Altaplex Lite Tent
The ideal ultralight tent for hikers up to 6’6”, the Altaplex is the perfect place to wait out the rain on the Appalachian Trail or to recover after a long day of bushwhacking.
Specifically designed for taller backpackers and thru-hikers, this lightweight tent provides ample head and foot room while still easily pitching with a single trekking pole.
A great fit whether you are a triple-crowner or just out for a weekend in the Smokies. This tent is roomy, well-ventilated, packs down small, can be pitched quickly, and can be set up in the tightest of spaces. Tall hikers won’t find a lighter single pole tent with this much space anywhere on the market.
The Altaplex Lite utilizes our proven .55 oz/sqyd Dyneema Composite Fabric canopy combined with a .75 oz/sqyd DCF floor material which is 25% lighter and packs down smaller relative to our standard tent floors. It comes preconfigured with bright yellow 1.3 mm Z-Line guy-lines which save weight compared to the 2 mm guy lines on our standard tents.
An optional flat groundsheet is available for added protection here.
*If your trekking pole does not extend to at least 56" (142cm) you will need one of our Trekking Pole Jacks, 58" Tent Poles, or our Carbon Fiber Staff to set up this tent.
**Our Plex Solo Lite has a similar design, sized for an average-height hiker with a 52" trekking pole. The Altaplex Classic has more durable fabric and more opaque colors.
Sets up with a single trekking pole adjusted to around 56"-58" (147 cm). If your trekking poles do not extended to 56" (142cm), you can add one of our trekking pole jacks to increase the height or considering using one of our Carbon Fiber Staffs or Tent Poles. 58" poles and staffs may need to be angled a bit to get the perfect pitch. A trekking pole is not included but we have multiple Trekking Pole options to choose from.
- Sets up with a minimum of 6 stakes but 10 stakes are recommended in windy conditions. Stakes are not included but we have a variety of Ultralight Stakes to choose from.
- The Altaplex Lite includes bright yellow 1.3mm Z-Line guy lines which save weight compared to the 2mm guy lines found on our standard shelters. The guy lines can be swapped out on any of our shelters if desired.
- The storm doors can be opened or closed independently. Leave one or two doors open in nice weather for a breeze and great views. Close the upwind door to block cold wind, or close both for 360° rain protection. The overlapping doors are closed with custom made metal hooks, with a toggle at the center to keep them pinned.
- Overlapping storm doors allow for a small amount of airflow without the need for additional venting. There are no zippers on the doors that could potentially fail over time.
- A single closed storm door creates enough vestibule space for storing a wet backpack or muddy shoes, if you don't want to bring them into the tent.
- The screen door has a rainbow zipper which allows easy entry regardless of which storm door is closed. You can access the vestibule area on either side. The screen door conveniently drops inwards rather than hanging in your way. No need to roll it up or secure it.
- The canopy overhangs the bathtub floor and the screen doors by 3-5 inches (8-12 cm). In calm rain or under dripping trees the doors can be left open for air flow without water dripping on the floor space. In almost all conditions, at least one downwind door can be left open for air.
- For even better rain protection with a door open, use the included cords and the ends of the floor to pull the screen door back away from the rain spray as seen in the photo gallery.
- There is screen between the bathtub floor and the walls around the perimeter. Adjustable cord keeps the bathtub elevated, ensuring the screen slopes downwards away from the bathtub. Any condensation, which single wall shelters may experience, will run down the walls and out through the downward sloping screen, rather than onto the floor. Click here for tips to avoid condensation.
- This tent has a seamless, sewn in 6.75 inch (17 cm) tall bathtub floor. The bathtub floor is a rectangle 40" wide by 90" long (102cm x 2.3m). Plenty of space for a wide sleeping pad with room to stretch out plus space for gear beside you.
- Our "Lite" tent floor is made from .75 oz/sqyd Dyneema Composite fabric. It weighs 25% less than our standard floor material and packs up smaller, with the trade off of slightly less abrasion and puncture resistance. Choose spots on dry leaves or soft pine needles when possible to minimize ground splash-up and condensation, and be sure to move any pointy twigs, rocks or thorns from your spot. As with all DCF material, it is very easy to patch on-trail with the included seam tape. The Altaplex Classic is available with more durable, more opaque fabric.
