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Gear

Akto going...going...
 
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Akto going...going...
Newish akto
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21 to 39 of 39 messagesPage: 1  2  
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Peter Clinch
12/02/09 11:19
 Alpine peak pro 5480 forum posts 5 photos 9 reviews

I am 6'3" so your comment about unless you're over 6ft might be my problem. However I had read reviews before buying from guys up to 6'4" who said they could sit up okay.  Now Stuck in the Office says he is 6'5" and can sit up okay, so height is obviously not the issue here. It must be as tmm says that I have not adjusted the string and the webbing strap correctly.

Height may be the issue here: it isn't an absolute thing because people have different amounts of relative height  in their legs as opposed to their torso (missus is 2" taller than me but my torso is longer, for example) and different people sit in different ways which in turn will reflect on how much sitting height they need.

The Akto is not a high tent (90 cm stated by Hilleberg, it's entirely typical for lightweight tents to give 95+), so it wouldn't be altogether surprising if folk shorter than you found it an issue, even if there's someone 6'5" who doesn't.  The time I sat in one I had enough headroom for me to sit comfortably the way I do... just, and I'm 5'8".

So it may genuinely be too short for you to sit up in a manner comfortable for you, even after fettling the pole tensioning cord.

btw, the webbing strap shuld be a non-issue for sitting height, unless you have it madly over-tensioned.  That's just to fine tune the tension on the zip: too little and the zip will be awkward in use and possibly damaged over time by the tension, too much and the door panel will be loose and be more inclined to flap.  Only if it's really overdone would it affect the height of the pole arch.  It should give a reasonably taught door panel, while the zip is still easy in use.  Only the pole-pole cord should affect the pitched height.

Pete.

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Edited: 12/02/09 11:26
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Richard Staunton
12/02/09 11:26
 Lowland rambler 53 forum posts

Dawn,

The fact that someone two inches taller than you can sit up and you have problems is explainable - we are all made differently and it could be you have a longer torso and shorter legs than the taller person. Also, comfort is in the eye of the beholder - you may feel cramped even though technically you have a bit of room. Dont let anyone tell you you are wrong -  its you that feels uncomfortable not anyone else.

You just made a mistake buying the tent, thats all.

The other solutions are well intentioned but I know how you feel - if it doesnt feel right I wouldn't want to mess about inflating things outside the tent etc.. and this is coming from someone who (personally) puts little value on being able to sit up in a tent in the first place! 

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Peter Clinch
12/02/09 13:40
 Alpine peak pro 5480 forum posts 5 photos 9 reviews

The other solutions are well intentioned but I know how you feel - if it doesnt feel right I wouldn't want to mess about inflating things outside the tent etc.. and this is coming from someone who (personally) puts little value on being able to sit up in a tent in the first place!

Entirely so, but sometimes (not always, but often enough to try) it just needs a slightly different approach to what you're used to.  If that approach becomes plain, and it works okay without breaking things you like unbroken, then you can probably just adapt and be happy.  So don't inflate outside if you don't want that, but do experiment with ways of inflating inside to see if they're tenable.

But if you're not happy, as Richard says, you shouldn't think you can necessarily become happy with it just because someone else is or folk (even yourself!) tell you that you ought to be happy.  But at least a little perseverance can be worth it before writing it off.  Despite a lot of raving about it, not everyone likes Aktos (they don't really do it for me, for example, I prefer twin entrances and more porch space).

Pete.

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Jam Man
12/02/09 14:35
 Lowland rambler 138 forum posts
If you do opt to sell as said earlier in the thread Aktos sell very well on Ebay.

I bought a laser comp recently for £199 and the cheapest I saw second hand ones for on ebay was about £170. I only ever saw one Akto and it sold for about £30 less than what you could buy it online for.

The good news is that Aktos are highly rated and not often sold so you can get a good price.


