Plexamid Tent

$549.00 Weight 15.3 oz / 433.0 g

Lead Time Ships in 1-3 Days

**This tent has been replaced by our newer Plex Solo Tent. It has roughly the same amount of space at a lower weight and smaller packed size with no peak struts.

I’ve been using this tent now for over 4 years. We’ve set it up in extreme situations—alpine, windy, heavy slanting rain. It performs excellently in all conditions. Lots of interior space. Highly recommended.

– Marc C., ★★★

Weighing in at under a pound, the Plexamid is an ultralight and spacious tent designed to help take your hikes to the next level. Whether you’re on a thru-hike or just getting the most out of those two weeks away from the cubicle, this tent allows you to put in extra miles without wrecking your body.

The uniquely designed squared off peak gives this lightweight tent extra headroom while still allowing it to pitch easily with a single 48" (122 cm) pole. The ultra-strong titanium peak structure remains in the tent while still allowing it to pack up small.

The Plexamid is well-ventilated and can be set up in even the most cramped camp sites; making it one of the most functional ultralight tents anywhere.

An optional flat groundsheet is available for added protection here.

Features

  • Sets up with a single trekking pole adjusted to around 48" (122 cm). A tent pole can also be used if you don't carry a trekking pole. See our tent poles here.

  • This tent has a unique squared off peak which gives you more headroom without needing a tall trekking pole. The squared off peak is built in and rolls up with the tent (no disassembly). The peak support rods can easily be popped in and out or replaced if necessary. The tent still pitches just fine with the rods removed, although you lose some headroom without them.

  • This tent pitches with a minimum of 6 stakes, however up to 10 can be used in windy conditions. Extra stakes also help pull the walls out for more interior space.

  • The storm doors can be opened or closed independently. Leave one or two doors open in nice weather for a breeze and great views. Close the upwind door to block cold wind, or close both for 360° rain protection. The overlapping doors are closed with custom made metal hooks, with a toggle at the center to keep them pinned.

  • The canopy overhangs the bathtub floor and the screen doors by 4-5 inches (12 cm). In calm rain or under dripping trees the doors can be left open for air flow without water dripping on the floor space. In almost all conditions, at least one downwind door can be left open for air. For even better rain protection with a door open, use the included elastic cords to pull the screen door back away from the rain spray as seen in the photo gallery.

  • A single closed door creates enough vestibule space for storing a wet backpack or muddy shoes, if you don't want to bring them into the tent.

  • There is screen between the bathtub floor and the walls around the perimeter. An elastic cord keeps the bathtub elevated, ensuring the screen slopes downwards away from the bathtub. Any condensation, which single wall shelters may experience, will run down the walls and out through the downward sloping screen, rather than onto the floor. Click here for tips to avoid condensation.

  • A rainbow zipper gives you extra space to get in or out of the tent and gives you access to the vestibule area. The doorway is tall for easy entry.

  • This tent has a solid, sewn in 8 inch (20 cm) tall bathtub floor. The bathtub floor is 38 inches (97 cm) wide at the center and tapers to 28" (71 cm) at the head and foot. The floor is 7.5 feet (2.3 meters) long. There is plenty of space to stretch out, with room for your gear beside you or at the ends of the floor. Tall hikers can add even more head and foot room by propping up the side guylines.

  • A Mesh pocket is conveniently located near the door so that it can be accessed from inside or outside the tent. It is a good place to store your cell phone, glasses, headlamp, the tent stuff sack, and spare seam tape (included). The pocket is about 8" x 8" (20 cm x 20 cm).

  • A separate groundsheet is not required for this shelter. The floor material is reasonably durable, and all Dyneema® Composite Fabric gear can be easily patched in the field with repair tape. If you do prefer to use a groundsheet as a precaution, Flat Groundsheets are available.

