To start I want to thank you for your videos. I"m recovering from open heart surgery and have had plenty of ups and downs. Finally my downs have decreased and I'm starting to get back in shape. I live close to the Florida trail and my walks are getting me closer to it
Which tent stakes do you recommend? Also on another video you talked about your Amazon wish list for the AT. Can you perhaps share that list I’m interested to see the items and I’d like to create a similar list for my friends and family
I wish that were an option so many years ago when I bought my Duplex. My EE quilt got wet many times from touching the wall. Their customer service is great though. I paid $100 to replace the bathtub floor (or 150 I barely remember). When I got it back, they switched out the floor, along with the netting that had duct tape over holes in it and gave me brand new guy lines. That was very cool of them.
Thanks for the review Dixie. I’m now using the DupleXL on my current AT through hike attempt. I’m 1500 miles in (just into Massachusetts) and have come to an “understanding“ with the tent. I love the interior space and how light it is, but I hate the Zpacks door and vestibule design. My other tent choice for the hike was the XMid 1P (the original version) but that felt a bit coffin like if I needed to stay in it for any length of time in bad weather. I do prefer it’s simpler setup, and door/vestibule design. Had the new DCF version of the XMid Pro been available when I had to make a decision, that certainly would have been in the running.
I have the original Duplex and love it like crazy - no need for extra length when out alone. But I also own (and love) and old TarpTent Double Rainbow, and now they came out with a „Double Rainbow Li“ that‘s lighter in weight. Maybe worth checking that one out for the future. Happy trekking!
Thanks Dixie for the review. I am 6'6'' tall so finding a tent is hard. What tent manufacturers don't understand with tall people is the geometry of our sleeping - in the bathtub, you have to factor in the body length but not a ground level - rather, elevate that length (sleep pad, sleeping bag/quilt, head on one pillow (or two if you are Danny B). Now, at that elevation in the bathtub, the question is whether my feet (I don't sleep with my feet at a 90 degree angle - they relax so that adds length (last check most people 6'6'' tall wear size humongous shoes), plus thickness of sleeping bag/quilt over those feet) and head (beanie, sleeping bag thickness) touch the walls. So my REI Half Dome Plus pre-2018 at 96" (after 2018, they shorten the tent to 92'') is great for car camping or short backpacks since it weighs a lovely 7 lbs (double wall, etc...). So this tent is a beacon of light in this space. And, yes I have looked at tarps, but i prefer an enclosed tent to keep out the bugs. Again, thank you.
I love my triplex. I use it for single person use. It’s well worth the 0.8 oz. All that extra space gives it much more living space, not just sleeping space. It’s much easier to get dressed and even cook if you need to. I put my sleep system one one side and i carry a sit pad which I keep in the other side. If i have to pee in the night i can easily kneel on the sit pad and not be over my bag (accidents happen…). There is plenty of room for your pack as well.
I'm one of those people who do not like the Dyneema noise. I also am still old-school and even though I have always used trekking poles, I find that I favor tents like the Copper Spur design. I keep my pack weight around 12-lbs base weight. I've done a couple multi-month trips and carried a base weight of around 15lbs back then ( before ZPacks was even a dream). I find once my pack is >20lbs or thereabouts, I start to care. If I keep my pack under 18-20lbs then a pound doesn't make a noticeable difference. And I'm with you on just stuffing it in the sack. I don't even carry a stuff sack for my tent, or the poles, but I do for stakes. If the tent is dry it just gets stuffed into the bottom of my pack. If it is wet, I carry it on the outside of the pack and if I were bushwhacking, I'd put it under my pack liner. The poles go on the side of the pack and I don't find a need for their sack. The stakes are nice to have in their own sack because they get dirty. I like the Copper Spur because even though there is nothing that is truly "freestanding", you can pretty much be lazy and have two stakes or two tie-out points and you don't have as much fuss on hard surfaces (rock) or sand.
Hi Dixi, thank you for sharing the pro & cons. I deal with some of the cons, for my cheap Coleman two man, by using a larger survival tarp over the tent. It will add weight but afford added warmth, takes care of the transparency problem-no sun cooking me out at 7:30 am-and protects the tent from hail, fire embers, falling branches, etc. That tent has lasted for 17 years, I still have it. That old tent is heavy, by comparison. I may leave it as I am considering upgrading to one of these tents.
Thanks for remaining straightforward about cheaper alternatives every time you make a video about Zpacks! I'm still glad I didn't get one of these (yet) and a Lashan 2 pro instead. Why? Because was able afford a used Hilleberg for a little more than the difference between a Lashan and Zpacks so I can have a winter tent as well. :P I get bummed about not being able to safely/comfortably winter backpack because it's expensive and being able to hike year round is important for fighting seasonal depression for me, so budget 3-season options are really helpful in turning a seasonal hobby into a year round one. If I ever do a longer thru-hike like one of the triple crowns I might consider this tent, a Tarptent Protrail, or a Durston (if I can get one) but for now I actually think the Lashan 2 is still a better option for someone like me who is not doing a long thru hike yet. My Lashan 2 pro remains almost entirely untorn or frayed as of 60+ overnights with a ground sheet, good tent-site discipline, and doublechecking/fortifying the seam sealing. Only got a big 'fabric dent' from a medium sized fallen branch from all those nights, not even a rip.
