Bushwalk Australia

Luxe tents are a reasonably obscure brand from Michael Wong in Hong Kong
I have been using a Habitat NX, similar to a Hubba HP.
Over Xmas we did a family main range trip with this, a Helpsort Ringstind 2 and a Tarptent Stratospire 2 and several Macpac: Olympus and Citadel.
The hot period just before the fires, good for swimming in the glacial lakes and the little creek out on the Sentinel ridge.
Nice flowers too.
On our last night a change came in, winds at 35 then 70 kms.
The Ringstind flapped awfully, the Tarptent blew down and was used as a bivy sack, really we asked too much of it.
It did shed wind well up to about 40kms.
The Macpacs stood up well.
but the Lux Habitat was the firmest of the lot but was damaged packing up in 70km gusts.
So I am looking for some poles, my internet supplier no longer exists.
Does Michael supply parts direct???
Help would be much appreciated.
John

Try BPL in Melbourne

http://www.backpackinglight.com.au/webcontent13.htm

If the tent poles are packing up in only 35kt gusts, then I would be questioning whether the tent is worth fixing, particularly if you’re planning to continue to use it in the high country.

John
Yes, BackpackingLight in Melbourne is part of the agents/importers group.
(sales@backpackinglight.com.au)

I imagine you were using the Easton poles with the SS2 (?)
Those poles are really only for fair weather situation, in the open/high-up you should use solid trekking poles if you want the shelter to stand up.
TT will have better (heavier...) "substitute" poles later on for folk that don't use trekking poles.

Thanks Franco
I will see if i can get some pole parts for my Habitat from Backpacking Light
Otherwise it will be an email to Michael.
We were very impressed by the stability of the Habitat.
It flapped and shuddered the least of the tent collection we had up there.

Our stuff, billys, water bottles and clothes, was being blown away and I mishandled
the Habitat while pulling it down, collapsing its frame in a gust.
Really I felt the Stratospire was outside of its design parameters
but it did shed wind well up till it flapped itself off the trekking poles,
flicking one completely away from the tent.
We took it down to avoid piercing the fabric.
Thanks
John

johnrs wrote:Really I felt the Stratospire was outside of its design parameters
but it did shed wind well up till it flapped itself off the trekking poles,
flicking one completely away from the tent.
We took it down to avoid piercing the fabric.

As someone who was tossing up between the SS and the Scarp not all that long ago, I'm glad I went with the Scarp. These sorts of real world experiences are so hard to find but your information is invaluable.

Hi Strider
How has your Scarp gone?
Have you had it out in high wind?
My all time bomber tent would be the old Macpac Minaret.
I felt the Stratospire would be a fine walking tent in most situations
but not up to the very severe weather of SW Tasmania or above the treeline anywhere.
John

johnrs wrote:Hi Strider
How has your Scarp gone?
Have you had it out in high wind?

Haven't even had it out yet! Soon though!

I had similar thoughts re: the Stratospire, but thought it would be a little more capable than you have depicted.

"Luxe Tent pole, paging Franco
Postby johnrs » Wed 23 Jan, 2013 12:35 pm
Luxe tents are a reasonably obscure brand from Michael Wong in Hong Kong"

We've got a cat cut hex Luxe tarp from BPL in Melb. Happy with it.
Robust enough for the 11 year old to use over his 1 man single skinned el-cheapo Darche tent, big enough for us to use as a sun shelter or a porch in front other tents. Haven't tried it over the hammock yet.
I considered swapping out the guy lines for some Zing It or similar for a lighter weight, but decided that I'd just use a cuben tarp for that purpose.

Sounds like you had a horrible night - pity there aren't some You Tube vids of you all running around like headless chooks that you can have a laugh about later!
Or was this a 'not fun to do and not fun to talk about later' experience?
/huggles

Our 1 man tent, Luxe tarp and the Nallo are currently adorning our back verandah, drying out a very wet Aust Day Long Weekend trip in Dharug NP. They may be there for a few days by the looks of the radar!