View Full Version : LIGHTHEART GEAR or ZPACKS for a tent
What is everyone's preference and why between these two tent options? I am planning a thru hike March 2017 on the AT. Both have excellent reviews. Thanks!
Feral Bill
03-02-2016, 22:12
My limited, but extremely positive dealings with Lightheart Gear would steer me their way.
bigcranky
03-02-2016, 23:08
I have some Zpacks gear including a tent, and like all of it. I've seen the Lightheart tents set up and they looked great, too. Tough choice. :)
MuddyWaters
03-03-2016, 00:26
Both mfgs are great
Depends on attributes you want in shelter, they are different
Vegan Packer
03-03-2016, 01:17
I went for a ZPacks Duplex. Compared to the competitor, it is lighter. I haven't used it yet on the trail, so I can't say beyond that.
plodalong
03-03-2016, 08:21
Not familiar with Lightweight enough to compare but we do own a Zpacks Triplex and can say we have been really happy with it. We did opt for the Triplex over the Duplex and can say it was a good choice for us. The weight difference between the two was pretty small compared to the increased room which allows us to bring in our gear and still have room although I don't know how realistic it would be to sleep 3. I haven't looked at all their tents but am impressed with the strength, construction and attention to detail of the products we have from Zpacks. That being said, you may want to check out Hyperlite Mountain Gear. We opted for their packs and have been impressed with their products and service and took a look at their tents. It was a tough choice for us but opted for the Zpacks as a better option for us.
bigcranky
03-03-2016, 08:24
Hey, plodalong, thanks for that mini-review. We have a Hexamid Twin and an SMD Lunar Duo, and wanted to get either a Duplex or a Triplex to replace both of them -- I was leaning toward the Triplex, and your post affirms that. Thanks!
DuneElliot
03-03-2016, 09:54
LHG - Silnylon, lightweight, cheaper
Zpacks - Cuben fiber (completely waterproof), very lightweight, expensive
Silnylon will see some misting in heavy rain and will hold water to an extent, but it is durable for being lightweight. Cuben fiber is inherantly waterproof but not as durable and requires some care.
Both are good quality tents. I have a Duplex on order but own the SMD Lunar Solo. I will use them at different times for different trips...I would lean more towards the Duplex when lots of rain is expected.
The LightHeart Gear Solong 6 (http://www.lightheartgear.com/index.php/tents/lightheart-solong6-tents/product/view/7/7) is HUGE for one person in all directions. The Duo (http://www.lightheartgear.com/index.php/tents/lightheart-duo-tents/product/view/6/5) is even larger than the Solong 6 with a very modest increase in weight and price.
A Solong 6 AND a nice ULA backpack are less than the price of the ZPacks Altaplex.
Wayne
JackThLion
03-04-2016, 01:26
Love my Lightheart Gear Duo. It's ACTUALLY a real two person tent, hooray. Plus the cranberry color is a nice change from the gray that is most tarp tents...
MuddyWaters
03-04-2016, 06:22
Love my Lightheart Gear Duo. It's ACTUALLY a real two person tent, hooray...
....if the two people dont want to sit up at same time..
misterfloyd
03-04-2016, 08:48
I have a LHG SL6 and I love it.
I hike by myself and it is a palace for one person. I wish there was a way to disengage the built in canopy. Only reason, to save weight.
When I'm going to be spending more time in the national forests and such I use that.
I cannot comment on the Zpack. Simply put I cannot afford it. I realize the benefits of Cuban vs Sil
I have nothing but good things to say about My SL6 or Judy.
Best,
Floyd
I have a Solong 6 and a Duplex in the cuben version, and absolutely love both. I have a difficult time choosing between the two.
Slosteppin
03-04-2016, 20:40
I have a LHG Solo tent. I previously had a Tarptent Double Rainbow. In a really hard rain I did get misting thru the Tarptent. I have been in several severe storms with the LHG tent with NO misting at all. I had hoped to get the SL6 in Cuban fiber for lighter weight and more room but she quit making them in Cuban.
I would like a Cuban fiber tent but I'm finding it hard to justify spending that much for a tent.
I do have a Cuban fiber pack and Cuban fiber tarp for my hammock. Very happy with both.
JackThLion
03-05-2016, 11:05
....if the two people dont want to sit up at same time..
Hmm that's a good point. I was thinking more about floor space, though, since a lot of 2 person tents only have room for 2 sleeping pads and nothing else.
Headroom still seems fine to me, but I'm coming from a Tarptent pro trail which has less.
My experience camping...finding a flat spot with out roots for a tent. Up on the AT are there plenty of places to put the two man? The material looks pretty delicate (even with a tent pad).