It was always a deal breaker for me that zpacks tents were somewhat transparent, so it’s really great to hear that Zpacks have a less transparent tent 😀😀
Whenever I watch reviews of pyramid style tents, I always see the same issues: lack of head/foot space, lack of livable area, condensation running onto the floor, trekking poles blocking high traffic areas and complicated pitches that use a lot of stakes and need a big open space. In all my years using my Tarptent Double Rainbow I've never experienced these issues. That said, I've never used a pyramid tent so I can't personally compare the two styles. I'd love to see a comparison video between a DupleXL and a Double Rainbow Li. The Tarptent is a bit heavier, but when you take the weight of the trekking poles into account, the weight savings of the Zpacks vanishes putting these two tents into the same weight class.
Dixie.....love the well thought out reviews..if you ever want to come enjoy algonquin Park or the Temagami wilderness we always have room for fellow outdoors enthusiasts!!!.....please keep up the great work!!
For many years I used the ZPacks Solplex and the only thing I didn’t like was getting condensation wet at either end (head/foot or both if it snowed). When that tent’s zipper finally gave out and the floor had a million holes, I bought the ZPacks Plex Solo. Yeah! The center of the floor is wider since it enclosed a previously inaccessible vestibule, and my feet and head ends don’t get wet! I hike alone, and really like being able to set up in tiny flat locations if needed, so a big tent would mean I had to find a big place to set it up. Just my two cents.
I found with a narrower, longer stuff sack (WalMart special) it actually is easier to roll up the Duplex tent and slip it easily into the sack, which also allows me to carry it on the outside of my Zpacks Arc pack (using the straps at the bottom of the pack.) Faster to pack up; gives me more interior pack space. As far as 2 person vs. 3 person tents: I always count equipment as a person, though I have managed to put me and my adult son into the Duplex successfully at times. So a Duplex is excellent as a one person tent; Triplex good for 2.
I've always been told to just stuff Dyneema in the sack because folding it in the same places over and over again can damage the lamination, but random stuffing means it's not taking that abuse in the same places. Am I wrong?
i like me duplex except for those stupid bloody toggles on vestibule flaps that fight me at night coz i cant see what im doing and i end up looping them more rather than undoing them.why not some sort of closure system that you can do by feel. the flap thing needs rethinking in general i reckon.
I realize this is a year old but they have since come out with the Duplex Lite. It's 40 inches wide and weighs 15.9 oz. It's lighter than the Altaplex and only 1oz heavier than the Plex Solo. I'm taking a hard look at that one. You can squeeze someone in in a pinch and it has two doors.
One thing not mentioned is you can achieve a very similar result to the DupleXL in the original Duplex by just sticking a stick under the tie out cord in that same location. I hiked the whole PCT that way. Works very well. (But you won’t have that extra six inches.)
Nice review. It looks like a great two-person tent. I bought the Altaplex last year and really like it (I'm 6'5" tall) but I wish I had more room on the sides... the DuplexL would have fit that need, lol.
Mate I am 6'1 and wish most hiking tents were longer and wider! How do you guys go with cars? I've always liked little cars that fit me like a glove but I suspect you simply couldn't.
I have learned that going smaller and lighter is usually the best option. A good example is the NEMO Tensor I bought was a long wide cause ai thought that the extra weight would be worth the larger size. Welp!… I turned around and bought a small Therma-rest Uberlight less than a year later for the weight savings. I LOVE the NEMO but wish they offered a short like Therma-Rest.
I’m not sure how are you doing it, but listen to you, sometimes for hours, I never get bored. I think you could be an amazing teacher or politician for that matter 😅 But seriously, do you have it written on a board, or there’s monitor in front of you? Your speech skills are fantastic 👍🏻
Thanks for the review. Great content. I remember a while back you saying that the Stratospire Li was replacing your Duplex as your favourite tent (something to that effect). But now the DupleXL is your favourite. Had you stopped using the Stratospire Li, or were you still using it and the DupleXL has now replaced it?
I tried the stratospire lithium, but it didn’t work out super well. It’s hard getting away from the Duplex (or DupleXL). It’s been my overall go to for sure.
Hi Dixie!! I am looking to start collecting gear and I would like to pick some things up second hand. I know you usually buy second hand, but I would really love to watch a video on your thoughts on how to approach buying used gear. Where would you shop? What would you look for? How would you decide if something was worth the price/sufficiently good quality?
Question - if you have a backpack that only opens at the top and your tent is at the bottom of your pack, do you have to empty the entire contents of your pack to get at your tent? And if it's raining, does that just make a mess of everything? Or do you lash the tent to the bottom of your pack or something?
No one backs their tent at the bottom. It most common to pack sleeping bag at bottom, food or heaviest stuff in the middle pad, clothing then tent on top.
