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 Plex Solo | Zpacks Pivot Solo | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 84✓ | 84 |
| Capacity | 1 | 1 |
| Packed weight | 12.3 oz✓ | 13.4 oz |
| Floor area | 20.6 sq ft | 21 sq ft✓ |
| Space-to-weight | 26.8 /lb✓ | 25.1 /lb |
| Peak height | 52 in | 52 in |
| Doors | 1 | 2✓ |
| Vestibules | 1 | 1 |
| Price | $599✓ | $649 |
| Type | Ultralight | Ultralight |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: Plex Solo in blue, Pivot Solo 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 Plex Solo against the Zpacks Pivot Solo is a study in priorities. They are close enough that this really is about which handful of specs you weight most.
The Plex Solo is 1 oz lighter, better space-to-weight, and $50 cheaper. The Pivot Solo is more floor area (21 vs 20.6 sq ft) and more doors (2 vs 1). Their GearScores land within a couple of points (84 vs 84), so neither runs away with it.
Pick the Plex 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 Pivot Solo if floor space and doors matter more to you, or you are focused on comfort and room to move.
The Zpacks Plex Solo. It is 1 oz lighter than the Pivot Solo.
The Zpacks Pivot Solo. It is more floor area (21 vs 20.6 sq ft) than the Plex Solo.
They are nearly tied at 84 and 84 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 Plex Solo for low weight, or the Pivot Solo for floor space. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.