Zpacks Pivot Solo Tent Evaluation| CleverHiker

Backside Line

For a novel tackle a one-person, two-trekking-pole tent, the Pivot Solo got here out swinging and hit a house run. Indubitably, this is among the finest ultralight tents available on the market, and you may see extra in our full information. We liked its low weight, good flooring house, and glorious livability. The important thing design function is a secondary, shorter pole close to the foot area that enables the primary 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 all the flooring house extra successfully than a design with sloping partitions. That flooring house 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 check, the design ought to maintain up nicely 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 consider customers will get used to it over time. Moreover, the inside flooring 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.

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 consider it’s a worthwhile funding in the long term.

Consolation

With its progressive new design, the Pivot Solo presents spectacular inside flooring house and headroom, leading to a cushty expertise general. The shorter pole on the foot finish permits for a wider flooring space than a single pole design. This design function ensured we might simply deliver a backpack into the inside at night time 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 as a consequence of condensation. We discovered the headroom passable for each mendacity down and sitting up, though the only peak restricted the house out there for altering garments or stretching. Nevertheless, for such a targeted ultralight tent, this isn’t a major disadvantage, and we’d fee the Pivot Solo as above common for headroom on this weight class.

The vestibules are an honest measurement, however because the 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 footwear. We respect Zpack’s pattern of incorporating waterproof zippers on their vestibules with a pleasant and clean #3 zipper. On a unfavourable observe, 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 pressure twine 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 once we measured the Spruce Inexperienced model with an ordinary 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 consider the added sturdiness of the usual flooring’s 1.0oz/sqyd materials is a greater common suggestion, particularly if you need it to final for a whole thru-hike. DCF is a wonderful material for pressure resistance as a consequence of a community of ultra-strong Extremely Excessive Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers, making it splendid for a rainfly.

Nevertheless, 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 extra layers of mylar relatively than extra fibers.

We nonetheless assume the usual flooring model is extremely light-weight given the efficiency and luxury it supplies. A minor disadvantage 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 major problem, however for backpackers who’re extra targeted on pack quantity over general weight, the scale 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 apply. We think about 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 house flexibility.

Staking out the tent shall be trickier if the bottom is tough or many obstacles stop splendid nook placement. Though freestanding tents carry out higher in these circumstances, we discovered that almost all of nights spent with non-freestanding tents on varied trails had 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 night time, no matter how moist it will get.

One function 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 relatively 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 amazing tent for ready out storms, however now we have but to take it into an actual barn-tipper to check it firsthand. Nevertheless, Zpacks has a observe file of manufacturing tents that face up to the weather nicely, 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 continues to be 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 face up to gusts. DCF can also 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 respect the massive peak vent design, which is held open by the door guylines. Though condensation administration may be tough and typically practically inconceivable to keep away from below sure circumstances, 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 observe, the peak of the rainfly above the bottom is a design trade-off that can enchantment 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.

Then again, splashback turns into a extra important problem 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 unfavourable mild for this design alternative, nevertheless, since practically each tent of their lineup shares this function. It’s merely one other design resolution with its personal benefits and downsides, 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, now we have only a few issues about sturdiness. Zpacks has been utilizing these identical materials and development methods in a few of the hottest and well-used backpacking tents for years, and with applicable 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 based mostly on our restricted testing, we’re extremely assured it ought to shrug off a thru-hike with out problem.

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

Ought to You Purchase the Zpacks Pivot Solo Tent?

We actually like this tent, and for the proper individual, we predict Zpacks has one other hit on their arms. In case you’re the type of one that seeks first rate livability at an exceptionally low weight, the Pivot Solo checks many containers. It’s splendid 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 similar to 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 motive to pause and think about 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 equipment. With its full DCF development, the worth shall be arduous to swallow for many who aren’t residing out of it for months on finish. Nonetheless, we consider it’s a worthwhile funding for anybody on a long-distance path and may 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 finest ultralight tents information has many different choices.

Durston X-Mid Professional 1 Evaluation: The Pivot Solo and the X-Mid Professional 1 share a whole lot of similarities, right down to a novel 2-pole design, waterproof zippers, an L-shaped door, and comparable weights. The X-Mid merely approaches challenges with totally different options, making it troublesome to find out whether it is definitively higher. For our fashion of backpacking and the design tradeoffs we worth, we do desire the X-Mid; nevertheless, neither of those tents is essentially flawed- simply totally different priorities in design decisions. If a very new backpacker requested us to decide on, our desire for the X-Mid would grow to be obvious, however at these costs, these are usually not splendid tents for newbies, and we are able to envision skilled backpackers falling in love with both choice.

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

Zpacks Offset Duo Evaluation: In case you appreciated the general idea of the Pivot Solo however primarily backpack with one other individual or a fluffy good friend, the Offset Duo is a wonderful two-person shelter that’s certain to please. The design language right here is kind of related, that includes the identical L-shaped doorways, zippers, and peak vents. Nevertheless, the brief inside pole is changed with an exterior one, and it provides one other door and vestibule for the opposite individual.