3F UL Lanshan 1 vs Zpacks Solplex (Or Plexamid) - Why Is Zpacks So Expensive?
video description
So, in answer to the question Why is a Zpacks tent so exspensive I offer the following:
They've convinced enough of you (via strategic advertising) that their product is far superior and next-gen-high-tech and exclusive, when in fact the only benefit is a minor weight savings. Both of the tents in the video will have the same end user half-life and neither one will provide a distinguishable advantage over the other, so the reason they are so expensive is because they've created an emotional/psychological desire within you, the customer, believing their product and the excessive extra cost should almost certainly provide you the very best outdoor experience possible with the added benefit of being revered by your peers. In short, they can and do because you will and do. Happy hiking!
Date: 2020-08-18
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Comments and reviews: 9
Daniel
Here is my rain story with the Lanshan. I took it out to Arkansas to do a loop hike in the Ouachita Mountains. During one of the nights, a lightning storm arrived and it poured rain all throughout the night. That was enough to keep me awake and await the chance that water might leak in. The downpour was heavy and the little depression I had set up my tent in began to pool water. Through all that, the tent held up. No water leaked in through the walls or the ground. The pool of water on the ground did not seep in through the floor. It felt like a waterbed. My only concern was when the rain hit the ground, a few droplets would bounce up and hit the wall netting. With enough rain, water can get in. This can be fixed by fastening the walls of the tent closer to the ground. Overall, it has held up pretty good and hopefully I can have it for a long time.
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Here is my rain story with the Lanshan. I took it out to Arkansas to do a loop hike in the Ouachita Mountains. During one of the nights, a lightning storm arrived and it poured rain all throughout the night. That was enough to keep me awake and await the chance that water might leak in. The downpour was heavy and the little depression I had set up my tent in began to pool water. Through all that, the tent held up. No water leaked in through the walls or the ground. The pool of water on the ground did not seep in through the floor. It felt like a waterbed. My only concern was when the rain hit the ground, a few droplets would bounce up and hit the wall netting. With enough rain, water can get in. This can be fixed by fastening the walls of the tent closer to the ground. Overall, it has held up pretty good and hopefully I can have it for a long time.
reply
arin
Do we need to even ask why Zpacks (Made in US--15+/hr workers ) gear more expensive then Lanshan (Made in China--1 USD/hr) gear? Think about it if Chinese companies that make iPhones for Apple pay it workers 9 USD per hour i can only imagine what Lanshan pays it worker hehe. Lanshan tents if you buy in quantities of 100 they come down to less then 40 USD per tent. DCF per yd is now down to 16 for end users. If you are big company and can afford to buy 5 rolls of DCF at a time the per yd cost comes down to 5 per yd. What more ridiculous is that other large US tent mfg companies that uses same materials as Lanshan tents still charge over 300 USD. funny thing is they have their tents mfg in China lol.
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Do we need to even ask why Zpacks (Made in US--15+/hr workers ) gear more expensive then Lanshan (Made in China--1 USD/hr) gear? Think about it if Chinese companies that make iPhones for Apple pay it workers 9 USD per hour i can only imagine what Lanshan pays it worker hehe. Lanshan tents if you buy in quantities of 100 they come down to less then 40 USD per tent. DCF per yd is now down to 16 for end users. If you are big company and can afford to buy 5 rolls of DCF at a time the per yd cost comes down to 5 per yd. What more ridiculous is that other large US tent mfg companies that uses same materials as Lanshan tents still charge over 300 USD. funny thing is they have their tents mfg in China lol.
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arin
For all the UL hikers you spend extra 400 USD to save less then 10 oz. differential. you carry extra bottle of water or drink a small bottle of water boom you just picked up that 10 oz you spent 400 USD to save lol. What I have seen over the years is the idea that ppl think they become better hikers by spending ridiculous sums of money on UL gear. I ran into a thru hiker that spent over 3000 in UL gear and was complaining about his sore ankles and lower back pain. The industry has suckered too many ppl into UL gear junk it is just ridiculous.
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For all the UL hikers you spend extra 400 USD to save less then 10 oz. differential. you carry extra bottle of water or drink a small bottle of water boom you just picked up that 10 oz you spent 400 USD to save lol. What I have seen over the years is the idea that ppl think they become better hikers by spending ridiculous sums of money on UL gear. I ran into a thru hiker that spent over 3000 in UL gear and was complaining about his sore ankles and lower back pain. The industry has suckered too many ppl into UL gear junk it is just ridiculous.
