Withdrawal from the BPL brain trust (need tent advice)

The Atko is too short for you.

I tried out a Marmot Pulsar 1p and found it roomy and livable. Right at 3 pounds.

http://marmot.com/products/details/pulsar-1p

given that you seem to like the shape of the Akto and Laser, I suggest you could take a look at the Tarptent Scarp 1.
Like the Moment it also comes with mesh or fabric inner (you chose…) but it has more headroom than both the Akto and Laser.
I would also suggest that you get your mat out , sit on it and mark on the wall the top of your head.
If your legs and torso are about the same, some tents you have mentioned will be too low for you.
You can always get the X poles for the Scarp so that it will hold more snow than the others too,
Extra weight but only when you need it.
franco@tarptent

Thank you for your reply, ken. I looked into the Pulsar 1. It seems to closely resemble the Big Agnes Slater ul 1 plus (with the exception of the entry), yet it weighs 12oz. More. Nice price point, but I probably wouldn't take the weight penalty.

Franco, am I correct in the assertion that: the Scarp 1 (with optional cross poles) would weigh 4lbs.? And I'm 39.5" whilst seated on my xlite, meaning the Scarp 1 is one of the only tents I've seen that I could actually sit up in. 4lbs is well over my ideal weight though.

A ZPacks duplex would fit you and gear comfortably. Throw in two easton poles that extend to 135-140cm and you've got a great setup. In your weather conditions I'd have ZPacks only include the sewn in bathtub floor and leave off the bug netting to help with accessibility and weight savings.

Nick,
According to reports from users that have had the other tents mentioned, the Scarp is, without the x poles, at least as good in rough weather.
Adding a couple of guylines and stakes, the Scarp 1 with solid inner is about 51 oz.
With the X poles it is indeed about 4 lbs but the Akto also gains weight if you double pole it and not sure if you can do that at all with the Laser or any of the others

I don't know man, that thing is pretty ugly… It's my last concern, but it is still a concern. For 600 bucks, you better have both form and function down, and Zpack's shelters don't(in my opinion). I'd go with something from Yama mountain gear, if I wanted Cuben, and if they were still making stuff. Plus it's not double wall, and I definitely want DW. Also, and this has been a question that has kept me from looking at, say an MLD mid with an inner, do you guys think small diameter Easton poles have the same structural rigidity as trekking poles(when used vertically)?

del

Wow, thanks again, Franco. The Scarp 1 is starting to look quite appealing. I'll start looking for some reviews. If you can point me in the direction of any, please do.

I'll look into the Rainbow as well, thanks.

"do you guys think small diameter Easton poles have the same structural rigidity as trekking poles(when used vertically)?"
If your trekking poles are around 8-9mm (.344") then yes, otherwise no.

Reviews (from Google…)
http://blogpackinglight.wordpress.com/2013/01/04/tarptent-scarp-1-long-term-review/
http://www.backpacker.com/gear-review-tarptent-scarp-1-/gear/17924
http://www.tgomagazine.co.uk/gearreview/tarptent-scarp-1
http://popupbackpacker.com/backpacking/gear/tarptent-scarp-1/

You could also check the Moment DW, which is a fair bit lighter than the Scarp and also has solid or mesh inner plus the cross pole option. I'm not sure whether it's as windproof as the Scarp (Franco, Eric?), but it has a pretty good reputation for wind-handling. It is an inch shorter though, which might be an inch too many at your height.

Thanks Joel, I've added the Moment DW to the list as well. I'm now looking at a few of Tarptents products.

The TT Moment DW is similar in design to the AKTO but longer and, with the optional crossing pole, a much better 4 season tent.

The Moment DW has 2 doors and vestibules with the "back door" vestibule being smaller but good for pack or boot storage.

When I had the original Moment single wall I shortened the X-ing pole and put it INSIDE the tent. This made for far greater canopy support than the external attachment.

The Moment DW design makes this option much simpler, Just shorten one section of the X-ing pole so it fits beneath the fly but into the same pocket at each end. You may want to sew to double-sided Velcro cable wrap strips inside the fly at each of the two X-ing pole attachment points and seam seal your stitching. The Velcro wraps will keep the X-ing pole in place in high winds.

I'll be ordering my Moment DW (with "solid" inner tent) this week. I'll take photos of my X-ing pole conversion so you can see the difference in fly support this interior placement makes.

Finally, with any tent you choose, it would be advisable to sew grosgrain ribbon loops to the fly hem for additional stakes in high wind conditions. Tarptent does this upon request for a small extra charge.

Wow Eric, thank you! I'll be anxiously awaiting your modifications. If the TT Moment DW can be made slightly more wind resistant (with relative ease), than I see it being the most viable candidate. Thanks again Eric.

If you're leaning towards a Tarptent then I'd be going for the Scarp 1. I'm 6'2 and have both tents, I've only used the Moment DW for one night but it felt tight because the end taper inwards whereas the Scarp ends don't, it's a tighter fit in the Moment whereas the Scarp 1 has a lot more room, being tall you're limited with options.

I think you should lean towards the most awesome Tarptent Stratospire 1 I have posted in gear swap right now…..

hint, hint……

Just saying…..

Well, sh*t…I almost had my mind made up… Thank you for pointing that out though, it's much appreciated. I'm going to have to decide between the two models; it seems as though my options are somewhat limited to TT, given my dimensions. Fortunately, they strike me as an amicable company to do business with. Thanks again Daniel

Ha ha, thanks for thinking of me Jennifer. I've narrowed my options to the Moment, and Scarp, so I'll have to take a pass, but thanks for the offer though.

Dan'l, I think the Moment DW is a lighter and more wind-worthy tent of the two.

Speaking as a Scarp 2 owner:

1. Moment DW uses only one X-ing pole, the Scarp 1 has two.
2, The Scarp 1 has "flatter" top ends that MUST have X-ing poles for good snow load resistance. (That's why I put shortened X-ing poles inside my Scarp 2 fly.)
3. The Scarp 1 weighs more than the Moment DW, esp. with X-ing poles.
4. The Moment DW is a faster set- up.

Speaking as a Hilleberg owner, you don't need a four-season Hillie in the lower 48–a three-season will do you just fine. I don't have personal experience with an Anjan, but I've been drooling over it for quite a while and have done some research on it. I think it sounds like something you might like to look into before you decide. Of course, it's not UL, but you were thinking of an Akto and it's not UL either. Hilleberg has info on it, Moontrail does too, and there are several Hillie setup videos on youtube.

Cool, thanks Kenda. I'll have a closer look at it. Wish they made a solo version though…