Here is tip for your backpack with the duplex: most packs have a hanging strap, so out side of the duplex back door, you can hang your pack from your trecking pole strap using a short sturdy stick. Your pack remains sheltered under the vestibule and accessible from the back door of the duplex tent. Its very nice to be able to do this when your pack is soaking wet from the rain. It also allows extra space in the tent. To hang the pack, you will want to do it from the outside when you first pitch your tent and the vestibule is not closed yet. Take a short length of sturdy stick about 3 to 4 inches and place it thru the trekking pole strap. Holding the pack hanging loop strap with one hand and the stick with the other hand, hang the pack loop on one end of the stick. Then grab one side of the pack loop stap below the stick and bring it up and over the other end of the stick. Hope all that makes sense. I hiked 900 miles of the AT in 2019 and hung my pack this way every night.
@@sandysprivatevideos6036, the idea was not original to me and I don’t know where I learned it but there is a video “Trekking pole tent backpack hanging trick” by Chris Goes Outdoors. If you google that it should come up.
Excellent presentation, thank you. I have two questions about size. The tent appears to have a large footprint area. Do you have trouble setting up in smaller non- established sites? I am told that DCF is bulky, does it limit pack space for longer carries with extra food or cold weather gear?
Dcf is not bulky. I think it's less bulky than sil nylon. It does not limit my carry in my pack with is a 50 l zpacks arc blast. I do t have a problem setting it up in a small area.
After a year with my Duplex, I sold it. I just got tired of the constant condensation and having to wipe it down every morning. I also had a problem with any time I was in a heavy rain, I got splash back through the mesh. I tried adjusting the pole length and still could never get that to stop. I do miss the low weight, but I am much happier with my BA Copper Spur.
@@Ramdinohikes My UL1 with stakes and tent poles weighs in at 37oz. I've never had any condensation on the mesh before. I used this tent for years before switching to the Duplex. When I switched back I got the newer version which I love because it has a big mesh pocket on the top of the tent and is great to make more room on the tent floor.
I have a Duplex and I do manage to get that center doohicky connected halfway up the flap. It is a pain. And you are correct; you are hanging out of the tent and if you don't have something on the ground, you will get dirty with mud if it's wet or muddy out there in the vestibule. Also, on the tent, there are two Zpacks labels on two corners of the tent. If you face those into the wind, it does help. Those need to face the wind to make your tent perform better in the wind. John (OSAT) from MI
I have the plexamid in camo , was wanting to upgrade to the duplex , then I found out they quit carrying the camo , pretty disappointed about that , however I do like the brown one u have there , yes these really shed water well in heavy rain , I wish we all could ask them to bring back the camo version, thanks so much for what u do for the hikers , maybe one day our paths will cross brother
My msr combines velcro and hook ring closure, i started adding velcro to the whole opening because of wind (there is no oveelap in the closure, and the hooks fell off) but now Im thinking it'd be better to just have snaps (like on baby clothes). Have you considered this? I find having the door totally closed saves so much energy. Eg. Less wieght with high temp rated down rated bag and mat, and less energy to keep warm cause all the warm air stays in the tent.
A short piece of shock cord (6”) at the steak end of the pullout to vestibule will make it easier to close up at night, with getting into the dirt....you can pull it closer, then release it
Great demo of the duplex, Ramdino. I have an older camo version that's going on 5 yrs. old and it's still holding up fairly well. These tents are really popular on the AT, so that speaks volumes. Thanks for your evaluation.
Great review. Love my Zpack duplex. I have the camo. I use Hawks tip. Roll one door on each side up half way and use a close pin. It keeps the condensation down.
The clothes pin trick works on my Altaplex too. Had somebody make fun of dollar store tricks on $600 tent and I told him I had $100 clothes pins I’d sell him lol
@@Ramdinohikes nice shelter, hope you like it. I had time between Xmas and new years to go on a hike, I was going to join y'alls down on the FHT, but decided on Linville Gorge instead. I have been to both locations many times, but this trip I opted for a 5day trip in the Gorge, and LG is only 1.5 hours from me, and the FHT is more like 3 to Onocee. Hope y'all had a good hike.
Thanks Ramdino! I had my duplex going on pretty much 8 months only once had condensation issues particularly because I set up near a waterfall in the rain. Other than that zippers may stick, WD40 But nothing major. I have about the same set up.
I have the Spruce Green Duplex and love it. It's not as thin as the blue color, but not as heavy as the camouflage. Depending on the season and the location, I have a decent chance to stealth camp, if necessary. Great tips!