The stuff you need first is on top. If not you need to learn how to pack! 😂 Seriously though, to each their own, you figure out what works best for you.
@@asmith7876 I've only used packs that fully unzip top to bottom and have tons of pockets, so yeah it isn't something I've thought too much about in the past.
Questions: 1) How do you dry out your tent in the morning if there’s a lot of condensation inside? Or do you? (Sorry, I’ve watched a lot of your vids so you may have already answered that!) 2) Is Marty his real name or trail name? If real, what’s his trail name?? Thanks for the awesome information and videos! You are inspirational. ❤️
I just open mine up and let it dry naturally while I have breakfast, but if it's not dry when I'm ready to pack up, I pack it up wet. I lay it over my fence to dry out when I get home, or hang it in the garage or in the house if it's raining.
If youre in a single wall tent, then wipe it down with a microfiber cloth when the sun rises and leave the door open to air out before packing. For double wall tents I will remove the rain fly in the morning, pack the inner tent and wipe down the rainfly, then stuff the rain fly in your mesh pocket on your pack to let it breathe and dry out, then pack it midday. I have packed my tents wet before and ended up with mold buildup along the seams. Dont pack a wet tent unless you have no other option.
Hello, thank you for all you post. You have done so much to help me through the AP. Could you please answer a few questions for me? My dog travels with me and we usually hammock tent. I've decided to tent camp this year. researching I'm finding it hard to find a really good sleeping pad for us, one that my dog won't deflate first night. Suggestions 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 I have a one person tent we both fit in.
its my first UL tent and i love it but to be fair i have no experience to compare it to, but as a 6ft 4 guy i needed a longer tent. i still suck at setting it up though
@@barondavis5692 ive only used it twice so far but i didnt have any issue hitting my head or feet on the inside of the tent, so i think its a good enough size for people our height
Did you ever try using a stick to lift the head and foot end on your old standard duplex? If you have, is there still significantly more inside space in the xl version?
There's a lot going on there. You need the reinforcement and the fabric to be cut different and you need that piece of fabric on the bathtub to pull the floor out and hold it down.
Preferred..... until you get the X-Mid Pro 2p. I guarentee you will want to sell the Zpacks. Xmid requires no guylines, only 4 tent stakes, has vents, has zippers, uses nylon for the floor that is more abrasion resistant, comes with stakes, costs less and not trekking pole in the middle of the door.
@@nathandolenc554 off the top of my head i cant recall if that one is, but as a 6ft 4 dude i looked into longer tents and the zpacks dupleXL was one of a very few that have a good length
it would be nice if they ever actually had any in stock. the durston stuff looks nice but ive never seen it in stock and that was while trying to decide on a tent for over a year.
@@nathandolenc554 Waiting for mine to be delivered but the X-Mid Pro 2P features and specs says - Large floor accommodates two wide tapered pads and hikers up to 6’4″ comfortably. I'm only 5'3 so it'll be a palace :)
@@Big-Government-Is-The-Problem Being a small cottage manufacturer Dan doesn't have millions of dollars to throw around like Big Agnes, Marmot, Exxel Outdoors etc. Agreed. This is really the only disadvantage of Durston gear. Lack of availability. It will be challenging for Durston to keep up with demand without having major investors or the muscle of a major manufacturer. Dan does not seem to be interested in giving a piece of his company away in exchange for cash or marketing muscle (Shark Tank etc). And that is fine its how he wants to do it I can reapect that. He just needs to figure out how to push up production to meet demand with him and his wife on their own and that will be challenging. But hey Marmot and Big Agnes did it back in the day with only a couple of people so I bet he can pull it off too. The standard mesh inner double walled X-Mid will have much better availability in the fall. To the point where you can just buy the tent without having to get it on a special drop. During the last mesh inner drop thousands of X-Mids sold in a few minutes. Zpacks would be lucky to sell that many in a month or two.
thanks girl !!! thats a chunk of change for sure !!!!!!!! sadly it's out of my wallet range but weight is nice ! seriously ..... no stakes at that price ????? as a retirement age guy oz's do count but ...$$$... is set each month 8( but i love the outdoors so a few extra oz's will have to do !!!! lol
Have you seen / tried out nemo's new osmo material? Lightweight doesn't sag / stretch suppose to last 4x longer. I've only seen it so far as a tarp but if they would make a whole single wall tent out of it like the "plexes" that'd be nice.
Happy 4th of July !!! I'm starting to want to do a 5 day hike, but want to know what kind of gps , or emergency system do you have incase you're position is needed by S.A.R. teams !????
Hey, Dixie. Love your videos. Big Auburn fan here, too. Would really love to see you compare the Zpacks Duplex to the Tarptent StratoSpire Li. Have you had any experience with the Tarptent StratoSpire Li?
Hi Dixie 👋 I'm working with a bivy sack and I'm trying to find a way to make head room to prevent moisture from breathing in my sleep Also, any tents that are freestanding you like?
I thought about buying a Duplex but don't like how high the vestibules are off the ground. I don't see how blowing rain doesn't go under. I have another tent frow a well known cottage tent maker and the vestibules are much lower and still I have had water blowing in all the way to the inside.
