I simply landed my paraglider behind Laguna Toncek, beneath the granite spires of Frey, Argentina, and a brief stroll away from the mountain hut. I unpack my bag so I can repack my glider, tossing out 3 days of meals, a full double rack with a tagline, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, and — oh yeah! A tent. I virtually forgot I packed it, because it feels as gentle as a rolled-up jacket.
Area and weight are at an absolute premium when vol-biv (fly-camping) paragliding. Much more so if you tack on the load of climbing gear. I picked out the lightest equipment I might get away with to fly into Frey to climb, and naturally, the Samaya Alpinist2 ULTRA ($1,440) was coming with me for this mission. The sub-1-kg two-person, four-season bivy tent was the suitable device for the job when weight financial savings mattered most.
For the reason that launch of the Assault2 Extremely in 2020, Samaya’s identify has been synonymous with the forefront in alpine climbing tents. It made the world’s first four-season sub-1kg bivy tent with industry-leading Dyneema Composite Material waterproof-breathable membrane partitions.
Since then, Samaya’s R&D staff has been arduous at work refining its line of tents with DCF expertise, the latest of which is the Alpinist2 Extremely. The Alpinist2 Extremely is the tip of the spear on the planet of ultralight alpine-climbing bivy tents. It is available in at a claimed packed weight of 930 g and a minimal usable weight of 810 g.
At the price of some livability and sturdiness, the Alpinist2 Extremely’s design mantra is evident: Take away every part pointless. What you’re left with is a pure operate, no faff tent for probably the most weight-critical ascents.
In brief: The Samaya Alpinist2 Extremely is a specialist’s weapon when each gram counts. It makes use of extraordinarily gentle and sturdy Dyneema_X cloth and Carbon_X poles to realize a minimalist weight of 810 g. It’s minimalist and devoid of options, packs down small, and matches wherever you place it. This can be a tactical assault tent for ultralight alpinists who worth weight financial savings over consolation.
Try GearJunkie’s information to the Greatest Backpacking Tents for extra choices.
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Extraordinarily light-weight -
4-season weatherproof design -
Fairly spacious
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No vestibule -
Sturdiness questions with ground and poles
Samaya Alpinist2 Extremely Evaluation
Design
At its core, the Alpinist2 Extremely is devoid of many “options.” Because the saying goes, “Good design is when there’s nothing left to take away,” and the A2U isn’t any exception.
Supplies
The core function that makes this tent so gentle is the Dyneema_X cloth alongside the primary tent partitions. Dyneema custom-produces this materials for Samaya. Dyneema_X consists of a Dyneema Composite Material laminated to an ePTFE membrane. The porous ePTFE membrane gives waterproofing and breathability, whereas the DCF layer gives energy to the material, with out absorbing water or stretching.
For the remainder of the tent, largely the tub ground, Samaya makes use of a conventional DCF cloth (34g/m²). It was a best choice for its excessive light-weight/waterproof properties and tear-resistance. The DCF ground is welded to the Dyeema_X partitions in a bathtub-style configuration.
To attenuate weight, the tent comes with Carbon_X poles that weigh solely 200g. The poles slide by way of slots on the entrance of the tent right into a strengthened nook cup on the opposing nook. A grommet then secures them in place. That approach, the tent might be pitched with the door closed within the occasion of poor climate.
Pitch
The inside pitch of the poles is a pleasant design contact. It maximizes obtainable inside area whereas sustaining a small footprint and steep tent partitions to reinforce snow shedding. The poles are then secured to the ceiling at 9 factors utilizing a easy Velcro loop to maintain them in place.
Vent & Window
The one different function of the A2U is a small vent window within the rear of the tent. A mesh layer and a Dyneema_X layer might be zipped open or closed individually. That gives quite a lot of venting or weather-sealing choices. Unzipping each means that you can thread an anchor rope or sling into the tent when pitched in a precarious spot.
Exterior Options
On the outside, there are eight guy-line anchors for securing in robust winds. Every nook of the tent comes pre-tied with a triple loop of Dyneema-core wire by way of a hoop. It’s a intelligent design that enables for extending the loop to sling round rocks. You even have the power to rigidity the corners to a stake by clipping two loops and pulling the third loop to rigidity, adopted by a slip-knot tie-off.
In case you want additional rigidity, the grommets are tensionable the place the poles safe. When guyed out, Samaya claims a wind resistance of as much as 120km/h, or about 75mph.
On the within … there’s nothing. Not a single pocket. Easy as that!
Testing
Over the course of some months, I had the possibility to check the A2U whereas climbing in El Chalten, Argentina, Frey Argentina, and an mountaineering journey to the Ghost wilderness within the Canadian Rockies. Situations ranged from sunny summer season in Bariloche to -5 levels F in a single day within the Rockies.
Condensation has traditionally been the Achilles heel of single-wall bivy tents. Heat moisture out of your breath builds in a single day in chilly temps and condenses onto the partitions. It then both freezes or drips, typically leaving a small pool of water within the backside of the tent in a single day.