Zpacks is absurdly overpriced. There are some points that might give it value but the price is laughable and they have zero legitimate reasons to claim there is added cost or research involved in making these things $700. I would say they are worth about $300 and even at that price they are probably making $200-250. At $700 you would think they are using the fabric equivalent of unobtanium.
Yes they are pricey, but most cottage industry companies are. They don't have economy of scale and they are made in Amurica rather than a sweatshop in China. The material is pretty high dollar as well.
Single walls always condensate somewhat. It had less functions to reduce weight. The Cuban fiber mayerial is very expensive. So your paying for the material, weight reduction and supporting a cottage industry.
Here is tip for your backpack with the duplex: most packs have a hanging strap, so out side of the duplex back door, you can hang your pack from your trecking pole strap using a short sturdy stick. Your pack remains sheltered under the vestibule and accessible from the back door of the duplex tent. Its very nice to be able to do this when your pack is soaking wet from the rain. It also allows extra space in the tent. To hang the pack, you will want to do it from the outside when you first pitch your tent and the vestibule is not closed yet. Take a short length of sturdy stick about 3 to 4 inches and place it thru the trekking pole strap. Holding the pack hanging loop strap with one hand and the stick with the other hand, hang the pack loop on one end of the stick. Then grab one side of the pack loop stap below the stick and bring it up and over the other end of the stick. Hope all that makes sense. I hiked 900 miles of the AT in 2019 and hung my pack this way every night.
Great tip!!! Tks
Sounds like a great tip - anyway you can record it?
@@sandysprivatevideos6036, the idea was not original to me and I don’t know where I learned it but there is a video “Trekking pole tent backpack hanging trick” by Chris Goes Outdoors. If you google that it should come up.
good to see people still using film cameras from the 1900's to put out modern youtube videos.
Nice review, thx.
Preciate cha!
Great review Ramdino!!! Hope all is well!!! Hope to see you guys soon!!! Mako and i couldn’t fit 😊😊😊but super nice tent!!!!
Likewise and they make it in a triplex size as well. We are doing great.
@@Ramdinohikes😊😊
Great information. Thank you. Blessings
You are so welcome
Thank you for sharing! Awesome info!!🥾🥾⛺️
You bet
Superlative reality is reason enough to follow your channel.
I'll have to Google that phrase but I appreciate it, I think.
Great review, you are not afraid to show what is good and not easy to do. Stay safe and HIKE ON!!!
Just the facts
Excellent presentation, thank you.
I have two questions about size. The tent appears to have a large footprint area. Do you have trouble setting up in smaller non- established sites? I am told that DCF is bulky, does it limit pack space for longer carries with extra food or cold weather gear?
Dcf is not bulky. I think it's less bulky than sil nylon. It does not limit my carry in my pack with is a 50 l zpacks arc blast. I do t have a problem setting it up in a small area.
I truly love my Duplex. Bought the Camo version the last year they carried Camo in 2019 - 2020. Enough room for me and my gear.
Yep, but not a partner
@@Ramdinohikes very true
I have that exact color in the Altraplex . Thank for the video.
Where do you put your pack?
After a year with my Duplex, I sold it. I just got tired of the constant condensation and having to wipe it down every morning. I also had a problem with any time I was in a heavy rain, I got splash back through the mesh. I tried adjusting the pole length and still could never get that to stop.
I do miss the low weight, but I am much happier with my BA Copper Spur.
Sorry to hear that Spotter. How much does your copper spur weigh and does it get condesation on the mesh?
@@Ramdinohikes My UL1 with stakes and tent poles weighs in at 37oz. I've never had any condensation on the mesh before. I used this tent for years before switching to the Duplex. When I switched back I got the newer version which I love because it has a big mesh pocket on the top of the tent and is great to make more room on the tent floor.
So weighs a little less than a pound more than my thicker version.
What type of material?
@@Ramdinohikes Believe it's sil-nylon.
I have a Duplex and I do manage to get that center doohicky connected halfway up the flap. It is a pain. And you are correct; you are hanging out of the tent and if you don't have something on the ground, you will get dirty with mud if it's wet or muddy out there in the vestibule. Also, on the tent, there are two Zpacks labels on two corners of the tent. If you face those into the wind, it does help. Those need to face the wind to make your tent perform better in the wind. John (OSAT) from MI
Good tip
I have the plexamid in camo , was wanting to upgrade to the duplex , then I found out they quit carrying the camo , pretty disappointed about that , however I do like the brown one u have there , yes these really shed water well in heavy rain , I wish we all could ask them to bring back the camo version, thanks so much for what u do for the hikers , maybe one day our paths will cross brother
That would be very cool
Nice overview Ramdino. The "side" entry is always a big plus vs end of tent, esp as we get older! Keep posting out there bud!!
