine arrived with a pinhole day one :/ but well zpacks offered me a great discount so it's okay and DCF is super easy to patch so not that bad in the end.

I have a Plex Solo and GG The One. The One is a really good tent. Not cramped, packs small, cheap and light. I found the condensation not bad but it does sag when wet. For me the sagging isn't a big deal - many people make it out to be some major issue that could ruin your trip. The Plex Solo is just nicer because it's lighter and gives you one less think to worry about. But I feel more cramped in the Plex Solo and really don't like getting in and out of it (much more of an annoyance than the sagging from The One).

Tents start at 11.8 oz / 334 g weight for a single wall shelter like the Zpacks Plex Solo. You will not like the price. Sleeping bags like the Sea to Summit Spark I are around 12.8 oz / 363 g. You will also not like the price of that one. Mattresses like the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT are around 13 oz / 368 g. Price... Yeah, the same as above.  So, yes, all that ultralight gear exists, see r/ultralight for example.

Love my Plex Solo. It's the regular version. I swapped out the guy lines for the 1.3mm. Weights 12.5oz. I like having the 1oz floor. It's a great tent if you are under 6'3".

Plex Solo Lite, Altaplex Lite, Pivot Solo, GG The One. The One sags some in rain-not insane amount. Needs a ground sheet as much as the others do. Packs down incredibly small. Lots of room inside for your height. No quality control issues with Zpacks. That was overblown and is a tired line.

The major point of this design to to prevent the footbox from touching dcf material-that is not needed for people under 6' with the Plex Solo, Altaplex.

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.

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.

I use the Zpack Plex solo. Only weighs 14 oz and packs very small. Few things though, it’s a single wall, not self standing and requires a hiking pole. Also a little pricy in the $600 range if I recall correctly.

The cool thing about Zpacks making tents in-house and as orders come in is that they could create a bunch of different designs, put them out in the wild, and see what sticks - with minimal risk/loss. I like this tent more than the Offset Solo (Trio is awesome as a roomy UL tent) but its overkill for me. If I want a UL shelter, I want one pole and minimal weight (aka Plex Solo Lite).

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.

The thing that is significant on this tent is it includes extra bells and whistles- zipper storm doors, magnet toggles, a pocket, and extra headroom from the rear pole at 13.5 ounces. If you don't care about those features the Plex Solo Lite is hard to beat as a fully enclosed tent at 11.8 ounces.

I was very disappointed with it as well. I went ahead and sold it after a few trips. I bought a used Plexamid and have never looked back.

I sprung for one. It's my first 1P tent, and honestly that's the thing I'm not sure about - I miss having the extra room of a 2P. I might swap for one of the 2P Durstons at some point. However, for an UL 1P tent, I can't imagine anything better. The reason I went for it is I wanted to try a 1P tent that didn't put any fly material right next to my face - too claustrophobic. If you sleep with your head at the end with the shorter trekking pole, it does just that. The peak is right above your head which provides about 30 inches of head room, and the mesh wall behind the small pole makes it very feel open. I could hunker down in there comfortably if I had to. Not sure I could say the same for something like the Plex Solo (which I know a lot of you love - not dogging it. Just not my thing.) I've taken it out only once so far, about a month ago in Joshua Tree. It was super dry of course, so it wasn't much of a weather test. That said, ventilation is very good. Looking forward to getting it out again soon. Mine comes in right at the advertised 13.5oz without the sack, 14oz with. I cut down a Tyvek ground sheet to the floor shape - 4.5oz. With 8 of the big Zpacks stakes my shelter all in is at 23oz. My only gripe is that the bathtub floor is very 'floaty'. It lacks corner tensioners (which I guess is true of all Zpacks tents? Anyone have any advice on mitigating this?), and so doesn't retain the nice square shape seen in the manufacturer photos. I'm thinking of slapping on some Zpacks adhesive loops to the corners of the floor and some 1/16" elastic shock cord ties. Nothing too tight - I don't want it crazy taut, but it would be nice if the floor had form. The mesh pocket is very small and easy to knock stuff out of, but it did hold my iPhone 15 and a few other thin items. I'm also adding a couple of Zpacks adhesive magnet toggles at the peaks so I can easily hang my magnetic light(s) and use them as loops if I need to. All in all - it's great!

25 and 30oz for a 1 person? My big Agnes cooper sour ul 3 person is 40 oz The lightest and best 1P I know of is the zpacks 1P

Just looked and I have the 3P XL. Packaged weight is 4lbs 😮and I don't use the stuff sacks and only 4 stakes so weighed in at about 6 oz over 3lbs. I have heard great things about durston but my next UL 1P will be the zpacks as I've loved them when I see them on the trail.