Whereas not excellent, I can confidently say the A2U does have the perfect condensation administration of any single-wall bivy tent I’ve used. That features the generally used Black Diamond FirstLight tent.
Throughout a few nights within the Canadian Rockies with lows within the detrimental single digits (Fahrenheit), I woke as much as a noticeable quantity of frost close to the pinnacle of the tent. It was above our heads, pasted to the door and aspect partitions. Nevertheless, with a normal single-wall tent, I might often anticipate vital moisture buildup on the remainder of the partitions.
Surprisingly, the A2U appeared to do a significantly better job on this regard. I observed minimal condensation close to the mid-body and foot of the tent. Once more, it’s not excellent, nevertheless it was higher than another single-wall tent I’ve tried.
Sturdiness
Important Wall Material
The place the A2U shines in its featherweight class, it needs to be anticipated that it could lack some sturdiness. My first impression when opening the tent was simply how skinny the outer wall of the Dyneema_X cloth was. It feels virtually like tissue paper in hand!
The Dyneema used within the Dyneema_X partitions and DCF ground gives a excessive tensile energy, basically. Nevertheless, these materials are nonetheless very vulnerable to holes by way of abrasion. In my case, from only a few nights pitched on rocks. A group of small holes within the DCF ground after only a few makes use of.
Fortunately, that is simply repairable with restore tape. Samaya even gives some patches within the equipment with the tent.
Carbon_X Poles
The primary disappointment for me with this tent was the Carbon_X poles. Whereas exceptionally gentle, I had points with a pole tip cracking after solely a handful of pitches. Though it was straightforward sufficient to restore with a few wraps of duct tape, it gave me pause having to fret about tent pole failure in a high-stakes climb the place your shelter is your life.
I additionally observed small chipping on the ends of the carbon poles from regular use, which additional frightened me about their longterm sturdiness.
I did attain out to Samaya straight about this, and the consultant stated it’s not a difficulty they see generally. Nevertheless, Samaya will present a {custom} pair of aluminum poles if requested by the client. In future variations, the Samaya consultant stated aluminum poles will probably be available for buy on the web site.
The Relaxation
I didn’t have any sturdiness considerations with the remainder of the tent. The selection of zipper on the door by no means gave me any concern, and the pockets through which the nook of the tent poles sit are strengthened.
It needs to be famous that it’s all the time greatest follow to dry out tents earlier than storage. That’s particularly necessary with welded-seam tents just like the A2U, to extend the longevity of the tub ground welded seam.
Pack Dimension & Weight
The one minor draw back of DCF-style materials is that they don’t pack down exceptionally effectively. Nevertheless, given the extraordinarily skinny materials used within the A2U, the ultimate pack measurement is cheap for a two-person, four-season shelter.
Samaya claims a minimal pack measurement of three.5L. I discovered that to be correct if packed neatly. I might usually advocate utilizing the provided DCF stuff sack each for compression and to guard the tent whereas packed subsequent to different gadgets. The poles pack right down to 40cm in size.
When carrying the tent in its stuff bag, the 4 stakes and restore equipment, and the poles of their bag, the entire package deal weighed 935 g on my scale. With probably the most minimalist setup with poles and tent solely (no stuff baggage or stakes) that may be decreased to 849 g in line with my scales (together with put in man strains).
Worth
At an MSRP of $1,440, the Alpinist2 Extremely is the most costly bivy tent in the marketplace by a protracted margin. For reference, that’s greater than double the worth of the Black Diamond Firstlight. For this value, although, you get a strong four-season bivy tent that disappears in your again for probably the most weight-critical ascents.
It’s definitely not a tent for on a regular basis use, however in case you have made it this far down the single-wall bivy tent rabbit gap, it’s definitely price contemplating for the suitable mission.
Samaya Alpinist2 Extremely: Who It Is For
So who is that this tent for? In case you are doing chilly, technical climbs with a number of days of meals and bivy gear in your again, the Alpinist2 ULTRA is the suitable device for the job. It has simply the suitable options to shelter you from the weather in probably the most demanding situations, pitched excessive on a mountain face or ridge, however not one of the additional fluff to hold when it actually issues. This tent belongs in Alaska, the Himalaya, the Karakorum, or Patagonia.
The Alpinist2 Extremely represents probably the most cutting-edge tent expertise for weight-critical technical climbing I’ve seen. You merely gained’t discover one other four-season two-person tent within the sub-1kg weight vary.
In case you are in search of an all-around four-season or quiver-of-one tent, it might be higher to look elsewhere. What makes the Alpinist2 ULTRA shine is its lack of options, making it a really specialist tent.
For extra livable, light-weight, and sturdy choices, try choices such because the Slingfin Hotbox, or for a less expensive however equally minimal tent, the Black Diamond Firstlight. Discover extra choices on GearJunkie’s information to the Greatest Backpacking Tents.
The Alpinist2 Extremely comes with a hefty price ticket. It additionally has some famous sturdiness considerations with the poles over time. That stated, for the correct of mission, this tent is an distinctive companion. I’ll be taking mine to the Indian Himalaya this spring, the place it is going to really feel proper at house.
