Hexamid Tent
The Hexamid tent is back, and updated for our 20th anniversary!
The Hexamid is made for hikers who would rather sleep under the stars. The updated design features a floorless screen perimeter which must be combined with an optional bathtub groundsheet or a bivy. This is ideal for dry environments such as the Pacific Crest Trail where most nights you can sleep under the stars with your groundsheet alone, and only sometimes need rain and bug protection.
Originally tested by Zpacks' founder, Joe Valesko, on his 2009 Continental Divide Trail thru-hike, this ultralight six sided pyramid style shelter protected him all the way from Canada to Mexico; withstanding blizzards in the San Juans, the exposure of the Wind River Range, and the solitude of the New Mexican desert.
- 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 Hexamid is a floorless shelter with screen around the perimeter. It must be used in conjunction with the optional bathtub groundsheet, or a bivy for ground water protection.
- Ultralight insect netting keeps even the smallest insects out. The edges stay pinned down under your bathtub groundsheet.
- 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 Tarp, and the Plex Solo Tent which has a traditional sewn in floor.
- The zipper slider on the screen is field-replaceable. Repair tape and spare sliders are included. Washing Instructions.
- 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)
- (Optional) 5x cord-hooks for Hexamid bathtub groundsheet - .2 oz (5.7 grams)
- Total additional items: .58 oz (16.5 g) to .78 oz (22.1 g)
6-10 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: 36" (91.5 cm)
Width at Ends: 26" (76 cm)
Length: 84" (213 cm)
Bathtub wall height: 6" (15.25 cm)
Floor area: 18.1 square feet (1.68 square meters)
Packed Size:
Tent Alone Rolled Tight: about 3" diameter by 11" tall (7.6 cm x 28 cm), 77.8 cubic inches (1.27L).
Tent w/ Bathtub Groundsheet Rolled Tight: about 4" diameter by 11" tall (10 cm x 28 cm), 138 cubic inches (2.3L).
Tents made with the heavier fabric options will roll slightly larger.
Stuff Sack Size: 6" diameter by 12" tall (15 cm x 30.5 cm) Size Medium.
Tents will be about an inch (2.5 cm) larger in diameter and length when rolled casually. The included stuff sack is intentionally large so that you don't have to fight with your tent in the morning. It has extra space for the optional groundsheet, a tent pole, and stakes.
- 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 Tent 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 tent and the short end attaches to the door hooks.
Side Walls (cut 4x) - 48 inches (122 cm)
Corners, back center (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 groundsheet 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.
If you have purchased the optional Hexamid Bathtub Groundsheet, the 5x included Cord-Hooks should be looped on to the inner corners of the tent. The hooks attach to the corresponding loops on your groundsheet.
- Adjust your trekking pole to around 52 inches (132 cm).
- 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.
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Back to the Hexamid
When Zpacks was first getting started I purchased their original Hexamid. I still have it and still use it, but I wanted the vestibule to have a zipper so I purchased the new Hexamid. I've also purchased the Duplex and Altaplex. They have the best shelters on the market right now, and my new Hexamid will be going with me on my AZT thru-hike.
Satisfied
Everything is like your offer. I will use it next year. Yours faitfully,Klaus Reisky.
Great for the advanced backpacker.
I’ve spent 26 nights in my Hexamid Solo Tent in a variety of conditions. It took a little bit of time and effort to learn the best way to pitch the tent and I’ve since come to appreciate how flexible the setup is if you take the time to understand it. There is a surprising amount of tunability to how high the skirt of the tent hovers above the ground. High winds and rain are times you might want to lower the whole tent down closer to the ground and can be accomplished by either shortening your treking pole or by additional lean angle of a fixed length pole (not so straight up and down and hence lower peak). One thing I’ve noticed is that in high winds the tent stake that is most likely to pull out during the night is the front stake. I had it happen once. It is the tent line that is taking the most load and I’ve made an easy modification where I can bolster that line with three stakes and the addition of the orange tent guy line shown in the picture. I love the fact that the tent packs down so small and in a variety of shapes depending on your preference. It is also very light. I have not found condensation to be much of an issue. One disappointment I’ve had is with the bathtub floor which I found really didn’t work as well as I thought since I can’t always guarantee that the the anchor lines will keep the sides of the bathtub up instead of allow things to droop and lay more naturally flat on the floor. This is especially true if you’ve decided to pitch the tent with the skirt lower to the ground (because maybe you wanted to reduce the amount of rain that would blow in around the bottom of the tent). Also, while the footprint of the tent is reasonably small the actual footprint if you include the stakes and guy lines is bigger than you might be used to with almost-free-standing tent alternatives. There were a couple of times that I tried to squeeze into an awkward site location and I had to get a little creative with the guy lines extending out from the perimeter. Also, you need to be aware that unzipping the door will allow the door (and its zipper) to drop to the ground and I always make a special effort to keep the zipper laying more inside the tent instead of laying in the dirt just outside the door. If that dirt is the dusty flour type of dirt it will get in the zipper teeth and make the mechanism bind a bit. This tent may not be the best for the beginner infrequent backpacker as it most appreciated by those that are willing to fiddle and learn and make regular use of the tunablity and light weight and flexible packability. The more I use this tent the more I learn the best way to properly use it and the more I like it.
great ultralight tent
Really like this tent and have used it for about 7 years! Super light, very waterproof and windproof with good bug netting on the bottom. I use a emergency blanket underneath to help preserve the bottom netting. Easy to set up and comfortable inside with plenty of room for pack. --The only drawbacks are that it could be a few inches longer for hikers 6 foot+. With the inflatable pad and puffy sleeping bag, sometimes the bag touches the end of tent. (not sure if this is made in a extra long version) Also the front door could be a little longer, so as to come down closer to the ground to provide a little more coverage in windy or rainy conditions. (can't always predict wind direction for wind and rain prior to set up). Also when you are using it on uneven ground, the inside of tent can be a little droopy or low, etc) -I still highly recommend this tent because the benefits far outweigh the negatives.
