ZpacksZpack Duplex – 539 grams of Tent
Well!
“Hey there everybody!”
Long time no see! I missed you guys!
We haven’t heard from each other in an awfully long while. But this will change, as I am slowly but surely getting into “CDT Preparation Mode”!
So yes… about 14 more weeks only, and I will be making my way through the desert once again. I switched from a “hanging out mode” into my “gear research mode”. But it’s much easier this time, now that I more or less know how a thru hike works (ish) …
So this time I know exactly what I need.
And what I need is: 539 grams (19 ounces).
539 grams of tent to be precise.
My old PCT Big Agnes weighs 1162 grams (2lbs 9oz).
But this baby here is a true and gorgeous ultra lightweight darling:
(Copyright of this image by “Zpack”. I took the image from their website.)
It is the “Zpack Duplex Ultralight Two Person Tent”
A no brainer, right?
And as it is Christmas today, I am going to purchase it.
Today!
It is going to be my very own and very expensive Christmas present. USD 599 to be precise. I want a blue one! (I think blue is nicer for photogenic reasons!).
(Big Agnes had a zipper failure and to repair her would also cost me about USD 200. So for USD 400 more, I get a whole new dimension of a tent.)
Now as you all know, I loved Big Agnes, but poor Agnes it too heavy if I compare her to the Zpack. And she is too small if I compare her to the Zpack. I will be able to put all my stuff and shoes inside the Zpack at night on the CDT, and this is a big plus I shall think.
And oh boy, is the Zpack tent light! I can use my hiking poles to set it up, I don’t need to carry tent poles anymore.
Watch here the video from “Darwin Onthetrail” (I love this guy!) which he made after having tested the Zpack thoroughly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCV2AgGG49g&feature=youtu.be
Am I going to like it too?
“I have no idea, as I can’t test it!!”
These are US tents, made in the US. I will have it shipped right to Felix’s parents, as they oh so generously offered I can stay with them pre-CDT and get my stuff and head sorted there. Also, I can ship my stuff right to their house where they will pile it up for me!
Felix and I have discussed that we will send us exactly 16 parcels to the trail. (We did some maths). He has quite a bit of food left from his 2017 PCT, and I will buy loads of food online and have it shipped to his parents. Once I arrive there, I will distribute all that food into these 16 parcels and then the awesome parents will ship them on to us while we are hiking! Oh my, that is so amazing. It will be so much more relaxed this time.
I don’t want to go through the insane resupply hell again (aka go to supermarkets and buy an INSANE amount of trail food and make parcels and bring these parcels to the post office – but oh shit, the post office is already closed – aka hell – kind of thing).
Remember…?!
Oh and I have something else to tell you…
Do you remember how I struggled on these steep icy snow fields of which we encountered so many of on the PCT in 2017!
Well the CDT will almost certainly also be having steep and icy snow fields too, once we leave New Mexico behind and enter Colorado.
But this time, Happy Heidi will be prepared and will not freak out and panic!!
“Nope!”
Because I have booked myself into a two day course on “how to use crampons and an ice axe and how to self arrest on ice and snow.”
Ironically enough, I live in Switzerland, the land of snow and ice, but I could not find such a course here, so I will be flying out to Scotland in February where they offer this course!
(I will certainly keep you posted on how that goes!)
You see, I am pretty serious about not wimping out in Colorado. I will be prepared this time when I encounter terrifying snow fields! (Felix was very pleased to hear that I will be technically (and hopefully also mentally) prepared for the snow/ice crossings this time. As I surely did slow down our pace last time, with me periodically freaking out…
So much for the theory. Let’s find out how I will do in the flesh.
So yes, I definitely arrived at a CDT 2019 preparing mode!
Only problem perhaps are my Achilles still and (new!) my left knee. But I will get some more physiotherapy done, so this is being taken care of!
