Duplex Freestanding Flex Kit
This kit not only does what it should, but it actually (I would argue) does it better than many inherently-freestanding tent models.
– Will P., ★★★★★
Transform your Duplex or Duplex Zip into a freestanding ultralight tent for when stakes aren’t an option. Our Flex Kit is perfect for platform camping on the Overland Track, the White Mountains or for packed down campsites along the John Muir Trail. The poles fold up short, which is perfect for bike packing and smaller backpacks.
The Flex Kit is like owning two ultralight tents in one. Simply install the hardware and attach the lightweight Flex poles to your Duplex and you're good to go.
Our Flex poles have been updated for 2024 and now have a 12.5" (31.75 cm) folded length! They can be rolled up and packed with your tent. A tent pole sack is included to protect your gear.
*TENT NOT INCLUDED
*The Duplex Flex Kit is only compatible with our Duplex Classic and Duplex Zip tents manufactured in 2016 or later. If you have an older tent please make sure it has 2x rings sewn at each peak or it is not compatible.
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The Flex tent upgrade is an add-on to our normal Duplex Tent or Duplex Zip Tent that allows it to be pitched with freestanding tent poles. It can be set up with zero stakes in calm conditions, or with just 2 stakes if you want to use the vestibules. It is not necessary to stake the corners or side walls except in extreme weather.
Freestanding tents are convenient in situations where stakes are difficult to use. They make it easier to pitch on beach sand, snow, or on rocky or compacted terrain. You can set up on a tent platform, or other suboptimal locations without struggling with stakes. Flex poles are also handy on trips when you don't have trekking poles, for example bikepacking, canoe trips, or car camping.
The poles also lift the side walls of the tent outward for more interior space, which is especially valuable for tall hikers.
You still have the option to leave the flex poles behind and pitch with your trekking poles to save weight on regular backpacking trips.
The poles will flex and bow horizontally when the wind gusts. In very windy conditions, you should use sticks or trekking poles to prop the peaks of the tent to create a very rigid shelter.
Four 91.25" (232 cm) Easton Carbon 3.9 poles are included. Easton's carbon fiber poles are made using proven technology, and they are super lightweight.
The Dyneema® Composite Fabric material stuff sack and hardware for connecting them to the tent are included in the price and weight.
The folded length of the poles is 12.5" (31.75 cm). A tent pole sack is included. They can be rolled and stored with your tent, or packed separately in your backpack's side pocket.
Any Duplex Classic and Duplex Zip tent made in 2016 and later include attachment points for the Flex upgrade and poles can be added at a later date.
All Zpacks gear has a two-year limited warranty against defects in materials or workmanship. Please see our return / warranty policy.
Duplex Flex Instructions
Click here for a printable version.
If you have purchased the optional Flex tent pole kit you should have 4x 91.25" (232 cm) tent poles, 4x metal rings, 2x toggles, and a tent pole sack.
Setup Instructions:
- Untie each of the four corner stake loops, and re-tie the loops the same way but with a ring attached.
- Loop each of the two toggles on to the two wall tie outs on the tent.
- Insert a tent pole diagonally such that one end is through a metal ring at the peak, and the other end is through the metal ring at the opposite corner guy line.
- Cinch the corner guy line to give the pole some flex and keeping it snugly in place.
- Insert the other three tent poles in the same fashion.
- Attach the toggle around the center of the X formed by the tent poles. The poles should have a moderate amount of flex so that the wall is pulled outward.
- In calm weather no stakes are necessary. If you wish to use the vestibules stake out the front and back door stakes. In moderate weather stake the two wall guy lines to keep the tent anchored. In extreme weather all eight stakes can be used including the corners.
- In very windy conditions you can get a more solid pitch by using sticks or trekking poles to brace the peaks of the tent.










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I love this. Easy setup and take down. I can put the tent up anywhere and works so easily on the tent platforms! Love it.

Tent Frame Review
Well made. Arrived in a timely manner. Fair price. Met my expectations.

Awesome product. Easy to install and setup

These work great and are super lightweight.

Duplex Freestanding Flex Kit
I love this tent and think anyone doing a thru hike should buy it! I purchased the duplex with the freestanding poles. You can use this tent on many terrains and it still weights less than an average free standing tent. This green color is pretty in the light yet not 100% see thru at night. Save yourself the stress of sharing space with a virus and stay in a duplex!
