Tent - How big is too big

[jgillam]

I have owned / tried a few different tents over the year and based on the fact that I am a big guy and will likely always have someone in a tent with me, I have determined that I would prefer a tent that is approximately 55 inches wide and have decided on Cuben Fiber.

I am currently looking at the Zpacks Triplex tent which is a little wider than needed. The Duplex was an option but considering that it is 5" narrower than the Hubba Hubba NX, which felt narrow to me, I am afraid that the I would regret the 45" wide Duplex when sharing the tent.

I am planning a solo AT thru hike in a few years but, will have my son with me for 2.5 months during the summer. If I were going completely solo, the Duplex would be fine but, since I will be sharing the tent then and in the meantime, I think I want the extra with of the Triplex.

Because the weight difference between the Duplex and Triplex is minimal, my only concern is with the ground space I will need to pitch the tent, will I have trouble finding a place to pitch a tent this on the AT? I am assuming that the Triplex will need a similar amount of space as did the Stratospire 2, I owned. I remember people have similar concerns with that tent as well.

Thank you for your input.

Jeremiah

[Dogwood]

Look at Joe's Triplex set up video where he doesn't eleven use the possible full compliment of 12 stakes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-K540fC_cDk

Even with the number of guyouts he uses in this vid, which is 8 rather then the possible 12, that's a 12 ft x 10 ft flat open space needed. Certainly plenty of places to get these size open flat spaces on the AT but you will definitely be limited to CS locations too. Consider the Tri Plex has two entrances so if you want to use both, and why wouldn't you since that's one of the features and wt and cost you're opting for, you will need a wider area than that. Lots of lines to take up space and trip over and add to setup and break down times. Even as a big guy it could serve as single person shelter with these consequences but it would be cavernous overkill for one and huge even for two large people.

What I've noticed in my MLD Solomid pyramid shelter as well as in the Duplex and TriPlex is these shelters appreciate flat sites for the most optimal pitch and use of interior space which again could make finding suitable campsites a bit more difficult especially with two doors being used.

[One Half]

Personally I would not give consideration to a thru hike that may take place a few years from now. If you will be hiking this summer and next with someone you want to be sure you are sleeping in the same tent with, I would make that my priority. If however your hiking partner could sleep in another tent, their own maybe, I would get a tent just for yourself.

[jgillam]

I want to buy one awesome tent now and use it until then...especially at the cost of a Zpacks tent.

[CarlZ993]

Those Zpacks tents (I have the Duplex & the Hexamid Solo-plus) have a very big footprint. Sometimes, that can be a pain on the AT. Especially if you plan on using your tent as your primary shelter. I used my Hexamid as my secondary shelter as I mainly slept in shelters (used a tent 14 nights on my thru-hike).

Another thing you might consider when hiking the AT in a couple of years: by the time your son joins you on the trail (assuming he has to wait until summer & you're going NoBo), you are likely to be much smaller in size. A Duplex tent might suffice for the two of you. Just a thought.

Good luck in your decision.

[LIhikers]

My wife and I use a 3 person tent as we hike with our 90 pound dog.
It's a Tarptent Rainshadow and it looks like it is wider than the Triplex.
We've never had a problem finding space to put it up.

[jgillam]

A quick update for anyone comes back to check a thread they previously commented on. I ended up emailing Zpacks for advise as well and ultimately picked a Duplex with the understanding, that I could exchange it for the Triplex, if it was too small. I'm a pretty big guy at 6'2" 275 and like my space.

I got the tent a few days ago and set it up in the yard for kicks. Without sleeping pads in it, it felt plenty big enough. Last night, I took it out on a scout camping trip. My 5.5 year old and I slept in it had plenty of room...which was one of my biggest concerns of the tent.

I previously had a Hubba Hubba NX which spec'd at 50 inches wide and felt tight with just me in it. The Duplex spec'd at 45 inches wide, felt much wider which I would attribute to the vertical walls of the Duplex.

So far I am very pleased with my decision. I am planning another trip next weekend so, I get another chance to test it.

