Big Agnes String Ridge VST 1.5 vs Zpacks Hexamid Pocket Tarp
Weight and specs compared for 2026 — and which one to choose.
2026 single-wall shelter in HyperBead fabric for 1-1.5 persons, from Big Agnes' new VST collection. Trail weight starts at 539g.
Check price Full details →Ultralight Dyneema tarp with doors for versatile shelter configuration. Packs to the size of a fist, offering weather coverage at minimal weight.
Check price Full details →Big Agnes String Ridge VST 1.5 vs Zpacks Hexamid Pocket Tarp: which should you buy?
If saving weight is your priority, the Zpacks Hexamid Pocket Tarp wins — at 155 g it is 384 g (71%) lighter than the Big Agnes String Ridge VST 1.5 (539 g). That said, the heavier option may justify the extra grams with more capacity, durability or comfort, so weigh the trade-off against how you'll use it.
See where both rank against everything else in this category on the lightest shelter page, or browse the full gear weight database.