Z Packs Hexamid in Aussie Conditions ?

[forest]

Hi All

I know a few of you have Hexamid cuben fibre tents from Z packs.

Just wondering how they handle our more humid environment and conditions.
I have heard that cuben is a little better compared to silnylon single walled tents ??
I just cannot get past the low weight.

Obviously these are no alpine tent but for most trips in a sheltered campsite surly they would be good ??

[Tony]

Hi Forest,

I used my Hexamid a few times on the Alpine country KNP last Summer/Autumn, I experience strong winds and rain, check this topic out Review-Zpacks Hexamid tent, I am very happy with mine and I might take it to NZ with me as a backup tent.

If I was going to get one now I would get the beak added and the CF floor.

Tony

[Gusto]

Bear Paw's cuben tents are worth considering too if your looking at Z-packs. I don't have one, but I too am pondering over which tent to get. eg. http://www.bearpawwd.com/tents_tarps/cubden.html

I think I may get a silnylon tent instead and wait a few years as I hope the cost of cuben drops.

[forest]

Hi Tony.

Yep, definately looking at the extended beak and also the heavier cuben ground sheet so easy of use and a little better ground cover against condensation for the ground.
Probably steering towards the Solo Plus as it will be a palace for me alone and at a pinch fit my wife if she feels inclined... which isn't often for camping/bushwalking UL style.....

[Mark F]

While I have not used the Hexamid, I used a Six Moons Designs Gatewood Cape on the Haute Route de Pyrennees in August/September which has a very similar design but in sil-nylon. The design works well as long as you can pitch the entry facing away from the weather. The extended beak will help alleviate this issue - the front of the Gatewood Cape is much lower to the ground and I had only one night in an extreme thunder storm that caused a little spray to enter the shelter. I also used a MLD cuben tarp on the AAWT last summer. It worked well but a beak would have improved it so I would certainly recommend getting a beak. I am just about to buy some cuben from Zpacks to make one for the tarp. I certainly think that cuben is better material than sil-nylon material for shelters with low weight, almost zero stretch and great waterproofness. For other gear I am not yet convinced.

I am unsure what you mean by "our more humid environment" - just visit the East coast of the US (eg Appalachian Trail) or the Pacific North West and you will find very humid conditions.

Gusto - fabrics aren't electronics where the price drops and keeps dropping. Your only hope is the increasing strength of the Aussie dollar.

[Dale]

I was reading Henrik's (Hiking In Finland)interview with Joe Valesko from Zpacks and he mentions Australia and Japan as his biggest market outside the US. So someone here is buying his gear!

Zpacks Interview

Now that's he's added sleeping bags to the lineup he's quite the go-to cottage manufacturer. Must admit I'm eyeing off a Hexamid Solo Plus... The new Exo pack also looks sweet.

[Jellybean]

Hi,

I have a Hexamid Twin with the extended beak and twin size CF groundsheet with 5 inch bathtub floor but, alas, have not had a chance to use it since I bought it, so can't comment on it's ability to handle humid conditions. [Have had a very busy work year and, on the two overnighters I've been able to do since I bought the Hexamid we've used camp caves].

While I have not used the Hexamid, I used a Six Moons Designs Gatewood Cape on the Haute Route de Pyrennees in August/September which has a very similar design but in sil-nylon. The design works well as long as you can pitch the entry facing away from the weather. The extended beak will help alleviate this issue - the front of the Gatewood Cape is much lower to the ground and I had only one night in an extreme thunder storm that caused a little spray to enter theHexamid Twin with the extended beak and twin size CF groundsheet with 5 inch bathtub floor shelter. I also used a MLD cuben tarp on the AAWT last summer. It worked well but a beak would have improved it so I would certainly recommend getting a beak. I am just about to buy some cuben from Zpacks to make one for the tarp. I certainly think that cuben is better material than sil-nylon material for shelters with low weight, almost zero stretch and great waterproofness. For other gear I am not yet convinced.

Mark F, I was very interested to hear that you used your Gatewood Cape on the Haute Route. I appreciate that conditions are very changeable in the mountains and vary with altitude, time of the season and from year to year but, given your time over, would you use the Gatewood Cape again for the Haute Route? I'm planning on doing the Tour Du Mont Blanc (full circuit, 10 - 11 days) at the end of June next year following a work trip (a little earlier in the season and a little lower in altitude than your trip) and was considering taking my Hexamid as my shelter (not yet decided whether to tent it, stay in the huts etc or a combination of the two). Curious to hear your thoughts. (Will obviously see how the weather is at the time before making a final decision). Would definitely like to do the Haute Route another time!

Cheers,

JB