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Steve I
12/02/09 15:01
 Lowland rambler 566 forum posts 5 reviews 1 bookmark 4 classifieds
There is the option of unclipping the few toggles that hold roof of the inner up. This temporarily creates a few more inches of head room, at the risk of damp hair if you brush the outer.
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Dawn
12/02/09 19:08
 Lowland rambler 115 forum posts 1 photo
Thanks for your comments. I will let you know next week how I get on and hopefully the set up of the cord and webbing will be straight forward and will solve one of the problems at least.
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Frum
12/02/09 20:29
Dawn, the Hilleberg site shows Akto height inside the flysheet as 36"/90 cms.  You can measure this indoors just by putting the pole in - no need to peg the tent out.  If the measurement is right, the 'cord and webbing' will be.  If not I imagine (and Akto owners will correct me if I'm wrong) you could adjust and remeasure without leaving your centrally heated home. 
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Steve I
12/02/09 20:38
 Lowland rambler 566 forum posts 5 reviews 1 bookmark 4 classifieds
Yup Frum's right, I set mine up indoors. Mine was incorrect from new. When the cord was set to the right length I got an extra 2 inches of headroom. Though I have to say looking at your photos Dawn, the shape of your Akto seems to be ok. BTW very nicely set up for a first pitch.
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Frum
12/02/09 20:43
Dawn, the point I didn't really make clear is that you don't need room indoors for the length of an Akto, just the width.  It won't be necessary to stretch the ends out.
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Dawn
13/02/09 16:22
 Lowland rambler 115 forum posts 1 photo

I followed your advice and put the pole into the outer in my bedroom and measured the cord from knot to knot at 159cm and the height of the outer, bedroom floor to ridge at the center at 40", I see from an earlier post that Hilleberg advise the cord should be 165cm knot to knot and if that was the case surely the ridge would be even lower. So there appears no margin for adjustment.

Then I had a friend measure my sitting on the floor with a straight back and from bedroom floor to the top of my head is 42 inches. LOL

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Frum
13/02/09 16:30
You've already got the Akto 4"" taller than the specifications, so unless you can learn to slouch it looks as if you need a different tent.  You'll be lucky to find one as good as the Akto in other respects.
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Peter Clinch
13/02/09 16:40
 Alpine peak pro 5480 forum posts 5 photos 9 reviews

You'll be lucky to find one as good as the Akto in other respects.

The trick is finding one good enough, which isn't actually a big problem. The Akto is a nice package if it happens to fit one's needs, but if it doesn't it's not the end of the world and there are plenty of other options.

Given that it does appear to be uncomfortably low for you, I'd be inclined to put it on eBay, where they regulalry go for more than most of the folk on OM would pay you.

Pete.

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Dawn
13/02/09 18:01
 Lowland rambler 115 forum posts 1 photo

Ok Pete sounds the best way to go.

If I could count on deep snow I could dig a snow hole and put the akto on top as a hat!

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Mike fae Dundee
13/02/09 18:06
Go for a pyramid/tepee design if you want maximum head room Dawn.
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Dawn
13/02/09 18:11
 Lowland rambler 115 forum posts 1 photo
Perhaps put the akto in that!
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Dawn
13/02/09 18:14
 Lowland rambler 115 forum posts 1 photo

I just found a very nice piece of ice climbing footage on Iceland on u tube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZ0aSWH_sBY

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Dawn
13/02/09 18:19
 Lowland rambler 115 forum posts 1 photo
When  I was buying the akto Mike, I did look at the Mountain hardware Kiva Lite and vaguely at the GoLite Hex3 but never actually saw either. I went for the akto because my old tent was a hilleberg and got a bit misled by reviews and comments saying it was good for tall people. Never mind I now know where I stand or sit for that matter, so the next thing is to try ebay and try and get back some of my investment and then buying something more suitable. It has always been a nuisance being very tall as nothing off the peg really fits as it should do. I was reading the latest TGO and all its reviewers are average 5'8". Perhaps I should start reviewing kit for the taller than average user. I hope no one minds me adding that ice climbing clip, but it is rather good.
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Brigsy
24/04/09 21:54
 Lowland rambler 39 forum posts
Hi, Is the Akto still for sale. Can't find a private email button!
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Brigsy
26/04/09 14:22
 Lowland rambler 39 forum posts
Bump. Sorry.....
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