I really like my Zpacks Solplex, and before that my Zpacks Hexamid. No experience with LightHeart Gear. I bet they make great shelters too. Lots of good choices now compared to the past.
bigcranky
03-12-2016, 17:59
My experience camping...finding a flat spot with out roots for a tent. Up on the AT are there plenty of places to put the two man? The material looks pretty delicate (even with a tent pad).
That cuben fiber floor is pretty tough, we never used a ground cloth.
There are a lot of obvious, well used tent sites along the AT - not all of them are particularly flat, or great, but they do exist.
Sir-Packs-Alot
03-13-2016, 09:18
I haved loved Lightheart Gear's products and customer service for years as a hiker - WAY BEFORE - opening up 2 AT gear stores. SO - BOTH of my gear stores on the AT carry Lightheart gear. (Woody Gap Outfitters at NOBO mile 21.1 AND Top of Georgia Outfitters NOBO mile 69.6).
capehiker
03-13-2016, 09:45
If I'm not mistaken, LHG uses a higher waterproof silnylon in her tents (?), which may explain why misting is lesser. I have owned two Zpack tents (Duplex & Altaplex) and I am soon to be an owner of a LHG SoLong 6. I will say with the Duplex, you need to have your pitch dialed in and check your sag before going to bed. The Altaplex is more forgiving and has better rain protection. LHG tents have very good rain protection.
My opinion is, unless you are pursuing a 10 pound base weight, a SoLong 6 is half the price and will give you plenty of space and better rain protection.
mountainman
03-13-2016, 10:19
I have both. I use the Zpacks because it is lighter.
Yes the LHG tents use a 3500mm HH nearly 3 times higher what virtually every other maker uses. LGH Solo, for example, has more mesh and less ceiling which makes a big difference in ventilation. Judy was making them in Cuben for a while, but to be honest the weight savings of around 5 ounces for twice the price was prohibitive to me. I could find a cheaper way to save a quarter pound.
Secondmouse
03-14-2016, 13:59
something about LH Solo don't add up for me. fully double wall, at those dimensions, using 3500mm 1.1oz ripstop should be much heavier than the listed weight. what am I missing?..
I love my SoLong Camo tent.
Used it on the Tahoe Rim trail last year.
DuneElliot
03-14-2016, 14:56
something about LH Solo don't add up for me. fully double wall, at those dimensions, using 3500mm 1.1oz ripstop should be much heavier than the listed weight. what am I missing?..
If you look at the YouTube screenshot on this page: http://www.lightheartgear.com/index.php/tents/lightheart-solo-tents/product/view/5/1 it looks tiny. I know the dimensions are 65x133inches but that's bigger than my SMD Lunar Solo but my solo looks bigger and weighs less. In a diamond-shaped floor, which the LHG Solo has, there is so much unusable space.
lwhikerchris
03-28-2016, 10:43
Yes the LHG tents use a 3500mm HH nearly 3 times higher what virtually every other maker uses. LGH Solo, for example, has more mesh and less ceiling which makes a big difference in ventilation. Judy was making them in Cuben for a while, but to be honest the weight savings of around 5 ounces for twice the price was prohibitive to me. I could find a cheaper way to save a quarter pound.
I have a LH gear Cuben solo I'm currently using on my AT thru; it's worked flawlessly for the first 500 miles. 23oz. Lucked out getting it 2nd hand from someone for $240. But they don't make them anymore.
lwhikerchris
03-28-2016, 10:46
Specs on above tent:
10 stakes for complete tight set up
3 Season Double Wall
Sleeps: 1- could hold tight 2 in an emergency.
Weight: 23 oz. with stuff sac and ridge pole
Head Room: 43 in.
Doors: 1 with 2-way zipper
Floor Area: 30 Sq. Ft.
Vestibule: 3.75 Sq. Ft.
Floor Dimensions: L - 133in. W - 65 in.
Material: green cuben fiber and netting.
Pole Length: 48-50 inches – 2 poles (hiking poles or alternates-not included)
Velcro tabs for ridge pole
Wülfgang
04-15-2016, 13:29
I'm surprised how many people can afford a SIX HUNDRED DOLLAR tent....
I like Zpacks and think they are on the cutting edge of UL gear innovation, but most of their items are cost-prohibitive, at least in my opinion. And I make a good living.
Same with HyperExpensive err......Hyperlight Mtn Gear.
This seems to be the new wave of UL gear--make everything in cuben, have it weight 1/3 less than sil products, charge outrageous prices, and profit huge.
DuneElliot
04-15-2016, 13:39
I'm surprised how many people can afford a SIX HUNDRED DOLLAR tent....
The benefits of not having kids or a spouse or rent or debt! But I do agree that they are expensive, and almost ridiculously so. I'm not sure I'd buy another one after my thru-hike in a couple of years.
lonehiker
04-15-2016, 14:55
I just purchased the Zpacks Duplex. Will be using it this summer on a 636 (maybe 1,000) mile section hike on the PCT. Will probably give thoughts on it this fall. But Ya, 600 bucks is pricey.
