Luxe Sil-Hexpeak- First pitch (Successfully!)

[Podcast Bob]

Hi again Widu13, as I commented before (I think) I passed on your comments re the strange condition of your tabs and floor marks to Michael (the owner of Luxe) and he is as perplexed as I was. However rest assured he is aware of it and apologizes.

As it happens Michael the owner/designer of Luxe is actually 6 foot tall himself, so your comments ref them all being short ****'s isn't actually accurate. But an easy one to assume all the same

You might be interested to note that I am gathering all your comments and feedback along with many others to send to him with a few of my own to see what design changes can be made. It is a 12-18 month process so don't expect anything to change in the near future.

At 6'2" I find it acceptable, but I agree that it would be ideal for someone sub 6'. However I have slept in many much more expensive tents which have shorter limitations, so maybe we all need to balance that 'perfection' is a relative desire depending on what we know, read, see and personally experience. Before the Internet we just made our own decisions, now we have 1000's of people making them for us LOL!

 

[widu13]

Hi again Widu13, as I commented before (I think) I passed on your comments re the strange condition of your tabs and floor marks to Michael (the owner of Luxe) and he is as perplexed as I was. However rest assured he is aware of it and apologizes.

As it happens Michael the owner/designer of Luxe is actually 6 foot tall himself, so your comments ref them all being short ****'s isn't actually accurate. But an easy one to assume all the same

You might be interested to note that I am gathering all your comments and feedback along with many others to send to him with a few of my own to see what design changes can be made. It is a 12-18 month process so don't expect anything to change in the near future.

Hi Bob, don't get paranoid matey. I promised an honest warts n all review and this was it. I do actually like this tent, however I don't think it's right to withhold "bits" of information and I don't attribute them to you at all, but knowing what kit tarts are like in warehouses I suspect that something happened before it left China. The short ar$e comment was aimed squarely at me, but the fact remains that the AVERAGE build for someone in the Far East is of a smaller stature than ourselves.

It's good to know that the re-design/development process is ongoing. Luxe are so very nearly there with a spot on product and a little titivation will provide a class leader. For the taller person though this will have to include a longer nest and therefore a larger HP. Also make the hexagon footprint equal sided to "weather" better. Having said all of this it's great for me as it is, so I'm happy!

 

[Podcast Bob]

Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get me as Joseph Heller once said!

Your review was fair mate and it is pleasing to get a balance of such comments from all users and interests. It is actually one of the more fun parts of my work, evaluating suggestions and ideas on kit. Some good, some great and some .... er... interesting.

PS: I see where that Dwarves tag line comes from now :3

 

[akkw]

Man I so keep stopping myself putting the TS on my mental list, Not sure how I have coped tbh. Looks awesome from what I have seen

TS is Awesome!!

Nuff Said.

I also have a Sil HexPeak, but the difference in Quality is VERY VERY noticeable.

HexPeak is good and stable, but the TS is Bombproof.

HexPeak inner and overall manufacturing Quality is to my mind currently VERY questionable See Here

 

[pmposse]

Here's my thoughts and a couple of questions for you guys on the Hex.

I got the HexPeak a week ago and managed to take it out on Saturday for a wee wild camp on the moors up on the Dark Peak, at the time the pole was unavailable from backpackinglight so I borrowed a friend's MSR extendible pole, this has a pointed tip on the end that decided to cap with the only thing at hand, a Kinder egg capsule, because I was worried it might push through the roof.

As a barrel-chested fatso at 6'3 I was looking forward to the large amount of space to sit in the tent, the porch is, to put it simply, bloody massive when compared to my previous tents, but I had some problems with the inner I hope you guys can help with.
Try as I might I could not get the inner taught, which meant that all night I was shuffling down the tent to stop the inner flapping against my face, this meant that the bottom of my bag touched the outer during the night and so got a bit damp, I'm guessing this is caused by the length of the pole.
Does anyone have a recommendation on the correct height of the pole? I read 130cm, is this the consensus?
Is my concern about the apex of the tent correct? I thought I might round off the pole with some sugru or similar to 'spread the strain', is that a good idea?
I appreciate your responses!

