WhiteBlaze Pages 2024
A Complete Appalachian Trail Guidebook.
AVAILABLE NOW. $4 for interactive PDF(smartphone version)
Read more here WhiteBlaze Pages Store

Results 1 to 17 of 17
  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    06-13-2017
    Location
    Erie, PA
    Age
    48
    Posts
    51

    Default Zpacks Triplex or SMD Lunar Duo Explorer

    I am seriously considering buying a Zpacks triplex. I live in the eastern side of the US and the majority of our hikes will take place there. We usually hike with our lab/greyhound dog. However, we are planning a Tahoe Rim Trail Thru-Hike this July without the dog. Is there any reason that I should consider a SMD lunar duo explorer instead? I’m aware of the weight, cost, fabric, general spec differences, and possible condensation issues. What I’m looking for is advice, warnings, or heads up on quirks or disadvantages to either tent that is not obvious from a perusal of the tent company’s website.
    TYIA!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  2. #2

    Default

    People who are familiar/experienced with both models who could give an informed opinion might be a small sample size. I would suggest looking at YouTube videos (if you haven't already) of each model (if available) and listen for "quirks and disadvantages" and then make a decision.

    "I’m aware of the weight, cost, fabric, general spec differences, and possible condensation issues." With this statement, you sound probably as knowledgeable, if not more, than most.

    It's highly likely that either one will serve you reliably. Good luck in your decision and happy hiking.

  3. #3
    Registered User
    Join Date
    06-13-2017
    Location
    Erie, PA
    Age
    48
    Posts
    51

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Singto View Post
    People who are familiar/experienced with both models who could give an informed opinion might be a small sample size. I would suggest looking at YouTube videos (if you haven't already) of each model (if available) and listen for "quirks and disadvantages" and then make a decision.

    "I’m aware of the weight, cost, fabric, general spec differences, and possible condensation issues." With this statement, you sound probably as knowledgeable, if not more, than most.

    It's highly likely that either one will serve you reliably. Good luck in your decision and happy hiking.
    You make a very good point. I always worry that I’ve missed something obvious. Thank you for your candor.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  4. #4
    Leonidas
    Join Date
    04-26-2016
    Location
    Birmingham, Alabama
    Posts
    1,065

    Default

    This is what it came down to for me.

    SMD: 2 person, 45" Height, 90" Length, 54" Width, 42.9oz seam sealed Weight, 2 vestibules, $200 Price(I got it used) New $335.
    Zpacks: 2-3 person depending on pad widths, 48" Height, 90" Length, 60" Width, 26.5oz Weight(Spruce), 2 Vestibules, $714 Price.

    So even if I bought the SMD new it was less than half the cost of the Triplex. Eventually, I may go to the Triplex when the SMD dies but I would have to look at the Lightheart Gear Duo at practically the same price point as the SMD.

    I own the SMD and it has been a great tent so far. For me it eventually came down to how bad did I want to get my base weight down to 10lbs or below vs money spent.

    Just some thoughts.
    AT: 695.7 mi
    Benton MacKaye Trail '20
    Pinhoti Trail '18-19'
    @leonidasonthetrail https://www.youtube.com/c/LeonidasontheTrail

  5. #5
    Registered User
    Join Date
    06-13-2017
    Location
    Erie, PA
    Age
    48
    Posts
    51

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by JC13 View Post
    This is what it came down to for me.

    SMD: 2 person, 45" Height, 90" Length, 54" Width, 42.9oz seam sealed Weight, 2 vestibules, $200 Price(I got it used) New $335.
    Zpacks: 2-3 person depending on pad widths, 48" Height, 90" Length, 60" Width, 26.5oz Weight(Spruce), 2 Vestibules, $714 Price.

    So even if I bought the SMD new it was less than half the cost of the Triplex. Eventually, I may go to the Triplex when the SMD dies but I would have to look at the Lightheart Gear Duo at practically the same price point as the SMD.

    I own the SMD and it has been a great tent so far. For me it eventually came down to how bad did I want to get my base weight down to 10lbs or below vs money spent.

    Just some thoughts.
    For most of our hikes (weekend long) the weight difference is not that large of an issue. It’s when we hike out west when we have to add in bear cans and more food/longer distances between resupply/leaving trail that the weight really has to be thought about.