- If you are particularly tall, you might try propping up the head and/or foot guy-lines with Trekking Pole Cups, or check out the Offset Solo for additional head and foot room.
- In order to keep the weight as low as possible, this tent does not have a built in internal pocket. Save weight by using your backpack's pockets for nighttime storage, or add a Stick-On Mesh Tent Pocket.
- A separate groundsheet is NOT required for this shelter. The floor material is reasonably durable, and all Dyneema® Composite Fabric gear can be easily patched in the field with repair tape. If you do prefer to use a groundsheet as a precaution, Flat Groundsheets are available.
- All of our tents do pretty well in the wind. The material can handle high wind loads. As long as your stakes stay in the ground (use rocks if available) your tent will stay standing. Dyneema® Composite Fabric is not a particularly noisy fabric; however, almost any tent will make a little noise in the wind. Earplugs are not a bad idea for windy nights.
- Dyneema Composite Fabric is naturally waterproof and is not treated with any potentially harmful chemicals such as flame retardants or water repellents.
- All Zpacks gear has a two year limited warranty against defects in materials or workmanship. Please see our return / warranty policy.
- Made in the USA.
Weight:
The total weight displayed near the 'add to cart' button shows the weight of the tent including guy lines, sewn in linelocs, and taped seams.
The following items are also shipped with this tent:
- Medium DCF Stuff Sack - .28 oz (8 g)
- 54" DCF repair tape strip - .14 oz (4 g)
- Two spare zipper sliders - .16 oz (4.5 g)
- Total additional items: .58 oz (16.5 g)
*Up to 10x stakes are required but are not included. We have a variety of Ultralight Stakes to choose from.
Exterior Dimensions:
Peak height: 56"-58" (147 cm)
Width at center: 52" (132 cm)
Width including vestibules: 73" (185 cm)
Vestibule Depth from floor: 24" (61 cm)
Length: 100" (254 cm)
Interior Dimensions:
Peak height: 56"-58" (147 cm)
Floor width: 40" (102 cm)
Floor length: 90" (2.3 meters)
Floor Area: 25 square feet (2.3 square meters)
Zipper entry height: 36" (91 cm)
Packed Dimensions:
Packed Size: 5" diameter by 11" tall (12.7 x 28 cm) / 216 cubic inches (3.5L)
Stuff Sack Size: 6" diameter by 12" tall (15 cm x 30 cm) size Medium. The intentionally loose stuff sack makes packing easy and it will squish down in your backpack.
- Our tents are made from Dyneema® Composite Fabric. Dyneema® Composite Fabric has several advantages over other materials:
High strength to weight ratio – the material can handle high wind force and does not tear easily.
Chemical free, PFC free
Waterproof – there is no DWR or coating to worry about wearing out. The material will not absorb significant water that will add water weight to your pack
Stretch-free – the tent will stay taut all night. Nylon material by comparison can stretch and sag, especially if it gets wet.
Taped seams – our seams are sewn for strength then taped water tight. The tie outs have bonded reinforcements for high strength. No seam sealing will be necessary!
Easily repairable – Any damage can easily be fixed in the field with our Dyneema® Composite Fabric Repair Tape.
- This tent is semi-transparent. In bright sunlight, a fuzzy silhouette of a person sitting inside the tent would be visible, but you cannot see any details. It has a suitable amount of privacy for changing clothes.
In lower light (such as in the evening or at night), you cannot see through at all. One nice thing about this material is you can see the outlines of trees and your surroundings for a more immersed outdoor experience. The Altaplex Classic is available in thicker, less transparent fabric which offers more privacy. - This tent has fully enclosed .67 oz/sqyd (22.7 g/m²) insect screen. The holes in this screen are super tiny, so even the smallest insects cannot get through. Our tent screen is about 30% lighter than comparable Noseeum screen with no noticeable decrease in durability.
