Zpacks Plexamid Failed Me. Still The Best Tent Ever!

[@getlost3094]

Your pitch is too taut at your 4 corners. This is why your bathtub groundsheet has very little side wall. It’s also too flat. This is high wind mode but my recommendation is to leave slack in the guy outs THEN insert your pole to erect the tent. After it is standing you can adjust your guy outs. If you pull the guy outs tight first....it is going to be way too taut and low to the ground once you insert your pole.

[@BenMcmillen]

No doubt I need more practice..thanks for the tip!

[@getlost3094]

Ben McMillen you bet. I pitched it exactly like you did at first too and I still do if it’s super high winds. It takes a lot more practice than the duplex did for me. Next time you pitch try this on the 4 corners. Pull your guy line out taut but don’t stake it. Take your free hand and measure about 8” down the guy line and then place your stake there (essentially about how deep you want your bathtub wall to be. Then erect your tent and play with the height of the stairs edges. It seems counterintuitive but your bathtub will be taller and loose until you get your gear and self inside. That’s what works for me anyway. It took me about 5 or so pitches to figure this tent out. Enjoyed the video too btw! :)

[@BenMcmillen]

@@getlost3094 I'm gonna practice then make a redemption video lol

[@sundaymorninghikes6275]

Excellent review! Thank you! How do you like it two years later?

[@BenMcmillen]

Still using it. Hard to beat the weight savings

[@sundaymorninghikes6275]

@@BenMcmillen Yeah...that weight, ease of setup, waterproof, customer support...hard to beat that. Thanks for your response! I've been looking at soooo many different tents and tarps, but I keep coming back to this.

[@John-hp7tz]

I own several ZPacks products from backpacks to sleeping bags to tents. I happen to have their Plexamid in my “basket” but have been waiting to learn more about your failure. Snapping roof struts has happened to other owners so I don’t think it was user error. More like a potential design flaw or quality control issue to me.

[@BenMcmillen]

I honestly think they need better instructions on how to set it up. After setting it up a few more times if you do it the right way there does not seem to have much stress on the top. But cranking down on it when pitching it wrong I can see a problem. Time will tell

[@kgnbrisbane]

They have new style poles now. Different material and they double up. Very quick response and fix. Cannot fault their customer service.

[@warriorworkstraining]

This is the video I've been looking for. Thanks

[@kgnbrisbane]

One of my poles broke as well. Zpacks sent out the new style poles, so will see. My tent did not tear.

[@BenMcmillen]

I've done a few trips with the new white rods. No more problems. Absolutely love this tent

[@ulperformance4087]

No entry/exit zipper - alloys wind, cold wind and wind driven rain from entering. The pole and guy line are located at the center of the entry - a lousy location for entry/exit. Can it lay at ground level to prevent rain splasing in or cold or cold wind from entering. Is there a vent? If not, then increased likelyhood for greater condensation. Do they waterproof all sewing? Not a four season tent. I guess the sales cost limited Zpacks ability to provide the zippered entry/exit and vent - additional material and labor to provide at their price point.

[@SomewhereOutside]

How do feel about the door? Everytime I watch a video on any of zpacks tents I always find myself wishing the tent door didn't fall to the ground. Seems like it would be easy to damage the mesh getting in and out and that the door would easily get muddy falling onto the ground. Great video and thanks for sharing your experience

[@BenMcmillen]

I had the same thought. But in use I had no problems. More experience with the tent may prove otherwise but honestly I don't think I'll have any issues. Hard to complain when saving this much wait. I honestly love it

[@kgnbrisbane]

Yeah, don't like it either. Bit of a pain in the rain.

[@pgreenx]

Fail is at 6:20

[@BenMcmillen]

Guess I could have marked that. Thanks!

[@pgreenx]

Ben McMillen no problem. It was worth the wait to know this. Thanks

[@ericb.4358]

Try a Tarptent Aeon Li (DCF fly like the Plexamid) for a more secure tent in high winds. Better yet, I ordered a gen. 2 Tarptent Notch Li (again, DCF) double wall for 3 season camping. VERY fast setup with only 4 stakes. Tarptent has shifted their DCF tent fabrication to China and now has even higher build quality.

[@rotaaable]

Sorry if I have missed that, but why do you pitch it so close to the ground?

[@BenMcmillen]

Still learning. I'm much better at it now. Just inexperienced at the time of the video

[@BackpackingWithJason]

Very interesting tent. I have the Duplex but this one looks even better. Nice quick review. Good job 👍

[@BenMcmillen]

Thanks Jason!

[@vincentc6919]

ZPacks has fixed that issue with the carbon fiber rods.

[@hungrydad7537]

Are those swinging steel targets in the background?! Lol

[@BenMcmillen]

Yes. This is my property. Not sure what what's funny though

[@hungrydad7537]

Because great minds think alike! I love the plexamid and shooting steel! lol👍👍

[@halibut1249]

Very similar to $200 SMD Lunar (25 ozs) except for material & rainbow door. IMO Solplex was much better design, two walls of screening, better airflow, but ZPacks discontinued it.

[@BenMcmillen]

I have heard things about the lunar

[@halibut1249]

@@BenMcmillen -one thing about ZPacks, they are innovative and always trying to improve their tents and all other camping gear, so even the Plexamid may undergo changes. The material can't be beat, liteweight & dries very quickly. In your vid you mentioned bike camping/touring, so the camo color would work well if you plan to stop on the roads you're travelling. Thanks for your vid!!

[@BenMcmillen]

@@halibut1249 absolutely. Actually I think they already made updates to the pleximed. They sent me to support bars for the top and they are obviously different

[@BehindTheCamera]

Love that tent!

[@BenMcmillen]

We will post an update at the end of the season