I like the look of the Tarptent Notch Lithium. Double wall and around 600g. Would like to see one in the flesh before buying though.
Also saw a Khufu with an inner and a couple of z pack shelters. All cuben fibre. The z packs aren't double wall but they have a bathtub floor with netting round the sides and a net door.
Like you, I would prefer double wall for the conditions in the UK.

Many people have ditched the Akto in favour of lighter shelters, but they seldom seem happy souls afterwards. They haunt internet forums and buy a new shelter seemingly every year, and the only pounds they shed are pounds sterling.

Then they spend hours, no, days & weeks seam sealing and "modifying" the things - adding guy lines, vents and whatever, which seems to indicate that the latest toy was not fit for purpose in the first place. :face_with_rolling_eyes:

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Take Fallraven's latest Abisko Lite 1. Yep, it's an Akto - just a bit heavier. There's a lesson there.

Exception? Probably the Trailstar with an Oookworks inner. Spacious and very stable, but more time consuming and fiddly to erect (not what you want in a gale with the sleet hammering down).

Generally you will be spending hundreds of pounds sterling to save a few ounces, so my advice is keep the Akto and spend your spare cash on booze, fast cars and loose women. :grinning:

Spot on Phil.

I have a number of tents, all but one being backpacking tents. When it comes to the crunch it's always the Akto I go for when I pack for a trip. It may be slightly heavier than more modern tents but it's absolutely reliable.

Not sure about spending the money saved on fast cars and booze though... :innocent:

I'm with Phil and JJ. I've a sixteen year old Akto (old-style, natch) - tho' for the past ten years or so I've used a Laser Comp in all manner of conditions, many of them substantially more intense than the Challenge.

Cuben fibre is all very well if you have a private wealth fund and don't mind the translucency (tho' could be attractive if you're into dogging).

Looking to try out a shelter? Here's how. Stash the shelter in your pack. Have your pal blindfold you. Now have them turn the garden hose on you full blast. Pitch yr tent and get everything stowed away. If you can do this within five minutes then you've got a decent shelter. It'll turn out to be an Akto / Laser Comp or some class of a clone.

Bright lights, thick smoke and loud loud music :sunglasses: :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

Humphrey, I so should've done that with my DofE groups. Serious Team Building! 🤣🤣🤣

I see you didn't exclude the loose women, JJ. :wink:

No doubt the Akto is a great tent, I've had one for over 20 years but these days I think there are many other good options. For the past few years I've been using a Tarp Tent Stratospire 1 which is lighter and roomier than the Akto but is still quick and easy to pitch and I've found it to be just as bombproof.

Ian C.

Well, I used the Tarptent Notch (silNylon 2018 version) this year and it has been mighty.
It will be my tent for a few years to come.
It's taken everything thrown at it so far.
I have made a few simple mods, but that is just clips and bit of extra Velcro and guys.
Even with that it comes in at approx 900g (inc extra bigger pegs).
There are some that really like the Trekkertent Stealth.

Many thanks for the feedback.....I’ve a weeks slackpacking around the Lakes later this month, then considering two weeks on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path next month ( an area I’ve never visited) so my initial thoughts are to stick with the Squall 2 for the Lakes ( if the forecast is poor I won’t go!) then decide.....
I’m liking the idea of a Laser Comp, plus some of the other suggestions, although I’ve yet to look at prices!
With regard to saving my pennies for other delights, I hope that my pal Deputy Dawg has not been yapping on about my nefarious activities or he’ll be looking for a new walking chum, or I’ll have to muzzle him, or both.
Greetings Humphrey. More Rock O was a few years ago. Glad you’re still on top!

Andy, I have to agree that the Notch is a superb lightweight tent ....BUT

"I have made a few simple mods, but that is just clips and bit of extra Velcro and guys" And sealed all the seams yourself of course, cos the manufacturer didn't think rain might be a consideration in the outdoors. :face_with_rolling_eyes:

And there you have it. My point is that in the quest for a headline grabbing minimum weight to put in advertising copy, pretty essential stuff like guylines, fasteners, waterproofing, vents, zips and decent pegs etc are often omitted.

