Just finished chatting to our Bob on the phone. As always there were lots of completely useless things to talk about, but some interesting ones at that.
First off, backpackinglight.co.uk are improving the website. You can see the first fruits of this online at the moment but the work isn’t finished yet. Apparently much of it is ‘beneath the hood’ but should give us a better service. But the website already looks better.
Secondly, there was a gear angle (of course). Bob was out last night — camping on the hills so that you could have the benefit of his first hand experience. He was very taken by a new tent from Vaude I think it was, a solo tent weighing 1 kilogram which Bob thought was far superior to the Laser Competition. I didn’t quite catch the model name but no doubt Bob will appear to fill out the details.
And then there were the podcasts. I think it is safe to say that we are creaking towards something of a new season and — I believe — the first of the new season approaches. We did discuss various tactics for Challenge podcasting, especially as there might only be me doing it. I think our various tactics mean that will have something to share with you after May — so you can all stop badgering me about it now!
(Of course, if you’re one of the people that run the other way in case I badger you. Sorry, but we have our public you know …)
I have seen the Vaude Scutum aka Power Lizard UL in person, live on the trail, and I think it is rubbish. Its advertised as a 2 Person tent, but its actually only 1+ Person. It doesn’t work in winter conditions, with freezing end poles, pegs that break, and worst of all, its saggy as hell.
Nevertheless, Vaude already has over 14.000 preorders down for the tent. After all the marketing hype is huge if a major manufacturer decides to go “UL”. I believe the masses (those 95% who’re not lightweight/ UL) will find it great to have a lightweight tent, but for those already lightening their load there are far superior options available.
Interesting. Thanks for the feedback
I’ll be doing it too, unless Bobs crosses me off his Chally Podcasting List *g*
Hey Hendrik! Don’t go sitting on that fence will you? Tell us what you really think…
Was it erected properly?
I hope I didn’t come off as too harsh, which I didn’t mean to. Anyway.
The Scutum I saw on the trip here in Finland in the beginning of February. It was erected properly, I was assured by the owner, but given that it was erected on a frozen lake it might not surprise that it was saggy the next morning. Although, if you drive pegs into the ice they will not move, so it must have been the lines or the material. I can’t say, sorry. Finally, it also was a Prototype and apparently changes have been made to it. Its definitely only a 1+ tent, though.
Alan, lets say I find it good that a major player is realizing there’s a market for lightweight gear, that is positive for the outdoor market as a whole. I mean, over 14000 preorder for a tent which was not available until now is massive. What I don’t find positive, and I might be biased here, is that Vaude is making huge profits on this, while the people who should profit from it are people like Henry Shires and others who have made lightweight tents from the beginning.
To conclude, I wouldn’t buy one, simply because I rather support cottage manufacturers than big corporations who won’t give anything back to the community.
after reading hendriks opion in the scutum tent i think i,ll stick with my trusted akto