I just got off the phone with Tsuchiya-san at OD Box in Tokyo. He called to tell me that their new single-wall tent, the Uno, a collaboration between OD Box's ultralight promoters and MontBell, is hitting the shelves today. It weighs in a 760 g !!!!! (27 oz). If the typhoon doesn't come rolling in this weekend I'm going to head into Tokyo to take a look... I was hoping it would be ready before I left for Europe! (^u^)/"

Edited by butuki on 07/13/2007 01:39:44 MDT.

Looks like the Arai Raizu 1 that's been around for years:

http://www.arai-tent.co.jp/lineup/shelter/raiz1.html

but the Shelter 11 is lighter than the Raizu 1:

http://www.arai-tent.co.jp/lineup/shelter/shelter2.html#a

But if the new MB has mesh at both ends then it may be an improvement on these ...

Arapiles, yes, I've seen just about every tent available in Japan, going all the way back to the mid-70's. I can't say anything more about the Uno because I haven't seen it yet. It just came out today. The Arai Shelter is a cool tent, but it's not nearly as spacious as the Uno, plus the Uno weighs 760g with two poles. That's impressive. From what Mr. Tsuchiya said when I talked with him about the tent early in June, the design was based on the BD Firstlight. The purpose of the design was to provide a completely waterproof tent that could be used above treeline. I'm not sure if it is breathable; will have to find out when I visit the store. I'm also not sure if they will offer a side entrance version, which I much prefer.

Edited by butuki on 07/13/2007 04:20:04 MDT.

Any idea on the floor dimensions? I hope they make it a sufficient size for us taller folks.

Steven, it's Friday night here (Friday morning in the States) and there's a very powerful typhoon approaching. Not sure if it will even be possible to get into Tokyo tomorrow. Depending on conditions, if I can get to Tokyo I will definitely go take a look at the tent and let everyone know about details. As I told Brett earlier today, if the typhoon hits then maybe it will be good time spent on practicing extreme tarp pitching skills!

Miguel,
No need to risk life and limb for the tent size. When you get a chance, let us know - there may be potential for more Montbell points and Beer money for you and Brett...if I fit.

Steve

If this puppy is breathable my search for a lightweight tent has finally reached the motherlode.

:-) That's what I was hoping, too!

Gee-zzz! 760 grams total! I may have my solo tent, if it has a roof vent and door mesh.. I wonder if that is dry-tec, or what?
Ben, you are the tent guru; you excited yet?

I'd be more excited if I knew this would fit a 6 foot (plus) Gaijin.
Why do I have the feeling that the length of this will only accommadate a pre-war generation Japanese alpinist? :-)>

Do find out the full specs and post---Typhoon be #x#!!!&% darned! This is for the cause! if this isn't made with a W/B material of some sort, this configuration of shelter (w/ the venting options of a Firstlight-style tent) will be a condensation trap.

Edited by kdesign on 07/13/2007 10:25:15 MDT.

Wow! 1lb 10oz!

Can't wait to hear about the fabric spec...

I'm a little rusty on my Japanese... what are the dimensions?

If the weather is right Brett and I, two of the three MB Pimps/ Stooges (Ben being the third), will very likely be meeting at OD Box either tomorrow or Sunday to look at the tent and talk shop. We'll try to take photos and get dimensions and report back to you.

Kevin, I'm worried about the material not being breathable, too. We'll see. And you may very well be right about the size... can't see why they still stick to old dimensions. Japanese men are getting very tall these days.

Edited by butuki on 07/13/2007 10:35:34 MDT.

Yes, I want to know what Montbell is paying the 3 of you and how I can get a piece of the action. :-D

As for the Typhoon (does it have a name, yet?), excellent opportunity for testing out your hardshells. You can give us a report on these, too, hee, hee.

I will be in Tokyo for business meetings during the week of July 23rd. Where is OD Box located? I would like to find time to stop in and see if a 6'2" american body will fit in that new tent. I have a Zoid 1 now, but wow, 27oz...

Dave,
While performing your length test, check to see if a 6'3" Canadian body would fit in there - much appreciated.
Steve

Miguel - Thanks for posting. Please report back with more details!

Yes Brett... I am excited. If this thing is wp/b -- and if the dimensions are big enough to keep all four walls away from my bag -- I may just buy one!

Edited by ben2world on 07/13/2007 12:18:21 MDT.

Miguel

Yes, if it has a breathable fabric that'd be an improvement over the previous offerings from Arai - but from the photo that fabric looks a lot like the UL Ballistic nylon used on their zelts. What was the weight of the Nippin breathable alpine tent?

Edit: this is the zelt I was thinking of:

http://webshop.montbell.jp/goods/disp.php?product_id=1122281

Kevin

Actually a pre-war generation alpinist would probably be taller than a post-war one - the loss of height was due to post-war malnutrition ... and yes, they do need to update their clothes sizing.

Edited by Arapiles on 07/13/2007 14:58:55 MDT.

A little poking around on Yahoo Japan found this:

http://item.rakuten.co.jp/artodbox/10039210/

As before, weight is 760 grams.

Dimensions are 200 cm x 100 cm x 95 cm high.

Packed size is 8 cm x 27 cm.

Canopy is 15 denier Ballistic Airlight ripstop nylon with a urethane coating.

Groundsheet is 30 denier ripstop nylon with a urethane coating.

Frame is featherlite shock-corded 8.5 mm poles

That isn't a WPB fabric unfortunately.

From this photo you can see that it does appear to have a half-mesh door (which they seem to be referring to as the ventilator) and an eye-brow vent (which is a good addition).

The black text at the bottom is a series of warnings saying that this isn't an ordinary tent - it says that the fabric isn't at all breathable so you can't leave it zipped up, it can't be used in winter because snow might block the ventilator and it's very fragile so it could be torn on rocks.

Sigh.... :-(