Zpacks Tents: Duplex, Altaplex, Plex Solo and Pivot Compared
How we did this: we took the weight Zpacks lists for each tent’s Lite floor option (Blue or Olive Drab) and the floor area from its spec text, checked on 29 Sep 2026, and divided one by the other. We have not field-tested these tents.
Zpacks makes eleven fully enclosed Dyneema tents, from the 12.3 oz Plex Solo to the 22.3 oz Pivot Trio, including the Duplex, its best-known two-person tent. Every one uses the same fabric, so weight per square foot of floor shows how efficiently each design spends it: from 0.54 oz for the Altaplex Classic to 0.69 oz for the Plex Solo Pro.
Zpacks tents compared
| Tent | Sleeps | Weight | Floor | Oz per sq ft | Peak | Poles | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zpacks Plex Solo Classic | 1 | 12.3 oz | 20.6 sq ft | 0.60 oz | 52″ | 1 trekking pole | $599 |
| Zpacks Plex Solo Pro | 1 | 13.2 oz | 19.25 sq ft | 0.69 oz | 52″ | 1 trekking pole | $649 |
| Zpacks Pivot Solo | 1 | 13.4 oz | 21 sq ft | 0.64 oz | Not listed | 52″ + 32″ poles, not included | $649 |
| Zpacks Altaplex Classic | 1 | 13.4 oz | 25 sq ft | 0.54 oz | 56–58″ | 1 trekking pole | $699 |
| Zpacks Altaplex Pro | 1 | 14.5 oz | 25 sq ft | 0.58 oz | 56–58″ | 1 trekking pole | $749 |
| Zpacks Duplex Lite | 2 | 15.2 oz | 25 sq ft | 0.61 oz | 48″ | 2 trekking poles | $699 |
| Zpacks Duplex Classic | 2 | 17.8 oz | 28.1 sq ft | 0.63 oz | 48″ | 2 trekking poles | $749 |
| Zpacks Duplex Pro | 2 | 19.2 oz | 29.2 sq ft | 0.66 oz | 48″ | 2 trekking poles | $799 |
| Zpacks Pivot Duo | 2 | 19.4 oz | 29.2 sq ft | 0.66 oz | 52″ | 2 trekking poles + included 32″ end pole | $849 |
| Zpacks Triplex Pro | 3 | 21.7 oz | 38.4 sq ft | 0.57 oz | 48″ | 2 trekking poles | $899 |
| Zpacks Pivot Trio | 3 | 22.3 oz | 38.4 sq ft | 0.58 oz | 52″ | 2 trekking poles + included 32″ end pole | $949 |
Source: Zpacks product pages, checked 29 Sep 2026. Weight with the Lite floor where offered; Spruce Green versions (standard floor) weigh 2.0 to 3.7 oz more. Stakes are not included. Oz per sq ft is our calculation.
Zpacks Duplex: Lite, Classic or Pro
- Classic sleeps two at 17.8 oz
- Lite: 15.2 oz, one-piece seamless floor
- Pro: widest floor, zippered storm doors
- $699 to $799
- 48 in peak, lower than the Altaplex and Plex
- Stakes and poles extra
The three Duplex versions trade weight for floor. The Lite cuts the floor to 40 in wide and 25 sq ft, which Zpacks sizes for a small couple on standard-width pads. The Pro widens the floor to 50 in but shortens it to 84 in, and adds zippered storm doors and a symmetrical layout. Zpacks describes the Classic as
Check price →“Specifically designed for the demands of long distance backpacking with a no frills, no fuss mindset.”
Zpacks, Duplex Classic page
Zpacks Altaplex
- 0.54 oz per sq ft, the best in the lineup
- Same floor as the Duplex Lite, 1.8 oz lighter
- 56–58 in peak
- Needs a pole that extends to 56–58 in
- One-person tent
The Altaplex has the Duplex Lite’s 40 by 90 in floor, but pitches on a single tall pole instead of two short ones. That saves 1.8 oz at the same $699 price. Zpacks calls it
“a larger, taller tent designed for hikers who enjoy the simplicity of a single-pole shelter but require more space.”
Zpacks, Altaplex Classic page
Check your trekking poles first: Zpacks says the pole must extend to 56–58 in (142–147 cm).
Check price →Zpacks Plex Solo
- Lightest enclosed Zpacks tent, 12.3 oz
- $599, the cheapest enclosed Zpacks tent
- Small footprint
- 20.6 sq ft; 4.4 sq ft less than the Altaplex
- Only 1.1 oz lighter than the Altaplex
The Plex Solo’s floor tapers from 38 in at the center to 28 in at the ends. The Altaplex costs $100 more and weighs 1.1 oz more, but gives you 4.4 sq ft more floor and a taller peak.
Check price →Zpacks Pivot Solo, Duo and Trio
The Pivot Duo and Trio pitch on two 52 in trekking poles plus a 32 in end pole that Zpacks includes; the Pivot Solo uses a 52 in and a 32 in pole, sold separately. Zpacks calls the Pivot Duo “the lightest and roomiest full-featured two-person tent in the world that accommodates two wide long sleeping pads.” It has the Duplex Pro’s 29.2 sq ft floor for 0.2 oz and $50 more, at 19.4 oz and $849.
The floorless Hexamid, 9.7 oz and $499, needs a separate groundsheet or bivy; with Zpacks’ bathtub groundsheet it is 12.4 oz and $629.
Which Zpacks tent should you buy?
- Solo, most room per ounce: Altaplex Classic, 13.4 oz, 25 sq ft.
- Solo, lightest and cheapest: Plex Solo Classic, 12.3 oz, $599.
- Two people, lightest: Duplex Lite, 15.2 oz, for a small couple.
- Two people, standard pads: Duplex Classic, 17.8 oz.
- Two people, wide pads: Duplex Pro or Pivot Duo, 29.2 sq ft.
FAQ
How much does the Zpacks Duplex weigh?
Duplex Classic or Duplex Pro?
Altaplex or Duplex Lite?
What is the lightest Zpacks tent?
Are stakes and poles included?
The bottom line
Among Zpacks tents, the Altaplex Classic gives the most floor per ounce, the Plex Solo is the lightest, and the Duplex Classic remains the all-round two-person pick at 17.8 oz. Go Duplex Pro or Pivot Duo only if you need 50 in of floor width.
Related guides
Keep building your system with these closely related guides.