The only downside was the condensation. Unfortunately, we set up camp just after a heavy rainstorm. The dew point and air temp were the same last night and we had heavy fog settling in an hour and a half before sunset. It was a perfect storm for condensation made worse by the fact that I closed the doors to maintain privacy. Not the fault of the tent, everything was soaked this morning.

Additionally, this tent was really easy to set up...especially compared to the Stratospire 2 that I used over the summer.

If anyone has a specific question, feel free to ask.

[Tipi Walter]

The only downside was the condensation. Unfortunately, we set up camp just after a heavy rainstorm. The dew point and air temp were the same last night and we had heavy fog settling in an hour and a half before sunset. It was a perfect storm for condensation made worse by the fact that I closed the doors to maintain privacy. Not the fault of the tent, everything was soaked this morning.

The only downside was condensation? Well, condensation is a big part of tent camping. You say "Not the fault of the tent but everything was soaked this morning."

It IS the fault of the tent. A good double wall tent would prevent 90% of this condensation ever reaching you. I wonder why backpackers decide weight is more important than staying dry. The whole purpose of a tent is to keep us dry and not soaked.

[KDogg]

The only downside was condensation? Well, condensation is a big part of tent camping. You say "Not the fault of the tent but everything was soaked this morning."

It IS the fault of the tent. A good double wall tent would prevent 90% of this condensation ever reaching you. I wonder why backpackers decide weight is more important than staying dry. The whole purpose of a tent is to keep us dry and not soaked.

Because we are talking a lot of weight savings when it comes to cuben fiber tents. The duplex weighs in at 20oz. Condensation is hardly an issue but does takes a bit of getting used to. The design of the tent allows the condensate to drain towards the end of the tent and out (there is netting on either side of the bathtub floor). I also hiked with a shamwow and wiped the tent down on occasion if it was really wet (not often). Cuben fiber does not absorb water so it dries very quickly. Once my double wall big agnes gets wet it stays wet until I can spread it out in full sunlight for a significant amount of time. All my duplex needs is a light breeze and all is good. You won't be sorry with the duplex. Everyone I met on the trail with one loved it. It is actually the only piece of gear I came home with that I refuse to part with. It is that good.

[jgillam]

The only downside was condensation? Well, condensation is a big part of tent camping. You say "Not the fault of the tent but everything was soaked this morning."

It IS the fault of the tent. A good double wall tent would prevent 90% of this condensation ever reaching you. I wonder why backpackers decide weight is more important than staying dry. The whole purpose of a tent is to keep us dry and not soaked.

Did you read the part of my post about the weather? There were approximately 60 tents set up and every single one of them was soaked and experience condensation. Mine was the only one that was a single wall.

[jgillam]

The only downside was condensation? Well, condensation is a big part of tent camping. You say "Not the fault of the tent but everything was soaked this morning."

It IS the fault of the tent. A good double wall tent would prevent 90% of this condensation ever reaching you. I wonder why backpackers decide weight is more important than staying dry. The whole purpose of a tent is to keep us dry and not soaked.

When I said everything was wet, I meant everything outside, I didn't mean everything inside of the tent. My gear was dry except the occasional drop here or there. Some of the condensation ran down the walls and drained, the rest just hung around. I did use a Shamwow around 3am.

In comparison, my double wall Hubba Hubba I used was soaked just as badly the one time I used it. The rainfly had taken on so much moisture, that it was sagging and touching the interior of the the tent which caused the moisture to drip all over my gear.

[Tipi Walter]

My only point is that in extreme condensation double wall tents keep occupants drier than single wall tents, and obviously with less need to resort to 3am sponging wipe-offs.

[Venchka]

A quick update for anyone comes back to check a thread they previously commented on. I ended up emailing Zpacks for advise as well and ultimately picked a Duplex with the understanding, that I could exchange it for the Triplex, if it was too small. I'm a pretty big guy at 6'2" 275 and like my space.

I got the tent a few days ago and set it up in the yard for kicks. Without sleeping pads in it, it felt plenty big enough. Last night, I took it out on a scout camping trip. My 5.5 year old and I slept in it had plenty of room...which was one of my biggest concerns of the tent.

