Luxe X-Rocket Tent

[Drifting]

Has anyone used one of these tents? I've seen Franco's write ups about them, but was wondering if there was any other feedback.

http://www.hikelight.com.au/prod40.htm

[Drifting]

Luxe tents- anyone????

[crockle]

Luxe - sure, but not a model quite as 'versatile' as that X-Rocket there.

I have taken a Luxe Pelican on the OT for 9 days in September - all camping, no huts - and was pretty comfortable.
Luxe Pelican: - http://www.luxeoutdoor.com/eng/catalog- ... th=/12/114

I think Luxe make a really superior 'cheap n cheerful' tent. That they have an active (even eccentric) design staff is obvious - each year sees them coming out with new designs - some nice and radical .
And the quality of manufacture is not bad at all. By no means are they 'Tier 1' tents (Macpac, Hilleberg, MSR, etc etc) - but they are nicely put together.
The eccentrics may be in charge of their website too, which is basically a collection of JPEGs, rather than traditionally navigable product information.

They are Hong Kong based - for some reason I thought the R&D /testing etc was done in Korea, but perhaps it is China.
For availability in OZ - you are probably only going to find them in stock at Backpacking Light in Melbourne (retail arm of Wildside Design, the Luxe importers).

Edit: Luxe used to have loads of videos of their tents on youtube - looks like there are still one or 2 there..

[Franco]

All of the web site "design" photos and videos are done in house.The same two guys you see in the video, Michael and Alex.

The design and prototypes are made in Hong Kong , the tents further North.

Testing is done around Hong Kong as well as China and Tibet, occasionally here in Australia.

The poles used by Luxe are made by Yunan in Korea.

Franco

[crockle]

You know the guys involved Franco (and the tents) ?

Bushwalking in Hong Kong - now there's a challenge ..

[Franco]

yes I do know the guys...

This is Michael and me in my backyard.
The tent behind is the Speedup, a design that I suggested to Michael and that he made it happen.
Another one that I had some input is the Lightwave , kind of odd because it is not too different from the TT Scarp and Moment but my bit had nothing to do with the basic design (end supported single hoop) but with some details that are not used by Henry at Tarptent.
See it here :
http://www.luxeoutdoor.com/eng/index.asp
I have the two versions of the Rocket as well as the Speedup and the Mini Peak II, but I am familiar with several other models.
Have a look at the "misty camp" clip. That is in Hong Kong... (the territory not the City) That was the first outing of the Lightwave prototype.
Franco

[Drifting]

Could you fit 2 50cmx180cm pads side-by-side in that Pelican?

[crockle]

No way. ( is my immediate response without even checking the length or width of anything ). The Pelican is a one person tent. The "1.5 persons" in the ad would have to be emergency only. Or extraordinarily enthusiastic honeymooners.

Bear in mind that the tent pictured above by Franco is not a Pelican, and a much more recent Luxe tent

[Drifting]

I had a tumbleweed 6yo daughter in mind. She's like sleeping next to a Tasmanian devil in full feeding frenzy LOL

Thanks!

[Drifting]

The Spider II
http://www.luxeoutdoor.com/eng/catalog- ... th=/12/134

and the Habitat
http://www.luxeoutdoor.com/eng/catalog- ... th=/12/134

Both look intriguing. Anyone have any experience with these?

Bummer their inner pitch first though, but you can't have everything (unless you buy a Hilleberg..)

[crockle]

Quite like the look of both of those. Nice too that you will typically pay 1/2 to 1/3 the sticker price of 'some other brands' to take ownership and see if it really suits you ..

But it sounds like Franco is the man here - and may know either or both models

My 6 year old sleeps pretty quietly - until she turns over.
Then beware the flailing windmill arms right to the head ..

[crockle]

yes I do know the guys...

In that case Franco, seems like I've previously called both them and you possibly 'eccentric' - to no end offense I hope .
I actually really enjoy their profusion of designs - which are never less than interesting.
My last tent purchase (diff. brand) didn't turn out too well in the end - when my next moment arrives and if I can't afford a Tarptent, Terra Nova or Hilleberg , I'd be happy to buy another Luxe I think. (The Pelican these days has a bent pole-set and a dodgy zip).

