Alpkit ULTRA Bikepacking Tent Review
Вставка
- Опубліковано 7 кві 2024
- In this video I review the Alpkit Ultra Tent for bikepacking:
Link to buy Alpkit Ultra Tent: alpkit.com/products/ultra-ult...
I have been using this ultra light bikepacking tent - testing it in all sorts of cold, wet and blustery conditions. I have been very impressed with it, and I think this is a really great bikepacking tent for the price.
Basic Pros:
1. Less than 900g
2. Lots of space when laying down
3. Well designed and sturdy
4. Loads of space under the canopy for storage
Basic Cons:
1. Not a lot of headroom vs other tents.
2. Packs down small, but not as small as some other more expensive tents. (Like my Nemo Dragonfly)
www.cycling366.com/ - Sign up for my FREE monthly newsletter here: eepurl.com/iEWVtA
#bikepacking #tent #review
Mine arrived this morning. First impression was how light it felt!
Nice! Let me know how it goes using it :)
Much better looking concept than the soloist, and low down way better in winds. Nice sized porch too. I have the elan bivvy they do which is great, but this being similar weight that’s an amazing amount of room. Very interesting tent indeed.
Yeah it’s better than the soloist in my opinion. Not as good value but the weight and space trumps the former!
@@Cycling366 it is such a tough thing to get cheap and small packable size on our bikes. This price doesn't seem too crazy either. I see it being used by many
@@thebikepackingadventurer Yeah agreed!
Agreed. I really like my soloist, but would be prepared to sacrifice sitting up inside for some weight savings and wind resistance.
@@peterknight7880 bikepacking once I’m in my tent it’s lights out. 💤
Looks to be a cracker for keeping under the radar
The design is almost the same as the Hubba Hubba NX 1, except it seems to have an extra vestibule, and much less headroom. Good looking tent!
Yeah good comparison. It’s a decent looking tent for sure.
That top cross pole looked like it could rip the outer if it got windy. Is there a ring inside that it should go into to stop it rubbing on the outer?
Yeah it’s got plastic caps/rings the pole inserts into to avoid that issue
Wish theyd have gone with a smaller pole size, I was luck enough to pick up a Sierra Designs High Side 1 for £80 at the National Outdoor show so thats become my lightweight option (for the time being)
Yeah that’s something I think could be a slight issue for bikepacking setups as it won’t fit in a shorter dry bag but it’s not too bad
50cm wide is too wide for bikepacking. That’s a no-go for me
I have many alpkit tents. This wound be much more appealing with extra head height. It wound also be better with cups for your tracking poles to tuck under the roof in windy conditions. I get you can’t have the perfect tent but head height personally for me is a big thing. Thanks for the video because this will help make choices. 🙌
That’s a cool idea actually. Not for bikepacking purposes but I like the idea for hiking haha
Do they do a 2 person version of this or are they planning to do one in the future?
Yeah this is technically called the Ultra 1 so there will be an Ultra 2 coming out soon! Not sure when!
Nice garden mate 👍
Haha thanks
It looks an awful lot like a MSR Hubba and not as nicely configured as the Nemo Dragonfly Bikepack. Low interior floor too but nice shape and colour of fly. How do you find it compares to the Dragonfly Bikepack?
Yeah similar! It’s up there in comparison but it’s a fair bit smaller. I can kneel up in the dragonfly and the poles are smaller so it’s still my favourite! But it’s nearly twice the price haha
Pitch inner first is a no go!
Fair dos. I like inner first pitching 😛
Yup. Based in the UK outer first each time, every time.
Ta.
@@Cycling366 you live in the desert? Then there is no problem. But if you are in an area that sees lots of rain like me you don’t want to pitch inner first
@@dutchdryfly I mostly ride in Scotland so probably not many places that rain much more! Doesn't bother me, takes such a short amount of time to get the tent up it's never really that wet before I put the fly over.
Head room is an issue i am 6 foot so seating on an air pad I outdoor be hurting… but saying that it looks good ..
