As someone who loves backpacking gear, especially ultralight-focused gear, I find it hard to ignore companies like ZPacks and their claims about making some of the world's lightest gear. Thanks to the Plex Solo and its predecessors, ZPacks has dominated the UL tent market for years. Thru-hikers and gram counters alike have been using the sub-15oz tent on trails all over the globe. And for years I've tried to ignore those claims. Telling myself that I didn't need another UL trekking pole tent. I was OK with the cheap, Chinese-made trekking pole tent I had. A trekking pole tent is a trekking pole tent, right? How big of a difference can a few ounces really make? And aside from the weight savings, it couldn't be that much of an upgrade, could it?
Finally, this spring, I decided I couldn't bear another season of being envious of all the ZPacks tents I'm used to seeing on the trail and social media. When a used Plex Solo Classic popped up on my local marketplace, I decided it was time to see what all the fuss was about. I felt excited when I held the Plex Solo in my hands. I couldn't wait to spend a night in. So I didn't. Two days after buying it, I found myself setting up my new Plex Solo deep in the remote wilderness of the Adirondacks during a backpacking and packrafting trip in early spring. From the get-go, I was elated with how light the tent was. It made some long portages feel effortless compared to my old tent. (OK, maybe not effortless, but it is pretty light.) I spent my first night on an island in the middle of an alpine lake.
The first pitch went up easy. As it was not my first trekking pole tent, I had a pretty good idea of how to approach setup. Even so, I don't think it would be difficult even for a novice. After staking out the four corners, you insert a single trekking pole into the pocket on the front of the tent and extend until taught. Then, you stake out the remaining guylines and adjust tension as needed.
Inside, I was pleasantly surprised at how roomy the Plex Solo is. It easily fits me on my 25-inch wide pad, with my pack and accessories strewn around me. Head and toe room was also plentiful and can be made even better by strategic guyline placement or implementing a stick on either end (or both) for even more interior space to stretch out in. The bathtub floor features a mesh vent that allows easy runoff of condensation. Adjustable shockchord lifs the floor to avoid splashback.
The Plex Solo is also different than other half-mid trekking pole tents in that you can easily roll back both sides of the door. Tents like the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Mid 1 require one side of the door to be staked out, with only one side of the door able to be rolled back. With the Plex Solo, you can roll back both and enjoy a 180º view. Keep them both open to take advantage of a breeze and reduce interior condensation.
Lucky for me, the Plex Solo is also quite storm-worthy. I didn't have to wait long to test that aspect. That first night on the island, I stayed completely dry and comfortable after a thunderstorm popped up directly overhead in the middle of the night.
Since then, I've spent upwards of twelve more nights in my Plex Solo and have grown to love it even more. It's hard to believe that a tent marketed as the lightest in the world doesn't skimp on space, comfort, or ease of use. I now get what all the hype is about, and I'm happy to add to it.