Studlintsean
04-15-2016, 16:26
I just purchased the Zpacks Duplex. Will be using it this summer on a 636 (maybe 1,000) mile section hike on the PCT. Will probably give thoughts on it this fall. But Ya, 600 bucks is pricey.
I personally don't own a cuben tent because I am still working full- time and going to school so my bag nights are limited but if I were doing a long hike, I might invest in one. Spreading the cost by night:
636 miles/ 20 miles a day= 32 nights, $600/32 nights=$18.75 per night which isn't bad at all. I suspect it will last much longer than the 636 mile trip also.
Sandy of PA
04-15-2016, 16:43
The makers of Cuben tents are not making a killing, just a living. The material itself is the cause of the high price tag. I love my Z-packs tents.
squeezebox
04-17-2016, 12:33
I'm surprised how many people can afford a SIX HUNDRED DOLLAR tent....
I like Zpacks and think they are on the cutting edge of UL gear innovation, but most of their items are cost-prohibitive, at least in my opinion. And I make a good living.
Same with HyperExpensive err......Hyperlight Mtn Gear.
This seems to be the new wave of UL gear--make everything in cuben, have it weight 1/3 less than sil products, charge outrageous prices, and profit huge.
Well my house cost $14K, my car $1K. My touring bicycle set up $3K. You just gotta figure out the priorities.
squeezebox
04-17-2016, 12:35
And which of the tents are double walled?
Thanks!!
I'm surprised how many people can afford a SIX HUNDRED DOLLAR tent....
I like Zpacks and think they are on the cutting edge of UL gear innovation, but most of their items are cost-prohibitive, at least in my opinion. And I make a good living.
Same with HyperExpensive err......Hyperlight Mtn Gear.
This seems to be the new wave of UL gear--make everything in cuben, have it weight 1/3 less than sil products, charge outrageous prices, and profit huge.
That is quite an inflammatory statement............if I could interject a thought; Cuben Fiber is a proprietary product manufactured by one company. So, for all practical purposes, it is a monopoly ( as far as I know ). I don't believe ( just an opinion ) that the cottage industries making tents or other products are the ones reaping huge profits off of cuben. Forgive me, I get a little "irked" with such broad statements that generate heat but small amounts of insight.:-?
soumodeler
04-17-2016, 14:07
Cuben Fiber (Dyneema Composite Fabrics now) is WAY more expensive than silnylon. I just looked up the two prices for rolls. Silnylon is $6 a yard, while Cuben is $35 a yard. This is from the same fabric distributor. Plus, from what I understand cuben is a little harder to work with, which increases the price just on the labor standpoint.
MtDoraDave
04-17-2016, 16:13
That Solong6 looks very similar to the TarpTent Notch. Looks like each one may have it's pros and cons.
I saw one of these on my last section hike, but I didn't know what it was. Glad I saw this thread. I'm thinking about replacing my TT Squall 2, and now I have another option to consider.
Wülfgang
04-17-2016, 17:05
That is quite an inflammatory statement............if I could interject a thought; Cuben Fiber is a proprietary product manufactured by one company. So, for all practical purposes, it is a monopoly ( as far as I know ). I don't believe ( just an opinion ) that the cottage industries making tents or other products are the ones reaping huge profits off of cuben. Forgive me, I get a little "irked" with such broad statements that generate heat but small amounts of insight.:-?
Inflammatory? It's an anonymous gear opinion on a backpacking forum. Get over it.
There is a point when gear prices can become absurd. I don't care what it's made out of. If a tent cost $600+ it better make me bacon and eggs in the morning and fold it's damn self!
$600 may seem like a lot of money for a tent. But how much does the average person spend on a vacation with perhaps nothing to show for it than a sunburn?
lonehiker
04-17-2016, 19:03
You have to do a cost benefit analysis for every gear purchase.
MtDoraDave
04-18-2016, 21:22
A few years ago, I would have told you there's no way I would ever spend almost $300 for a tent. A little over a year ago (AFTER I started hiking) I couldn't imagine spending $300 for a sleeping bag.
I used to spend $500 every month for a truck payment... Really, to save weight on one of the big three, what's another $300 to get the Cuben Fiber tent?
People spend ridiculous (to me) amounts of money on wristwatches, shoes, purses, cars, etc ... $600 for a top of the line (lightest weight) backpacking tent really doesn't seem so crazy when you stop and think about it.
I followed some links yesterday, looking at tents on campsaver, and saw several tents similar to TT or LHG, but were heavier and they were selling for over $500... That really put a few things in perspective.