How to Setup a Backpacking Tent / How To Get The Perfect Pitch EVERY TIME for Zpacks Duplex Setup

[@Jonathan-gr3xz]

I would love to see a video on how you folded the tent prior to returning it the stuff sack. It looked immaculately folded when you first opened it, as if it was just received from the factory :)

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

Haha that's a good suggestion, I'll see if I can do a short one sometime, or else incorporate it into my South Island video series this year :)

[@davidmarshall3593]

I was wondering the same thing. Would love to see how you pack your tent as well. Not a skill I have yet. 😬

[@WhoobieD]

Agreed, as I saw it coming out of the role I was wondering if it had ever been used before. Mine looks nothing like that coming out of the bag🤣

[@Lumpschlevot]

Excellent! thank you so much. Just pitched mine for the first time last night and was scratching my head on a few things. like how the tensioner clips worked etc. After watching this video, I have it figured out. Great tent by the way. Rained all night and I was nice and dry. Cheers.

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

Awesome, I'm so glad it helped! Yeah, definitely still going strong with it even after all these years!

[@shannonlindgren1163]

Excellent video! I set my Duplex up, for the 1st time, this past weekend; I did an okay job but will incorporate your tips the next time.

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

Thanks Shannon! Glad you found it helpful. Let me know how you get on using my tips!

[@WanderingMonkHikes]

Thanks for sharing. My duplex arrives today. I’m very excited. Looking forward seeing pitching tips in stormy weather. All the best and as always, stay on the path. Monk

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

Thanks so much Monk, have you had a chance to test the Duplex yet?

[@WanderingMonkHikes]

Long White Gypsy not yet. My next overnight is set for August 25. I’m really looking forward to using it. I’ll post a video on my channel.

[@hikerJohn]

Smart Gal. Hardly anyone gets a perfect pitch that I see other than myself.

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

I saw a LOT of bad pitches of this tent while I was out on the TA, so I wanted to make this video to help a few people out. It's a little tricky to get right, isn't it?!

[@sundaymorninghikes6275]

Wow! GREAT demonstrations on setting it up! Definitely going to check out the inclement weather (and all the others)!!!

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

Please do! Thanks for watching!

[@littlethislittlethat456]

Hi, nice video. I'm sure you know this but (I also have a Duplex) the side facing into the wind should have the two Zpacks logos facing the wind. That way the vestibule doors are in the right orientation for the wind. I'm actually starting my thru hike of the Appalachian Trail in late March 2021 and I'll be Vlogging my "Walk to Retirement". Thanks John from MI USA

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

Thanks for pointing this out! I actually covered this in the separate video I made about how to pitch the duplex in inclement weather: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gomQdmWbqtyDepo

[@WoodsmanocD86]

Great tips.... the button has been pushed😁⛺️ I will be the proud owner of an olive drab duplex in approx 6 weeks 😬😁

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

WOW!! Awesome :) Congratulations in advance. Let me know what you think about it when it arrives!!

[@Acollyt]

Very helpful and thorough. Thank you for sharing.

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

My pleasure!

[@jaykiwiman2832]

Thx for the tips

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

You're welcome Jay, hope they help you out!

[@TangoDelta70]

Awesome video! Thanks for sharing this with us!

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

You're welcome :) My pleasure!

[@nicolemayer1671]

That was so incredibly helpful!

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

Thanks Nicole, I'm glad! Let me know if you have any other questions :)

[@darrenwilson7205]

Great video loved this one I almost have my duplex set up as good but I will get plenty of practice on the ta Aurora trail in a few months time .

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

Good to hear you're still well on track. Do you have a start date yet?

[@stomperr69]

@@LongWhiteGypsy when you purchased your duplex tent?

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

I bought it in late 2019, just before I headed out for TA.

[@stomperr69]

Long White Gypsy do you have any problem till now?

[@stomperr69]

awwww bloody hell, you did amazing tutorial on duplex set up. Hello from LA !! I wonder if many people got issue with the duplex quality tent during on 2019-2020 purchase.

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

Thanks very much! Hello :) Yeah I'm not sure... I didn't really have issues with mine, and none of my fellow hikers seemed to either.

[@stomperr69]

Long White Gypsy is it worth it you think to use this tent once a while? I know that this tent seems to be the favorite tent for they hiker, I was thinking of dirigo 2 by hmg

[@photog1529]

I just purchased a Zpacks duplex (July 2021)...compared to the price of the single-person Altaplex, the Duplex was only about $20 more expensive so made more sense. So far, no issues...quality seems top-notch. Set up takes less than 5 minutes.

[@JimHerrington_UncorrectedProof]

Excellent, thorough video.

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

Thanks very much Jim! Do you have a Duplex yourself?

[@JimHerrington_UncorrectedProof]

@@LongWhiteGypsy Just got one and recently used it. Light and easy to pitch and the fabric noise wasn't an issue for me. Worked great in the bone-dry Sierra Nevada. Will test it in the wetter Italian Alps soon...

