Zpacks Pivot Solo Tent Overview| CleverHiker

Backside Line

For a singular tackle a one-person, two-trekking-pole tent, the Pivot Solo got here out swinging and hit a house run. Surely, this is without doubt one of the greatest ultralight tents in the marketplace, and you’ll see extra in our full information. We beloved its low weight, good flooring area, and wonderful livability. The important thing design characteristic is a secondary, shorter pole close to the foot area that permits the primary pole to shift backwards. This permits a big, L-shaped door and a extra spacious inside.

The shorter pole on the finish additionally locations mesh between the foot space of the inside and the rainfly, defending sleeping luggage from condensation on the rainfly and using the entire flooring area extra successfully than a design with sloping partitions. That flooring area extends a bit to the aspect, permitting for a backpack to be positioned inside whereas sleeping, a luxurious for a lot of single-person tents.

Whereas we haven’t taken it into storms for a whole take a look at, the design ought to maintain up nicely towards inclement climate. The ultra-strong Dyneema Composite Fiber (DCF) rainfly, mixed with a largely pyramid-based design, means it ought to shed wind and rain like a champion.

It’s nonetheless a bit difficult to arrange, like many trekking pole shelters, however we imagine customers will get used to it over time. Moreover, the inside flooring to fly tensioners dangle into the top space, the excessive rainfly top means gusts and splashback may be problematic, and we want the pockets have been designed a bit higher. Or just gave us one other one.

Nevertheless, all of those are minor issues when contemplating the tent as a complete. It manages to ship a remarkably balanced shelter in each options and luxury whereas sustaining a notably low weight. Though this tent comes at a premium, we imagine it’s a worthwhile funding in the long term.

Consolation

With its progressive new design, the Pivot Solo gives spectacular inside flooring area and headroom, leading to a cushty expertise total. The shorter pole on the foot finish permits for a wider flooring space than a single pole design. This design characteristic ensured we may simply carry a backpack into the inside at evening whereas nonetheless having room for different objects.

Moreover, the near-vertical mesh on the foot finish retains the rain fly away from the foot space, eliminating issues about waking up with a moist footbox attributable to condensation. We discovered the headroom passable for each mendacity down and sitting up, though the one peak restricted the area obtainable for altering garments or stretching. Nevertheless, for such a targeted ultralight tent, this isn’t a big downside, and we might charge the Pivot Solo as above common for headroom on this weight class.

The vestibules are an honest measurement, however for the reason that rain fly doesn’t lengthen all the best way to the bottom, splashback shall be a priority throughout rainfall. They’re nonetheless giant sufficient for a pack and a pair of sneakers. We admire Zpack’s development of incorporating waterproof zippers on their vestibules with a pleasant and easy #3 zipper. On a adverse notice, the one inside pocket is disappointing. With a small angled mesh pocket, it’s large enough for a telephone or headlamp, however not a lot else. One other minor annoyance is the inside fly-to-floor stress twine that dangles into the top space when mendacity down. We worth these stress cords for adjustability, however the placement of the top one will get in the best way.

Weight

Zpacks managed a very spectacular weight of 16.1 ounces after we measured the Spruce Inexperienced model with a typical flooring. For these counting ounces, they provide a lighter model utilizing 0.55oz/sqyd DCF for the fly and a 0.75oz/sqyd flooring that weighs in at 13.5 ounces.

Whereas 0.55oz/sqyd DCF is a dependable materials for the rainfly, we imagine the added sturdiness of the usual flooring’s 1.0oz/sqyd materials is a greater normal suggestion, particularly if you need it to final for a whole thru-hike. DCF is a superb material for stress resistance attributable to a community of ultra-strong Extremely Excessive Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers, making it preferrred for a rainfly.

Nevertheless, the comparatively weak mylar layers sandwiching the UHMWPE fibers don’t present sufficient puncture or abrasion resistance. Though the UHMWPE fibers within the thinner 0.55oz/sqyd DCF are extremely tear-resistant, the improved puncture resistance of the heavier materials comes from extra layers of mylar slightly than extra fibers.

We nonetheless assume the usual flooring model is extremely light-weight given the efficiency and luxury it supplies. A minor downside of utilizing thicker DCF materials is that the packed measurement is bigger in comparison with silnylon or silpoly tents. The Pivot Solo measures roughly 4×11 inches when tightly rolled and 5×12 inches when loosely rolled. General, we don’t see this as a big subject, however for backpackers who’re extra targeted on pack quantity over total weight, the dimensions can add up.

Ease of Use

Like all trekking pole tents, the Pivot Solo may be difficult to arrange initially, but it surely turns into simpler with apply. We take into account it common for a trekking pole tent. The beneficiant quantity of twine on the corners and peaks additionally helps facilitate setup in conditions with restricted floor area flexibility.

Staking out the tent shall be trickier if the bottom is difficult or many obstacles stop preferrred nook placement. Though freestanding tents carry out higher in these situations, we discovered that almost all of nights spent with non-freestanding tents on varied trails have been issue-free throughout pitching. Moreover, giant rocks can be utilized to safe the stakes if the bottom isn’t appropriate. Not like silnylon, DCF doesn’t sag when moist, so as soon as the Pivot Solo is pitched, it ought to stay taut all through the evening, no matter how moist it will get.

