Hexamid Pocket Tarp
So freakin light and packs down to the size of a softball. The doors are awesome and there is plenty of room inside (I’m 5'10").
For all you gram weenies cutting tags and planning FKT’s, shave those last few grams off your base weight with the Hexamid Pocket Tarp; our lightest shaped tarp ever!
This ultralight tarp can be your primary shelter on an ultra-minimalist adventure or can be tucked away in a pocket in case you need it to sit out a surprise afternoon thunderstorm on day trips, or as an emergency shelter.
Super simple by design, the Hexamid Pocket Tarp provides shelter while keeping your base weight at a bare minimum.
A Hexamid Bathtub Groundsheet is an optional add on. It includes 6x cord-hooks to secure it to the corners of your tarp and to your trekking pole to keep it in place and to keep the walls elevated.
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- Made from waterproof, durable Dyneema® Composite Fabric. Choose tried and tested .55 oz/sqyd DCF to keep weight to a minimum, or choose Spruce Green.75 oz/sqyd DCF to add opacity and extra durability.
- The optional bathtub groundsheet is made from .75 oz/sqyd Dyneema Composite Fabric.
- The optional bathtub groundsheet includes adjustable hooks that connect to the interior tent corners to keep it centered and to keep the walls elevated from groundwater and rain spray. Unhook it to sleep under the stars, or to dry everything faster.
- Sets up with a single 52” (132 cm) Trekking Pole or Tent Pole, and just 6 to 10 Stakes (each sold separately).
- LineLoc V adjusters allow you to lock in the perfect pitch. Bright yellow 1.3 mm Z-Line Guylines are easy to see day or night to avoid tripping.
- Either of the overlapping storm doors can be opened or closed independently. Leave both open on nice weather nights for a breeze and great views. Close the upwind door to block cold wind, or close both for 360° rain protection.
- The design is shared with our Hexamid Tent which has perimeter screen, and the Plex Solo Tent which has a traditional sewn in floor.
- Just below the peak, there is a loop on the inside for hanging a flashlight or stuff sack.
- 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:
- Small DCF Stuff Sack - .18 oz (5 g)
- 54" DCF repair tape strip - .14 oz (4 g)
- (Optional) 6x cord-hooks for Hexamid bathtub groundsheet - .24 oz (6.7 grams)
- Total additional items: .32 oz (9 g) to .56 oz (15.7 g)
6-10x Stakes are required but are not included. We have a variety of Ultralight Stakes to choose from.
Exterior Dimensions:
Peak height: 52" (132 cm)
Center width including vestibule: 62" (157 cm)
End width: 36" (91 cm)
Front vestibule space: 18.5" depth. (47 cm)
Length: 100" (254 cm)
Optional Hexamid Bathtub Groundsheet Dimensions:
Width at center: 38" (97 cm)
Width at head and foot: 28" (71 cm)
Length: 84" (2.3 meters)
Bathtub wall height: 6" (15.25 cm)
Floor area: 18.1 square feet (1.68 square meters)
Packed Dimensions:
Packed Size w/o Groundsheet: 3" dia x 6" tall (7.6 cm dia x 15.2 cm) / 42 cubic inches (.7 L)
Packed Size w/ Groundsheet: 5" x 6" (13 cm x 15 cm) / 105 cubic inches (1.7 L)
Small Stuff Sack: 5" x 6" (13 cm x 15 cm) / 105 cubic inches (1.7 L)
- Made with Bio-Based Dyneema® Fiber sourced from renewable feedstock.
- High strength to weight ratio – Dyneema® can handle high wind force and does not tear easily.
- Chemical Free – No PFCs, PFAS, DWR or flame retardants.
- Inherently Waterproof – No coatings that could wear out. Does not absorb water weight.
- Stretch Free – Dyneema® stays taut all night. Other materials can stretch and sag, especially when wet.
- Taped seams – No seam sealing necessary! Any damage can easily be fixed in the field with included repair tape.
- Semi-transparent - Immerse with your surroundings. Thicker fabric weights offer more opacity.
- Long Lasting - 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
Hexamid Pocket Tarp 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 72 inches (183 cm) and tie a stake loop at 18 inches (46 cm). The long end attaches to the tarp and the short end attaches to the door hooks.