Hi Dixie great video thank you for all of your gear reviews and information you share.. I do have a question for you I am in the market for a backpacking lightweight rain gear. At one time I saw you were wearing anti-gravity gears rain jackets.. are you still using that or have you found one that works better I would love any information you or your subscribers could share thank you so much
Hi, yeah, since this came out i have been interested for the length not to wet out my quilt. But my duplex is only 4 years old and had to spend another 749. But, I will see.
Hey Dixie! Thanks for all of your highly informative videos. I was wondering if you may have an opportunity to review the Durston X-Mid 2. My wife and I want a good light double wall trekking pole tent that can fit 2 25 Inch wide pads in it. I know its a high demand product and is hard to find, but we really want a good tent with a wide floor space for our pads. Were using the nemo tensor regular wide pads (Which we love!).
Wanted to love the duplex, didn't like the over lapping door which can catch wind and is hard to close, I also kicked the floor out too many times and flooded the floor, would prefer a door that doesn't lay on the ground, lastly with the old version also carried the side poles so the tent wasn't in my face all night.
This is a great looking tent, and when I looked into getting one the cost put me off. Landed in New Zealand it was USD $800, which translates to NZD $1300
@@simonhantler8062 I went for a Tarptent Double Rainbow Lithium. It’s a lot cheaper, only 100 grams heavier, and doesn’t need walking two walking poles .
Would be interesting to count how many nights you've slept in tents, and how many times you have set up tents and packed them away (as you are a thru/distance hiker I assume those numbers would be very close to each other except for your rare "zero" days in a tent).
did you know that some one was walking in the woods behind you when you was talking , not just once but a few times i saw a man just siting down watching you , i pray you are ok God bless and keep you safe Amen
There's nothing to really *fuss* with . . . Yikes, I had to listen to that twice LOL This might be my next tent as well. I'm 6'2" and using the old Duplex
so, i wanna hike with a 60 lbs dog..... i'm worried about the dog ripping the tent floor because sometimes he digs in his dog bed before finally laying down.
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To start I want to thank you for your videos. I"m recovering from open heart surgery and have had plenty of ups and downs. Finally my downs have decreased and I'm starting to get back in shape. I live close to the Florida trail and my walks are getting me closer to it
Thank you! Hope you heal up soon ♥️
Good for you!
Which tent stakes do you recommend? Also on another video you talked about your Amazon wish list for the AT. Can you perhaps share that list I’m interested to see the items and I’d like to create a similar list for my friends and family
I wish that were an option so many years ago when I bought my Duplex. My EE quilt got wet many times from touching the wall. Their customer service is great though. I paid $100 to replace the bathtub floor (or 150 I barely remember). When I got it back, they switched out the floor, along with the netting that had duct tape over holes in it and gave me brand new guy lines. That was very cool of them.
I'm 6'4" and I bought it a few months ago because it's the only one of these UL tents I fit very well in with a thick pad. Works great!
Thanks for the review Dixie. I’m now using the DupleXL on my current AT through hike attempt. I’m 1500 miles in (just into Massachusetts) and have come to an “understanding“ with the tent. I love the interior space and how light it is, but I hate the Zpacks door and vestibule design. My other tent choice for the hike was the XMid 1P (the original version) but that felt a bit coffin like if I needed to stay in it for any length of time in bad weather. I do prefer it’s simpler setup, and door/vestibule design. Had the new DCF version of the XMid Pro been available when I had to make a decision, that certainly would have been in the running.
I have the original Duplex and love it like crazy - no need for extra length when out alone. But I also own (and love) and old TarpTent Double Rainbow, and now they came out with a „Double Rainbow Li“ that‘s lighter in weight. Maybe worth checking that one out for the future. Happy trekking!
Thanks Dixie for the review. I am 6'6'' tall so finding a tent is hard. What tent manufacturers don't understand with tall people is the geometry of our sleeping - in the bathtub, you have to factor in the body length but not a ground level - rather, elevate that length (sleep pad, sleeping bag/quilt, head on one pillow (or two if you are Danny B). Now, at that elevation in the bathtub, the question is whether my feet (I don't sleep with my feet at a 90 degree angle - they relax so that adds length (last check most people 6'6'' tall wear size humongous shoes), plus thickness of sleeping bag/quilt over those feet) and head (beanie, sleeping bag thickness) touch the walls. So my REI Half Dome Plus pre-2018 at 96" (after 2018, they shorten the tent to 92'') is great for car camping or short backpacks since it weighs a lovely 7 lbs (double wall, etc...). So this tent is a beacon of light in this space. And, yes I have looked at tarps, but i prefer an enclosed tent to keep out the bugs. Again, thank you.
Another alternative: Tents from Lightheart Gear. I have their DUO and it's great. Very roomy.