    Zpacks tents are a definite investment and I want to make sure that something half the price wouldn’t work just as well.
    Thanks for the insight!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  6. #6
    Registered User Venchka's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-20-2013
    Location
    Roaring Gap, NC
    Age
    78
    Posts
    8,529

    Default

    Add the Lightheart Duo and TarpTent StratoSpire 2 to the confusion.
    The Triplex is only 6” wider than the Duo.
    Why do you guesstimate less condensation with the ZPacks tent? It’s still a single wall tent.
    There’s a zillion miles of trails west of the Mississippi that don’t require bear cans or long heavy water carries. Canada too.
    Have fun.
    Wayne

  7. #7
    Registered User
    Join Date
    06-13-2017
    Location
    Erie, PA
    Age
    48
    Posts
    51

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Venchka View Post
    Add the Lightheart Duo and TarpTent StratoSpire 2 to the confusion.
    The Triplex is only 6” wider than the Duo.
    Why do you guesstimate less condensation with the ZPacks tent? It’s still a single wall tent.
    There’s a zillion miles of trails west of the Mississippi that don’t require bear cans or long heavy water carries. Canada too.
    Have fun.
    Wayne
    I’m sorry if I wrote my post in such a way as to insinuate the Zpacks has less condensation issues. I meant that I’m aware that they both have the same issue since they are single wall tents for the majority of the tent walls.
    As far as the LH duo, I appreciate the wider floorplan and headroom of the SMD lunar duo more, especially if I’m stuck in the tent during bad weather. I’ve read of concerns of the TT SS needing a large-ish clear area to erect it (we hike mostly in the heavily wooded eastern US) and the occasional struggle with proper setup.
    I’ve been trying to decide on what is the best overall fit for me. Sometimes, too much information causes more headaches than they fix.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  8. #8
    Leonidas
    Join Date
    04-26-2016
    Location
    Birmingham, Alabama
    Posts
    1,065

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Squirrel! View Post
    Sometimes, too much information causes more headaches than they fix.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Lol, this is the real issue here. Too many good options. Then again, not a bad problem to have.
    AT: 695.7 mi
    Benton MacKaye Trail '20
    Pinhoti Trail '18-19'
    @leonidasonthetrail https://www.youtube.com/c/LeonidasontheTrail

  9. #9
    Hiker bigcranky's Avatar
    Join Date
    10-22-2002
    Location
    Winston-Salem, NC
    Age
    61
    Posts
    7,937
    Images
    296

    Default

    We have used both tents extensively: had a Lunar Duo for six or seven years, and about wore it out. Got a Hexamid Twin for our LT hike for the much smaller pitched footprint, but it's really too small for the both of us. So we got a Triplex a couple of years ago. The two tents are broadly similar: two doors on the long sides, two vestibules, lots of interior room. I'll focus on the differences in use (you can figure out the differences in weight, price, etc., yourself.)

    Lunar Duo: The curved poles on top of the doors seem to add extra interior headroom, at least it feels roomier above my head. The vestibule is easier to use with the zipper down the middle. The Duo is slightly harder to pitch consistently well, as very slight differences in angles make a difference. The Duo is exceptionally weather resistant. It does stretch and sag when it gets damp.

    Triplex: more complicated to pitch, but once I got the hang of it, I could do it consistently, and pretty quickly. It's wider so there is more room across the middle, but it seems to have less headroom and also less usable length (so, for example, I can't get as much gear and stuff piled above my head.) The Triplex fabric does not absorb water, so it can be shaken off better than the Duo. It does take more room to pitch than the Duo. This tent is also quite weather resistant, though I've not had it out in the kind of intense thunderstorms that I experienced with the Duo.

    Both: Both tents seem to pack down to the same basic size. They both get a fair amount of condensation under the right conditions. They are both excellent tents for a hiking couple.

    I think in terms of being stupidly sentimental about gear, I *loved* the Lunar Duo. Just a great wonderful amazing tent. We had some great adventures in that tent, lots of good memories.

    But my knees love the Triplex.
    Ken B
    'Big Cranky'
    Our Long Trail journal

  10. #10
    Registered User
    Join Date
    06-13-2017
    Location
    Erie, PA
    Age
    48
    Posts
    51

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by bigcranky View Post
    We have used both tents extensively: had a Lunar Duo for six or seven years, and about wore it out. Got a Hexamid Twin for our LT hike for the much smaller pitched footprint, but it's really too small for the both of us. So we got a Triplex a couple of years ago. The two tents are broadly similar: two doors on the long sides, two vestibules, lots of interior room. I'll focus on the differences in use (you can figure out the differences in weight, price, etc., yourself.)