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John
Both of those tents look very flimsy to me, and using trekking poles on each end never appealed to me. I prefer free standing sturdy tents that can hold up to days of heavy rain and wind. Living in the Northeast US means rain, high wind and spending several days in a sturdy tent, warm and dry beats being let down by a flimsy tent that doesn't hold up when you need it too. I'm past the age of doing thru hiking anymore, so weight is less important than sturdy, warn, and dry.
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Both of those tents look very flimsy to me, and using trekking poles on each end never appealed to me. I prefer free standing sturdy tents that can hold up to days of heavy rain and wind. Living in the Northeast US means rain, high wind and spending several days in a sturdy tent, warm and dry beats being let down by a flimsy tent that doesn't hold up when you need it too. I'm past the age of doing thru hiking anymore, so weight is less important than sturdy, warn, and dry.
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theslowwalker
Thank your for your video. Being one of the more mature generation of adventurers with multiple vertabrae damage plus wear and tear and arthritis in many of my joints, even for mostly overnight/short term expeditions weight is a premium consideration. If I want to star gaze I usually just sleep on a ground cloth unless I'm really bugged. Oh, I use either a duplex or a tarp as a shelter for backpacking. Sometimes comfort is king.
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Thank your for your video. Being one of the more mature generation of adventurers with multiple vertabrae damage plus wear and tear and arthritis in many of my joints, even for mostly overnight/short term expeditions weight is a premium consideration. If I want to star gaze I usually just sleep on a ground cloth unless I'm really bugged. Oh, I use either a duplex or a tarp as a shelter for backpacking. Sometimes comfort is king.
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Miles
With the speed that the materials industry & camping industry changes, it's only a matter of time before dyneema' is replaced by something else.
The lanshan range is popular ( I see so many of them) and at a price that makes them affordably changeable without feeling like you've wasted money if you want to upgrade.
For those I have seen on PCT or AT, their dyneema'tents don't seem to last or be as durable either.
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With the speed that the materials industry & camping industry changes, it's only a matter of time before dyneema' is replaced by something else.
The lanshan range is popular ( I see so many of them) and at a price that makes them affordably changeable without feeling like you've wasted money if you want to upgrade.
For those I have seen on PCT or AT, their dyneema'tents don't seem to last or be as durable either.
reply
mecsys
When I was a hiker (not tru-hiker, it was just hiker at the time, most hardcore mates used to bivac rain or shine and even snow. I don't think old hikers are looking for UL tents as much as they look for hammocks or simply bivy and tarps. 11-12 lbs and we're fine. Even the rain is all great. I'm seeing too much comfort and ratings and fancy gear lately and less experiences and contact with natue
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When I was a hiker (not tru-hiker, it was just hiker at the time, most hardcore mates used to bivac rain or shine and even snow. I don't think old hikers are looking for UL tents as much as they look for hammocks or simply bivy and tarps. 11-12 lbs and we're fine. Even the rain is all great. I'm seeing too much comfort and ratings and fancy gear lately and less experiences and contact with natue
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Eric
Expensive? Well my gen. 2 Tarptent Notch Li cost me 600. but its made-in-China quality is even better than the gen. 1 US made Notch Li. Yep, all TT's Dyneema tents are now made in China and their quality of design and construction is above any other Dyneema tent brand I've seen (4 of them.
I really like the notch Li - except that is for its translucent, shadeless, non-private Dyneema fabric.
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Expensive? Well my gen. 2 Tarptent Notch Li cost me 600. but its made-in-China quality is even better than the gen. 1 US made Notch Li. Yep, all TT's Dyneema tents are now made in China and their quality of design and construction is above any other Dyneema tent brand I've seen (4 of them.
I really like the notch Li - except that is for its translucent, shadeless, non-private Dyneema fabric.
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Scott
I think of camping gear a lot like bicycles. Whatever gear gets you out on the trail safely is the best gear for you. Optimizing your gear is less important that just getting out there. Shaving a couple pounds off your base weight will help you go further, but not nearly as much as increasing your overall fitness by hiking more.
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I think of camping gear a lot like bicycles. Whatever gear gets you out on the trail safely is the best gear for you. Optimizing your gear is less important that just getting out there. Shaving a couple pounds off your base weight will help you go further, but not nearly as much as increasing your overall fitness by hiking more.
reply
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