Zpacks Pivot Solo Tent Evaluate| 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. For sure, this is likely one of the greatest ultralight tents in the marketplace, and you may see extra in our full information. We beloved its low weight, good ground house, and glorious livability. The important thing design function is a secondary, shorter pole close to the foot area that enables the principle pole to shift backwards. This allows 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 ground house extra successfully than a design with sloping partitions. That ground house extends a bit to the facet, 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 an entire take a look at, the design ought to maintain up effectively in opposition to inclement climate. The ultra-strong Dyneema Composite Fiber (DCF) rainfly, mixed with a principally pyramid-based design, means it ought to shed wind and rain like a champion.

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

Nonetheless, all of those are minor considerations 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 revolutionary new design, the Pivot Solo provides spectacular inside ground house and headroom, leading to a cushty expertise total. The shorter pole on the foot finish permits for a wider ground space than a single pole design. This design function ensured we might simply convey a backpack into the inside at night time whereas nonetheless having room for different gadgets.

Moreover, the near-vertical mesh on the foot finish retains the rain fly away from the foot space, eliminating considerations about waking up with a moist footbox resulting from condensation. We discovered the headroom passable for each mendacity down and sitting up, though the one peak restricted the house out there for altering garments or stretching. Nonetheless, for such a centered ultralight tent, this isn’t a big downside, and we might price the Pivot Solo as above common for headroom on this weight class.

The vestibules are a good dimension, however because the rain fly doesn’t prolong all the best way to the bottom, splashback will probably be a priority throughout rainfall. They’re nonetheless massive sufficient for a pack and a pair of sneakers. We admire Zpack’s pattern of incorporating waterproof zippers on their vestibules with a pleasant and easy #3 zipper. On a detrimental word, the one inside pocket is disappointing. With a small angled mesh pocket, it’s sufficiently big for a telephone or headlamp, however not a lot else. One other minor annoyance is the inside fly-to-floor pressure wire that dangles into the top space when mendacity down. We worth these pressure 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 ground. For these counting ounces, they provide a lighter model utilizing 0.55oz/sqyd DCF for the fly and a 0.75oz/sqyd ground 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 ground’s 1.0oz/sqyd materials is a greater common advice, particularly if you’d like it to final for a whole thru-hike. DCF is a wonderful material for pressure resistance resulting from a community of ultra-strong Extremely Excessive Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers, making it very best for a rainfly.

Nonetheless, the comparatively weak mylar layers sandwiching the UHMWPE fibers don’t present satisfactory 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 further layers of mylar quite than extra fibers.

We nonetheless suppose the usual ground model is extremely light-weight given the efficiency and luxury it offers. A minor downside of utilizing thicker DCF materials is that the packed dimension 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 centered on pack quantity over total weight, the dimensions can add up.

Ease of Use

Like all trekking pole tents, the Pivot Solo may be tough to arrange initially, nevertheless it turns into simpler with observe. We contemplate it common for a trekking pole tent. The beneficiant quantity of wire on the corners and peaks additionally helps facilitate setup in conditions with restricted floor house flexibility.

Staking out the tent will probably be trickier if the bottom is tough or many obstacles stop very best nook placement. Though freestanding tents carry out higher in these situations, we discovered that almost all of nights spent with non-freestanding tents on numerous trails had been issue-free throughout pitching. Moreover, massive rocks can be utilized to safe the stakes if the bottom isn’t appropriate. In contrast to silnylon, DCF doesn’t sag when moist, so as soon as the Pivot Solo is pitched, it ought to stay taut all through the night time, no matter how moist it will get.

One function that makes the Pivot Solo nice to make use of is the big 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 enables the mesh to hold from the ceiling quite than fall onto the dust or inside of the tent as seen in different designs. Moreover, the offset pole ensures that getting out and in of the tent is simpler with no pole obstructing the best way.

Climate Resistance

The semi-pyramid form of the Pivot Solo ought to make it an awesome tent for ready out storms, however we have now but to take it into an actual barn-tipper to check it firsthand. Nonetheless, Zpacks has a observe document of manufacturing tents that stand up to the weather effectively, and we are able to observe lots of the identical design decisions current right here that ought to present the Pivot Solo with above-average climate resistance.

For starters, pyramid designs successfully shed wind, and that is still the fundamental 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 stand up to gusts. DCF can be a confirmed materials, and particularly contemplating the weights of the usual model, you’re way more prone to expertise tent stakes pulling out than to see a failure within the material.

We admire the big peak vent design, which is held open by the door guylines. Though condensation administration may be tough and typically practically unattainable to keep away from underneath sure situations, the presence of the vent boosts our confidence that it’ll carry out effectively 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 word, the peak of the rainfly above the bottom is a design trade-off that can attraction to some however to not others. This peak enhances airflow and reduces the general weight of the tent through the use of much less material.

However, splashback turns into a extra vital subject with such a peak, and on blustery nights, the airflow can flip into an annoyance as a substitute of a profit. We don’t maintain Zpacks in a detrimental gentle for this design selection, nevertheless, since practically each tent of their lineup shares this function. It’s merely one other design resolution 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 ground, we have now only a few considerations about sturdiness. Zpacks has been utilizing these identical materials and development strategies 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 stable 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 superb. A few years in the past, Zpacks struggled with a repute for high quality management, however they’ve considerably improved, and it reveals. The general match and end of the seams seems nice. We additionally appreciated the bolstered magnetic door closures, which really feel stable.

Ought to You Purchase the Zpacks Pivot Solo Tent?

We actually like this tent, and for the precise particular person, we predict Zpacks has one other hit on their palms. For those who’re the form of one who seeks first rate livability at an exceptionally low weight, the Pivot Solo checks many bins. It’s very best 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 resembling a greater door design, simpler entry, and improved headroom. On the identical time, people who may need been deterred from the Plex Solo in favor of the ultra-popular Duplex now have a purpose to pause and contemplate that the Pivot Solo presents a tempting center floor at a barely decrease weight and worth.

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

What Different Ultralight Tents Ought to You Think about?

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

Durston X-Mid Professional 1 Evaluate: The Pivot Solo and the X-Mid Professional 1 share lots 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 totally different options, making it tough to find out whether it is definitively higher. For our model of backpacking and the design tradeoffs we worth, we do favor the X-Mid; nevertheless, neither of those tents is basically flawed- simply totally different priorities in design decisions. If a totally new backpacker requested us to decide on, our choice for the X-Mid would develop into obvious, however at these costs, these usually are not very best tents for newbies, and we are able to envision skilled backpackers falling in love with both choice.

Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo Evaluate: If the eye-watering worth of the Pivot Solo is an excessive amount of to bear, our favourite funds tent nonetheless excels with spectacular efficiency at an unbeatable worth. One benefit over the Pivot Solo is its a lot bigger ground house, making it practically appropriate for 2 individuals. In reality, we’ve seen it utilized that manner in a pinch! The draw back is a considerably increased weight, however for first-time or skilled backpackers, it’s a wonderful shelter.

Zpacks Offset Duo Evaluate: For those who preferred the general idea of the Pivot Solo however primarily backpack with one other particular person or a fluffy good friend, the Offset Duo is a wonderful two-person shelter that’s positive to thrill. The design language right here is kind of comparable, that includes the identical L-shaped doorways, zippers, and peak vents. Nonetheless, the quick inside pole is changed with an exterior one, and it provides one other door and vestibule for the opposite particular person.