    Lunar Duo: The curved poles on top of the doors seem to add extra interior headroom, at least it feels roomier above my head. The vestibule is easier to use with the zipper down the middle. The Duo is slightly harder to pitch consistently well, as very slight differences in angles make a difference. The Duo is exceptionally weather resistant. It does stretch and sag when it gets damp.

    Triplex: more complicated to pitch, but once I got the hang of it, I could do it consistently, and pretty quickly. It's wider so there is more room across the middle, but it seems to have less headroom and also less usable length (so, for example, I can't get as much gear and stuff piled above my head.) The Triplex fabric does not absorb water, so it can be shaken off better than the Duo. It does take more room to pitch than the Duo. This tent is also quite weather resistant, though I've not had it out in the kind of intense thunderstorms that I experienced with the Duo.

    Both: Both tents seem to pack down to the same basic size. They both get a fair amount of condensation under the right conditions. They are both excellent tents for a hiking couple.

    I think in terms of being stupidly sentimental about gear, I *loved* the Lunar Duo. Just a great wonderful amazing tent. We had some great adventures in that tent, lots of good memories.

    But my knees love the Triplex.
    Thank you so much! This is exactly the side to side comparison I was looking for. Great knowledge to have.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  11. #11
    Registered User Venchka's Avatar
    Join Date
    02-20-2013
    Location
    Roaring Gap, NC
    Age
    78
    Posts
    8,529

    Default

    The StratoSpire 2 has the same geometry as the other two tents. Double side vestibules will need similar amounts of clear space.
    If the SS2 needs more space to set up it’s because it provides more useable shelter. The vestibule doors can be rolled up out of the way if space is that tight. Which applies to all 3 tents.
    Wayne

  12. #12
    Registered User
    Join Date
    01-23-2006
    Location
    Melbourne,Australia
    Age
    68
    Posts
    2,851

    Default

    "I’ve read of concerns of the TT SS needing a large-ish clear area to erect it (we hike mostly in the heavily wooded eastern US) and the occasional struggle with proper setup"
    With the Triplex guylines in place it will take up more room than the SS2 does.
    It is true that some do have problems setting up the SS2 but I have seen some awful set ups with the Triplex too.
    Some people can set up tents , others not so much....

  13. #13

    Default

    I don't have any experience with the Triplex, but I love my Lunar Duo. I especially love the head room since I'm a big guy. Great tent for the money!!!
    Go afield with a good attitude, with respect for the wildlife you hunt, and the forest and field in which you walk. Immerse yourself in the outdoor experience. It will cleanse your soul.--Fred Bear

    www.misadventuregear.com

  14. #14

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by JC13 View Post
    Lol, this is the real issue here. Too many good options. Then again, not a bad problem to have.
    Yes, agreed, at times it does suck to have too many choices...embrace the suck!

  15. #15
    Registered User
    Join Date
    03-06-2017
    Location
    Charlottesville, VA
    Age
    58
    Posts
    7

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by bigcranky View Post
    But my knees love the Triplex.
    Amen, brother.

  16. #16
    Furlough's Avatar
    Join Date
    03-17-2004
    Location
    Northern Virginia
    Age
    62
    Posts
    900
    Images
    124

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Singto View Post
    Yes, agreed, at times it does suck to have too many choices...embrace the suck!
    Good ole paralysis through analysis ..... love the suck, embrace the suck, be the suck
    "Too often I would hear men boast of the miles covered that day, rarely of what they had seen." Louis L’Amour

  17. #17

    Join Date
    05-05-2011
    Location
    state of confusion
    Posts
    9,866
    Journal Entries
    1

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Venchka View Post
    Add the Lightheart Duo and TarpTent StratoSpire 2 to the confusion.
    The Triplex is only 6” wider than the Duo.
    Why do you guesstimate less condensation with the ZPacks tent? It’s still a single wall tent.
    There’s a zillion miles of trails west of the Mississippi that don’t require bear cans or long heavy water carries. Canada too.
    Have fun.
    Wayne
    Lightheart duo slope of roof is such that 2 p cant sit up at same time. Wouldnt even be on my list for 2 p.
    Maybe 1 + dog

++ New Posts ++

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •