Some of the gear catching our attention: La Sportiva boots, a Tarp Tent 4-season tent, and three pieces from Edelrid.
Tarp Tent’s new ArcDome 4-season tent. Weighing in the 3 pound range makes this double-wall-eye-candy for winter oriented multi-day ski missions.
Tarp Tent’s ArcDome Ultra Tent
Tarp Tent is known for well-designed and executed minimalist tents/sleeping shelters. We are keen on checking out their latest offering, to be released soon, their two-person four-season Arc Dome Tent, the latest entry in their 4 season game. A few things make this tent desirable; from our perspective, we want it to succeed. A four-season tent means this unit will likely see service in winter (so it must weather heavy snow loads and wind) or places like springtime Alaska during expedition season—where it might as well feel like winter.
The ArcDome Ultra, as the name implies, is a dome-style tent with an offset interior floor space. Two poles cross in the roof-center, adding shape and integrity to the tent. The tent and fly use a combo of Challenge Sailcloth fabrics to make this, as you may have guessed, a lightweight tent.
Here are the weight specs from Tarp Tent (ground sheets not included):
- Weight: 57.8 oz / 1639 g (with: solid interior, carbon poles, tent bag, stake bag, and 8 stakes), equating to 3.6 pounds.
- Weight: 53.2 oz / 1508 g (with solid interior, carbon poles, no bags or stakes), equating to 3.3 pounds.
The clear upside to this shelter is a lack of weight. If it’s a true four-season trip you are planning, you are likely already carrying more stuff—you have to cut weight somewhere. The ArcDome comes in at a weight class similar to the ubiquitous single-walled BD FristLight, which, in the right circumstances, serves as a capable tool. However, single-wall tents are condensation collection devices. We are hopeful that Tarp Tents’ entry into the four-season game offers a viable double-walled option for those wanting a free-standing four-season-worthy tent but don’t mind close quarters. We are also hopeful such a minimalist tent holds up in burley conditions.
Depending on the feature set you choose, prices start at $569.00.
La Sportiva’s Kilo touring boot.
La Sportiva Boots: The Kilo & Stratos Hybrid
Kilo
In the boot category, we’ll be eyeing a few new offerings. Two boots from La Sportiva have us thinking of longer days where skiing/climbing up is as critical to you as the descent. The brand’s Skorpius CR II is a lightweight, stiff-skiing do-it-all wonder. In other words, La Spo nailed it. At ~1200g for a 27.5, you’re not hauling along a ton of boot relative to the high-performance benchmarks it meets.
The first new option this season from the brand is the Kilo. The foot retention system employs two buckles and a cam-lock power strap, while the entire shell is constructed from Grilamid Bio-Based LF Carbon. The 70-degree stated range of motion and 1-kilogram weight in a 26.5 has us excited about the prospects.
The Kilo comes in a women’s specific model.
(A reminder: Find the boot that fits best and meets your ascent/descent requirements.) The La Sportiva Kilo should sit nicely in the category currently occupied by boots like the Dynafit Blacklight, Scarpa F1 XT, and Tecnica Zero G Peak.
Price: $898.95
La Sportiva’s Stratos Hybrid combines a Carbon Grilamid lower and a full carbon cuff.
Stratos Hybrid
For those seeking an even lighter boot, start eyeing the sweet-looking Stratos Hybrid. The lower is constructed from Grilamid Carbon (see the Kilo above), while the cuff is 100% carbon. Although not confirmed, these look to come in at sub-1000g (and likely much lower than that) and sit aside Dynafit’s DNA and Scarpa’s Alien 1.1 boot.
There are many ski mission options for boots in the somewhat blurred race category, and they depend on your priorities. Skimo racing—check. Long ski traverses—check. Resort uphilling—check. Lightweight go anywhere and ski—check.
Don’t scoff at that last “check.” Scroll through the archives of many ski blogs, and you will come across some excellent feats completed on uber-lightweight skimo gear. Sure, the boots might underperform in conditions where wide skis and deep snow prevail, but you likely know that and would choose accordingly. With the Stratos Hybrid’s claimed 85-degree range of motion, the smooth and light, and the “damn do I feel fast” sensation these boots will surely deliver, you’ll be reaching for these a lot more than you think. The bottom line is that I’ll definitely be skiing the Stratos Hybrids with wide skis in deep snow.
Price: $1298.95
Edelrid Nano Jul: a small and compact belay/rappel device for skinny ropes.
An Edelrid Trifecta
We’ve got three pieces to explore from Germany’s Edelrid. The three featured items are helpful for more technical ski/ride objectives or when you might employ a belayed ski cut.
Nano Jul
In the spirit of petite, we present a Micro Jul and a Nano Jul. In short, we expect the Nano Jul to be easier to use than Edelrid’s Micro Jul. One main difference is that the Micro Jul is an auto-locking rappel/belay device, while the Nano Jul is not. Without going into further detail, we found the Micro Jul not exactly optimized for rappelling less than steep terrain, and sometimes it was just finicky.
The Nano Jul is steel (no confirmed weight yet) and is not auto-locking—manual breaking only with the Nano Jul. It is, however, approved for skinnier ropes down to 7.1 mm. We will test the device with 6mm ropes in a controlled environment. The Nano Jul is recommended for use with skinnier half and twin ropes
More to come.
The Edelrid Rap Line Protect Pro Dry: A skinny rope (6mm) rated to withstand two standard leader fall in a twin rope configuration.
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RAP LINE PROTECT PRO DRY 6MM
6mm ropes have become standard gear for many tourers. They have applications on steep lines when a rappel comes in handy. Time on a glacier—grab a Rap Line Protect Pro. Tag line/haul line, you’ll be covered. Here’s the clincher, the Rap Line Protect Pro is rated to withstand two standard falls when used as a twin rope. In certain situations, using the line as a lead rope ( in the proper configuration) adds a ton of functionality to this skinny rope.
The stated weight is 31g/m.
A 60m line will cost roughly $270.00. But you can find it on sale.
Edelrid Loopo Air Harness is airy. 49g total weight.
Loopo Air Harness
The last of the Edelrid trifecta here is the new Loopo Air harness. Dyneema is a key component in the design, which helps tilt the scales at a claimed (and meager) 49g in a medium. The Loopo Air is the definition of minimal.
The Loopo Air comes in S, M, and L and features an adjustable waist buckle, which opens to fit around the waist. The leg loops, however, are fixed; you’ll need to remove skis and step into/out of the loops when taking the harness on and off.
Price: $80
Will be interesting to see how the durston x-dome compares to the tarptent once they’re both out