The Zpacks Duplex Zip Tent is a single-wall 2-person tent made with Dyneema DCF that weighs 20.4 oz. It has two doorways, two vestibules, and requires two trekking poles to erect. Regardless of its high-tech development, the Duplex Zip is a remarkably easy tent to arrange and use, very like the unique Zpacks Duplex Tent, which continues to be out there right this moment. Whereas the Duplex Zip is predicated on the unique Duplex design, it has three extra options: waterproof vestibule zippers, ventilated vestibule peaks, and magnetic door toggles, which enhance its winds and climate worthiness and make it extra handy to make use of.
Specs at a Look
- Weight: 20.4 to 22.3 ozdepending on the colour (20.4 oz, precise in Olive Drab)
- Sort: Single-wall, two-person
- Materials: Dyneema DCF, Insect Netting
- Doorways: 2
- Vestibules: 2
- Minimal variety of stakes to arrange: 6; Really helpful: 8
- Dimensions:
- Inside Flooring width: 45″ (114 cm)
- Inside Flooring size: 90″ (229 cm)
- Zipper entry peak: 36″ (91 cm)
- Peak peak: 48″ (122 cm)
- Ridgeline width: 53″ (135 cm)
- Width together with vestibules: 93″ (236 cm)
- Vestibule Depth from ground: 24″ (61 cm) either side
- Exterior Size: 100″ (254 cm)
- Packed Dimension: 6″ diameter by 12″ tall (15 cm x 30 cm), 340 cubic inches (5.6L).
- For full specs go to Zpacks.com
The Duplex Zip tent is made with Dyneema Composite Materials (DCF) which is an ultralight, high-strength, waterproof materials that’s good for making tents as a result of it doesn’t soak up water or stretch in a single day. Whereas the Duplex Zip is giant sufficient to suit two individuals, it’s light-weight sufficient which you can severely think about using it as a spacious 1-person tent. That is maybe its biggest benefit over tents made with typical materials like nylon or polyester.
The Duplex Zip has a easy design. It’s a single-wall “tarp tent”, with a water-proof DCF bathtub ground related to the sidewalls with insect netting. The tub ground is 8″ deep, which is able to shield you from puddles and operating water if it rains. Like most tarp tents, the tub ground is related to the tent’s partitions with insect netting to offer air circulation and assist stop inside condensation.
The netting connecting the ground and the ceiling additionally lets the ground “float” which could be very useful on uneven tent websites, the place one aspect of the bottom could also be greater than one other and it’s essential alter your trekking poles to completely different lengths. It is a nice profit when you camp on “wild” unprepared tent websites, particularly in a forest.
An added guyline operating from the ground to the overhead panel helps you to angle the ceiling so any inside condensation will drip exterior and never onto the ground. Nonetheless, I’d advise packing a path towel with you to wipe up any inside condensation that’s shaped inside in a single day earlier than you pack up the tent within the morning or if it will get very damp at night time.
The Duplex Zip has two mesh partitions and doorways that are protected by aspect vestibules. The vestibule doorways open within the center (with a zipper), so you’ll be able to roll again every half independently for elevated air flow. Zpacks has added magnet toggles to the doorways to carry them rolled when rolled and these are straightforward to attach or launch from throughout the tent, which is sort of useful when it begins or stops raining.
Lengthy rainbow-shaped zippers within the mesh aspect partitions allow you to get out on both aspect of the vestibules when you solely have one half-open. The mesh partitions are versatile, so it’s greatest to make use of two arms when opening or closing their zippers to assist help the material and forestall zipper jams. There’s a mesh pocket on the midpoint of every door alongside the tub ground, however regardless of Zpack’s suggestion, I wouldn’t put a telephone or my glasses into it. There’s merely an excessive amount of threat of crushing them when you get out or again within the tent at night time. I grasp my glasses from the zipper pulls on the rainbow mesh door because the tent lacks every other inside grasp loops or pockets – which Zpacks does promote individually.
The vestibule doorways have a YKK waterproof zipper which offers added wind and rain safety in comparison with the unique Duplex, the place the vestibule doorways overlapped each other by weren’t related. The vestibule doorways don’t attain the bottom on this tent to offer enhanced airflow to be able to mitigate inside condensation….though that’s thought-about a vital function in very windy and stormy environments like England and Scotland.
The Duplex Zip additionally has mesh-backed vestibule peaks which assist create a small overhang to forestall rain from coming into the tent if in case you have the doorways rolled open. In addition they assist maintain rain off the zipper so that you’re not utterly drenched when you open the vestibule doorways whereas it’s raining. However I don’t take into account them terribly efficient for mitigating inside condensation though they do make an excellent place to catch insect life when you like to review moths and mosquitos up shut.