[@spuriouseffect]

Tip: Just get the X-mid Pro and be done 15 minutes ago. LOL I have to set up the Duplex next week and was looking for better ways to set it up, so thank you for the video. Thumbs up!

[@AzizNiyaz]

Thx!

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

You're welcome!

[@davidroberts1816]

If you can practice in the dark in the wind and in the rain and preferably all three at the same time it’ll stand you in good stead also learn how to double guy if the weather is trying to kill you

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

Haha, good tips! We all have plenty of time at home and away from the trails at the moment... now is as good a time as any!

[@Anon282828]

Thank you for the nice and useful video! I got my tent in the mail today and can’t wait for the rain to stop so I can try setting it up myself :-) One small comment. When you say that you peg the corners out such that the guy lines make 45 degree angles to the tent material that is not actually correct - you peg them out by splitting the outside corner in two. The outside tent corner is 270 degrees, so your corner guy lines make a 135 degree angle to the tent material. Anyway, context makes perfectly clear what you mean and I am sure no one had any problem understanding your process. ;-)

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

Thank you for clarifying that for the viewers. As you mention... it makes sense to me but I probably didn't do a good job of explaining it very well.

[@judeoliver5256]

Another fabulous video. So clear and logical. Thanks again Long White Gypsy! Is your Duplex blue, or is it Spruce Green?

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

Thanks! It's the Spruce Green colour :) Went for this colour because it was a little heavier duty than the blue (ZPacks DCF material is thicknesses and waterproof ratings depending on which colour you get).

[@stephenstokes6465]

Awesome. Thank you.

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

You're very welcome!

[@stephenstokes6465]

@@LongWhiteGypsy This was the perfect video for setting up my duplex.

[@DorisHikingAdventures]

This is exactly what I needed 😄. Are you happy with the tent? I am thinking about getting this one...

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

Dori's Hiking Adventures Nice to see you over here! I’ve been watching your videos for a few months now 😊 You’re doing a great job! Yeah I absolutely LOVE this tent (you’ll see I raved about it in my previous review). I haven’t had it out in the South Island hill country winds yet, so we will see. But it has definitely been worth it so far. I love the room inside, how quick it is to dry, and of course how light it is!

[@DorisHikingAdventures]

@@LongWhiteGypsy thank you! I just watched your review video about it...i am sold hahaha 😁 Thank you for watching my videos, i am loving your channel as well! 😁😁

[@DaveRenfroe]

Great video, thanks for putting this together for us. We are unclear on how you fastened the end guy lines to the end stake. We can see the importance of getting the top end of the tent positioned properly before dealing with the door. So do you make a knot or loop in the line so that the line is fastened permanently to the stake or does the line move freely around the stake when you fasten it to the door? We are thinking that the line must be tied to the stake and you just fasten the door with the excess length of the line coming from the stake. Could you clarify that for us please? Thank you.

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

Hi Dave! Glad you've found the video helpful 👍😊. I'm not sure if I understand your question properly so let me know if I've misunderstood, but I think you're just asking about the guy lines on the door? I think you've got the right idea though... The duplex has two eyelet hooks at the bottom of each side of the door and a guy line that's attached to the top of the tent immediately above the door opening where the trekking pole is. That guyline is first hooked into the tent peg (as you normally would with a guy line) with a loop at the bottom secured by a tension lock, and then there is an additional piece of guy line which comes back off of that with a little clasp that you can hook the bottom of the door into. As you tension up the guy line, the doors come together and the gap closes up. It's a little tricky to explain, probably better shown so if you're still struggling let me know!

[@sojournwild1629]

I would advocate that your research angle of your stakes... as opposed to placing them at angle... placing them straight down... check it out...

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

I didn't realise there was such a wealth of knowledge out there about how to drive in a tent stake! To clarify what I do though... I make sure that I am inserting my tent stakes so that they are creating a 90 degree angle with the guy line. This creates the most outward pressure (so that the loop on my guy doesn't slip right off - a tricky situation with the MSR Groundhogs which don't have a 'hook' on the top) and because it's a relatively shallow angle it still gives enough connection with the ground. Of course, on very soft ground (or sand) I have to adjust a little to ensure the pegs are solidly rooted in there, otherwise they tend to loosen off. With a tent like the Duplex, which is a tension-based tent rather than freestanding, there's a lot of pressure on the stakes, and without a proper hook to keep the guy line in place (especially in strong winds) I've had to figure out a slightly different system than may be 'recommended'. Appreciate you drawing my attention to this though, I will be pitching my larger camping tent much differently from now on!

[@anjakotitschke2869]

What did you change, when there is a lot of heavy rain and the rain splashs up inside the tent.

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

I pitch the tent a little lower in bad weather conditions. Check out this other video showing my pitch in bad weather: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gomQdmWbqtyDepo

[@jaydee9262]

How much did it cost you??

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

The tent was USD$599. I think it works out to approx. NZD$1100 so it's not cheap.