Zpacks Plexamid Tent Review

[@EarlyRiser71]

Damn good review bro! Have my eye on this tent now. Looks like another solid product....

[@ArtisanTony]

That is a nice tent. I remember how excited I was back in the early 80's when we had a dealer who started carrying Eureka's small backpacking tents. It wasn't easy like now where you can just get on amazon and order anything :)

[@BlueBoyBackpacking]

good reveiw man. Especially covering the negatives. Well done

[@GrizzleGear]

They were more concerns than negatives. I've got NY, CT, Mass, and CT done now with this tent and so far so good. No complaints about ANYTHING. It's pretty damn solid.

[@BlueBoyBackpacking]

Good to hear. Its a significant risk running that carbon fibre cross pole system in the roof. It they can pull it off under thru hiking conditions then that is great news.

[@PeteB2919]

Dude, an EXCELLENT, thorough review, thanks so much for doing it. I'm very interested in this tent, and you illustrate everything about it.

[@Justonemorestep123]

Excellent review! I received my Plexamid a few days ago. Have set it up 3x today. I know I bought this because Zpacks said it was 1+gear for space...though I get my Thermarest in tight against the doorway, I might have 12 inches extra width for my pack. All in all, love it. Took longer to blow up mattress than setting up the tent.

[@CoachBill315]

Solid vid... I have their Duplex... but i'm finding myself not really using my tracking poles... so i'm switching to this tent. Exactly Review and good luck on your journey.

[@richardlearl]

Outstanding review man, the best I've seen so far, positives and negatives. I also have my eye on this one ER.

[@davidoakes7782]

Great review man. It’s the best I’ve seen for this tent. I’m glad you enjoy it so much, my Plexamid should be here in 2 weeks. I’m beyond excited about it.

[@GrizzleGear]

How do you like your Plexamid? Get that thing yet?

[@davidoakes7782]

Grizzle Gear I haven’t got to use it as much as I’d have wanted to; I developed plantar fasciitis recently and that’s put a halt to my backpacking. But it’s performed incredibly so far. I’ve got about 7-8 nights in it, in pretty fair conditions. I switched from a fly creek 1, so the space is incredible. The real test will be my PCT thru hike this next year. I’m hoping to get some more shakedown hikes in over the next few months. Overall, my first impressions are fantastic. How are you liking it now that you’ve had it for a bit?

[@GrizzleGear]

I just posted a follow up review after 700+miles. Check it out. I love the tent. Absolutely love it. I hope you heal up soon! I currently have a minor tear in my hamstring. I can't hike for a couple weeks and it's killing me! Good luck with the PCT!

[@davidoakes7782]

Grizzle Gear thank you. Yeah I’m leaving in 100 days so I’m hoping I can get my foot healed up before I head out. I’ll check out your video on my lunch break. I’m excited to see a more long term review.

[@WildlandExplorer]

Thanks for your review! I am being swayed closer to the DCF tent cult day by day. One thing that I think needs to be noted is that you really need to carry 8-10 stakes to set it up. ZPacks says their 14.8 oz weight does not include stakes since they ship none by default. So you will need to add that weight in - for me for example I planned to use DAC V-stakes, making the whole shelter 18.8 oz actually. That said it's still stupid light for a 1 person tent that you can sit up in. And still 10 oz lighter than my full mosquito bivy and small tarp setup.

[@GrizzleGear]

Yeah Trekking pole tents=stakes. Especially when you have a one pole set up. I generally use shepards or msr needles. My gear is at a point now where I'm comfortable with my weight and to try to cut it more would just be silly. :)

[@chuckmckenney4491]

Thanks for the review. This tent is on my short list. Will be looking for the next review.

[@johnwilson6954]

Like a few others have commented, this has been a great review by somebody who has actually used it in adverse conditions - well done! My question is how it compares to the Altaplex? While I can appreciate the weight savings of the new design, I liked the steeper wall angles of the Altaplex to shed rain and snow on the outside, and condensation on the inside. Like you, the carbon roof pad worries me a little, but your detailed video does demonstrate the extra width created at head level. Liked and subscribed!

[@GrizzleGear]

These walls are pretty steep although it may not look that way in the video. So far, it sheds rain and condensation like a champion...but I haven't had it snow yet. Because I hate snow. lol It's why I live in Hawaii. :)

[@c3920]

Awesome review, thanks for doing this!

[@ariw9405]

Great review thank you for taking the time to demonstrating the set up.

[@Tipster49]

great info!! thank you and continued fun on your hike 😊

[@naomi2043]

I like this tent but I don't think it's enough room especially on a thru hike. For 5 oz more, you can upgrade to the duplex, maximize your comfort level, and spread out if you and your gear are soaked. Thanks for the review!

[@GrizzleGear]

I think this depends entirely on your height. The plexamid worked great for me for the second half of the Appalachian Trail and I am 5'11. I no longer use a plexamid though and now I use an altaplex. I have owned duplexes, but In my experience they are the worst of the three tents when it comes to dealing with wind. And the Altaplex is more than enough room for me, and all my gear.

[@twigadventures]

Great review, especially coverage of some negative points. I'm interested to know how the seams around the top part hold up, as you noted. My Camo Solplex has made it through 3 thru-hikes and still has lot's of life left, but this new design may just be better. There appears to be lots more interior room without much of a bigger footprint. I highly recommend a camo print, BTW. It is perfect for stealth camping and also improves the durability/longevity somewhat, I think. Look forward to seeing any updates you have.

[@TainoXtreme]

Very good video. Very good presentation. Outstanding review. Very valuable input. How much does it cost? I think that the problem of condensation does not have a solution in one wall tents other than except it and deal with it. It’s all about advantages and this advantages. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.

