 I know i only get on here to ask your advice so have a pop if you will and i will take it on the chin but i do need some advice ,especially from anyone over the 6ft mark. The problem is i want to invest in a one person tent for year round use but to save weight they all seem to short i think the hilleberg akto would do but would like a cheaper option if possible. I also want to replace my summer synthetic sleeping bag with a lighter down one but at 6ft 4 and 18 st i need a large bag any tips would be very gratefull from any of you tall people. T
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Funny you should say that Ray i have just been looking at that this morning , definitely a candidate.
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 Sean, I've got an Alpkit Alpine Dream bag in XL and I'm the same height as you. However, I have the physique of a racing snake so the bag feels quite "roomy". The Alpkit boys are good on the refund or exchange front so the Skyehigh might be worth a punt. HTH PS If you have the cash, somewhere like PHD can make bags to order.
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Kev wish i had the money for a phd looks like the alpkit so far.
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I'm also 6'4" and on the tent front i use a Vango Tempest 150 which is plenty long enough, a good tent and also great value for money. On the down side it ways in at 2.5kg. Sleeping bag wise I use a Vango Venom but, although it would be long enough for you, I think it would be a tight fit around as its quite snug on my 15st frame
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| Edited: 09/03/08 13:40 |
I'm 6ft 1in and often use (when the weather forecast or midges suggest a tarp wouldn't be a good option) a Vaude Taurus UL which I find very good. Under 2kg and certainly loads of room for one and mine has slept two quite a few times -- cosy but not unbearably so. The porch space is a little limited, but you can cook in there with a bit of good gear management. It's strong for a lightweight tent -- it bends but quickly bounces back in strong winds. Also, it's not in the Terra Nova/Hilleberg price league. As for a sleeping bag, I splashed out on a PHD Minim 400 in a moment (or several) of weakness, but have never regretted it.
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 Sean, you may want to think about the design of the tent. Most people I know who are tall and use backpacking tents tend to prefer the side opening type of tents like the Akto, TN Laserlite, Macpac Microlight, WC Solace etc. The problem with tunnel tents is that you have to bend in and out of them, but with side opening its so much easier to get in and out, plus they are nice to cook out of in good weather. I prefer semi and full geodesic myself but I'm only 5'9".
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| Edited: 09/03/08 17:39 |
 I'm 6'1" and as Jamie says I find the side opening once to be most suited for me. I seen the Laser and Akto but the look abit too coffiny (that a word? ) I use a WC solace although not the lightest, but i just love the huge door. TN did do the Solo which is just the same design but with lighter materials. Might be hard to find though. 
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.jpg) Whats up with ya? do your legs not bend at the knee. Tch .tall folk. 
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 I'm also 6'4" and much preferred the TN Solar (similar to Solace mentioned above) to the TN SL Voyager I have now; the latter's too short, whatever its dimensions on paper, and more difficult to get in/out of, especially in foul weather. Unfortunately I think both the Solar & Solace have been discontinued, but that's the kind of design I'd be looking at.
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 I am using a Terra Nova Laser (ie not a laser competition) and I am 6' 4.5" It is spacious and comfortable though at c1.3kg I guess there are lighter about. I thought the extra space over the competition was worth the weight differential. But if the Photon had been around when I bought it, maybe I would just curl up a little more...
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 I'm 6'2", and don't give a hoot what way my tent opens (I have one of each, for the record) The main issue is whether an XL sleeping bag rubs against the inner at the bottom. The inner tent either has to be a bit longer than normal (e.g 230cm rather than 220cm or 215cm), or have vertical end walls. Slopey ended semi-geodesics and one-door tunnels tent to be no use, but the Akto with its little box end walls is fine. As Jerry says, a TN Laser (230cm inner) is also a good bet.
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Ah, missed the tent question first time round. Yes, the TN Laser is just long enough, for me at any rate.
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Anyone looked at the new force10 tents? Do you think these would be good for someone a mere 6'5" tall? Need a new tent for wild camping April onwards. Down to a Force10 Heluim or vapour, or a tarp / tarptent. Possibly a force10 vitesse. Anyone tried one of those options. Bought a Marmot fusion 30 large at the weekend, bags of room and got it quite cheap. Marmot do large options as part of a standard range. Rab do them as special orders I believe. Field and trek sell some 2/3 season down bags in a large version for 6'6" people. Also Marmot Wave synthetics come in large too. It's good to hear someone else is going through the same search for long kit as well. What about other kit for tall people? I am in the market for trousers, what make do you recommend for long legs? By the way, if any outdoormagic person out there wants to write an article or review on gear suitable for tall people please feel free.
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The clever thing about the Akto is that it actually gets longer at nose height - the head and foot ends slope away from you, making the tent quite a lot longer a foot off the ground than it is at floor level. This also keeps the inner from falling onto your face or the foot of your sleeping bag. I am a mere 6'2", but I have masses of space at both ends of my sleeping bag in my Akto.
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Ah, sleeping bag... I have a Marmot Helium EQ long that was on sale at the Outdoors Shop. It weighs 1.1kg so not the lightest but it is comfortable for my 6' 4.5" frame, it is pretty much waterproof and it has a full length zip unlike the ordinary Helium. I don't think you can do a lot better weightwise, without buying a quilt instead. Next time I might experiment with something like: http://www.ray-way.com/Quilt-Kit/index.htm
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i always wanted the terra nova voyager but thought it was to expensive.after buying at least 5 other tents(1 i never even used in anger) i have my voyager.