Shelter Add-Ons
Zpacks Comfy Camp Pillow
The Zpacks Comfy Camp Pillow is wrapped in ultra-soft Octa® fleece on top for next-level comfort, with a Ventum Ripstop Nylon base that shrugs off moisture like a pro. Six layers of Climashield keep things cushy, while the integrated shock cord system locks it in place on your sleeping pad—no more midnight pillow escapes. And when it’s time to pack up? It compresses down to half the size of a Nalgene, ready to disappear into your pack.
Gear Nest
Keep your camp essentials safe and easily accessible with our modular dual-pocket Gear Nest. Perfect for keeping your glasses, phone, and other small items organized. Drop in your headlamp to turn it into an overhead lantern.
The triangular shape preserves your headroom when sitting up on either side of the nest.
To install the Gear Nest, simply attach the adjustable hooks to the loops at the interior of our tent peaks and tighten.
All Zpacks 2 and 3 person tents should already have compatible loops at the peaks.
If your tent does not have loops on the interior, our Stick on Loops work great on shelters made with DCF or other, similar, materials.
Trekking Poles and Replacement Parts
Trekking Poles and Replacement Parts
$14.95 USDStakes
Stakes
$1.95 USDNeoair Uberlight Sleeping Pad
What I love most about this sleeping pad is its light weight, and that it packs up very small. I had to send the first one back because of a leaky valve, but received a replacement very quickly. I love the new valve design - it’s very easy to use, and very efficient.
– Constance D., ★★★★☆
As the absolute lightest insulated air sleeping pad available, the NeoAir UberLite is the top choice for thru hikers and ounce counters, setting a new standard for ultralight comfort. The unrivaled Triangular Core Matrix offers the best warmth-to-weight ratio of any air sleeping pad construction, creating a 2.3 R-value. The construction gives the 2.5 inch (6.4 cm) thick pad superior stability for maximum camp comfort.
The ultralight sleeping pad features the high-performance WingLock valve, allowing the pad to inflate three times faster thanks to a larger opening and one-way inflation. Like all Therm-a-Rest pads, the NeoAir UberLite is made in the USA to ensure quality and minimize environmental impact. The pad includes a breath-saving pump sack, compact stuff sack and field repair kit.
Tired of blowing up your sleeping pad manually? Check out the Flextail Zero Pump.
*Sleeping Pads are non-returnable if they have been removed from the packaging.
AVAILABLE TO CUSTOMERS IN THE UNITED STATES ONLY
NeoAir Xlite NXT Sleeping Pad
With improved warmth and comfort at no extra weight, the NeoAir XLite NXT solidifies the legacy of its predecessor as the finest ultralight air sleeping pad for year-round backcountry adventures. The refined cutting-edge Triangular Core Matrix™ construction technique integrates with the warmth radiating ThermaCapture™ technology to reduce noise by 83% from the previous model.
At 3-inches thick, with a horizontal baffled structure, the XLite NXT delivers maximum comfort and support at a minimal weight and packed size. Weighing just 12.5 oz (354 g) in the Regular size, and providing a 4-season ready 4.5 R-value, the XLite NXT is the most versatile ultralight sleeping pad on the market and ready to craft better nights under the stars wherever you end up.
Tired of blowing up your sleeping pad manually? Check out the Flextail Zero Pump.
*Sleeping Pads are non-returnable if they have been removed from the packaging.
AVAILABLE TO CUSTOMERS IN THE UNITED STATES ONLY
Nemo Tensor All Season Sleeping Pad
The Tensor™ All-Season improves on NEMO’s best-selling original by offering greater warmth for year-round use without adding weight, maintaining its reputation for quiet comfort.
Its Spaceframe™ baffle design provides stable support while two suspended Thermal Mirror™ layers efficiently reflect body heat for a 5.4 R-value, all without the crinkly noise typical of insulated pads. Built with durable 20D/40D nylon, it includes a Vortex™ pump sack that pairs with the Laylow™ valve for quick, easy inflation.
Tired of blowing up your sleeping pad manually? Check out the Flextail Zero Pump.
*Sleeping Pads are non-returnable if they have been removed from the packaging.