  • All of our tents do pretty well in the wind. 60 mph (100 km/h) gusts are no problem. The material can handle high wind loads, and as long as your stakes stay in the ground (use rocks if available) your tent will stay standing. Dyneema® Composite Fabric is not particularly noisy, however almost any tent will make a little noise in the wind. Earplugs are not a bad idea for windy nights.

  • This tent rolls up to about 6" x 12" (15 x 30 cm). It is a loose fit in an included Medium-Plus size stuff sack which is 7" x 13" (18 x 33 cm).

  • Dyneema Composite Fabric is naturally waterproof and is not treated with any potentially harmful chemicals such as flame retardants or water repellents. 

  • All Zpacks gear has a two-year limited warranty against defects in materials or workmanship. Please see our return / warranty policy.

  • Made in the USA.



Weight:

The total weight displayed near the 'add to cart' button includes guy lines, sewn in linelocs, taped seams, and a stuff sack. A piece of repair tape is included with the tent. Your choice of canopy material will change the total weight.

*10x Stakes are required but are not included. We have a variety of Ultralight Stakes to choose from.

Exterior Dimensions:

Peak height: 48" (122 cm)

Center width including vestibule: 62" (157 cm)

End width: 36" (91 cm)

Front vestibule space: 18.5" depth. (47 cm) Length: 100" (254 cm)

Interior Dimensions:

Peak height: 48" (122 cm)

Center floor width: 38" (97 cm)

End floor width: 28" (71 cm)

Floor length: 7.5 feet (2.3 meters)

Zipper entry height: 36" (91 cm)

Packed Dimensions:

6" diameter by 12" tall (15 cm x 30.5 cm) / 340 cubic inches (5.6L)

  • Our tents are made from Dyneema® Composite Fabric. Dyneema® Composite Fabric has several advantages over other materials:

     

    • High strength to weight ratio – the material can handle high wind force and does not tear easily.

    • Chemical free, PFC free

    • Waterproof – there is no DWR or coating to worry about wearing out. The material will not absorb significant water that will add water weight to your pack

    • Stretch-free – the tent will stay taut all night. Nylon material by comparison can stretch and sag, especially if it gets wet.

    • Taped seams – our seams are sewn, then taped water tight. The tie outs have bonded reinforcements for high strength. No seam sealing will be necessary!

    • Easily repairable – Any damage can easily be fixed in the field with our Dyneema® Composite Fabric Repair Tape.

  • This tent is semi-transparent. In bright sunlight, a fuzzy silhouette of a person sitting inside the tent would be visible, but you cannot see any details. It has a suitable amount of privacy for changing clothes.

    In lower light (such as in the evening or at night), you cannot see through at all. We also have thicker, darker material available as an upgrade that you can choose. Another nice thing about this material is that you can see the outlines of trees and your surroundings for a more immersed outdoor experience.
  • This tent has fully enclosed .66 oz/sqyd (22.7 g/m²) insect screen. The holes in this screen are super tiny, so even the smallest insects cannot get through. Our tent screen is about 30% lighter than comparable Noseeum screen with no noticeable decrease in durability.
  • The bathtub floor is made from 1.0 oz/sqyd Dyneema® Composite Fabric. This material weight is more than twice as thick as the canopy material and is more resistant to abrasion and punctures. It is also easy to patch with tape.
  • Lineloc V adjusters are sewn to all tie outs. Bright yellow Dyneema® Z-Line cord is cut and attached for you. The yellow lines are very easy to see night or day, and Dyneema® has very low stretch.
  • The expected life span of this shelter is at least one full 2500+ mile thru hike, or many years of casual use with some care.


Made with Bio-Based Dyneema® Fiber

Reduce your carbon footprint with bio-based Dyneema® fiber technology. Sourced from renewable, bio-based feedstock, it is the first ever bio-based ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (HMPE) fiber. Commit to sustainability and help reduce our reliance on fossil fuel resources and rely on the trusted performance of the world’s strongest fiber™. Click here to learn more about our sustainability initiatives.