Side Walls (cut 4x) - 48 inches (122 cm)
Corners (cut 4x) - 24 inches (61 cm).
Setup Instructions:
In windy conditions orient the end of your tarp with the overlapping storm door upwind. The Zpacks label at the corner indicates the upwind end of the tarp.
Splash-up can occur when camped on hard packed surfaces during heavy rain. Our overhanging canopy helps to keep mud and water from splashing up into your tarp, 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 bathtub groundsheet or floor but leave as much rain-dampening cushioning as possible to minimize the potential of splash-up.
If you have purchased the optional Hexamid Bathtub Groundsheet, five of the included Cord-Hooks should be looped on to the inner corners of the tent. The hooks attach to the corresponding loops on your groundsheet. The sixth hook can be attached to the front center of the groundsheet to clip around your trekking pole.
- Adjust your trekking pole to around 52 inches (132 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 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 tarp should be about 6-8 inches (18cm) off the ground.
- If the walls of the tarp aren't smooth, you may need to reposition the corner stakes or adjust the lines tighter.
- Stake out the four wall tie outs.
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.
- Reviews
- Questions
7 years and 6,000 plus miles later
7 years and still going strong. I've used the same Heximid Pocket tarp for over 7 years now on countless weekend trips in the Ozarks and more notably my entire CDT and PCT thur hikes. I've used it with a few different set ups like using a ground sheet, a clip in zpacks tub, or even a bivy clipped in. I've found that no mater the set up or where and how, it's always been dependable and held up to conditions. I'm 5,10 and sleep mostly with a 1/8in pad so I've never had spacing issues. Even when pitching low in rain/storm, I find I have the room I need. During colder months when I'm on a inflatable pad it can make it a little tighter but still not really a problem with perfect pitch. I have other zpacks tents but I still keep coming back to my pocket tarp system for the simplicity and light/compact pack up. Zpacks shelters are the best and this tarp might not be your shelter for every trip, but it's worth it for the trips you can use it.
Resists wind and rain well, a little small
I thought the Hexamid Pocket tarp was a great shelter on the Arizona Trail. Pros: Surprisingly effective enough for some storms that rolled in and very ultralight. Thought I would miss a catenary curve but I didn’t. A little learning curve but easy to get the hang of setting it up. I used a Katabatic bivy w/polycro but should’ve added a Zpacks bathtub floor to help define the place (also when a lot of rain turned the desert into yacht club). Cons: Too small for my 6 foot height (feet pressed again wall by most mornings) .. so had to sell.
3000+ miles and still love it (but delicate!)
I absolutely love this tarp to death. It has a small footprint (just like a 1P tent) and it is incredible in inclement weather. I used it the entire PCT in 2023 (plus other hikes) - it saw 60mph+ winds, fresh/heavy snow, large hail, rain, and temps in the low teens (fahrenheit) and it kept me warm and dry the entire time. Not sure how it would do in a sustained downpour like the east coast has, but it was wonderful for the crazy weather of the PCT in 2023. Because it is a pyramid style, I fully trust it in high winds and it beat out even free standing tents in these conditions. I'll be using another one for my next longer thru hike. My only complaint is that it can be quite delicate; my tarp is covered in many tiny little holes (some large enough to patch but most are too small and too many). Not sure if that is because of how I packed it in my pack or because I very stupidly used it as a ground sheet once (don't do this folks), so next time I will be careful and yeah...not using it ever as a groundsheet. I pair this tarp with a bivy from Borah Gear and while the tie off for the bivy isn't perfect inside of a pyramid tarp (better off with a flat tarp), I still use this combo because I mostly prefer to cowboy/cowgirl in my bivy and then use the tarp in cold or bad weather. Love love love the protection and warmth from this tarp and you still have that close connection to nature even with the doors closed.
This thing is ridiculously small and light. Easy set up if you’re used to trekking pole tents. It’s a tarp so if you like tarps it’s a good option, if you don’t like tarps then this isn’t for you
This tarp is a great lightweight option for bike packing and super easy to set up. Delivery from Zpacks was also super quick.