Thanks Dixie!! I think if I go back to tenting, I’ll go with the DuplexL. For now, I’m loving the the cradled sleep of my hammock. ❤️
I love my triplex. I use it for single person use. It’s well worth the 0.8 oz. All that extra space gives it much more living space, not just sleeping space. It’s much easier to get dressed and even cook if you need to. I put my sleep system one one side and i carry a sit pad which I keep in the other side. If i have to pee in the night i can easily kneel on the sit pad and not be over my bag (accidents happen…). There is plenty of room for your pack as well.
Love that you mentioned the possibility of Triplex XL! Zpacks, if you see this please do it asap!!!
It's always nice when new gear comes out that can accommodate folks who may not fit well into most tents.
I love my Duplex!
I can see myself getting the DupleXL as well.
Just incredible tents.
The best investment I’ve made in backpacking.
I'm one of those people who do not like the Dyneema noise. I also am still old-school and even though I have always used trekking poles, I find that I favor tents like the Copper Spur design. I keep my pack weight around 12-lbs base weight. I've done a couple multi-month trips and carried a base weight of around 15lbs back then ( before ZPacks was even a dream). I find once my pack is >20lbs or thereabouts, I start to care. If I keep my pack under 18-20lbs then a pound doesn't make a noticeable difference. And I'm with you on just stuffing it in the sack. I don't even carry a stuff sack for my tent, or the poles, but I do for stakes. If the tent is dry it just gets stuffed into the bottom of my pack. If it is wet, I carry it on the outside of the pack and if I were bushwhacking, I'd put it under my pack liner. The poles go on the side of the pack and I don't find a need for their sack. The stakes are nice to have in their own sack because they get dirty. I like the Copper Spur because even though there is nothing that is truly "freestanding", you can pretty much be lazy and have two stakes or two tie-out points and you don't have as much fuss on hard surfaces (rock) or sand.
Thanks for this review! There’s not much content out there on the DupleXL!
Can't wait for you to try the X-Mid.
Love the content. So organized. So analytical. Good JOB Dixie!
Hi Dixi, thank you for sharing the pro & cons. I deal with some of the cons, for my cheap Coleman two man, by using a larger survival tarp over the tent. It will add weight but afford added warmth, takes care of the transparency problem-no sun cooking me out at 7:30 am-and protects the tent from hail, fire embers, falling branches, etc. That tent has lasted for 17 years, I still have it. That old tent is heavy, by comparison. I may leave it as I am considering upgrading to one of these tents.
Thanks for remaining straightforward about cheaper alternatives every time you make a video about Zpacks! I'm still glad I didn't get one of these (yet) and a Lashan 2 pro instead. Why? Because was able afford a used Hilleberg for a little more than the difference between a Lashan and Zpacks so I can have a winter tent as well. :P I get bummed about not being able to safely/comfortably winter backpack because it's expensive and being able to hike year round is important for fighting seasonal depression for me, so budget 3-season options are really helpful in turning a seasonal hobby into a year round one.
If I ever do a longer thru-hike like one of the triple crowns I might consider this tent, a Tarptent Protrail, or a Durston (if I can get one) but for now I actually think the Lashan 2 is still a better option for someone like me who is not doing a long thru hike yet. My Lashan 2 pro remains almost entirely untorn or frayed as of 60+ overnights with a ground sheet, good tent-site discipline, and doublechecking/fortifying the seam sealing. Only got a big 'fabric dent' from a medium sized fallen branch from all those nights, not even a rip.
My wife and I use a triplex and I like it. It fits the 2 of us and 2 60lb dogs well.
It was always a deal breaker for me that zpacks tents were somewhat transparent, so it’s really great to hear that Zpacks have a less transparent tent 😀😀
Whenever I watch reviews of pyramid style tents, I always see the same issues: lack of head/foot space, lack of livable area, condensation running onto the floor, trekking poles blocking high traffic areas and complicated pitches that use a lot of stakes and need a big open space. In all my years using my Tarptent Double Rainbow I've never experienced these issues. That said, I've never used a pyramid tent so I can't personally compare the two styles. I'd love to see a comparison video between a DupleXL and a Double Rainbow Li. The Tarptent is a bit heavier, but when you take the weight of the trekking poles into account, the weight savings of the Zpacks vanishes putting these two tents into the same weight class.
Dixie.....love the well thought out reviews..if you ever want to come enjoy algonquin Park or the Temagami wilderness we always have room for fellow outdoors enthusiasts!!!.....please keep up the great work!!
For many years I used the ZPacks Solplex and the only thing I didn’t like was getting condensation wet at either end (head/foot or both if it snowed). When that tent’s zipper finally gave out and the floor had a million holes, I bought the ZPacks Plex Solo. Yeah! The center of the floor is wider since it enclosed a previously inaccessible vestibule, and my feet and head ends don’t get wet!
I hike alone, and really like being able to set up in tiny flat locations if needed, so a big tent would mean I had to find a big place to set it up. Just my two cents.
I found with a narrower, longer stuff sack (WalMart special) it actually is easier to roll up the Duplex tent and slip it easily into the sack, which also allows me to carry it on the outside of my Zpacks Arc pack (using the straps at the bottom of the pack.) Faster to pack up; gives me more interior pack space.