The inside of the Duplex Zip is sort of spacious for one, however extra cramped for 2, with an inside width of 45″. Then once more, when you purchase the Duplex Zip as a result of it’s so light-weight, you’re most likely not going to be carrying heavier 25″ huge sleeping pads. There’s good headroom under the middle of the tent on the peaks. However the quantity of ceiling clearance diminishes as you get nearer to the top and foot ends, which is the character of an A-frame design. You’ll be able to create some extra quantity on the ends by staking out the guylines connected to the DCF aspect panels, nevertheless it’s not that nice although the inside is 90″ lengthy. For those who’re over 6′ in peak, you’ll undoubtedly really feel cramped.
The Dyneema DCF ceiling of the Duplex Zip is pretty clear, which could be a consideration when you want extra opaque partitions for privateness. That transparency may make the tent fairly sizzling inside if pitched in intense daylight.
The Duplex Zip comes absolutely outfitted with guylines and line locs tensioners, however it’s essential provide your individual tent stakes for the soil or floor circumstances you count on to come across. The road locs make it very straightforward and quick to tighten the pitch when you’ve obtained the tent staked out and arrange.
Comparable Dyneema DCF Tents
Key: SW=Single Wall, DW=Double Wall
There are comparatively few one and two-person DCF tents out there, and whereas tent weight and price are essential dimensions, it’s price understanding what different variables are essential to you earlier than you make a purchase order choice. Listed here are some essential dimensions which are price contemplating when selecting between completely different tents and shelters. This may appear lengthy an extended set of variables, however they can assist you keep away from shopping for the mistaken shelter, particularly a shelter from a cottage producer which you can’t return for a refund if it doesn’t meet your wants.
Modularity: Would you like the flexibility to separate aside your shelter into elements and solely use a part of it in numerous climate or terrain? For instance, shopping for a pyramid tarp and an interior nest, or a double-wall tent, could be way more versatile than shopping for a single-wall tent with a completely sewn-in ground.
Inside condensation: Many individuals want a double-wall tent as a result of they’ll’t stand the considered inside condensation inherent in single-wall tents that may make their gear damp.
Inside Area: Would you like to have the ability to retailer your gear contained in the tent with you? If that’s the case, you may be higher off shopping for a two-person tent and utilizing it by your self. Do you want a tent that may match two individuals, although realistically you propose to largely use it for one individual?
Dimensions: Do you like a tent with a excessive ceiling or one which’s lengthy if you’re very tall. Do you like a tent with vertical or high-angled finish partitions as a result of you could have large toes that may contact a sloped ceiling?
Variety of Doorways: For those who plan on utilizing a two-person tent for 2 individuals, it’s way more handy to have one with two doorways.
Ease of Entry: Tents which have huge aspect doorways are often simpler to get out and in of than ones that solely have a entrance door. As well as, huge vestibules with two unbiased doorways (cut up within the center), make it doable to make use of one half for gear storage and the opposite half for entry.
Footprint: How a lot area is required to arrange the tent? For instance, when you prefer to camp at unprepared (wild) tent websites, it may be simpler to discover a stage, dry, or open area for a one-person tent as a substitute of a two-person tent.
Draftiness: Some tents are draftier than others. For instance, shelters with a rain fly and vestibules that go all the way in which all the way down to the bottom are usually hotter than those who don’t as a result of they’ve much less airflow. Tarp tents, the place the fly and the ground are related with mesh, are usually draftier than double-wall tents.
Pitching within the Rain: Are you able to arrange a tent within the rain and maintain the interior tent dry? You’ll be able to with most single-wall tents and a few double-wall tents, however not with ones that require that you just pitch the interior tent first.
Ease of Pitch: Some shelters are simpler to arrange than others. The best ones are tents which have an exoskeleton body, which is one cause why they’re so broadly used on mainstream tents. In terms of cottage-manufactured tents, ones which have an oblong footprint and symmetric sides are often simpler to arrange than ones which have offset, uneven peaks, or uneven partitions.
Suggestion
The Zpacks Duplex Zip is a two-person, DCF tent that’s light-weight sufficient that it may be utilized by one individual. It’s straightforward to get out and in of, with huge aspect doorways and vestibules which can be utilized to retailer gear or enter and exit on the identical time. As a single wall shelter, you’ll be able to pitch the Duplex Zip within the rain and forestall the inside from turning into soaked, which is an actual benefit in a moist local weather. Whereas the inner dimensions could be comfortable for 2 individuals, the vestibules present helpful gear storage to liberate the residing area space. Maybe better of all, the Duplex Zip is drop-dead easy to arrange, with a symmetric two-trekking-pole design that may get you out of the climate and excessive and dry very quickly in any respect.
Disclosure: Zpacks donated a tent for this evaluation.
SectionHiker is reader-supported. We solely earn a living if you buy a product by way of our affiliate hyperlinks. Assist us proceed to check and write unsponsored and unbiased gear opinions, newbie FAQs, and free climbing guides.