Nemo Tensor Elite Sleeping Pad
Tensor™ Elite is NEMO’s lightest sleeping pad, designed for ultralight hikers with a gram-saving mummy shape, a 2.4 R-value, and a durable 10D CORDURA® nylon shell that keeps weight to an ethereal 240 grams. Featuring the innovative Apex™ baffle system, it ensures even weight distribution and stable comfort while remaining 3 inches thick, whisper-quiet, and highly packable.
Equipped with a Laylow™ valve, it inflates easily with the included Vortex™ pump sack—though it can be used without it—for a fast and effortless setup on the trail.
Tired of blowing up your sleeping pad manually? Check out the Flextail Zero Pump.
*Sleeping Pads are non-returnable if they have been removed from the packaging.
Nemo Tensor Trail Sleeping Pad
Building on the success of NEMO's original best-selling Tensor line, Tensor™ Trail is designed for three-season adventures where weight is the top priority, offering versatile warmth from spring to fall while packing down light.
Its interior features NEMO’s proprietary Spaceframe™ baffle design, which provides stable support with just the right amount of give, while a suspended layer of ultra-thin, metallized Thermal Mirror™ film efficiently reflects body heat for a 2.8 R-value—all without the crinkling noise found in many insulated pads.
Constructed with durable 20D (top) and 40D (bottom) nylon for added protection against punctures and tears, Tensor Trail also includes a Vortex™ pump sack that pairs seamlessly with the microadjustable Laylow™ valve for quick and effortless inflation.
Tired of blowing up your sleeping pad manually? Check out the Flextail Zero Pump.
*Sleeping Pads are non-returnable if they have been removed from the packaging.
Sleeping Pad Slide Stopper Set
One "Set" includes two straps, each consisting of a pair Stick on Springless Cord Locks and a 26" (66 cm) length of shock cord which will stretch to fit standard or wide sleeping pads. The shock cord can be cinched snug.
The Sleeping Pad Slide Stoppers easily stick to your desire position on your DCF tent floor. For the best results, attach one strap around where you shoulders typically rest on your pad, and the other strap where your hips rest. Slide your pad under both shock cords and then tighten the cords accordingly.
If you are securing two pads side by side with two sets, offset the patches lengthwise so that the pads sit snug beside each other.
The adhesive on these patches sticks well to the Dyneema Composit Fabric tent floors in all Zpacks tents. It may stick OK to polyurethane coated tent floors. The patches can be carefully peeled off if you decide to remove them later.
Thermarest Z Lite SOL Sleeping Pad
A little thicker than the Nemo. It’s lightweight and does the job quite well.
– Carl S., ★★★★☆
Always a favorite of the ultralight elite, the Z Lite SOL expands upon the performance of the Original Z Lite by adding reflective ThermaCapture™ coating to capture radiant heat and increase overall warmth by nearly 15%.
Factoring in the system of heat trapping dimples, the Z Lite SOL has an R-Value of 2.0, making it perfect for use on its own in warmer weather or layering under another pad for extra warmth in the cold.
The proprietary foams are softer on top for extra comfort and denser on the bottom for extra durability, making the Z Lite SOL an ideal closed-cell foam pad for those in need of an ultralight, highly compact and super-reliable sleep system.
AVAILABLE TO CUSTOMERS IN THE UNITED STATES ONLY
Zpacks Inflatable Pillow
Pillow was lightweight and perfect height. A good option for a lightweight pillow.
– Linda M., ★★★★★
Relax after a long day of adventure with our inflatable pillow. Designed for ultralight hikers looking to save weight without compromising comfort, our pillow inflates with only a breath or two and features a comfortable crescent shape perfect for back and side sleepers alike.
*This Item is Non-Returnable if Removed from Packaging*
Zpacks Comfy Camp Pillow
The Zpacks Comfy Camp Pillow is wrapped in ultra-soft Octa® fleece on top for next-level comfort, with a Ventum Ripstop Nylon base that shrugs off moisture like a pro. Six layers of Climashield keep things cushy, while the integrated shock cord system locks it in place on your sleeping pad—no more midnight pillow escapes. And when it’s time to pack up? It compresses down to half the size of a Nalgene, ready to disappear into your pack.
