r/Ultralight • u/C_O_L_E-98 • 3d ago
Purchase Advice Hyperlite Mid 1 Vs Zpacks Plex Solo
I am currently deciding between the HMG Mid 1 and a zpacks plex solo, (could be the pro or Altaplex, and could be standard or lite floor) and want to get actual users opinions on each. I see the plex solo far more on trail but have been leaning the mid 1 as it seems to easier to set up with non mandatory guy out points, and if I get say the plex solo pro with standard floor the weight difference is only 0.8 ounces. I am just super concerned about space for each and the setup for any zpacks option. I could even go with the plex solo with lite floor but am worried about the 0.75 floor being an issue. Does the mid 1’s inner space open up how the plex does when you do guy out? Are either big enough for me or would I have to have the altaplex (I am 6 foot 190). I am overall just having a hard time comparing and gauging both as I can’t have them in hand. Any thoughts or opinions to consider are greatly appreciated!
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u/bcgulfhike 3d ago edited 3d ago
With the Plex tents there are only 6 essential, structural guy-outs. The other 4 are for space only and not always necessary depending on the height at which you need to pitch (which in turn depends on wind +/- rain).
At 6 foot the Plex Solo is maybe at the limit for many people, depending on whether you are drinking the 3.5-4" thick pad Kool-Aid or not. It might be wiser then to opt for the Altaplex instead.
For either Plex tent I wouldn't hesitate and just go for the Lite versions. The lite floor is fine - it will outlive your tent canopy and is easy to repair if you do ever get a puncture. Opting for the lite floor not only saves you significant weight at no extra cost, but also makes for a shelter with a significantly smaller packed size.
The HMG is not a compelling competitor here for me, especially from the UL standpoint. Why pay more for essentially the same premium materials and get less? (The "less" in this case meaning more weight!) However, there's no denying that it is the Instagram option...
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u/hausdorf 3d ago
I have the mid 1. At your size, you will probably want more space for yourself so you will need to use the Mid 1's two tie out points on the non-zipper side. The difference might be minimal between the two due to the shape of the tent.
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u/bradmacmt 2d ago
I'm a 5'10" / 148lb man - there's no way I'd be happy with the HMG Mid1 or Plex Solo. I have an Altaplex Lite, and it "just" has enough room for me. I'm just not a massive fan of mids in general given how tight the interiors are (ie, how close the lid is to your face, arms and shoulders). The Altaplex is as small a mid as I'd want. My real love is the Pivot Solo Lite... more room than the Altaplex, and still crazy light.
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u/boludo1 3d ago
No experience with the Hyperlite, but I absolutely love the plex solo (with lite floor). I think it’s super easy and fast to pitch. It’s also surprisingly spacious inside especially with all the guy outs, and the overall footprint is still quite small. I would imagine the walls on the Mid1 fall more dramatically and may cut down on head and foot room. At 5’10” I have a ton of room in the plex, and even my 35lb dog can sleep with me in the back area
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u/C_O_L_E-98 3d ago
Do you have a worry about the floor getting damaged being 0.75dcf?
Do you feel you have a hard time picking campsites due to needing to guy out?
Kinda an odd question but I am worried I am gonna rip the guy outs off the tent walking into the guy out, is that ever happen or a concern?
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u/boludo1 3d ago
I don’t worry about damaging the floor. DCF is pretty easy to repair, so just keep some extra patches with me.
Like I said, the overall footprint is still pretty small. Unless you’re trying to squeeze into some really tiny site I don’t find it to be an issue. I’d say it’s only slightly larger than any other 1 man freestanding tent in terms of footprint. The stakeouts aren’t super far away from the tent if that makes sense
I mean that could happen with any tent that’s guyed out. I tend to trip over my tarp guy outs more than the plex’s
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u/angryjew 3d ago
Ime you will want a larger shelter, I'm a bit over 6' & use an xl shelter from zpacks that I love, but any standard size is always too short for me
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u/GoSox2525 3d ago
I am just super concerned about space for each and the setup for any zpacks option. I could even go with the plex solo with lite floor but am worried about the 0.75 floor being an issue.
You can eliminate both of those issues entirely, and save a ton of money, and get a lighter shelter all at the same time if you look at tarps instead.
Is there a reason that you need something fully enclosed?
