Proper shelter selection is one of the most essential factors to ensure your trip will be a success, with all the options out there is can be difficult to figure out what shelter is right for you.
Typically the major concerns for most people when researching a shelter are protection, usable space, vestibule size, weight, packed volume, ease of setup, number of required stakes, and size of the footprint.
It is important to identify your specific shelter needs before comparing tents. Our Plex tent line includes what we believe are the best one, two, and three-person ultralight tents on the market.
Features In all Plex Tents
Our entire line-up of 3 season Plex tents are constructed from Dyneema® Composite Fabric. Dyneema® is the strongest and most durable lightweight fiber in the world.
All of our tents easily set up with 1 or 2 trekking poles. Tent poles are also available for purchase separately if needed.
All corner and wall tie-outs on our Plex tents feature LineLoc adjusters allowing you to lock in the perfect pitch.
Each entry features a rainbow zipper which gives you ample space to get in & out of the tent.
An 8x8 Mesh pocket is conveniently located just inside each door. It can be easily accessed from the inside or outside the tent and is a great place to store your phone or glasses.
A solid, sewn-in 8 inch tall bathtub floor comes standard on all of our Plex tents
All four of our Plex tents pack down small and easily fit horizontally in our packs. They are shipped in loose stuff sacks for easy packing and will squish down flatter in your backpack.
Is The Plex SoloRight for Me?
Featuring a unique rectangular panel at the peak, The Plex Solo is perfect for solo hikers who are looking for a single-pole ultralight shelter with plenty of room for an average-sized person.
The tent pitches with a minimum of 6 stakes, however up to 10 can be used in windy conditions. Extra stakes also help pull the walls out for more interior space.
62" at its widest including the vestibule and 100" long, the Plex Solo’s footprint enables you to pitch your tent in the tightest of spaces.
Unlike the Duplex & Triplex, the Plex Solo has a single entryway.
With an internal floor width of 38 inches at the center and a length of 7.5 feet, the
Plex Solo has more than enough room for a hiker 6 foot or shorter. There’s even enough leftover space to store some gear.
There is more than enough room at the head and foot of the tent to prevent the walls from brushing against you when laying down.
The Plex Solo is ideal for minimalist hikers with low base-weights; obsessed with shaving every ounce. The streamlined feature set caters to hikers crushing miles and looking to carry the lightest tent available.
Should I Buy the Altaplex?
The Altaplex is designed to provide hikers with more headroom, making it perfect for taller hikers, or those that desire a bit more interior headspace.
This tent can be pitched with a minimum of 6 stakes, or stake out all 10 guy lines for added stability in windy conditions.
69" at its widest including the vestibule and 100" long, the Altaplex’s footprint enables you to pitch your tent in the tightest of spaces.
Unlike the Duplex & Triplex, the Altaplex has a single entryway.
With an internal floor width of 36 inches at the center, a length of 7.5 feet, and a peak height of 56”-58” the Altaplex has more than enough room for a hiker 6’ 6” foot or shorter.
If your trekking pole is too short a trekking pole extender is available on our website. We also have a carbon fiber walking staff available that works great with the Altaplex.
The Altaplex has steeper walls than our other plex tents, which help to shed snow and drain condensation a little bit better than less sloped walls.
The Altaplex is ideal for tall minimalist hikers with low base-weights; obsessed with shaving every ounce. The streamlined feature set caters to hikers crushing miles and looking to carry the lightest tent available without compromising on space.
Is the Duplex the Perfect Fit?
A fantastic choice for any hiker, the Duplex is an ultralight shelter with enough room for two hikers or one person with gear.
The Duplex features a two-pole setup and requires 8 stakes to pitch. With enough practice, setup is lightning fast and straightforward.
Measuring at 86.5 inches wide including the vestibules and 100 inches long, the Duplex has a wider footprint than the Plex Solo and Altaplex, but can still be pitched in tight spots if needed.
The Duplex features two rainbow zipper entryways, allowing for easy entry regardless of which doors are closed. This also gives you access to either vestibule when inside.
A more roomy option than the Plex Solo or Altaplex, the Duplex has plenty of space for two average people to stretch out, plus space for gear.
The Duplex has also become a favorite of solo thru-hikers looking for a shelter that has enough room to lay out all of their gear.
If you are particularly tall, you might try propping up the side guy lines using our trekking poles cups for even more headroom. You could also lay inside the tent at an angle to maximize your space.
We also offer an optional flex upgrade for the Duplex. The Flex Kit transforms the Duplex into a freestanding shelter; Perfect for pitching on platforms, hard soil or when car camping.
The Duplex is a versatile ultralight tent that works great for a variety of outdoor disciplines and is a favorite of thru-hikers around the globe.
Do I Need a Triplex?
The perfect ultralight tent for a hiking couple, the Triplex has enough space for three averaged sized hikers, two larger adults with a small dog, a child, or extra gear.
The Triplex’s setup is nearly identical to the Duplex, only requiring 2 poles and 8 stakes to be pitched. You can use up to 12 stakes in windy conditions.
Much wider than the Plex Solo, Altaplex, and Duplex, the Triplex measures at 101.5 inches wide including the vestibules and 100 inches long.
While you may not be able to pitch in tight places, the Triplex allows you to have a huge livable space for you and your hiking partners.
The Triplex’s floor measures at 60 inches wide, allowing for three 20" pads, and a ton of space to spread out.
The Triplex is a huge ultralight tent that is perfect for hiking couples, small families, and people who travel with their pets.
Everything You Need to Know When Picking a Material
Now that we’ve discussed all of our Plex tent models, let’s briefly talk about material choices. We frequently are asked, “Which material offers the best privacy” and “Which material is the most durable?”
First, we have .55 oz/sqyd material, which is semi-transparent, allowing you to see the silhouette of trees when looking out. In bright sunlight, you can see the fuzzy silhouette of a person when looking in, but it is opaque in low evening light. The material is the standard option on all of our shelters and it is was we personally use ourselves. With care, this weight material will last you well beyond a thru-hike.
Next, we have .66 oz/sqyd material, which is a slightly thicker laminate. The material is darker, less transparent, and offers more privacy than our other available material. The durability is comparable to the .55 oz/sqyd material.
Lastly, we offer our Plex line in .75oz/sqyd material, which has a higher Dyneema® thread count than the other options, giving it a higher tear strength and the best durability of any of our materials. It is also thicker and darker than the .55 oz/sqyd material, offering more privacy, but not quite as much as the .66o z/sqyd.
