Is the Zpacks Duplex Tent the Ultimate Ultralight Backpacking Tent?

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There are plenty of ultralight tents available these days, and all of them claim to be the best. So we tested the iconic Zpacks Duplex two-person tent to see if it stands up to the other UL backpacking tent options available (and whether we’ll pack it in our UL setup again and again). Here’s what makes it unique and what we thought of it and its functionality.

Find even more excellent ultralight backpacking tents here, plus the perfect ultralight trekking poles to pitch the tent here.

Zpacks Duplex

The Zpacks Duplex ultralight tent is a durable, spacious, easy-to-pitch powerhouse that should last for decades (and is easy to repair). This single-wall, trekking-pole-pitch tent is an icon on long-distance trails, but also comfortable on long weekends in the backcountry. But maybe most importantly, it’s light enough to earn a place in any UL backpacking setup.

Weight: 17.9 oz (no stakes)

Price: $699

Size:

• Peak height: 48 in (122 cm)
• Floor width: 45 in (114 cm)
• Floor length: 7.5 feet (228.6 cm)
• Floor Area: 28.1 square feet (2.6 square meters)

Features

• Overlapping doors mean no zippers to get stuck
• Large, rainbow-style mesh doors on the tent body
• Interior cinch cords to prevent rain splashback at the ends
• Easy to pitch
• Made with “Bio-based” Dyneema (it’s only minimally bio-based)
• Waterproof material (no DWR required) + taped seams
• Stretch-free material
• Comes with repair tape
• Pockets under each door
• Not free-standing (you need to stake it out for a proper pitch)
• Pitches with 2 trekking poles that should extend to 48″
• Single-body design (fly and tent body are one)
• Doesn’t come with stakes
• Dual side-entry doors

Function

But let’s break down how these features functioned in the real world.

Space

The Zpacks Duplex is plenty roomy for two backpackers, even if they’re on the tall side. We found there was plenty of headroom in the center so two of us could sit up, pack bags, play games, etc. And the length and width of the tent left plenty of room for gear. There was lots of space at the head and foot for clothing, water bottles, even empty backpacks (though there’s also ample room in the vestibules for shoes, packs and dirty gear).

We used regular-sized inflatable mummy pads, but wider pads would also fit, as would extra long pads for taller folks. The only backpackers who may want to opt for a larger tent are duos who want or need extra wide pads, in which case the fit might be more snug than desired. Fortunately, there’s also a 3p tent called the Zpacks Triplex.

To improve livability and give yourself a touch more headspace, you can even tie the guylines on the top of the fly to a branch or stake them out and then prop the line up with a stick to pull the head end of the tent up and out.

Door Design + Entry

We really liked the dual rainbow-shaped doors on the Zpacks Duplex 2p tent. Despite having a trekking pole centered over each entrance, the large doors allowed easy access no matter which direction the tent is pitched, which end your head is on, or which side of the vestibule door is tied back. And yes, you can open one of the vestibule doors or both so it feels even more spacious and open inside the tent, not at all cramped. There’s plenty of vertical clearance and having two wide open doors is great for airflow and convenience.

As for the vestibule doors, they don’t have a zipper. Instead, they overlap, which means strategic pitching in inclement weather is something you’ll have to be careful about (more on that below). Zippers–especially waterproof zips–are usually the first part of a tent to fail, though, so eliminating them adds longevity and reduces maintenance. Fortunately, the doors are easy to guy out: an O-ring on the corner of each door hooks onto a small J-hook on the guy line to secure it in place and an extra hook and loop in the middle keeps it secure in windier weather.

Pitching + Structure

The tent, like most other UL tents, requires two trekking poles to pitch, which need to extend to about 48″ to pitch. You’ll also need 6-8 stakes, which aren’t included, but are required since this is not a freestanding tent (though you can purchase poles separated that make it more of a freestanding tent). What’s more, you’ll need to make sure when you pitch it if you’re expecting wind or rain that the end of the tent with the logo is facing the direction the wind is coming from. This positions the top overlapping vestibule door in position to keep out the most precipitation and chill breeze. Fail to do this and you may get more wind and wet in your tent than you bargained for.

On the upside, the bathtub floor comes up 8 inches, which helps block a fair amount of splash-back from rain. To help alleviate that issue even more, there are line locks on the inside of the fly walls at the ends that allow you to cinch the floor to the walls even tighter for more protection and privacy.

Ventilation

The vents on the ends, which run the length of the head and foot of the tent, paired with mesh tent walls and those overlapping vestibule doors that let in plenty of air mean there’s a solid amount of air circulation that takes place in this tent. If the weather is nice and you can leave one or both vestibule doors open, you can expect a truly airy, pleasant night outdoors, even though the “fly” isn’t fully removable.

And those line locks that pull up the bathtub floor on the ends? They also function to direct any condensation that builds up inside the tent down the walls and out the mesh instead of onto the floor. On the flip side, the tent was extremely hot when sealed up on a sunny day. Climbing in with everything zipped up felt like entering a sauna.

Privacy

The Zpacks Duplex is made of thin Dyneema, which is ultra durable and easily repairable, but not super opaque. Meaning privacy could be an issue for some. During the day and at night with a light on inside, shapes and outlines are visible from the outside. So if you’re with a group and modesty is important to you, maybe just don’t press your bare butt up against the wall. On the upside, most of what anyone will be able to see in normal conditions are blurry outlines, not detail. Zpacks does offer a darker material if privacy is a concern.

On the flip side, it’s nice to be able to see the faint outlines of trees and the world outside your tent while you’re in it.

Interior Details

As for the small details, the pockets are annoying at best and unusable at worst. There are two interior pockets, one on each side, attached to the top of the bathtub floor behind the poles. They tend to flop down onto the floor, making them hard to access, especially when a pad is tucked right up against the wall, which it will be when there are two campers inside. We’d prefer the pockets be located toward one end for easier access. We understand the design choice—it keeps the tent symmetrical so you can orient your head at either end and still reach a pocket, but still.

The bright yellow guy lines are highly visible, which is great during the day, but I do wish they were reflective for better nighttime visibility.

The door tie-backs are another detail I appreciate. They’re big enough to use easily—even with gloves on. A lot of ultralight tents go too minimal here, but these are thoughtfully sized and user-friendly.

Bottom Line

All in all, the Zpacks Duplex is a solid, lightweight, livable shelter. It was, after all, voted the most popular ultralight tent by Appalachian Trail thru-hikers two years in a row. It’s roomy, simple to pitch, and full of smart design choices. While you may have to pitch it strategically in windy or rainy conditions, it offers flexibility with where you put your head and the option to sleep in whatever direction you like thanks to the rainbow doors.

The high price will likely turn off some backpackers, in which case those folks should check out our review of the much more affordable Durston X-Mid 2, but it’s certainly an investment in quality and longevity. So if you can swing it, chances are you won’t have to buy another tent for decades depending on how often you use it. And that’s a win in our book.

How it’s sustainable: Two year limited warranty, made in the USA, PFAS-free design, never needs re-waterproofed, comes with extra seam tape.

Pros

• No zippers to get stuck or need repair
• Cinch lock toggles on inside of slanted walls to offer more rain protection
• A touch wider than the Hyperlite
• Lighter than the Hyperlite
• Extra large accessible doors
• Plenty of headroom
• Available in several colors (including a darker privacy option)

Cons

• No zippers on fly means wind + rain could be an issue
• Looser pitch
• Floppy interior pockets
• Expensive

Looking for another UL Dyneema tent? Check out our review of the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 2 HERE.