As far as 2 person vs. 3 person tents: I always count equipment as a person, though I have managed to put me and my adult son into the Duplex successfully at times. So a Duplex is excellent as a one person tent; Triplex good for 2.
I've always been told to just stuff Dyneema in the sack because folding it in the same places over and over again can damage the lamination, but random stuffing means it's not taking that abuse in the same places.
Am I wrong?
Yes, better to fold than stuff
Thanks!
Thank you!
I like how genuine you are :) PS- We stayed at Potato Patch a week or two after you- site #3 :)
i like me duplex except for those stupid bloody toggles on vestibule flaps that fight me at night coz i cant see what im doing and i end up looping them more rather than undoing them.why not some sort of closure system that you can do by feel. the flap thing needs rethinking in general i reckon.
I realize this is a year old but they have since come out with the Duplex Lite. It's 40 inches wide and weighs 15.9 oz. It's lighter than the Altaplex and only 1oz heavier than the Plex Solo. I'm taking a hard look at that one. You can squeeze someone in in a pinch and it has two doors.
Love my duplex. Thanks for all you do for us🤓
One thing not mentioned is you can achieve a very similar result to the DupleXL in the original Duplex by just sticking a stick under the tie out cord in that same location. I hiked the whole PCT that way. Works very well. (But you won’t have that extra six inches.)
Nice review. It looks like a great two-person tent. I bought the Altaplex last year and really like it (I'm 6'5" tall) but I wish I had more room on the sides... the DuplexL would have fit that need, lol.
Hey Dixie, ever thought about trying a light weight 3x3 (10x10') tarp as shelter instead of a tent?
No bug protection. Which in any place that weather nice enough to just need a shelter is prolly gonna be a concern
I believe she’s done a tarp video. You might want to look it up.
@@raeperonneau4941 I have and it's only a poncho tarp. Not a full tarp.
0 privacy under a tarp if you like to having a place to dress, sleep naked, have sex
, etc out of the bugs tent is the way to go.
I have one thicker dyneema, only problem is dust and rain enters vents at foot and head in windy cond. Also all dyneema tents are hot in direct sun.
Being 6’8” myself and having two boys, 12yrs @ 6’3” and 21 yrs @ 6’10”, the fact that Zpacks and Big Agnes are introducing long tents is a godsend.
It's a struggle bus for us tall people.
Mate I am 6'1 and wish most hiking tents were longer and wider! How do you guys go with cars? I've always liked little cars that fit me like a glove but I suspect you simply couldn't.
@@hogey74 it is a challenge!
I have learned that going smaller and lighter is usually the best option. A good example is the NEMO Tensor I bought was a long wide cause ai thought that the extra weight would be worth the larger size. Welp!… I turned around and bought a small Therma-rest Uberlight less than a year later for the weight savings. I LOVE the NEMO but wish they offered a short like Therma-Rest.
Lightheart gear has a tent for tall people. The solong.
I’m not sure how are you doing it, but listen to you, sometimes for hours, I never get bored. I think you could be an amazing teacher or politician for that matter 😅 But seriously, do you have it written on a board, or there’s monitor in front of you? Your speech skills are fantastic 👍🏻
julie newmar was a free spirit that did and went where ever she pleased. i admire that part of you
I’m 6’2”. I love my xlduplex
Great review Dix, I want one! Can’t resist commenting, that Marty guy is a lucky camper 😉
Love my triplex, especially since my husband carries it!
Great post Dixie ⭐️
Stay strong, free, happy and healthy. 🌞
This is an excellent comprehensive and objective review. Thank you!
WHAT THE??
I've subbed to you for years and just now I get a new video??
Your videos are so honest and to the point. Great review Dixie.
I really like your reviews. Keep them coming.
I do rather like my Duplex tent. It's nice to see that ZPacks is continuing to improve the design!
Thanks for the review. Great content. I remember a while back you saying that the Stratospire Li was replacing your Duplex as your favourite tent (something to that effect). But now the DupleXL is your favourite. Had you stopped using the Stratospire Li, or were you still using it and the DupleXL has now replaced it?
I tried the stratospire lithium, but it didn’t work out super well. It’s hard getting away from the Duplex (or DupleXL). It’s been my overall go to for sure.
What was said in the background at 6:54? "subtext and coffee"? "something and copy"? lol
Great editing and format ~ thank you 💜
There is that good looking homemade Wanderlust. She does know how to take a walk.
Just ordered the duplexl hoping to hike the at next year :)
Hi Dixie!! I am looking to start collecting gear and I would like to pick some things up second hand. I know you usually buy second hand, but I would really love to watch a video on your thoughts on how to approach buying used gear. Where would you shop? What would you look for? How would you decide if something was worth the price/sufficiently good quality?
Question - if you have a backpack that only opens at the top and your tent is at the bottom of your pack, do you have to empty the entire contents of your pack to get at your tent? And if it's raining, does that just make a mess of everything? Or do you lash the tent to the bottom of your pack or something?
No one backs their tent at the bottom. It most common to pack sleeping bag at bottom, food or heaviest stuff in the middle pad, clothing then tent on top.
The stuff you need first is on top. If not you need to learn how to pack! 😂 Seriously though, to each their own, you figure out what works best for you.
@@asmith7876 I've only used packs that fully unzip top to bottom and have tons of pockets, so yeah it isn't something I've thought too much about in the past.
Love your videos Dixie. Ordering my first Duplex Zpacks tent . Don't know which weight to go with. Any further thoughts on the heavier material.
Thank you for sharing your expertise
How to do use tents like this over rocky terrain?
Questions:
1) How do you dry out your tent in the morning if there’s a lot of condensation inside? Or do you? (Sorry, I’ve watched a lot of your vids so you may have already answered that!)
2) Is Marty his real name or trail name? If real, what’s his trail name??
Thanks for the awesome information and videos! You are inspirational. ❤️
I just open mine up and let it dry naturally while I have breakfast, but if it's not dry when I'm ready to pack up, I pack it up wet. I lay it over my fence to dry out when I get home, or hang it in the garage or in the house if it's raining.
@@scottplumer3668 awesome, thanks!
If youre in a single wall tent, then wipe it down with a microfiber cloth when the sun rises and leave the door open to air out before packing. For double wall tents I will remove the rain fly in the morning, pack the inner tent and wipe down the rainfly, then stuff the rain fly in your mesh pocket on your pack to let it breathe and dry out, then pack it midday. I have packed my tents wet before and ended up with mold buildup along the seams. Dont pack a wet tent unless you have no other option.
I do love my Zpacks gear! Nice review.
Hello, thank you for all you post. You have done so much to help me through the AP. Could you please answer a few questions for me?
My dog travels with me and we usually hammock tent. I've decided to tent camp this year. researching I'm finding it hard to find a really good sleeping pad for us, one that my dog won't deflate first night. Suggestions 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏
I have a one person tent we both fit in.
Great stuff. Please evaluate different types of tents. Or not.
its my first UL tent and i love it but to be fair i have no experience to compare it to, but as a 6ft 4 guy i needed a longer tent. i still suck at setting it up though
Is the tent long enough so your head and feet don’t touch the sides? I’m 6’4” also was wondering how well the tent would work. Thanks
@@barondavis5692 ive only used it twice so far but i didnt have any issue hitting my head or feet on the inside of the tent, so i think its a good enough size for people our height
BIG GOVERNMENT IS THE ISSUE AND NOT THE SOLUTION Sounds good, thanks.
Did you ever try using a stick to lift the head and foot end on your old standard duplex? If you have, is there still significantly more inside space in the xl version?
There's a lot going on there. You need the reinforcement and the fabric to be cut different and you need that piece of fabric on the bathtub to pull the floor out and hold it down.
Which tent are you taking on your next trip? The duplex or duplexl?
Preferred..... until you get the X-Mid Pro 2p. I guarentee you will want to sell the Zpacks.
Xmid requires no guylines, only 4 tent stakes, has vents, has zippers, uses nylon for the floor that is more abrasion resistant, comes with stakes, costs less and not trekking pole in the middle of the door.
Is there space for taller people?
@@nathandolenc554 off the top of my head i cant recall if that one is, but as a 6ft 4 dude i looked into longer tents and the zpacks dupleXL was one of a very few that have a good length
it would be nice if they ever actually had any in stock. the durston stuff looks nice but ive never seen it in stock and that was while trying to decide on a tent for over a year.
@@nathandolenc554 Waiting for mine to be delivered but the X-Mid Pro 2P features and specs says - Large floor accommodates two wide tapered pads and hikers up to 6’4″ comfortably. I'm only 5'3 so it'll be a palace :)
@@Big-Government-Is-The-Problem Being a small cottage manufacturer Dan doesn't have millions of dollars to throw around like Big Agnes, Marmot, Exxel Outdoors etc.
Agreed. This is really the only disadvantage of Durston gear. Lack of availability. It will be challenging for Durston to keep up with demand without having major investors or the muscle of a major manufacturer. Dan does not seem to be interested in giving a piece of his company away in exchange for cash or marketing muscle (Shark Tank etc). And that is fine its how he wants to do it I can reapect that. He just needs to figure out how to push up production to meet demand with him and his wife on their own and that will be challenging. But hey Marmot and Big Agnes did it back in the day with only a couple of people so I bet he can pull it off too.
The standard mesh inner double walled X-Mid will have much better availability in the fall. To the point where you can just buy the tent without having to get it on a special drop.
During the last mesh inner drop thousands of X-Mids sold in a few minutes. Zpacks would be lucky to sell that many in a month or two.
thanks girl !!! thats a chunk of change for sure !!!!!!!! sadly it's out of my wallet range but weight is nice ! seriously ..... no stakes at that price ????? as a retirement age guy oz's do count but ...$$$... is set each month 8( but i love the outdoors so a few extra oz's will have to do !!!! lol
Have you seen / tried out nemo's new osmo material? Lightweight doesn't sag / stretch suppose to last 4x longer. I've only seen it so far as a tarp but if they would make a whole single wall tent out of it like the "plexes" that'd be nice.
