Bushwalk Australia

Around October last year, I bought a Zpacks Duplex to help reduce the weight of my gear. I was aware that you should keep at least one door on each side open to allow for airflow to reduce condensation build up. I've used the duplex only on 3 occassions and 2 out of the 3 I had condensation issues.

Can someone please advise on how I can minimise this further? For me, a tent is supposed to keep me dry, not provide free showers
I'm assuming it might be something to do with site location - but any suggestions would be great.

In all of the examples, I was solo in the tent. Average sized lady ...
Occasssion 1 - one night on the GNW, within Sydney bounds, late October . It did rain hard that night and rain was coming in with the doors open. Although I knew that I shouldn't, I closed both doors on both sides. I woke up during the night with it raining in the tent. The condensation had build up and as it rained, the condensation got knocked off. There was a small trickle of a creek approx 200m away - that developed a bit of volume over the evening.

Occassion 2 - one night on the GNW, within Sydney bounds, early Jan. Apparently the hottest night on record. No water nearby, except for my sweat. No condensation issues.
Occassion 3 - Easter long weekend at Kanangra Boyd. Approx 200-300m from the creek at the campground. I slept with the doors open - despite the fact it was pretty darn cool. Condensation each night - lots of it. Enough so that it made my sleeping bag feel damp to touch. No active "rain" from the roof unless I accidently hit a wall.

What do I need to be taking in to account?

As a Zpacks Duplex owner I will be following this thread with interest. Thankfully I haven't had an issue so far despite pitching in rain near a winter lake.

In the right conditions all tents experience condensation. More ventilation helps reduce it and in double skin tents it is still there but on the underside of the fly sheet. Still nights are often the worst especially if you camp next to a creek or river. Most people just take a cloth to wipe the tent down when they wake in the morning. I use a yellow Vidella cloth which also sees duty when cooking etc. PS. I currently have a Zpacks SolPlex but many others over the past 50 years and all the same, some a little better than others but it comes down to the conditions..

Unless it's raining keep at least one door open either side.

There is no way around condensation, you're going to get some, the question is how to manage it. Ventilation is only one factor and even a well ventilated tent on a breezy night will still suffer from condensation under the right conditions. As a rule, never setup on grass, never set up in an open area, always use under trees and in wooded area, never near water, etc...Even with both doors open you'll still get condensation although it should be minimised. Remember condensation also occurs when there are two significantly different temperatures on either side of the fabric, so if it's warmer in your tent you're going to get some condensation, open those doors up and minimise warmth and you're less likely to get it. Rainy nights is when you'll typically experience the most condensation.

This may help? http://www.zpacks.com/accessories/doubl ... sert.shtml