| ZPacks™ Hexamid Solo Tent
or Tarp |
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Description:
The Hexamid is a six sided pyramid style tent for a solo hiker.
It is made from the lightest materials available; .51 oz/sqyd cuben
fiber, and optionally .7 oz/sqyd ultralight insect netting.
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Sets up with just one trekking pole or walking stick adjusted
to around 48 inches (122 cm), and a minimum of six
stakes. Eight stakes are recommended.
A
Tent pole is
available if you don't use trekking poles.
Set up takes less than 2 minutes, watch the
Setup Video!
Text instructions are also available for the
tent or
tarp.
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Fixed length guy lines using no-stretch spectra cord make setup easy. No line adjusters or knot tying
necessary.
- Ample space for one person plus gear. The tent is long enough
for most people to fully stretch out their arms and legs, and tall enough to sit
upright.
- Great ventilation, and a great view through the large screen entryway.
6" of screen around the perimeter allows air flow.
- The screen entryway opens with a single rainbow shaped zipper
at the top. A single zipper reduces the likelihood of zipper
failure, and keeps zipper weight at a minimum.
- Cuben fiber is made from spectra threads which do not stretch.
The tent stays taught all night. (Sil-nylon by comparison can stretch and sag,
especially if it gets wet).
- Specially designed triple stitched seams hold strong and
prevent any separation of the thin material. The peak and all tie
outs are reinforced with heavier Cuben Fiber
material. A
free tube of Sil Net seam sealer is
included for you to seal the seams.
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This tent is unique in that it has a fully
enclosed .7 oz/sqyd screen floor. Why a screen floor?
- It keeps 100% of insects, spiders, ticks, etc out!
- It is light weight! Use a small,
lightweight ground sheet on the inside on top of the screen,
just like sleeping under a tarp.
Tyvek, or
Cuben Fiber
ground sheets work great.
- Your separate ground sheet can also be used for sleeping under the stars or in shelters.
- Rain spray or condensation runs right out through the
screen floor. The ground sheet must be on top of the screen to
prevent any water from running onto it.
- You can adjust the position of your ground sheet, or
fold up the edges to block spray if the wind changes to the wrong direction.
- The inside of each corner has a loop for clipping on a
Cuben Groundsheet or a
HexaNet bug shelter. The peak
also has a loop on the inside for hanging a flashlight or stuff
sack.
- 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. The shelter can also be easily repaired in the field since
duct tape sticks well to the fabric.
- All ZPacks gear has a one year warranty against defects in
materials or workmanship. Returns or exchanges are welcome.
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Photos of a Hexamid Solo Tent in Leaf Green:
Click for full size images
Photos of a Hexamid Tarp in Olive Drab:
Photos of the new Optional Extended Beak:
Photos of a White Hexamid Solo Tent from our
Continental Divide Trail thru-hike:
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Dimensions (approximate):
- Peak Height: 47 inches (119 cm)
- Length: 9 feet (2.75 meters)
- Width at center: 54 inches (137 cm)
- Width at ends: 30 inches (76 cm)
- Entryway Height: 29 inches (74 cm)
Weight (updated):
- The tent itself weighs 8.35 oz (237 grams). The tarp by itself
weighs 2.85 oz (81 grams).
- The included 30 feet of bright yellow
Z-Line spectra guy line adds .3 oz
(8.5
grams).
- The included cuben fiber small-plus
size stuff sack adds .15 oz (4 grams). Tarps include a .1 oz (3
g)
mini size stuff
sack.
- Total weight is just 8.8 ounces (249 grams) including the
tent, guy lines, and a stuff sack.
- The optional extended beak adds .9 ounces (26 grams) bringing
the total w/ beak to 9.7 ounces (275 grams).
- A tube of Sil Net is included for you to brush on to the
outside of the seams. It will add another .5 oz or so to the
weight.
- A ground sheet and 8 stakes are
sold separately, and are not included in the
price or weight.
Optional Extended Beak:
By popular
demand an extended beak is now available. The extended beak rolls down
to block rain spray, deflect wind, and provide some privacy. The beak
has elastic an elastic cord which clips to the tent's front guy line. To
open the beak just un-clip it and roll it up. The beak adds about 1 foot
of vestibule space for shoes, etc.
When hiking solo the extended beak may not be necessary since you can
usually slide your ground sheet towards the back of the tent to avoid
any rain spray. If you are sharing the tent with a second person or if
you want to play it safe add the beak.
Ordering:
There is a waiting list for this item, see the
notice at the top of the page.
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Joe's Review, and questions answered:
In 2009 I tested the cuben fiber Hexamid Solo on a full Continental Divide Trail
thru-hike. The trip took 154 days traveling roughly 2,651 miles through the rocky
mountains. Over the course of the trip the tent went through just about
every type of weather, from gusting wind, to rain storms, snow
storms, sub freezing temperatures, etc. I hiked the first half of the trip
solo, the second half with my wife Sheryl. We used the same
solo tent for the whole trip. (Gear list)
(Photos)
Won't I get wet if rain is blowing towards the screen door?
Probably not. Ideally the tent should be pitched with the back or sides into
the wind. If rain does start blowing towards the door it is easy enough to
just slide your groundsheet to the back. You can use your shoes and water
bottles to prop up the edges of your ground sheet to give you even more
protection, or tie the corners up to the corners of the tent. If you want to play it safe you can add the optional extended
beak. On my trip I carried a detachable doorway
(which has now been replaced by the extended beak) but never needed to use
it while hiking solo.
It was needed a couple times after Sheryl joined me.
How durable is the material?
The tent held up really well over my five month trip. I didn't get any
punctures or tears, and didn't have to do any repairs. The cuben material
feels paper thin and I was careful with it, but I think it is just as
durable as silicone nylon would be. Cuben has the advantage that duct tape
sticks really well to it so repairs in the field are a breeze if
needed. (Duct tape will not stick to sil-nylon). I would be comfortable
using the same tent on a second thru-hike.
Won't the screen floor wear out quickly?
Surprisingly no! I was careful about picking up sticks and rocks and never
got any holes in the floor. Sharp things like needles and thorns that
can normally cause holes go right through the screen without doing any damage.
If it did ever get a hole, it would likely be under your ground sheet
anyways.
Will the tent fit two people?
The Solo tent is meant for one person. Sheryl joined me for the second half of
my thru-hike; with two people the tent was a very snug fit, but it worked for
us. Most people would want more space I think. You will need the extended
beak, as there is no extra room to avoid rain spray
with two people. We also used a 5 foot wide tyvek ground sheet that we could
fold up at the sides. One nice thing though is we both had room to sit
upright and cook outside the front. Consider the
Solo-Plus or
Twin version of the tent if you are a big/tall person or a couple
requiring more space.
How does the tent do in strong wind?
Reasonably well, about the same as a typical tarp. Whenever possible choose
a sheltered location such as under tree cover. If forced to camp in the open
position the back or side into the wind and make sure it is staked out well.
The cuben material is designed for making sails and can handle the stress of
high winds.
Not convinced? Here is a very informative outside review of a Hexamid Twin:
4.5 out of 5 - Highly Recommended -
http://www.mountainultralight.com/2011/01/product-review-zpacks-hexamid-twin-tent.html
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Shipping is just $3.95 in the U.S., $9.95 Internationally and up.
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