I would love to see you test out the X-Mid 2P tent and share your thoughts. :)
Happy 4th of July !!!
I'm starting to want to do a 5 day hike, but want to know what kind of gps , or emergency system do you have incase you're position is needed by S.A.R. teams !????
Hey, Dixie. Love your videos. Big Auburn fan here, too. Would really love to see you compare the Zpacks Duplex to the Tarptent StratoSpire Li. Have you had any experience with the Tarptent StratoSpire Li?
This is her review of the Stratospire Li: ruclips.net/video/G9zYJs4-TtI/видео.html
This is more of a comparison: ruclips.net/video/Rtuiz4vtNwQ/видео.html
@@JAaronMattox Thanks!
So ... what are you going to do with your Tarptent Stratospire Li?
Are those Topo’s you using now?
I love your channel and really look forward to each video, but I wished you liked the hammock more!!! Thanks!!!!!’
Hi Dixie 👋
I'm working with a bivy sack and I'm trying to find a way to make head room to prevent moisture from breathing in my sleep
Also, any tents that are freestanding you like?
I thought about buying a Duplex but don't like how high the vestibules are off the ground. I don't see how blowing rain doesn't go under. I have another tent frow a well known cottage tent maker and the vestibules are much lower and still I have had water blowing in all the way to the inside.
Hi Dixie great video thank you for all of your gear reviews and information you share.. I do have a question for you I am in the market for a backpacking lightweight rain gear. At one time I saw you were wearing anti-gravity gears rain jackets.. are you still using that or have you found one that works better I would love any information you or your subscribers could share thank you so much
ruclips.net/video/ioYaUf0bw3U/видео.html
How do you close the door flap from the inside?
Hi, yeah, since this came out i have been interested for the length not to wet out my quilt. But my duplex is only 4 years old and had to spend another 749. But, I will see.
Have you ever considered the FreeDuo from Zpacks?
Hey Dixie! Thanks for all of your highly informative videos. I was wondering if you may have an opportunity to review the Durston X-Mid 2. My wife and I want a good light double wall trekking pole tent that can fit 2 25 Inch wide pads in it. I know its a high demand product and is hard to find, but we really want a good tent with a wide floor space for our pads. Were using the nemo tensor regular wide pads (Which we love!).
I got the solo Plex in olive. It is super transparent. It it's more transparent than previous zpack tents. Absolutely no privacy.
Bungee doodads! Love it, good selling point not in the sales brochure
Are the risers removable?
I’m currently using the DupleXL for my AT through hike attempt (1500 miles in at the moment) and the risers are not removable.
I would think if you just folded the tent in half and then grabb the riser rods together place them in the bag and stuff the rest after.
How much? I heard there ultralight tents go up to $1,000 dollars - i.e. as expensive as they are light.
Wanted to love the duplex, didn't like the over lapping door which can catch wind and is hard to close, I also kicked the floor out too many times and flooded the floor, would prefer a door that doesn't lay on the ground, lastly with the old version also carried the side poles so the tent wasn't in my face all night.
This is a great looking tent, and when I looked into getting one the cost put me off. Landed in New Zealand it was USD $800, which translates to NZD $1300
the frieights a killer at mo. i hiked TA with mine, great but you need to play around with the venting condensation scenario.
@@simonhantler8062 I went for a Tarptent Double Rainbow Lithium. It’s a lot cheaper, only 100 grams heavier, and doesn’t need walking two walking poles .
Would be interesting to count how many nights you've slept in tents, and how many times you have set up tents and packed them away (as you are a thru/distance hiker I assume those numbers would be very close to each other except for your rare "zero" days in a tent).
I love my duplex but I’m terrified of sleeping with the vestibules closed sometimes I dream of a double wall tent that I can enclose myself haha
Marty? I’m jealous!
Dixie your videos are awesome.
We Love you Dixie... Stay Safe... God Bless 🙏
I’m sure it’s a wonderful tent. But I just can’t afford it. I’ll be looking at your budget tent video. Thanks
I LOVE my Duplex
Good job
did you know that some one was walking in the woods behind you when you was talking , not just once but a few times i saw a man just siting down watching you , i pray you are ok God bless and keep you safe Amen
6:57 Woah, woah, woah! Is Dixie using a full-length toothbrush here? lol
Done got lazy
I don't use a tent, I carry a cardboard sign and stand on the trail.
There's nothing to really *fuss* with . . . Yikes, I had to listen to that twice LOL
This might be my next tent as well. I'm 6'2" and using the old Duplex
so, i wanna hike with a 60 lbs dog..... i'm worried about the dog ripping the tent floor because sometimes he digs in his dog bed before finally laying down.
I'd buy a DupleXL so that I can bring my camping chair.
Why not just shift to the TriPlex? The weight penalty is minimal.
gram weenies, lol. that's funny, but it does add up fast. So many wonderful choices now, compared to 1970's and 80's. Take care, as always.