I will surely start hiking like a Spring Chicken at “Crazy Cook – the Southern Terminus” of the CDT, the beginning of our 5’000 km / 3’100 mile hike…
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of you! :)
HHH
HelloHappyHeidi
I’m not really sure if I’d felt in love with the TENT or with the greenish EYES of that motivating young guy in the uTube trailer…;-)
Very good decision to have all your stuff INSIDE with this size…No bears in that “area”? I mean area is really not the right expression from that amount of kms…right?!
I’ll cross fingers that the tracking poles will not brake, otherwise you wouldn’t have a tent at night either, would you?!
I feel happy for you…never stop exploring…
Big hug
marlise
Hi Marlise! Yes, his eyes are rather sparkly, heh! I like ’em too! :-) And, haha, yup, you have a point, if the poles break (or if I loose them!) I will be in big trouble!
So glad to hear from you again. Can’t wait to hear all your adventures on the CDT! Trish and I made it to Crater Lake in September. It was our favorite trip and the longest. We were gone 11 days because Trish can only do 5-6 miles a day. We spent a zero day at Cliff Lake, we called it the resort! Trish is doing great with the cancer still stable. She will always have to be on Cemo but the doctor says to keep doing what she is doing, so we are planning another small PCT hike for this summer. We have hiked every year since she was diagnosed with the metastatic bone cancer 3 years age. We don’t want to jenks it or tempt fate. Enjoy every part of your up coming adventure, we are sooo jealous of your youth and since of adventure.
Merry Christmas (love your Christmas gift to yourself)
Connie (one of your crazy PCT hiker friends)
Hi Connie! Yes! I saw an Facebook that you and Connie had made it to Crater Lake!! I was soooo happy for you girls! That was very very much deserved! I also had read that you don’t do the bear hanging anymore! Did you guys get a bear bag then? O
I so enjoyed your PCT adventure and look forward to joining you on your next adventure. Merry Christmas, Roger
Hi Roger! Happy New Year! Awe, that’s nice! :-) – You are so very welcome to join me!
Heidi, can’t wait! I followed you on Pct. Go get ‘em! That’s a good Wildwest saying. I expect lots of photos!
Hi Cheryl! OK, I will go get’em! :-) Promise! And I will make sure to take lots of pictures for you to look at!
Hallo Heidi! Was für ein tolles Weihnachtsgeschenk! ?
Hab mir das Zpack auch schon sehnsüchtig angeschaut, soo viel Platz für wenig Gewicht. Irgendwie siet es aber so fragil aus, man kann sich gar nicht vorstellen, dass es Stürme überstehen soll… Bin jedenfalls gespannt auf deine Erfahrungen damit!
Kurse mit Steigeisen und Pickel gibt es in der Schweiz übrigens eher im Sommer, z. B. das SAC Gletschertrekking. Viel Spass aber in Schottland!
Liebe Muriel! Gell, das ist mal so ein richtig vernünftiges Geschenk! Hmm, ich bin auch gespannt, ob es die Stürme dann übersteht! There is only one way to find out! Tja und auf das Ice Axe Training bin ich sehr gespannt!
Hi Heidi
I am looking forward to hearing from you from the CDT! I got me the Duplex last year as a birthday present to myself and I love it. It’s so roomy you can host a party or take your dog for a spin in it ;-) It’s incredible how light that thing is and it’s really stable. I would recommend it to everyone who wants to shave some ounces off their gear! Happy holidays!
Hi Marc! Ah super, it makes me very happy to hear that the Duplex was indeed a good gear choice! Awesome! I can’t wait to test it that first night after our first few miles North of that Crazy Cook Monument!
Good to hear you are once again visiting the US Heidi. I’ll not be helping Angel Dale this time but I’m sure he will maintain the high standards he set on the southern PCT. I’m looking forward to following you and Felix via your blog.
Hello there Bruce! I hope you are well! I wish you a very HAPPY NEW YEAR! It does indeed fill me with joy to know that you will be virtually following us this summer again! I still owe you loads for your Trail Angel help on the PCT! I will never ever forget what you have done for us! :-)