Zpacks - Triplex Zip

I used to own this tent. If you don't mind the weight then this is about the best deal you can get on a tent this large that is not obnoxiously heavy. It makes for a good crawl in car camping tent too. I did a post on this tent a few years ago. I have since sold it as I'm an X-Mid person now and I use large family camping tents for car camping. [https://www.reddit.com/r/CampingGear/comments/s4ybkw/sierra\_designs\_meteor\_4\_for\_189\_at\_dicks/](https://www.reddit.com/r/CampingGear/comments/s4ybkw/sierra_designs_meteor_4_for_189_at_dicks/) If you need to go lighter you can but the price goes way up: * Tarptent Hogback 4p, 4lbs, $605 * [https://www.tarptent.com/product/hogback/](https://www.tarptent.com/product/hogback/) * Zpack Triplex, 3lbs, $829 * [https://zpacks.com/products/triplex-zip-tent](https://zpacks.com/products/triplex-zip-tent) * Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 4p, 5lbs, $799 * [https://www.bigagnes.com/collections/copper-spur-hv-ul-series/products/copper-spur-hv-ul4](https://www.bigagnes.com/collections/copper-spur-hv-ul-series/products/copper-spur-hv-ul4) * Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 5p, 7.5lbs, $899 * [https://www.bigagnes.com/collections/copper-spur-hv-ul-series/products/copper-spur-hv-ul5](https://www.bigagnes.com/collections/copper-spur-hv-ul-series/products/copper-spur-hv-ul5) The Big Agnes is a total ripoff at retail pricing IMO. However there are a couple online retailers selling it for about $400ish right now. The Zpacks should only be considered if you are a real gram weenie. This is a trekking pole tent with mandatory guylines. The Tarptent is about the best middle of the road option, but it's north of $500 and it does NOT come seam sealed. If you want tarptent to seam seal it you need to cough up another $35.

did 1300 miles of the Appalachian Trail with my wife joining me for parts. bought a 3 person ultralight from z-packs, was great for both, and really roomy for me alone, not much heavier than the 2 person, only downer was footprint required made it a little less flexible for sites. it was a bit expensive, but worth it for us.

Zpacks Triplex. Wife and I used it on our PCT thru.

My 3-person (2-person if you like broader sleeping pads) tent weighs 600 gram (0,6 kg). Zpacks Triplex. 3 kilo I won’t even take on the bike, let alone on my back.

Are they wooden or composite platforms? I've used screw in cup hooks from the hardwear store to prerfect the pitch of my Zpacks Triplex on platforms. I use any existing hooks and threading the guyline underneath the slats, but the cup hooks help a lot to place a guy line or three exactly where I need one.

If you are serious about ultralight then look at my thread here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Ultralight/comments/1f9u6z8/lets_talk_about_mids_baby/ The comments include a lot of recommendations by the community - not all of which are actually ultralight. I opted for a 4 person mid. A very specific one due to space constraints. And made my own bathtub floor and am making perimeter bug netting. Some companies (like MLD) will make the tent with perimeter netting.  I have backpacked with my son since he was a baby and through toddler hood. We have used DCF trekking pole shelter (the Triplex). No issues with fabric durability. Some minor concerns with kids grabbing the trekking pole but that happened like twice ever. And is an accident (kids will grab the trekking poles for stability when entering or exiting). The 4P mid we bought (a Locus Gear Khafra in DCF) is so spacious for my wife, me and our two kids (baby and 4 year old). We bought it when our daughter was a newborn late summer last year so didn't get to camp with it until last weekend. I have a post scheduled next week for my impressions at my blog in my flair. I also have a post on the tent selection itself already posted. Slightly larger mids would be more spacious. I believe Liteway makes a mid with two entries.  You can almost always buy a bug netting insert for these. But I fear that makes the shelter a bit smaller. 

I have used both a triplex (on the GDT with my wife and baby) and a locus gear khafra 4p mid tent for a LASH on the PCT (with wife, 4 year old, baby).  Not the same age as your family but honestly I think the older kids will be easier.  The triplex is nice having an integrated bug net. It's spacious. It's also a pain in my opinion to pitch. But at least you can open the vestibules and get some breeze. The 4p mid was roomy. I made a perimeter net and a floor of my own. The weight was the same as the triplex and the footprint more or less the same. But having a perimeter net, if you open the door for ventilation there is no bug protection. it has bomber head room though.  You can get a full inner for those tents. Those are just heavier than a perimeter net. Also look into tarptent options.  All depends on your style and objectives.

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 

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.

This is the way. A nice 3p UL tent is going to be perfect. Pair it with 25" wide pads for added comfort.

I have an UL 3p tent that I use for both solos and trips with my husband 😂 It feels very weird to use alone, but it’s like 2.5lb so it’s hard to justify buying another.

Camping Gear covers so many areas, but I assume you mean your sleep kit and mess kit. Ultralight Backpacks: HMG (Hyperlite Mountain Gear), Z-Packs, Gossamer Gear Traditional Backpacks: Osprey, Gregory, Deuter is ayt Tents: Durston Gear, HMG, Z-Packs (Budget Tents: 3F UL Gear / Naturehike) Sleeping Bag: Western Mountaineering, NEMO, Feathered Friends, Therm-a-Rest Budget SB's: Naturehike) Sleeping Pad: NEMO, Therm-a-Rest, Sea to Summit (Budget: Naturehike) Pillow: Sea to Summit (Budget: Naturehike) Stove: MSR, JetBoil (Budget: Naturehike) Water Filtration System: Sawyer Squeeze, Lifestraw Sorry, but The North Face doesn't really excel in this area. The only exception is their Summit Series Line; they've leaned more towards streetwear, in my opinion. Plus, they've pulled out of local distribution in the Philippines. Just in Case you're asking about clothes and shoes, too easy. Arc'teryx, Outdoor Research, Norrona, Patagonia, Mammut, Rab (Budget: Decathlon, Naturehike, Ukay) Shoes: Salomon... and second, Hoka. (Budget: Same Brands but Ukay)