Gear Nest
Keep your camp essentials safe and easily accessible with our modular dual-pocket Gear Nest. Perfect for keeping your glasses, phone, and other small items organized. Drop in your headlamp to turn it into an overhead lantern.
The triangular shape preserves your headroom when sitting up on either side of the nest.
To install the Gear Nest, simply attach the adjustable hooks to the loops at the interior of our tent peaks and tighten.
All Zpacks 2 and 3 person tents should already have compatible loops at the peaks.
If your tent does not have loops on the interior, our Stick on Loops work great on shelters made with DCF or other, similar, materials.
Trekking Poles and Replacement Parts
Trekking Poles and Replacement Parts
$14.95 USDStakes
Stakes
$1.95 USDNeoair Uberlight Sleeping Pad
What I love most about this sleeping pad is its light weight, and that it packs up very small. I had to send the first one back because of a leaky valve, but received a replacement very quickly. I love the new valve design - it’s very easy to use, and very efficient.
– Constance D., ★★★★☆
As the absolute lightest insulated air sleeping pad available, the NeoAir UberLite is the top choice for thru hikers and ounce counters, setting a new standard for ultralight comfort. The unrivaled Triangular Core Matrix offers the best warmth-to-weight ratio of any air sleeping pad construction, creating a 2.3 R-value. The construction gives the 2.5 inch (6.4 cm) thick pad superior stability for maximum camp comfort.
The ultralight sleeping pad features the high-performance WingLock valve, allowing the pad to inflate three times faster thanks to a larger opening and one-way inflation. Like all Therm-a-Rest pads, the NeoAir UberLite is made in the USA to ensure quality and minimize environmental impact. The pad includes a breath-saving pump sack, compact stuff sack and field repair kit.
Tired of blowing up your sleeping pad manually? Check out the Flextail Zero Pump.
*Sleeping Pads are non-returnable if they have been removed from the packaging.
AVAILABLE TO CUSTOMERS IN THE UNITED STATES ONLY
NeoAir Xlite NXT Sleeping Pad
With improved warmth and comfort at no extra weight, the NeoAir XLite NXT solidifies the legacy of its predecessor as the finest ultralight air sleeping pad for year-round backcountry adventures. The refined cutting-edge Triangular Core Matrix™ construction technique integrates with the warmth radiating ThermaCapture™ technology to reduce noise by 83% from the previous model.
At 3-inches thick, with a horizontal baffled structure, the XLite NXT delivers maximum comfort and support at a minimal weight and packed size. Weighing just 12.5 oz (354 g) in the Regular size, and providing a 4-season ready 4.5 R-value, the XLite NXT is the most versatile ultralight sleeping pad on the market and ready to craft better nights under the stars wherever you end up.
Tired of blowing up your sleeping pad manually? Check out the Flextail Zero Pump.
*Sleeping Pads are non-returnable if they have been removed from the packaging.
AVAILABLE TO CUSTOMERS IN THE UNITED STATES ONLY
Nemo Tensor All Season Sleeping Pad
The Tensor™ All-Season improves on NEMO’s best-selling original by offering greater warmth for year-round use without adding weight, maintaining its reputation for quiet comfort.
Its Spaceframe™ baffle design provides stable support while two suspended Thermal Mirror™ layers efficiently reflect body heat for a 5.4 R-value, all without the crinkly noise typical of insulated pads. Built with durable 20D/40D nylon, it includes a Vortex™ pump sack that pairs with the Laylow™ valve for quick, easy inflation.
Tired of blowing up your sleeping pad manually? Check out the Flextail Zero Pump.
*Sleeping Pads are non-returnable if they have been removed from the packaging.
Nemo Tensor Elite Sleeping Pad
Tensor™ Elite is NEMO’s lightest sleeping pad, designed for ultralight hikers with a gram-saving mummy shape, a 2.4 R-value, and a durable 10D CORDURA® nylon shell that keeps weight to an ethereal 240 grams. Featuring the innovative Apex™ baffle system, it ensures even weight distribution and stable comfort while remaining 3 inches thick, whisper-quiet, and highly packable.
Equipped with a Laylow™ valve, it inflates easily with the included Vortex™ pump sack—though it can be used without it—for a fast and effortless setup on the trail.
Tired of blowing up your sleeping pad manually? Check out the Flextail Zero Pump.
*Sleeping Pads are non-returnable if they have been removed from the packaging.