Thanks! Will do!
My msr combines velcro and hook ring closure, i started adding velcro to the whole opening because of wind (there is no oveelap in the closure, and the hooks fell off) but now Im thinking it'd be better to just have snaps (like on baby clothes). Have you considered this? I find having the door totally closed saves so much energy. Eg. Less wieght with high temp rated down rated bag and mat, and less energy to keep warm cause all the warm air stays in the tent.
I've thought about sticky velcro but I don't want to Penetrate the fabric with a snap and void the warranty
A short piece of shock cord (6”) at the steak end of the pullout to vestibule will make it easier to close up at night, with getting into the dirt....you can pull it closer, then release it
I'll have to think about that but sounds like a good idea
Great demo of the duplex, Ramdino. I have an older camo version that's going on 5 yrs. old and it's still holding up fairly well. These tents are really popular on the AT, so that speaks volumes. Thanks for your evaluation.
Thanks for sharing
Love that new clapper App!
This video sound does break up frequently, leaving parts of the sound unintelligible. The description of the sleeping pad was one. Big Agnes, or what?
Yea, big Agnes
I know someone will ask, so where do I get one of those Clappers?!!!!!!
I sell them and an take venmo
Love my Duplex!!
But yea real good laying it allout for us. thank you.
Thanks for listening
Great review. Love my Zpack duplex. I have the camo. I use Hawks tip. Roll one door on each side up half way and use a close pin. It keeps the condensation down.
I'll try that
The clothes pin trick works on my Altaplex too. Had somebody make fun of dollar store tricks on $600 tent and I told him I had $100 clothes pins I’d sell him lol
Love hiking hacks
Everytime I see these reviews I just can't believe the amount of money paid vs. How little you get.
I'm pretty satisfied with what I got. I onew pretty much what I was getting when I bought it.
Ramdino, is that the burnt orange or brown?
Burnt Orange
@@Ramdinohikes nice shelter, hope you like it. I had time between Xmas and new years to go on a hike, I was going to join y'alls down on the FHT, but decided on Linville Gorge instead. I have been to both locations many times, but this trip I opted for a 5day trip in the Gorge, and LG is only 1.5 hours from me, and the FHT is more like 3 to Onocee.
Hope y'all had a good hike.
I rigged my c clips so that they were permanently adjusted. Using a seat pad in the vestibule makes it easier to clip while staying clean and dry
Yea but then the z seat gets muddy. Course you could put it under the vestibule
Thanks Ramdino! I had my duplex going on pretty much 8 months only once had condensation issues particularly because I set up near a waterfall in the rain. Other than that zippers may stick, WD40 But nothing major. I have about the same set up.
Yea, condensation really has not been a big issue. Your right about setting up near water.
I have the Spruce Green Duplex and love it. It's not as thin as the blue color, but not as heavy as the camouflage. Depending on the season and the location, I have a decent chance to stealth camp, if necessary. Great tips!
Thanks for sharing!
Are you sayin thoo hiker? Is that slang?
yea, southern for "through"
Is that a popular tent on the trail ?
You'll probably see z packs duplex more than any other. I also see a lot of nemos
i have zpacks gear. Camo duplex Tent, Backpack with add ons, Food bag system and rain gear. quality gear
I tend to stick with Z packs too.
Is it your favorite tent? Would you buy it again?
yes and yes
I've heard these tents attract more cougars than two wall tents!
I think you're probably right. They can get thru 1 layer easier.
Zpacks is absurdly overpriced. There are some points that might give it value but the price is laughable and they have zero legitimate reasons to claim there is added cost or research involved in making these things $700. I would say they are worth about $300 and even at that price they are probably making $200-250. At $700 you would think they are using the fabric equivalent of unobtanium.
Yes they are pricey, but most cottage industry companies are. They don't have economy of scale and they are made in Amurica rather than a sweatshop in China. The material is pretty high dollar as well.
If they were cheaper from China instead of being made in Florida, still be complaining.
Seems to me that for that much money it would be and do a lot better.
Single walls always condensate somewhat. It had less functions to reduce weight. The Cuban fiber mayerial is very expensive. So your paying for the material, weight reduction and supporting a cottage industry.