I have the Soloist, which for the money is a brilliant tent. The only thing, in my humble opinion, that lets it down is the door. This Ultra one seems to have dealt nicely with that. However, the flysheet seems quite high off the floor, or were u pitched on uneven ground? Thanks for the great review, well done!👍
Thanks Tim! Yeah it’s a cracking value tent that. Yeah I was on marshy land so it was a bit lumpy
I am always searching for the ultimate tent ..i dont think they exist….but did just buy another tent it goes against everything i look for in a tent.. but this tent bombproof ICS
Yeah I agree, no such thing but I’m sure there are a few that get close!
Is it 100 percent free standing? Could it be setup with just the fly ?. I like the proper stealth green colour and if freestanding could be a posher choice than a bivy tarp . How about boiling a cup of tea inside ? 😅
I don't think you can set up with fly only. As its inner pitch first and then fly over the top
You can’t set up fly only I’m afraid. Yeah you can easily boil a brew inside the front porch area
Guess in would be possible if you could get a suitably sized ground sheet to replace the inner though? Alpkit ought to at least offer the option IMO
No doubt great if you're camping in very warm conditions- however, that doesn't often happen in the UK- that mesh inner will be COLD most of the time. I haven't seen a tent to compare for solo use with the Terra Nova Solar 1, long since continued. I've been using mine for 20 years, and last used it only 2 weeks ago in the Lakes. It's been in gale force winds high in the Pyrenees on 2 occasions, one above the Arremoulit hut when there was a torrential hailstorm with lightning. It has a cheery yellow ripstop inner which keeps out the wind. I will be desolate when it dies!
Sounds great! I use mesh inners all 4 seasons so I can’t say I agree but I can see where you’re coming from
On the alpkit website : Flysheet: 100% waterproof Groundsheet: 5,000mm hydrostatic head . How much much water proof is it ? the flysheet is mm?
Not sure there! You’re best contacting Alpkit for detailed specs like that
I’m on the market for an ultra light bikepacking tent and I think I might have found one 😎
Nice 👍 it’s decent in my opinion!
It's 80cm height though
@@cuprajake1that detail made decant for the Big Agnes, 15 cm more hight and it would be perfect, 100 extra grams it’s not a big deal.
Yes, it's light, but headroom sucks and inner pitch first. No go for me
Fair dos. Everyone’s different! I like it for what I’d need personally!
Looking at the specs... and the price. Impressive. What's the catch?
Probably just the lack of headroom to be honest! I think it’s a good value tent
1:02 They are definitely aluminium pegs, not titanium.
Cheers
Positive: Very light, very packable, looks OK, big vestibules, good hydro rating on floor, airy is good for preventing condensation, quite good price, something for hanging up light, pocket(s) for small things.
Negative: Not the best rating on materials (but silipoly is still more durable, which is a big positive), inner first pitch can make tent wet, only mesh inner can be chilly, high fly from ground is open for draughts, a bit small headroom.
Question: Didn't see if there are one or two doors. Two makes it easier, when wind turns a lot. One is less flexible.
Conclusion from video: Interesting and nice tent, especially the weight. Probably good value for money. There are still many contenders that would be worth checking out also.
Thanks for the summary!
Full mesh inner, low and no guy lines. Not good enough for the money. Better off with a FJERN Gokotta for example at £160.
That's your opinion. Can't say I agree though!
@@Cycling366 I think the proof will be in use but looking at it ( I've had over 175 tents ) full mesh limits it temp range and makes it breezy in a light sleeping bag, the sit up height is too low and it will flatten in winds with no guy lines. A few tweaks and they had a winner there without adding too many grams.
mmm bit small probably why its light
It’s quite spacious laying down but the headroom isn’t great!
The head room is awful, you’d be so cramped if sitting on a thick pad.
Also a fully mesh inner, not sure how it can be considered 3 season.
I fink I would be tempted to use it for something like a bikepack race instead of a bivy . As u say with an airmat it looks like that would make it cramped , literally just a shelter to sleep in
Yeah headroom could be improved. I personally use mesh inners for all seasons and never had an issue!
Another tent company copying from MSR
Perhaps! But who am I to judge 😛