I think the basis of your decision making should really be something like this:

1.) lightest option - Hexamid
2.) best 'packability' - Hexamid
3.) best options for ventilation - Hexamid
4.) most weather protection - Moment
5.) best wind stability - Moment
6.) best able to handle some snow - Moment
7.) Ease of set up - Moment (ridiculously easy, actually)
8.) Price - Moment

One is a tarp and one is a tent, IMHO.

Personally, unless you have a lot of experience with tarps, site selection, use of natural wind breaks, the Moment would be an ideal choice.

>>One is a tarp and one is a tent, IMHO.

Personally, unless you have a lot of experience with tarps...the Moment would be an ideal choice.<<

I think that is good advice right there. It's a perfect next step from my Eureka Spitfire 1.

David, what are your criteria for saying the Moment is a tent but the Hexamid is a tarp?

Obviously there are fine lines, but I look at it as any shelter with a dedicated, shaped pole structure that is paramount in creating a fully enclosed, bug proof, weather proof living area.

I get your other points, but I don't see how the pole being shaped and dedicated or not makes a difference to the performance/function.

Not to denigrate the Hexamid in any way but a difference you left out is that the Moment has a waterproof, bathtub floor vs the mesh only enclosure of the Hexamid. Different purposes obviously but it puts the Moment much more into the tent category.

-H

Edited by 07100 on 09/21/2011 12:52:39 MDT.

Not to denigrate the Moment, either (I LOVE Tarptents and own three!), but ZPacks has a Cuben bathtub floor for the Hexamid. Of course it costs more!

I can see where a Hexamid is tarp-like, a moment is tent-like, and a contrail is kind of a hybrid of the two.

"I get your other points, but I don't see how the pole being shaped and dedicated or not makes a difference to the performance/function." The poled structure will provide more living space and more performance in the wind. This has been my experience in the Canadian Rockies so your mileage may vary depending where you trek.

I am now forced to disclose a TT secret.
Henry designed the Moment so that I could set 3 of them up on my back lawn, just in case.
As you can see the Moment does set up as a tent and the Hexamid as a tarp.


(sorry about the Hexamid set up , I can do it better than that but was only seam sealing it. Very easy to do, but remember to the the guyout bits...)
One advantage for the Moment is that if you change your mind about spot selection you can just lift one peg out and rotate the shelter to the new direction and stake in again or you just take the two stakes out , move it and it really takes less than a minute to do so.
When you set it up about half of the time is spent inserting the pole, once that is done it is very fast and easy to get the two ends pegged in.

A fast Moment
Franco
franco@tarptent.com

"As you can see the Moment does set up as a tent and the Hexamid as a tarp"
How? They both look fully enclosed to me. By the way, that's the Hexamid Twin, not the Solo-Plus. A bit like posting a pic of the Rainbow and talking about the Moment?
I still don't get it about the poles. The MLD Duomid sets up with an unshaped, non-dedicated pole. As just the fly, I can see the argument that it is a tarp (lack of bug protection). Add the solo or duo inner though, and in what way is it not a tent? Plenty of space and very strong in the wind (according to everything I've read) in spite of the poles. And there are plenty of "tents" with shaped, dedicated poles that are cramped and won't stand up to a lot of wind.
I may be missing something, but it seems to me that the difference between a tent and a tarp is in the amount of coverage they can give against the elements, i.e. how much they can be closed down (+ perhaps bug protection). The Hexamid can be pitched down to the ground (obviously with increased condensation) to keep the rain out, if you choose to. From Franco's pics, there seems to be little difference in how enclosed the 2 different tents are. One may be stronger in wind than the other, but for me that isn't necessarily the difference between a tent and a tarp.
I don't own either tent (though I hope to soon), but I think the tent/tarp difference is a red herring. (However, my posting is sincere; I am genuinely interested in why you put them in different categories). They both seem to be great tents that can close up against the rain (like a tent) but open up to views and ventilation (like a tarp), although they do it in different ways with different advantages and disadvantages (as other posters have noted).

I can see your confusion. The distinction between a tent and a tarp has become blurred, as is the case with the Hexamids and Tarptents. Let's just call them shelters, and move on.

I think the Moment and Hexmid Solo-Plus are both great lightweight shelters. I have the Tarptent Double Rainbow, and have been eyeing the Hexamid Solo-Plus.

tarp vs tent.

For me, it's more about the guylines and the netting.

I've never actually used a tarp, but when sleeping in the hexamid it certainly feels like what I'd imagine sleeping under a tarp would be like. The noseeum netting while keeping it enclosed like a tent subjectively "feels" like nothing is there and I'm on the ground. I quite like it. The cuben is pretty see through as well, in a good way.

I've never slept in a moment, but I have a TT Double Rainbow. Though it can get quite breezy, as opposed to my buddy's 9 lb double wall North Face (super comfy, like sleeping in my living room), the DB feels like a tent. The set-up, pole, staking it out, etc.

And under most windy conditions that "generally" will face 3 season campers, the hexamid is solid. I don't usually camp in hurricane force winds, but if I happen to be caught in such a situation, I'd be equally sketched out in either tents under discussion. Kind of a moot point.

I also survived this night quite comfortably. That's all night early season Pacific Northwest snow (heavy, but otherwise calm night):



And here's a recent photo of one with a decent pitch with the 1.3 oz pole and optional door folded down.. got pretty windy that night:



The cuben floor from Zpacks made the tent a keeper for me. Being fastidious and kind of a nancy about things, it was the clincher.

Also, I'm a huge Valesko cheerleader. Dude's a joy to deal with. I wish I could buy everything I need from the guy just because of his customer service. I always look over his offerings first when the gear itch hits me. I know from experience, once I own (not even necessarily buying directly from him) one of is products, I'll be taken care of.

Having said that, when I think of other tents, the moment is the first thing that comes to mind. I'm pretty happy with my decision to go with the Hexamid (solo) and Double Rainbow (solo luxury, plus one).

Edited by elf773 on 09/22/2011 01:24:37 MDT.

Is there anymore info about the new freestanding from Zpacks? I am interested in getting a new tent but really want to know more about price and release date first.

Joe is always happy to answer questions valesko@gmail.com

Looks like Joe dumped all fabrics except for Cuben, so it should be priced at $300 or more..just guessing.

What is this about a freestanding Zpacks cuben shelter?

must be a member to read

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/2012_prospects_new_and_noteworthy_gear.html

I just received my Hexamid Solo-Plus and Hexanet Solo-Plus from Joe at Zpacks. I love them. I told Joe I like everything about the tarp except having to crawl into it. At my age i want to enter bottom first. I asked if he could add a zipper for me. He said not a problem and added a waterproof zipper. It added a little over an oz. I now can get in and out easily and i get the added advantage of an open side for nights with good weather. Thanks Joe

If you want to see 3 videos of the Zpacks in action, Stick has some good videos on his blog along with his trials to stop a couple of leaks after seam sealing.

http://sticksblog.com/