Trail, February and March ’09
There’s a few bits in the February and March issues. And on the LFTO site you’ll see the coverage of the rather nice Crux Halo pullover I have on test. Part #1 and Part #2.
My February “Lighter” column was all about clothing, basically that I don’t really care how much the clothing that I’m wearing all day weighs. Wearing Paramo and Furtech hasn’t been a hardship at all. In the text, the sentiment that if your trousers are too heavy you have to get down the gym is one I stand by.
The lightweight feature that I got so many comms about isn’t aimed at experienced light packers, it’s aimed at your sceptical Trail reader, and although it doesn’t go too far down the road, if it gets folks interest up, gets them looking at their kit and wondering “Why?” then that’s what it’s all about.
The PTC v GT gear section is quite funny. It shows some different kit that’s possible, and some of GT’s selections are lighter than mine, but not necessarily so small packing.
A few extra grams here and there on small items might mean carring a smaller capacity rucksack and that could save you 600g in the end.
Test pitching before taking them oot
In the March issue my column is all about bits and pieces, lightweight accessories and the accidental assassination of the Lowe Alpine Mountain Cap.
Also my review of 16 one-person tents is in there. Some real winners, some slightly disapppointing and a couple of howlers.
I remember saying somewhere about the Lightwave that an inner first tunnel might provide the worst of both worlds. it seems I was right!
Is the Microlight really 1995g? I thought macpac had it down to 1.8kg.
BTW – The Readers’ Wives day sack review is a stupid idea.
The Microlight I thought was about 1800g, I weighed some and GT had to weigh some when they went down for the photies because I’d either lost the figures or forgot. (The logistics of testing 16 tents is quite convoluted, I was lucky it went as well as it did). It does feel heavy when it’s packed though, and too low inside, but again really well made.
I’ll have a read through when my copy appears and remind myself what I said about what.
I’ll need to see the Readers Wives review section also ?!
Holdfast,I usually put them on the “6/ Trail Columns” (centre column at the top) an issue or so after it’s been published, but I think I’ve slipped behind a bit. I’ll sort it out over the weekend.
Please forward your wives and details for testing to…
Bigbananafeet@Trail.com or alteratively I can be reached here…..occasionally.
I’ll be interested to see what happened in the one-man tent test though.
Holdfast, send me your address and I’ll get a copy of the mag to you.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=fhpl5p75DXE
Pitching in wind can be a hassle depending on the tent, inner first pitching, freestanding, as-one etc all have their quirks. Once it’s pitched, getting it tight and even is another task, and if you don’t get it looking like the catalogue it can leave it more exposed and vulnerable to the weather. That was part of our Stob Ban trouble, the ground and darkness and gusts led to poor pitching.
As a rule, in the wind I try to get the pointy end of any tent attached to the ground and work my way forward from there. Throwing your pack on the tent might help, but once the poles are in you have to keep the tent on the ground yourself and it can get pretty mobile if it’s really windy. Part of the Lasercomp’s attraction for me in this situation is it’s size, it’s more easily managed.
If it was me I’d take the Unna after seeing how well the similar Soulo fared in winds and snow, a tunnel tent is just asking to get buffeted about and give you grief.
Just have your kit ready for evacuation, or a quick dash ourside to secure a guy line. And on that, keep a spare peg opr two in the tent. I’ll be doing that from now on after losing one onto the scenery last time.
Anyway, if you get there and it’s looking iffy, just camp somewhere else. Whatever, you’re still out there doing it :o)
The Stob Ban trip you mention, I walked up to where PTC and Bobinson were camped with a few others others from OM and the wind was so strong we were being blown over when it gusted.
I’d say both your tents are more than capable. Just be carefull while pitching…..stick rucksack on top of tent body untill its pegged to prevent any embarrasing/expensive “kite” moments. Fire poles in quick and then guy out. Should be fine I’d say.
From experience I’d say its the “gusts” that really do the damage to a tent (and blow people around).
The lesser gusts loosen everything with the vibration, pegs, guys, stitching and then the big one just flattens you.
But it’s the nature of the game, I’ve had enough calm starlit nights on the tops to know that I deserve a few wild ones (and now I’ve had a few, let’s go back to the old version…).
There’s another thing which is worrying me. The Nammatj has got a good porch, the Unna, you can detach the inner and make as big a porch as you want. But I wonder about using a gas canister stove (MSR WindPro) in a tent with gale force wind, if that’s dangerous because the flame will be unstable etc. So that’s another worry.
But I think you’re right, Pete. The Unna is probably the better bet. It’s no faff at all to put up, goes up in one go, two minutes and you’re fully pegged (if the wind hasn’t take it away.
Good idea about putting the rucksack on top, although when I last was in 60mph gusts, that too would have taken off…
Anyway, many thanks for all the wise words and yes, 50 is a bit of a special date. Whether or not I go tomorrow, mid-February is supposed to be more settled weather with plenty of snow, so I’ll be off every week with my Unna and report back! I might still go tomorrow, mind ya…
If so what length approx have you made them or are you sticking to the TN standard length?