Made in the USA.



.55 oz/sqyd Standard Dyneema® Composite Fabric

Available in Blue, Olive Drab, and White

The default canopy material choice on this tent is .55 oz/sqyd Dyneema® Composite Fabric. It has high tensile strength and can handle strong winds, storms, and all the typical conditions a tent will be in. All Dyneema® Composite Fabric material can easily be repaired in the field with the included repair tape if it were to get a puncture.

The material is semi-transparent, allowing you to see the silhouette of trees when looking out. In bright sunlight, you can see the fuzzy silhouette of a person when looking in, but it is opaque in low evening light.

Tensile Strength: 63 lb/in (552 N/5cm)

Puncture Strength: 
1.8 lb (8 N)

Water Resistance:
 15,000 mmH₂O

Made in the USA.



.75 oz/sqyd Dyneema® Composite Fabric

Available in Burnt Orange, Dirt, and Spruce Green

This canopy material has a higher Dyneema® thread count which gives it a higher tear strength. The standard material is already difficult to tear, so this weight is unnecessary. Many thru-hikers like this feature for added peace of mind.  It is also a bit thicker and darker than the standard weight. It is less transparent and offers more privacy.


Tensile Strength:
 104 lb/in (911 N/5cm)

Puncture Strength:
 3.1 lb (14 N)

Water Resistance:
 20,000 mmH₂O

Made in the USA.



1.0 oz/sqyd Dyneema® Composite Fabric

Our tent floor material is made with a membrane that is more than twice as thick as our canopy material. It is more puncture and abrasion resistant. This is the standard floor material on all of our tents.


Tensile Strength:
 104 lb/in (911 N/5cm)

Puncture Strength: 3.5 lb (15.5 N)

Water Resistance: 20,000 mmH₂O

Made in the USA.



.67 oz/sqyd Ultralight Nano-Noseeum Insect Netting

Regular "No-see-um" bug netting weighs about 1 oz/sqyd. This ultralight version weighs roughly a third less without a noticeable difference in performance. It has extremely small holes which block even the smallest of insects including mosquitoes, noseeums, etc. Nothing gets through this screen.

Plexamid Instructions

Click here for a printable version.

Cutting Guylines:

Guylines are pre-cut and attached for you. Linelocs are sewn in place for adjusting the lines. If you choose to switch out your lines for a different cord these are the default lengths:

Front center (1x) - Cut 102 inches (259 cm) and tie a stake loop at 40 inches (102 cm). The long end attaches to the tent and the short end attaches to the door hooks.

Walls (cut 4x) - 54 inches (137 cm)

Corners, Back Center (cut 5x) - 32 inches (81 cm).

Setup Instructions:

  1. Adjust your trekking pole to around 48 inches (122 cm). If you expect your pole tip to sink into the ground, add a couple inches to compensate.

  2. Give your corner guylines some slack. Stake out all four corner guylines at a 45 degree angle, roughly straight off the corner points.

  3. Insert your trekking pole with the handle in the pocket at the peak, outside of the tent screen. Stake the front line.

    • If the peak is too high, tighten the front corner lines. If it is too low, loosen them.

  4. Stake out the back center tie out

    • If the walls of the tent aren't smooth, you may need to reposition the corner stakes or adjust the lines tighter.

    • If the back corners are too low, loosen the back guylines, and tighten the main peak line to pull the front of the tent down and raise the back up. It should be about 6-8" (18 cm) off the ground all the way around.

  5. Stake out the four wall tie outs.

Storm Doors:

The storm doors can be clipped down to the front center guyline, or rolled up depending on the weather. Leave at least one door open for air flow when possible, unless the weather is bad.

Seam Sealing: 

All Zpacks shelters have taped seams and bonded tie outs! No seam sealing necessary.

Click here for full instructions on how to wash our Dyneema® Composite Fabric tents and tarps.