Warning: That $400 ultralight tent everyone loves is a total waste for real weather

I bought a Zpacks Duplex three years ago for a trip in the White Mountains. Last month, a sudden storm in the Adirondacks with 40 mph gusts nearly flattened it, and I spent a miserable night holding the poles. Everyone says they're great, but they're only good for perfect conditions. Has anyone else had a high-end tent fail when it actually mattered?

3 comments

3 Comments

emma_dixon7023d ago

Honestly, that sounds like a nightmare. But I gotta ask, were you using the regular tent stakes it came with or did you upgrade to something heavier? Tbh, those little wire ones are useless in real wind. My friend had the same thing happen until he swapped them all out for proper groundhogs.

harperg7623d agoTop Commenter

Zpacks tents are built for thru-hikers who count every ounce, not for car camping. You can't blame the tent for a bad pitch or a poor site choice in exposed terrain. My Duplex has seen plenty of rough weather and never failed when I took the time to set it up properly with the right stakes.

emery_black23d ago

Mine held up fine in a nasty windstorm on the CDT. You gotta know how to pitch it right and pick a good spot.