Alpkit have some new ultralight tents ready for pre-orders

JimH

Section Hiker
The Soloist looks quite tall (almost sail like), I wonder how it'd cope with wind to the long sides.
 

JRT

Ultralighter
The Soloist looks quite tall (almost sail like), I wonder how it'd cope with wind to the long sides.
I had a Terra Nova Solar Photon years back that looks very similar. Used it once and sold it on quickly. When the wind caught the sides it became like a sail. Twas awful.

This was only a very light breeze (wind from the opposite side - and before anyone starts on my pitch, there was absolutely no wind when we camped).
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EM-Chiseller

Thru Hiker
Ha ha! What's the definition of ultralight? What I like about these tents are that they are affordable and lighter than many mass market tents in their price range
Welcome t'forum Grindle.

1.2kg for a one person two skin tent isnt ultralight by any means.. 25 year ago maybe :whistling:
 

Shewie

Chief Slackpacker
Staff member
They've always been open and honest about the stuff they get rebadged from China, the plus point is you have a direct contact in this country for returns and faults.

Apart from the climbing stuff and bikepacking luggage made in Nottingham I think pretty much all of it is imported from the far east
 

Nigelp

Thru Hiker
They've always been open and honest about the stuff they get rebadged from China, the plus point is you have a direct contact in this country for returns and faults.

Apart from the climbing stuff and bikepacking luggage made in Nottingham I think pretty much all of it is imported from the far east
They are great value tents. And are a proper UK colour.
 

Balagan

Thru Hiker
They've always been open and honest about the stuff they get rebadged from China, the plus point is you have a direct contact in this country for returns and faults.
I agree about the warranty part but I don't have quite the same recollection with regards to rebadged stuff. Once upon a time, they used to tell a tortuous tale to explain why their Pipedream bag range would suddenly and repeatedly evolve in strange directions (e.g. heavier and/or lower quality) just to avoid saying that they basically had no control over it and just bought what the Chinese OEM factories had on offer.

They have been a little more open since. Except for the "we have designed" marketing fluff that is... ;)

They are great value tents. And are a proper UK colour.
They are now British racing tents and happier for it! :D
 

Shewie

Chief Slackpacker
Staff member
I agree about the warranty part but I don't have quite the same recollection with regards to rebadged stuff. Once upon a time, they used to tell a tortuous tale to explain why their Pipedream bag range would suddenly and repeatedly evolve in strange directions (e.g. heavier and/or lower quality) just to avoid saying that they basically had no control over it and just bought what the Chinese OEM factories had on offer.

They have been a little more open since. Except for the "we have designed" marketing fluff that is... ;)

I can remember chasing them about my PD600 order around 2007/2008 time and they did mention they were waiting for the next batch to arrive from China, I think that was before the days of Ali so they were probably getting away with it more then.

I bought quite a lot of stuff from them back when they first started up, more canoeing based kit than backpacking gear, although I've thrown a lot of cash their way recently since getting into bikepacking
 

Mole

Thru Hiker
Pretty sure the sleeping bags aren't (weren't) rebadged. Just made in batches in Chinese factory like many other companies.
Alpkit were comparatively small and had to buy in smaller batches and had, a different selling model, hence the lower prices.

Think they are their own designs and use their own sourced materials - Chinese or not. Various versions of Pipedreams used quality Toray fabrics, from Japan. As used by Montane, Cumulus and Tundra plus others.

Some of their tents are similarly their own designs, and some are rebadges( or remakes using their own spwc fabrics) of common existing designs.
 

Mole

Thru Hiker
Ultralight??? One is 1.2kg and the other is 1.4kg...That's more between medium weight and heavy weight.
Do you just pick figures out of the air to make up your own standards?



Whilst I'd agree they aren't "Ultralight"
Anything under 2 kg all in for a double skin solo tent is lightweight by industry standards.

Just because lower limits are reached, doesn't mean the goalposts move.
 

Alf Outdoors

F.K.A tarptent
Ha ha! What's the definition of ultralight? What I like about these tents are that they are affordable and lighter than many mass market tents in their price range

Good question...I would say a heavy weight shelter is one weighing over 1500g, a medium weight shelter is between 1000g and 1500g, a light weight shelter is between 750g to 1000g and an ultralight shelter weighs under 750g. But under 500g, you could call a shelter superlight, and under 250g, hyperlight.
 

Nigelp

Thru Hiker
D
Good question...I would say a heavy weight shelter is one weighing over 1500g, a medium weight shelter is between 1000g and 1500g, a light weight shelter is between 750g to 1000g and an ultralight shelter weighs under 750g. But under 500g, you could call a shelter superlight, and under 250g, hyperlight.
Don’t be constrained by rules!
 
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