Enjoyed the "Misty Camp" video [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFTqb5GR6iw ] , though my 'eccentric' view seems reinforced : -
Why is the individual's packweight for an overnighter "only 25 kg" ? !!! 25kg - Good grief!
Why do they leave the city at 10.30pm in order to get to their remote destination, only to break camp and head back at 9.00 the following morning? Seems harsh !
Why is the music so *appallingly* edited?
Rhetorical questions I might add - no I like their style , even if a bit unorthodox.
Just the fact that they seem non-corporate and have some obvious passion in their approach - I like.

[Franco]

Crockle
I take "eccentric" as a compliment. I would hate to be normal. Don't you read the papers ? look at what normal people do...

For a couple of years both the local distributor and me (independently) had tried to get luxe to use silnylon.
This fabric is a lot more expensive and difficult to work with than PU coated nylon and polyester but stronger and lighter.
So when Michael finally put together the Lightwave prototype, Alex took it up for a spin on the first possible occasion. That happened to be after work...
Alex is a gear freak. He has his own gear room at the Luxe office.
He is very much into ligfhtweight gear, so he has loads and loads of LW stuff. And that is how he ends up with 25kg on his back...

"when my next moment arrives and if I can't afford a Tarptent" (never heard of the other brands you mention)
My Moment right now is in the Great Lake region in the USA. A mate is using it. He bought one but I had no stock...
At the moment I am out of Moments but may get some at the end of next week when Henry Shires (Tarptent) gets back from a few days off.
I don't actually sell them but kind of fiddle with them...
Franco
Yesterday I shot a video on the Rainshadow. Might edit that today. It will look at least as bad as the Luxe stuff.

[Drifting]

eccentric is best. No question about it!

Jack Kerouac:

They danced down the streets like dingledodies, and I shambled after as I've been doing all my life after people who interest me, because the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones that never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!"

[crockle]

Yeah!

[north-north-west]

What's a dingledody?

[Lizzy]

What's a dingledody?

Dingledodies is a word Jack Kerouac invented to describe life-affirming weirdos
http://www.chortle.co.uk/shows/edinburg ... ngledodies

[johnw]

The Spider II
http://www.luxeoutdoor.com/eng/catalog- ... th=/12/134

and the Habitat
http://www.luxeoutdoor.com/eng/catalog- ... th=/12/134

Both look intriguing. Anyone have any experience with these?

Bummer their inner pitch first though, but you can't have everything (unless you buy a Hilleberg..)

Well sort of. Hikelight/Backpacking Light have had a couple of attempts at retail stores in Sydney. Quite a few years ago we wanted a reasonable quality lightweight 2 man dome for overnighters. The Luxe Spider was a contender and I ended up setting it up myself in their shop and playing around with it. Easy to erect and quite good quality although, as you said, inner pitch first. The downside for me was it was a bit narrow internally. Tried it out with 2 of us plus mats and felt a bit cramped so passed. Other than that I would have bought it.

[crockle]

What's a dingledody?

Dingledodies is a word Jack Kerouac invented to describe life-affirming weirdos
http://www.chortle.co.uk/shows/edinburg ... ngledodies

I think Kerouac only ever made use of 'his new word' early on, in On The Road (first chapter or 2?).

Google tells me that some guy called Russell Howard (as per link above) is the current Lord and Master of J.K's aforesaid made-up word.
One day, kids will search for words and lines from Blake and Tennyson and simply be informed of the most recent ad campaign / politician / comedian / boy band / to have recently copped the verbiage for their own purposes

Easy to erect and quite good quality although, as you said, inner pitch first. The downside for me was it was a bit narrow internally.

I'd second that observation from the Luxe I have and another I've been in - but it could suit Drifting anyway - with only a 6- year old to consider as person no. 2 ?

[crockle]

like sleeping next to a Tasmanian devil in full feeding frenzy..

A violent carnivorous 6 year old I might add

[Drifting]

Perhaps if I got her a child-sized air mat, it could work. But I'm plus sized anyhow, so I'd be better with a full 2-person tent I think. Some of them are only 2kg, with is a 1.8kg saving off of my current tent anyhow.