[@JBOutdoorsAndMore]

Awesome job on the video. Loved it. Nd that tent is cool. Thanks for the review. ATB Joe 😎 👊🏻

[@CalvinHodgson]

Thanks for the detailed views of the setup. I feel like such an idiot for not knowing how to keep the doors open lol.

[@GrandeurNature]

Thanks very much!

[@tobinstrike910]

Great review, very informative! Thanks! Can I ask how much do you think you could pack it down to reduce packed size volume? It looks like the size of a water melon in that stuff sack.

[@GrizzleGear]

It's not big at all. Maybe 12" x 4" x 4" and can be compressed a lil more inside your pack. Cuben just doesn't compress as much as silnylon. It's a trade off. Save weight, but take up a lil more volume

[@melissapoor7734]

Fantastic review! Thanks!

[@jays7318]

Good review. Unique tent

[@brunob.835]

Hello and thank you fot the review I am French This tent interests me I'm 6 feet 3 (192cm) do you think I can go inside? Thank you verry much Bruno

[@GrizzleGear]

The tent is 7.5ft long and according to Zpacks it should. :)

[@aar5pj]

Hello from the US... I am also 6' 3" and weigh in at 250 lbs. I had no problems at all with this tent.

[@yakitoriPB]

Hey grizzle, just wondering if you had any update to this tent. Was thinking about ordering

[@GrizzleGear]

I will have a follow up review up in the next week. I still love the thing.😁

[@grizzlygramp]

I also felt mist during a heavy rainstorm in my Altaplex tent but I am pretty sure that it kept coming through even after I wiped down the condensation with a dry washcloth. I am wondering if big raindrops actually force the mist through the fabric of the tent. I should mention that the mist did not have enough volume to get me wet since it evaporated almost as soon as it hit.

[@GrizzleGear]

The mist isn't coming through the cuben. The mist is just condensation on the inside of the tent that gets knocked down by a big rain drop hitting the outside. Normally it just runs down the walls and goes out the mesh above the bathtub floor. Cuben is fully waterproof. Every single wall shelter I've ever seen (whether sil or dcf) has this happen. It's totally normal.

[@kdsadventures9654]

That’s awesome 😱

[@emilie098]

it reminds me of the style of the six moon designs lunar solo

[@GrizzleGear]

It's very similar, but I don't think the SMD has the rectangular carbon fiber frame at the pole insert. That design is my fav part of this tent. :)

[@sgt0m0sullivan]

Can you use sticks instead of stakes?

[@asiemmalik736]

Would love to see how it fairs in exposed high wind conditions, for north European customers ?

[@tullochgorum6323]

Depends how you camp. If you stick to sheltered sites and good forecasts you should be fine. But if you do longer walks in exposed terrain where you have to take the weather as it comes, I would have concerns. So far, no-one has produced a mountain tent in cuben, and in severe cold the performance of the adhesives used in assembly is controversial. When Hilleberg make something in cuben I'll begin to trust it. Meanwhile, it's silpoly for me.

[@brib9716]

I'm just not real crazy about that zipper that just lays there on the floor/ground when fully open. Looking at this tent and the Tarptent Notch Li. Really like the 2 doors in the Notch.

[@GrizzleGear]

Bri B This is my third Zpacks shelter. I've never had issues with anything happening to the door as a result of laying it down. Then again, I only unzip it to get in. I rarely sit in it with the door open.

[@brib9716]

I don't doubt it. I just think it's bad design. Ok, how will we deal with this door when it's fully open? Oh, just let it lay there in the mud.

[@GrizzleGear]

I know what you're saying. I guess for me the only time the door is ever open is when I'm getting in/out of the tent. I don't cook in my tent, and I can't stand bugs. :)

[@GrizzleGear]

The 2 doors on the notch are nice, but it also weighs twice as much as this tent.

[@GrizzleGear]

Ah... My bad

[@bouvetoy]

Just wondering, what kind of pillow are you using? It looks really light.

[@GrizzleGear]

Big sky dream sleeper. 1.7 oz

[@GrizzleGear]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpO8o62lrbKnnJI

[@wyattrutherford5767]

Was wondering how this tent packs down into your pack? With the new carbon rods I’m worried it won’t fit into my pack horizontally, thanks!

[@GrizzleGear]

This tent packs down smaller than the duplex. The patch with the rods is only maybe 12inches by 5. The rods make no difference whatsoever in packability

[@friarrodneyburnap4336]

Can I buy this as a tarp?

[@Cat-ox2ih]

What is the colour? The Olive or green one ?

[@GrizzleGear]

Olive

[@SimplicityEDC]

Would a 6'6 person on a xlite fit?

[@GrizzleGear]

That's kinda tall. Not sure. Id check with zpacks

[@studiopiko]

What color is this?

[@GrizzleGear]

Olive. The lightest. :) 14.8ozs

[@nickdewald5529]

What about your Duplex?!

[@ppalom2245]

Not impressed with my Plexamid. I am sending it back. The 2 carbon fiber rods in the rectangular patch in roof, both snapped about 10 minutes after test setup. I had not even tighten it all up yet. Anyone else have this problem? Their customer service quickly sent me not 2 replacements, but 4. I think they know they have a problem. I did trial #2 and - you guessed it- one of those broke they same way. When it breaks it leaves a sharp jagged tip that can poke right thru the roof. Sorry but thumbs down.

[@GrizzleGear]

Wow. I've never had a problem with mine. I even punched the thing and shook the hell out of it in my video. Mine is durable as hell. Sorry to hear you had issues.