Duplex Classic Tent
How could you not like this? It’s lighter than plenty of one person shelters, but it’s a palace for one, and easily sleeps two. Setup is easy and it’s overall designed well. I don’t think I’ve met any user on the AT so far who doesn’t like their Duplex.
This ultralight tent will allow you to push your limits and hike greater distances; whether losing yourself in the beauty of the Pacific Crest Trail, or weathering an afternoon storm in the Swiss Alps.
Specifically designed for the demands of long distance backpacking, the award-winning Duplex hits the sweet spot when it comes to size, weight, and features.
The Duplex is lightweight, roomy, well-ventilated, packs down small, pitches easily, and can be set up in the tightest of spaces. You won’t find a lighter functional two person tent anywhere on the market.
Voted the most popular ultralight tent by Appalachian Trail thru-hikers two years in a row.
More weight conscious hikers may want to check our our lighter weight Duplex Lite model.
Check out the Duplex Zip for a version with zippered storm doors, peak vents, and magnetic door toggles.
An optional flat groundsheet is available for added protection here.
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- Sets up with two trekking poles adjusted to around 48" (122 cm). Slightly taller or shorter fixed length poles will also work. If you do not use trekking poles, we have straight tent poles available, or you could consider our Freestanding Duplex Flex Tent Upgrade. Trekking poles are not included but we have multiple Trekking Pole options to choose from.
- Six stakes are required for this tent with eight stakes recommended for a taught pitch in windy conditions. Stakes are not included but we have a variety of Ultralight Stakes to choose from.
- A smaller 53” x 100” (135 x 254 cm) corner to corner footprint allows you to squeeze into those hard to find backcountry flat spots, providing a decisive advantage over asymmetrical designs with larger footprints that require much more space to set up.
- Symmetrical design allows two adults to lay side by side in either direction, creating a superior sleeping experience for couples when compared to asymmetrical offset pole designs. The symmetrical pole design also avoids the steep wall angles found in asymmetrical tents, creating more practical usable space, allowing two people to sit upright side by side facing out either door while removing shoes or while reaching out to cook or access gear just outside the tent.
- The symmetrical design also allows any of the four storm doors to be opened or closed independently, providing best in class views and ventilation. Leave all four open on nice weather nights for a breeze and great views. Close the upwind doors to block cold wind, or close all four for 360° rain protection. The overlapping doors are closed with custom made metal hooks, with a toggle at the center to keep them pinned. Check out the Duplex Zip for a version with zippered storm doors, peak vents, and magnetic door toggles.
- 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.
- Each screen door has a rainbow zipper which allows easy entry regardless of which storm doors are closed, and they give you access to every vestibule area. Each screen door conveniently drops inwards rather than hanging in your way. No need to roll it up or secure it.
- The tarp overhangs the bathtub floor by 4-5 inches (12 cm). In calm rain or under wet trees one or two 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.
- Stick on Magnet Toggles are also available for those looking to upgrade their storm door closing mechanism.
- For even better rain protection with a door open, use the included elastic cords to pull the screen door back away from the rain spray as seen in the photo gallery.
- This tent has a solid, sewn in 8 inch (20 cm) tall bathtub floor. The bathtub floor is a rectangle 45 inches wide by 7.5 feet long (114cm x 2.3m). Plenty of space for two average people to stretch out plus space for gear at the ends of the floor.
- If you are particularly tall, you might try propping up the side guylines with Trekking Pole Cups, or check out the DupleXL. Some couples prefer the additional width in a Triplex tent.
- Mesh pockets are conveniently located near each screen door so that they can be accessed from inside or outside the tent. They are a good place to store your cell phone, glasses, headlamp, the tent stuff sack, and spare seam tape (included). The pocket is about 8" x 6" (20 cm x 15 cm).
- 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.
- There is screen between the bathtub floor and the walls at the ends of the tarp. An elastic 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.
- 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. Our shelters are all PFC/PFAs free.
- 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. Your choice of canopy fabric affects the weight shown.
The following items are also shipped with this tent:
- Medium-Plus DCF Stuff Sack - ~.32 oz (9 g)
- 54" DCF repair tape strip - ~.14 oz (4 g)
- Two spare zipper sliders - ~.16 oz (4.5 g)
- Total additional items: ~.62 oz (17.5 g)
*8x Stakes are required but are not included. We have a variety of Ultralight Stakes to choose from.
Exterior Dimensions:
Peak height: 48" (122 cm)
Ridgeline width: 53" (135 cm)
Width including vestibules: 93" (236 cm)
Vestibule Depth from floor: 24" (61 cm) each side
Length: 100" (254 cm)
Interior Dimensions:
Peak height: 48" (122 cm)
Floor width: 45" (114 cm)
Floor length: 7.5 feet (2.3 meters)
Floor Area: 28.1 square feet (2.6 square meters)
Zipper entry height: 36" (91 cm)
Packed Dimensions:
Packed Size: 6" diameter by 12" tall (15 cm x 30 cm), 340 cubic inches (5.6L).
Stuff Sack Size: 7" diameter by 13" tall (18 cm x 33 cm) Medium-Plus. 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. We also have thicker, darker material available as an upgrade that you can choose. Another nice thing about this material is that you can see the outlines of trees and your surroundings for a more immersed outdoor experience. - 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 bathtub floor is made from 1.0 oz/sqyd Dyneema® Composite Fabric. This material weight is more than twice as thick as the canopy material and is more resistant to abrasion and punctures. It is also easy to patch with tape.
- Lineloc V adjusters are sewn to all tie outs. Bright yellow 2.0mm 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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.75 oz/sqyd Dyneema® Composite Fabric Available in Burnt Orange, Dirt, and Spruce Green This canopy material has a higher Dyneema® thread count which gives it a higher tear strength. The standard material is already difficult to tear, so this weight is unnecessary. Many thru-hikers like this feature for added peace of mind. It is also a bit thicker and darker than the standard weight. It is less transparent and offers more privacy. Tensile Strength: 104 lb/in (911 N/5cm) Puncture Strength: 3.1 lb (14 N) Water Resistance: 20,000 mmH₂O Made in the USA. |
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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. |
Duplex 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 (2x) - 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 2x) - 48 inches (122 cm)
Corners (cut 4x) - 24 inches (61 cm).
*The two loops with rings at the peaks of the tent, and the upper loops on the side walls are used for the Duplex Flex tent poles add on.
Setup Instructions:
In windy conditions orient the end of your tent with the overlapping storm doors upwind. The Zpacks labels at the corners indicate 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 two trekking poles to around 48 inches (122 cm). It is expected that your pole tips will sink into the ground an inch or so. On hard packed surfaces you may get a better pitch by reducing your trekking pole height a little bit or angling your tent poles.
- 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 front 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.
- Insert the back trekking pole the same way and stake it out.
- 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 two wall tie outs.
Storm Doors:
Any of the four 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.
Duplex Add-Ons
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.
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.
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