They’re all longer (twice sa long maybe??) and have Line-Lok adjusters.
It looks so damned good!
The worse the weather, the more vivid the memories!
PTC* I’ll bet it does, I’ve got luminous yellow ones with glow in the dark linelocs on mine.
I’ve been eyeing up a yellow tent recently and I reckon the first thing I’ll do is replace the guy’s with the “hot pink” ones from Team IO…….I really need to get out more!
It’s dark inside it as well, a lighter coloured outer would be another good update.
It was good to find out that there’s a lot of choice out there, it’s definitely not all about Akto versus Comp :o)
Forget the Akto. The Laser Comp is king! I havent read the article yet but will do today. Still waiting for that blizzard to really test the Soulo though……
The Akto is the Akto is the…. It’s frustrating that they don’t develop it and make it lighter.
A sub-1kg tent from Hilleberg would be quite something.
Just seen the Trail review and see you didnt include the Akto at all ?
Its not all about LC vs Akto but thought the review was a little unbalanced without it and the Akto conspicuous in its absence.
Any reason why it wasnt included ?
(Im an LC owner by the way…)
The Akto hasn’t changed in years, so the reasoning was that a new review would be the same as an old review.
The Comp has modifications every year that affect its performance, so that was valid (in fact the one comimng onto the shops this month has had more tweaks and it’s a wee bit lighter).
I actually quite pleased, I know the Akto well, but the Soulo was an unknown and it’s a fantastic tent.
I’ve been asked already, but if the Akto had been in the test it would have got three stars. There were plenty stronger, lighter and more comfortable tents in the test. I want to see an Akto II.
Shame about the new LC, seeing as I only bought mine a month ago and not yet pitched it anger, maybe should have waited!
As someone who has used a Lightwave tunnel (T0 Trek) without the large porch in winds I measured at 65mph I can only say the porch must make all the difference (in a bad way). It must be said that the other thing about my (heavier) Trek version is that it costs less than the Wild Country one man and weighs about the same.
As you can gather I really like it, but that won’t stop me looking at a Laser Comp in the long run ;-)
I have one questions on that front. My Lightwave can cope with quite a lot of snow before it goes ‘flat’ – can the Laser?
The XT version of the Lightwave was a nightmare in the wind. I think you’re right, the porch loosens the tent up and makes it more mobile. I’ve still got the regular version here, but I haven’t had it in high winds. I’ll have to do just that and see what happens.
Seriously though I will be interested to see what you think as I’m beginning to think I’m the only person who likes the tent. Either I’ve been very lucky or I can actually pitch a tent well or my ear plugs are so good I cannot hear the mayhem occuring all around ;-)
I spend my time looking at folk adding this and that onto theirs to make it better and stronger and I’m just thinking “Just pitch it properly” :o)
What I dont understand is how people can strugle so much with the pitching of the comp? it really isnae that hard. They’ve even got a video explaining it ffs.
The other one that gets my goat is folk complaining that its not strong enough, stable enough, durable enough for high mountain use in all weathers. What I’d like to know is
A. Do any of these people actually own one or have they ever used a Laser Comp?
and
B. Have they ever used it in “exciting” conditions and if so, then show me you shredded unsuitable excuse for a tent.
Folk just need to get out and use kit, simple as that.
I know geography and real life can make it hard, but practise and gaining familiarity in the field is the only way.
I dug a pit for my Hilleberg Unna and built up a snow wall but the winds were really wild overnight and I didnae get much sleep. But it was great!
So, thanks for all the advice and encouragement. It was tough, but it was brilliant.
I was toasty warm all night long, really toasty. Set up was: Downmat 7, Rab Quantum 400 (rated to -5), Rab Survival Zone. I was wearing the PHD Yukon Pullover, merino baselayer top (no long johns), Paramo Explorer shirt, Paramo Aspira salopettes (the new model is light and very very comfortable and incredibly warm) and Exped Down booties. I had put the foot end of my bag inside the Paramo Aspira Smock (the jacket had been wearing during the day. The Unna is very warm inside. I got ice and frost on the inside, but not too much. The wind blew the entire night and it snowed (horizontally!) most of the night and well into the morning. But I was SO comfortable in my gear that at no time was I concerned.
I could post a picture of my snowhole if I knew how to do it!
We should of whent oot !
The snotters are tripping me here. I have only re-runs of Star Trek to ease the pain of that blue sky and snow oot the windae.
Never mind, ptc*, there are worse things to do than watching Star Trek re-runs. And think of the contribution you’re making to the development of Holly’s immune system!
Anyway, prompted by ptc* I set up a flickr account and uploaded a few photos from my trip to show what the conditions are like on the hills right now for those at home watching Star Trek… Here it goes:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/35170051@N02/sets/72157613480311698/
(hope this works!)
Sitting in my dressing gown watching Balamory right now. What a weekend.
Do get well soon. On the positive side, the forecast looks encouraging for the next week or so. The snaw ain’t going to melt that quickly this time…
Ach, that means there’ll be a part two.