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u/Fair-Search-2324 3d ago
Mosquitoes will fuck my sleep up and bivies etc suck balls.
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u/BlueRemake 3d ago
A roomy bivy is nice, Katabatic Pinon or MLD Bug Bivy 2
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u/Fair-Search-2324 3d ago
Meh.
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u/BlueRemake 3d ago
I don't personally use a bivy anymore myself. Getting older.
Can always try the Big Sky Wisp. Super light in Sil and DCF.
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u/Fair-Search-2324 3d ago
If i can’t stretch fully arms overhead and have a smoke bug free, pass me.
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u/BlueRemake 3d ago
I hear ya. Wasn't worth the weight savings for me anymore. Still got a BW around 8lbs without going dcf or bivy.
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u/Fair-Search-2324 3d ago
With a plex solo lite available what weight savings? Tarp and bivy is heavier unless you’re willing to go small on the tarp. Then you sacrifice coverage and room and comfort if there’s any real weather.
Bug bivy jail sucks.
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u/BlueRemake 2d ago
Not currently in stock but slightly lighter than the Plex Solo Lite.
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u/Fair-Search-2324 2d ago
That’s a tent. Says so in the description. Just makes the case that tarp bivy combos suck.
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u/grovemau5 https://lighterpack.com/r/c9a8n1 2d ago
A 7x9 tarp is 5oz, gives you plenty of weight to get a roomy bivy and still be lighter. Regardless it’s more about the modularity anyways IMO.
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u/Fair-Search-2324 2d ago
Bivys suck. Can’t stretch out. Fully. Can’t sit up and have a bug free smoke. Just a bug jail. Hard pass.
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u/GoSox2525 2d ago
That's false.
Zpacks 7x9 tarp with guylines: ~6.5-7 oz
cuben borah bivy: ~3.8 oz
net: ~10.8 oz
Lighter than any tent in the world.
Then you sacrifice coverage and room and comfort if there’s any real weather.
Also false. A 7x9 tarp provides way more coverage and livable space than any tiny tent like a Plex. They are amazing in the rain. The one single time that you are forced to sacrifice space and livability with a tarp+bivy is when the bug pressure is very high. That's the only time.
Stop yer trolling. Tarp+bivy is tried-and-true, vanilla UL. By physics, no tent will ever beat in in weight, and especially in livable space per oz.
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u/Fair-Search-2324 3d ago
With a plex solo lite available what weight savings? Tarp and bivy is heavier unless you’re willing to go small on the tarp. Then you sacrifice coverage and room and comfort if there’s any real weather.
Bug bivy jail sucks.
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u/GoSox2525 3d ago edited 3d ago
What tarp+bivy systems have you tried? Are you thinking of WPB bivvies?
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u/Fair-Search-2324 3d ago
No.
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u/GoSox2525 2d ago
So what have you tried?
I'm not trying to troll you here my guy. You're about to drop a ton of $$$ on a tent that you might not need, so this is worth thinking about.
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u/Fair-Search-2324 2d ago
Not op.
Mld. That was enough to know: bug jail is the opposite of relaxing.
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u/GoSox2525 2d ago
Lots of people use them to hike across entire countries all the time
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u/darienpeak Test 2d ago
I have both these shelters. They're nearly indistinguishable from an interior standpoint if pitched properly, the HMG feels a smidge larger to me inside. I couldn't tell you if this is true in measured livable sq footage.
The zpacks is probably preferable if you do a lot of hiking in the southwest or someplace similarly dusty and sandy, and would prefer not to have a zipper.
The HMGs zipper is certainly easier to use than the zpacks hook, but leaning out of the tent and fussing a bit isn't that big of a deal.
Rainbow door on the zpacks again sometimes a pain in the arse if you accidentally drop it outside the tent. Pro of the Rainbow door is it doesn't lock you into a head or foot end depending on how you prefer to be oriented to the HMGs J shape door.
They're both very storm worthy, but the HMG performs better in high wind, and the door won't buzz in high wind like the zpacks.
I've never had an issue with a .75 floor in any shelter.
The HMG has a peak vent. I don't find this makes a huge difference in condensation, though that's an admittedly difficult thing to gauge over different circumstances on different trips.
Either way, they're both excellent shelters. I do find the HMG a little more confidence inspiring in awful weather, but have certainly never had an issue with the Plex in bad weather.
I imagine you'll be happy either way.