I previously had a Hubba Hubba NX which spec'd at 50 inches wide and felt tight with just me in it. The Duplex spec'd at 45 inches wide, felt much wider which I would attribute to the vertical walls of the Duplex.

So far I am very pleased with my decision. I am planning another trip next weekend so, I get another chance to test it.

The only downside was the condensation. Unfortunately, we set up camp just after a heavy rainstorm. The dew point and air temp were the same last night and we had heavy fog settling in an hour and a half before sunset. It was a perfect storm for condensation made worse by the fact that I closed the doors to maintain privacy. Not the fault of the tent, everything was soaked this morning.

Additionally, this tent was really easy to set up...especially compared to the Stratospire 2 that I used over the summer.

If anyone has a specific question, feel free to ask.

I spent the first half of September by myself in a Hubba Hubba NX. My experience was uneventful and did not match your experience.
I think your experience may have been in an alternate universe.
Enjoy the Duplex.
Wayne

[jgillam]

I spent the first half of September by myself in a Hubba Hubba NX. My experience was uneventful and did not match your experience.
I think your experience may have been in an alternate universe.
Enjoy the Duplex.
Wayne

It was the dew point in both cases. I wish I could have wiped the HH down at 3 am instead of having it drip on me. Enjoy your tent as well.

[Venchka]

I had 100% humidity. Soggy ground. Rain on a few occasions. High winds one night. No dripping inside the tent. Sorry, but that's what I experienced. Granted, I don't really need a 2 person tent & the weight is more than I would like, but the tent functioned to my satisfaction.
Cheers!

Wayne

[Leo L.]

I have the Hubba Hubba NX and believe that it's not really perfect when it comes to condensation.
The rainfly doesn't come all the way down to the ground, but stops some 10cm above, thus leaving a stretch of inner tent (of the waterproof baththub part) exposed.
This exposed part of the inner tent inevitabely has condensation on its inner side, and you hardly can avoid touching this wet part with your sleeping bag.
So I have a damp footend of the bag every morning (only one night so far had been completely without condensation).
I'm going to sew a wide stripe of silnylon to the rainfly to hopefully avoid this problem in the future.

As far as the inside space goes, the NX is perfect for a solo trip (I'm quite tall at 1.86m), but was OK for me and my wife too.

[Engine]

Consider the Tarptent MoTrail. Plenty of room for two and a castle for 1, good bathtub floor (much improved over the Double Rainbow), very light (about 12 ounces heavier than the Zpacks Duplex), very reasonably priced (almost $400 cheaper than the Duplex).

Overall we love ours, but to be completely honest, we haven't had it out in foul weather yet. I plan on doing a full review when we do.

[soumodeler]

Consider the Tarptent MoTrail. Plenty of room for two and a castle for 1, good bathtub floor (much improved over the Double Rainbow), very light (about 12 ounces heavier than the Zpacks Duplex), very reasonably priced (almost $400 cheaper than the Duplex).

Overall we love ours, but to be completely honest, we haven't had it out in foul weather yet. I plan on doing a full review when we do.

Nothing wrong with it except it's a front entry tent. I started with an original TT Virga that was front entry and eventually upgraded to the side entry Notch. I will never go back to a front entry tent again. So much easier and more convenient.

[cbr6fs]

A good double wall tent would prevent 90% of this condensation ever reaching you. I wonder why backpackers decide weight is more important than staying dry. The whole purpose of a tent is to keep us dry and not soaked.

Most Hilleberg tents have angled ends which consistently wet the foot of your bag with inner condensation. My Nammatj was bad in this regard and my Staikas also draped over my sleeping bag. The Akto is atrocious in this regard and way too small inside the inner tent when using a puffed up down bag in the -20F range.

Bit of consistency in your opinions would be helpful, unless of course you think Hilleberg's are not "good double wall tents"

[PaulWorksHard]

I had minimal condensation issues with the duplex, but I almost always kept all 4 side flaps rolled up. On rainy nights, I tried to leave at least one flap rolled up. On a windy, rainy night with all 4 flaps down, there would not be condensation. The problem was still nights with rain which were rare.