American backpacking gear specialist Zpacks already has one of many world’s lightest lineups of tents and shelters, with some single-sleepers that flirt with a mere half-pound (227 g). Its new Duplex Professional appears to mix that very same beyond-ultralight building with a cushty, versatile construct that adapts to every backcountry explorer. The tent comes loaded with sensible, adjustable options that permit patrons get probably the most customized efficiency per pound doable.
Months earlier than we began following the market surge in ultralight freestanding tents from boutique backpacking brands, Zpacks launched one of many first of the bunch. At a crazy-light weight that dips beneath 2 lb (907 g) – 31.6 oz/896 g, to be exact – the Freezip 2P can be the lightest freestanding two-person tent mannequin we have ever seen.
However the lightest technique to construct a backpacking shelter is to get rid of the poles of a freestanding design, and a very in style technique of reaching that purpose is by counting on the person’s trekking poles to double as tent poles. In case you’re already carrying a set of completely stout poles, why not use them to pitch your tent and dump the load of a devoted tent pole system.
Zpacks
Zpacks has performed precisely that with most of its shelter lineup, driving minimal weights of its trekking-pole-structured tents proper right down to 11.7 oz (332 g) with the single-pole Plex Solo series. The brand new Duplex Professional, which replaces the Duplex Zip in Zpacks’ lineup, is not fairly that mild, but it surely does weigh much less per particular person with a complete that registers as little as 1.2 lb (554 g) when utilizing a 48-in (122-cm) trekking pole on either side to pitch the roof.
Hitting that 1.2-lb minimal weight requires paying slightly consideration to the choices checklist as a result of Zpacks provides two distinct construct ranges. Both means, you are taking a look at a Dyneema Composite Material (DCF) outer tent physique and ground, however the “Lite” bundle makes use of a mixture of lighter weight DCF materials to save lots of ounces. The “Normal” bundle, in the meantime, makes use of greater weight DCF materials all through for harder efficiency, opaqueness and sturdiness. The man traces additionally fluctuate in thickness.
By incorporating the lighter cloth bundle choice, Zpacks is ready to minimize just a few ounces as in comparison with the outgoing Duplex Zip whereas additionally making a significant enchancment. The ground provides an additional 5 inches (13 cm) of width, measuring in at 84 x 50 in (213 x 127 cm). This permits it to accommodate two 25-in-wide (63.5-cm) sleeping pads facet by facet.
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The Duplex Zip, Duplex Gentle and commonplace Duplex fashions all have longer 90-in (229-cm) flooring that run narrower at both 40 or 45 in (102 or 114 cm) broad. That longer sizing may show higher for storing gear on the area left past one’s ft but it surely additionally makes for a tighter side-by-side squeeze for 2 folks. The Duplex Professional’s wider rectangular ground is purpose-designed to suit two rectangular pads subsequent to one another with out problem. Zpacks explains the brand new ground can be designed so each campers can sleep in both path, adjusting round wind, slope, views and different elements.
The ground’s tall bathtub design protects towards floor water and splashing, and the waterproof outer cloth extends down previous the higher fringe of the bathtub ground to keep up full weatherproof integrity.
Those that do not hike with trekking poles, or just choose a tent with its personal freestanding pole construction, could make the Duplex Professional a freestander by buying the suitable Duplex Freestanding Flex Kit. That tacks on 11.4 oz (323 g) of weight to deliver the tent’s minimal heft as much as 30.9 oz (876 g), nonetheless lower than 1 lb (454 g) of tent weight per particular person, assuming two individuals are sleeping in it.
Zpacks
No matter forms of poles are holding it up, the Professional incorporates a hybrid wall design with its single physique of waterproof-breathable Dyneema cover and interior mesh entry doorways. Customers can dial within the excellent mixture of air flow and climate safety by opening or closing every of the 4 outer door panels, which roll up and safe open through magnetic toggles.
Every interior display screen door protects towards bugs and incorporates a split-L design with a three-way zipper down the center and out to the corners. The 2 sides of every mesh door additionally roll open and safe through magnetic toggle.
Zpacks
When it is time to go, the Duplex Professional packs up right into a stuff sack and measures roughly 13 x 7 in (33 x 18 cm). The tent doesn’t include its personal stakes however requires six to eight stakes to correctly pitch. Zpacks provides a variety of stakes, and the lightest weigh 0.2 oz ( 5 g) every, including an extra 1 oz (30 g) to the minimal weight. Throw within the 0.3-oz (9-g) stuff sack, and the full bundle comes out to a nonetheless exceptionally light-weight 1.3 lb (593 g).
Zpacks launched the all-new Duplex Professional this month and is providing it beginning at US$799. The corporate says the ground is designed to be robust sufficient to make use of with no groundsheet, but it surely does provide a $139 groundsheet sized for the Professional. Zpacks sews collectively its merchandise at its Florida headquarters and backs them with a two-year guarantee.
Whereas we’re on the subject of Zpacks, it is value mentioning {that a} new batch of its 2-oz Ultralight Camp Shoes dropped this week and are as soon as once more available to order. The $35 slip-ons are one of many extra inexpensive merchandise the corporate provides and have a tendency to promote out rapidly.
The intro video beneath delivers a more in-depth have a look at the Duplex Professional’s many particular person options.
Zpacks Duplex Professional Tent | Overview
Supply: Zpacks
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