One characteristic that makes the Pivot Solo nice to make use of is the massive L-shaped door. In a shift from their basic rainbow doorways that zip from the highest, Zpacks employs a design that zips from the underside. This permits the mesh to hold from the ceiling slightly than fall onto the grime or inside of the tent as seen in different designs. Moreover, the offset pole ensures that getting out and in of the tent is less complicated with out a pole obstructing the best way.

Climate Resistance

The semi-pyramid form of the Pivot Solo ought to make it an incredible tent for ready out storms, however we’ve got but to take it into an actual barn-tipper to check it firsthand. Nevertheless, Zpacks has a observe report of manufacturing tents that face up to the weather nicely, and we are able to observe most of the similar design selections current right here that ought to present the Pivot Solo with above-average climate resistance.

For starters, pyramid designs successfully shed wind, and that continues to be the essential construction right here. The addition of a shorter pole on the foot finish reduces the floor space that the wind can catch. Even higher, with three stakes securing that finish, it ought to simply face up to gusts. DCF can be a confirmed materials, and particularly contemplating the weights of the usual model, you’re way more more likely to expertise tent stakes pulling out than to see a failure within the material.

We admire the massive peak vent design, which is held open by the door guylines. Though condensation administration may be difficult and generally almost not possible to keep away from underneath sure situations, the presence of the vent boosts our confidence that it’ll carry out nicely right here. We additionally want there have been an attachment level for a peak guyline to boost climate resistance even additional.

On a extra polarizing notice, the peak of the rainfly above the bottom is a design trade-off that can attraction to some however to not others. This top enhances airflow and reduces the general weight of the tent by utilizing much less material.

Then again, splashback turns into a extra important subject with such a top, and on blustery nights, the airflow can flip into an annoyance as an alternative of a profit. We don’t maintain Zpacks in a adverse mild for this design alternative, nevertheless, since almost each tent of their lineup shares this characteristic. It’s merely one other design determination with its personal benefits and drawbacks, and the place it stands for you relies upon by yourself priorities.

Sturdiness

In the usual model we examined with 0.75oz/sqyd DCF fly and 1.0oz/sqyd DCF flooring, we’ve got only a few issues about sturdiness. Zpacks has been utilizing these similar materials and development methods in among the hottest and well-used backpacking tents for years, and with acceptable care, they need to final a very long time in use.

We haven’t taken the Pivot Solo on a long-distance thru-hike, so time will inform if Zpacks has delivered one other strong shelter. However even primarily based on our restricted testing, we’re extremely assured it ought to shrug off a thru-hike with out subject.

General, the development high quality is great. A few years in the past, Zpacks struggled with a popularity for high quality management, however they’ve considerably improved, and it exhibits. The general match and end of the seams seems to be nice. We additionally appreciated the bolstered magnetic door closures, which really feel strong.

Ought to You Purchase the Zpacks Pivot Solo Tent?

We actually like this tent, and for the best particular person, we predict Zpacks has one other hit on their fingers. When you’re the form of one who seeks respectable livability at an exceptionally low weight, the Pivot Solo checks many packing containers. It’s preferrred for lengthy thru-hikes just like the Pacific Crest Path, the place low weight is a precedence.

Zpacks seems to be positioning this as a extra livable various to their basic Plex Solo, with benefits reminiscent of a greater door design, simpler entry, and improved headroom. On the similar time, people who may need been deterred from the Plex Solo in favor of the ultra-popular Duplex now have a motive to pause and take into account that the Pivot Solo presents a tempting center floor at a barely decrease weight and value.

Nevertheless, there’s nonetheless no denying that the Pivot Solo is a premium piece of backpacking package. With its full DCF development, the worth shall be onerous to swallow for individuals who aren’t dwelling out of it for months on finish. Nonetheless, we imagine it’s a worthwhile funding for anybody on a long-distance path and will face up to years of excellent use.

What Different Ultralight Tents Ought to You Take into account?

If the Zpacks Pivot Solo Tent is the proper match, our greatest ultralight tents information has many different choices.

Durston X-Mid Professional 1 Overview: The Pivot Solo and the X-Mid Professional 1 share a whole lot of similarities, right down to a singular 2-pole design, waterproof zippers, an L-shaped door, and comparable weights. The X-Mid merely approaches challenges with completely different options, making it tough to find out whether it is definitively higher. For our type of backpacking and the design tradeoffs we worth, we do favor the X-Mid; nevertheless, neither of those tents is essentially flawed- simply completely different priorities in design selections. If a very new backpacker requested us to decide on, our choice for the X-Mid would develop into obvious, however at these costs, these are usually not preferrred tents for newcomers, and we are able to envision skilled backpackers falling in love with both possibility.

Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo Overview: If the eye-watering value of the Pivot Solo is an excessive amount of to bear, our favourite funds tent nonetheless excels with spectacular efficiency at an unbeatable value. One benefit over the Pivot Solo is its a lot bigger flooring area, making it almost appropriate for 2 individuals. The truth is, we’ve seen it utilized that method in a pinch! The draw back is a considerably larger weight, however for first-time or skilled backpackers, it’s a superb shelter.

Zpacks Offset Duo Overview: When you preferred the general idea of the Pivot Solo however primarily backpack with one other particular person or a fluffy buddy, the Offset Duo is a superb two-person shelter that’s certain to thrill. The design language right here is kind of related, that includes the identical L-shaped doorways, zippers, and peak vents. Nevertheless, the quick inside pole is changed with an exterior one, and it provides one other door and vestibule for the opposite particular person.