Here is how these two tents compare on the numbers. They score within a hair of each other, so it comes down to the details below.
| Zpacks Pivot Solo | Hyperlite Mountain Gear Mid 1 | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 84✓ | 82 |
| Capacity | 1 | 1 |
| Packed weight | 13.4 oz✓ | 16.0 oz |
| Floor area | 21 sq ft | 21 sq ft |
| Space-to-weight | 25.1 /lb✓ | 21.0 /lb |
| Peak height | 52 in | 54 in✓ |
| Doors | 2 | 2 |
| Vestibules | 1 | 1 |
| Price | $649✓ | $675 |
| Type | Ultralight | Ultralight |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: Pivot Solo in blue, Mid 1 in amber. A blank spec is never counted as a win. GearScore is the overall rating (0 to 100); re-weight it on the full tent comparison. Prices are current MSRP.
The Zpacks Pivot Solo against the Hyperlite Mid 1 is a study in priorities. They are close enough that this really is about which handful of specs you weight most.
The Pivot Solo is 3 oz lighter, better space-to-weight, and $26 cheaper. The Mid 1 is taller (54 vs 52 in peak). Their GearScores land within a couple of points (84 vs 82), so neither runs away with it.
Pick the Pivot Solo if you care most about low weight and space-to-weight, which makes it the better call for counting grams on long miles. Pick the Mid 1 if headroom matter more to you, or you are focused on comfort and room to move.
The Zpacks Pivot Solo. It is 3 oz lighter than the Mid 1.
The Zpacks Pivot Solo. It is better space-to-weight than the Mid 1.
They are nearly tied at 84 and 82 on the default algorithm, so re-weight the score to your own priorities to break the tie.
It depends on your priorities. Go with the Pivot Solo for low weight, or the Mid 1 for headroom. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.