Torsolite

[Christopher Chupka]

How much longer must we endure the wait for the Torsolites?

[David Stenberg]

Chris, this is a solidarity post, I am looking forward to the Torsolite and the bivies getting back in stock!

[Jonathan Ryan]

I second that..

[Peter McDonough]

Well…if you can't wait at all..I could be convinced to let my brand new one go for $100….

[Anonymous]

That's why your name is Crazy Pete!!!???

[Darwin Roos]

I'm considering getting a Therm-A-Rest ProLite3 Short, instead of the Bozeman Mountain Works TorsoLite Inflatable Sleeping Pad. Except for the extra 3 oz for the Therma-Rest, are there any other disadvatages to it than the Bozeman?
What's special about the Bozeman?

Darwin
[email protected]

[kevin davidson]

Essentially, the weight. The Prolite is also longer–47" to 32", a factor perhaps for size and comfort considerations. The Torso-Lite is constructed more robustly. Finally, it's easy to find a Prolite and next to impossible to score even a used Torso-Lite until the next batch is manufactured—when that is, you'll have to ask BPL.

Ahhh, available last week of June? Next week. Personally, I use the Torsolite.

[Sven Klingemann]

I knew I should have asked more for my used one – darn! That will teach me only to be half-American! $$$
3 oz difference – that is almost half the weight of my pack!!
:-)
Cheers,
S.

[Brett .]

..alternative. The Montbell UL pad in 120cm, its wider, lighter, solid foam not die-cut so probably warmer, cheaper, packs smaller, has an integrated packing strap and repair kit, and is available now.
Toggles to the pillow and 30cm extension to make the lightest inflatable 180cm set.
http://www.montbell.us/products/disp.php?cat_id=33&p_id=1124274

[Anonymous]

Brett,

Speaking of Montbell, have you had a chance to look at any of their single wall, pyramid type shelters and their Zelt tents? They seem to be ideal for lightweight backpacking and have wondered why they have not exported them to the U.S.?

[mark cole]

Brett, it says "available soon".

[Ernie Elkins]

The MontBell site has listed the 90 cm pad as "available soon" for the last couple of months, at least. If you're really interested, you could e-mail MontBell's CS for an ETA. They're good about responding quickly. Based on past experience inquiring about the UL pillow, though, the lines of communication between MontBell USA and the parent company back in Japan aren't what they should be, so you might not get a firm answer. I bet Brett could get one to you, though. After all, he's the go-to guy for MontBell!

[Miguel Arboleda]

I was at a MontBell shop in Chiba (just outside Tokyo) on Thursday and one of the shelves was literally dripping with the UL pillows. Haven't they arrived in the States yet?

One of the things about production in Japan is that products are manufactured "on demand". While this keeps costs down it also means that items are constantly sold out. And the Japanese just don't seem to learn to adapt. Every year when I look for new shoes my average Japanese size, 27 (9 in the States and 42 in Europe) is almost always unavailable, but smalls and larges, which are rarely bought, are always available, in spite of that medium size shoes being the most popular. You'd think that after keeping records of customer trends they would change the order ratio to reflect actual buying habits. The sales manager of OD Box in Tokyo himself complained about this.

As to the pyramid tents… the Tencho is too small (short) to sleep in… it's an emergency shelter. The Monopole Shelter? Hmm… I wonder why it hasn't been conversations here. It is a bit on the heavy side at 1.15 kg. But then it's huge, too.

A number of years ago there was a big fiasco with MontBell in the US. Some of MB's US customers put in a huge order, MontBell sent the items, and the American company refused to pay for them. MontBell went bankrupt in the US and pulled out (there was also the patent infringement suit between MB and Mountain Hardwear, which had copied MB's stretch sleeping bag design). I was surprised when MB started up again a few years later. Knowing the Japanese distrust of things non-Japanese I thought it would take a long time for them to completely open communication again or allow their goods to completely available in the States. I'm sure they didn't want to go through what they did again.

[Ernie Elkins]

The pillows are available at this point, Miguel (in fact, I'll be using mine for the first time tomorrow night). When I last checked, they were in stock at MontBell USA and ProLiteGear. I'd planned on buying a 90 cm pad to go with it (and I still might), but in the meantime I've decided to try one of the Texsport dual foam mats that Roleigh mentioned in this thread. When cut down to the same dimensions, it should weigh about the same as the MontBell pad.

[Anonymous]

Miguel, did you happen to see any of the Zelt tents set up? Were any of the pyramids big enough for one man but light enough to carry as lightweight backpacking gear? forgive me please for inserting this tangentially connected (Montbell) topic here? If it continues beyond a reply I'll move it.

[Miguel Arboleda]

John, I've never seen the MB pyramids set up (few Japanese stores are big enough to set up more than one or two tents. you have to ask specifically for a tent to be set up) and only once, in 30 years, seen the Tencho for sale on the shelves. Not sure if it just means they get sold out quickly (which I doubt, since I've never seen either a Tencho or a Monopole Shelter on the trail) or you have to special order them. For the Monopole Shelter, at 1.15 kg I think you could assume it would be light enough as lightweight gear. But I've never picked one up or seen one set up, so this is just conjecture of course.

[Arapiles .]

I have a couple of Zelts – one by MB and one by Arai. There are at least half a dozen zelts available which weigh less than a pound – the lightest one I know of is made by Heritage Inc (Kamoshika's house brand) and weighs 180 grams. My Arai one weighs 280 grams. I carry it as an emergency shelter. You could use it as a tent but the lack of mesh would limit it to areas that lacked mosquitos et al and there'd also be condensation issues.

Check these out:

http://www.arai-tent.co.jp/lineup.html

[Anonymous]

Damien, Miguel, thanks for the posts. Interesting designs that would seem to be ideal for the fast growing lightweight movement here.

[Brett .]

John, I own one of the MB zelts, and I carry it when I do not carry a tent; the intent is as an emergency shelter. It is too spartan for my intentional use. It is 240 grams and another 240 grams for my aftermarket pole set, or use trekking poles. For intentional use as a SUL shelter you would probably want to put mesh over the two vent tubes.
But, I think I'd rather sit in it with my face sticking out then try to pitch it in a rain storm.
Actually, it opens up flat, and I wish I had it last weekend when it was raining at the crag*; I could have pitched an overhead shelter for the 4 of us. (*Miguel, we were near Hon-Atsugi off Odakyu-sen)

Mark, Ernie, if you (or anyone else for that matter) can't get a MB product in the states, PM me and I'll buy/ship it for cost plus * Im pretty sure the 90cms are still in stock here.
I took my 120cm last weekend.. Used it as a mat to sort my gear for the climb, then later folded it against a rock as a recliner. Its rolls smaller than a 1L nalgene, and has its own strap; easy to toss in a pack.
(* train ticket,shipping,a few dollars for my trouble)

pictured, a zelt, not MB

[Anonymous]

I gather then from your comments Brett and Damien that this is not something that will catch on or is attractive enough to gather much steam over here.

[Jonathan Ryan]

Has anyone heard any more word about the hold up on the Torsolites? The page says last week in June?

[Christopher Chupka]

Ordered mine tonight. Thanks for the update Addie!

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