Personally I would be a bit miffed to pay a premium price for a product and then have to finish manufacturing it myself. After all, you wouldn't expect to buy a Goretex jacket and have to tape the seams and fit the zips yourself, so why do certain tent manufacturers consider themselves exempt from the same standards?

Meanwhile, at the car showroom ...

A good point Phil, but most US tents need seam sealing.
It cost me $309 + postage.
The guy line upgrade cost me £5, and the extra velcro was my paranoia and cost me 30 min of my time to sew.
All that for a 900g strong tent.
Which, is a lot less than an Akto new.
Ok, will the Notch last 10+ years? No idea.

Brilliant pic though.
That's how they sell kit cars isn't it? 😁😂

Mmmmm. 900gm. That's almost half the weight of the Akto ...

No stoppit Andy! :scream:

I was curious after hearing during this year's walk about high import fees into the UK, so I looked up a Hilleberg Atko to see how much it would cost here in the US. Answer: about $600 or so. How does that compare to the price in the UK?

That's about what I spent on my latest Zpacks tent (the altaplex).

If someone knows, I'd also like to know how much a Zpacks altaplex would cost in the UK, after import fees and shipping and taxes.

Kent

An Akto is around £500 = approx U$740. The price difference was much greater a few years ago.
I'd thought of picking up a new Akto a few years ago when on one of my visits to USA but there really wasn't much point, mine is 12+ years old and is nowhere near 'end of life'.

I'm not mithered about fast cars or too much booze so I'll spend the money I've saved on something else.... :innocent:

Something to remember when comparing US prices with the UK is US prices are often quoted pre sales tax. Sales tax in the US varies from about 10% to zero. In the UK we have VAT at 20%. The pre VAT dollar price for an Akto in JJ’’s example would be approximately $617. When people complain about higher prices in the UK, it’s worth bearing in mind that a significant part of that is accounted for by the different tax rates.

If you are importing a product from the US, under normal circumstances you will be charged tax, possibly duty and probably a handling charge, making US products imported into the UK considerably more expensive than the headline figure. There are several websites that will calculate this for you.

Here is the Government page explaining this https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/tax-and-duty

Note you pay VAT on the goods, postal costs and any duty levied, which ramps up the cost. The Post Office will also charge you a handling fee for the privilege.

Good points raised there Robin.

In addition it's worth noting that you may encounter warranty claim problems. Quite a few US sellers specify 'Not for export'. If you managed to buy an Akto or whatever on a trip to the USA, bring it back to UK and then find it has a fault you'd quite possibly be, er, stuffed.

An alternative take Akto v Trailstar

Yep. I have been very impressed with the Trailstar/Oooknest combo - especially the space (you can invite friends round for dinner!).

The only thing I would say is that it sometimes seems a bit fiddly to hook the nest's loops onto the pegs as you have to do it from the inside, but that's a very minor niggle compared with the advantages.

Still happy with my Akto though! :+1:

I have both the Tarptent Notch and Trailstar - but not an Akto. I moved from the Trailstar looking for something which had a smaller footprint, but have gone back to it as it is 'bomb-proof' in bad weather. I took the Tarptent Notch on the Cape Wrath Trail at Easter 2017 and had some rough nights in it. I have been happy in it during calmer weather though, and am intending on taking it down to Cornwall later this summer.

Suffice to say that I LOVE my Trailstar. It can be pitched in some very strange circumstances as it is very adaptable. On the 2018 Challenge I camped very late one evening in an odd space on just 4 pegs, wrapping the tarp back on itself and sliding under the side to get in. You couldn't adapt a conventional tent like that....

I'm utterly confused. Why would anybody go to the US to buy a SWEDISH tent? Are they really cheaper there?

Ulla. Exchange rates do very strange things!