- The "Lite" bathtub floor is made from .75 oz/sqyd Dyneema® Composite Fabric which is lighter and packs smaller than our standard 1 oz/sqyd DCF floor material. As with all DCF material it is easy to patch in the field with the included repair tape.
- Lineloc V adjusters are sewn to all tie outs. Bright yellow 1.3mm Dyneema® Z-Line cord is cut and attached for you. The yellow lines are very easy to see night or day, and Dyneema® has very low stretch.
- The expected life span of this shelter is at least one full 2500+ mile thru hike, or many years of casual use with some care.
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Made with Bio-Based Dyneema® Fiber Reduce your carbon footprint with bio-based Dyneema® fiber technology. Sourced from renewable, bio-based feedstock, it is the first ever bio-based ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (HMPE) fiber. Commit to sustainability and help reduce our reliance on fossil fuel resources and rely on the trusted performance of the world’s strongest fiber™. Click here to learn more about Bio-Based Dyneema® Fiber. Made in the USA. |
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.55 oz/sqyd Standard Dyneema® Composite Fabric Available in Blue, Olive Drab, and White The default canopy material choice on this tent is .55 oz/sqyd Dyneema® Composite Fabric. It has high tensile strength and can handle strong winds, storms, and all the typical conditions a tent will be in. All Dyneema® Composite Fabric material can easily be repaired in the field with the included repair tape if it were to get a puncture. The material 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. Tensile Strength: 63 lb/in (552 N/5cm) |
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.67 oz/sqyd Ultralight Nano-Noseeum Insect Netting Regular "No-see-um" bug netting weighs about 1 oz/sqyd. This ultralight version weighs roughly a third less without a noticeable difference in performance. It has extremely small holes which block even the smallest of insects including mosquitoes, noseeums, etc. Nothing gets through this screen. |
Altaplex Lite Instructions
Click here for a printable version.
Cutting Guylines:
Guylines are pre-cut and attached for you. Linelocs are sewn in place for adjusting the lines. If you choose to switch out your lines for a different cord these are the default lengths:
Peaks - Cut 80 inches (203 cm) and tie a stake loop at 18 inches (46 cm). The long end attaches to the tent and the short end attaches to the door hooks.
Side Walls (cut 4x) - 48 inches (122 cm)
Corners (cut 5x) - 24 inches (61 cm).
Setup Instructions:
In windy conditions orient the end of your tent with the overlapping storm door upwind. The Zpacks label at the corner indicates the upwind end of the tent.
Splash-up can occur when camped on hard packed surfaces during heavy rain. Our tall bathtub floor and overhanging canopy helps to keep mud and water from splashing up into your tent, but for best results please choose camp spots on leaves or pine needles when possible. Remove any pointy twigs and sharp objects to protect your tent floor but leave as much rain-dampening cushioning as possible to minimize the potential of splash-up.
- Adjust your trekking pole to around 56 to 58 inches (147 cm). If you expect your pole tips to sink into the ground, add a couple inches to compensate.
- Give your corner guylines some slack. Stake out all four corner guylines at a 45 degree angle, roughly straight off the corner points.
- Insert the trekking pole outside the screen with the handle at the peak and the tip in the ground. Stake the front line.
- If the peak is too high, tighten the front corner lines. If it is too low, loosen them.
- The corners of the tent should be about 6-8 inches (18cm) off the ground.
- If the walls of the tent aren't smooth, you may need to reposition the corner stakes or adjust the lines tighter.
- Stake out the four wall tie outs.
Storm Doors:
Both of the doors can be clipped down, or rolled up independently. The storm doors can be clipped down to the front center guylines, or rolled up depending on the weather. Leave at least one down-wind door open for air flow unless the weather is very bad.
Seam Sealing:
All Zpacks shelters have taped seams and bonded tie outs! No seam sealing necessary.
Click here for full instructions on how to wash our Dyneema® Composite Fabric tents and tarps.
For information on how to replace your zipper sliders, check out our instructional videos.