 

[widu13]

I think my pole was about 132cm, but tbh i think you are too tall for this tent.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

 

[Jurassic]

I've used my Hex quite a few more times now and pitching does make a bit of a difference to how much space there is inside for taller users. If you nail it down tight to the ground it obviously reduces the amount of height available for your head and feet when lying down. This could be a bit of an issue as it's the best way to pitch in strong winds and also when using the tent without the inner (to reduce drafts). Conversely if you let more line out at the guying points and lengthen the pole a little it lifts the whole thing up giving more room for head and feet. I've also now started using the webbing straps as a template for putting in the first four pegs but once the tent is standing I disconnect them as this allows you to fine tune the pitch better (it also saves you from tripping over them when entering or exiting the tent). I find the extra guy points are good for holding out the side walls as well stabilising in strong winds, it means carrying more pegs but is well worth it imho.

In Kintyre with Shewie, Grooveski and Teepee.

Perched on the edge of a cliff on a solo trip in Argyle.

 

[Trig]

Was tempted by a silmini peak twice last year, and i managed to hold off. Got tempted again recently and decided to have a look and then i find the Hexpeak on BPL

I do have a rab Ridge Master (needs sold) and a Wild country zephyros though, so do i really need another tent. I did sell my old Vango tempest today however.....
Think ill need to sleep on this one and then keep the purchase quiet tommorrow

Would be handy if someone has a shot of the packed size, would like to see how small it rolls up.

 

[Jurassic]

Here's some video of my Hexpeak withstanding driving rain and 50mph winds a few weeks ago on a Scottish hill. The same night one of my companions had a DAC pole on his Vango Mirage bend, the Hexpeak moved about a fair bit but rode out the storm without problems.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10203665883030033&l=504193869856890071

 

[marra33]

Hi Jurassic, just found this thread, I'm wandering if you still have the video, if you could reupload it, that link does not work now.

I am just reading up on these tents, as I really really like the look of them, especially after my MSR Elixir got trashed in the wind the other week (about 30-35 knots)
so looking for something that is good in wind , easy to put up, and not going to cost the earth, this seems to tick most of the boxes, thanks for all the reviews from everyone

 

[sunndog]

Hi Jurassic, just found this thread, I'm wandering if you still have the video, if you could reupload it, that link does not work now.

I am just reading up on these tents, as I really really like the look of them, especially after my MSR Elixir got trashed in the wind the other week (about 30-35 knots)
so looking for something that is good in wind , easy to put up, and not going to cost the earth, this seems to tick most of the boxes, thanks for all the reviews from everyone

Mr jurassic hasnt been on since 1014 dude. Think you might be waiting a while for a reply

 

[marra33]

ahh bugger !!
thanks for letting me know
same goes for anyone else that a luxe sil hexpeak, or the mini lux ??
cheers in advance

 

[sunndog]

I'v got the older sil mini peak and love it. Its no 100mph mountain tent but Its stood up to some fair old winds here in the peaks, at around 2000ft in winter

If it dies i'll replace it with a hex peak straight away

Also, i meant 2014 not 1014

 

[marra33]

yeah, I have been checking out quite a few vids on youtube for the luxe series, I do like them a lot, however I have enough saved that I think the hilleberg soulo is going to be my number one tent when I buy it next month, but I am sorely tested to buy the luxe for my summer / half decent weather tent

 

[sunndog]

That hillberg is a mighty fine tent and a different league to luxe i'm sure. Quite a bit smaller and heavier than a hex peak though from a quick google

The sil mini peak is my lightweight tent. uses a walking pole and i can almost fully kneel up inside it. Plus like the hex peak theres a loop on top to suspend it from a branch or external frame....for its pack size it really is massive inside without the pole or inner tent, not trying to sell you one just giving some reasons i like it

 

[marra33]

yep, and it for those very reasons that I am mightily tempted to get one for my back up / summer tent, but as I found out last month, the top or even highish up on the fells, can be pretty unforgiving on a tent that is not quite upto the task , as my MSR ELIXIR 2 found out in 30 + Knot winds, hence the need for a bomber tent and a lightweight nice sunny day tent