Sunday 14 December 2008

The Akto Standard of Measurement

Mike borrowed his Slik tripod back for a few days. Despite the fact that I hadn’t used it for a while, taking most of the recent Honey Stove videos using the Velbon 2nd hand tripod. I did get some good shots with the Velbon but it isn’t as stable or good looking. I felt that I needed to have a decent stable tripod for myself. Something that looks right and feels right.

A look at the named brands found a sale on the heavyweight Slik Pro 700DX kit. Although the head on offer is different from the one in the video (via a review link from photographyreview.com), it sealed the deal. I ordered from fotosense.co.uk despite others having similar deals. I had used them before, and they have free shipping.

That is almost 2 Aktos in weight. At under half and Akto in price.

I aim to do away with kilograms and pounds and weigh everything in relation to my tent. I did that when buying my Scarpas. The cut-off weight was the Akto’s weight (approx 1.5kg). It ties in with the ‘beer standard’ used in “White Dwarf” years ago.

And I haven’t even had my breakfast yet.

19 comments:

BG! said...

So now we have the Akto as the standard unit for mass, and the Wales as the standard unit for area. Any suggestions as to what we should use as our yard-stick for time?

Londonbackpacker said...

Hammer Time!!!!

Martin Rye said...

Laser Competition Man would be 950g comparison weight. It makes sense you know :)

AktoMan said...

@BG - I was going to suggest time to drop the tent, but I am still laughing at george's suggestion. Well done, George.

@Martin - sorry, what was that? Something about a tarp? ;-)

BG! said...

LMAO @ George :-)

@Martin: What's a Laser Competition? Some sort of Vader/Skywalker encounter?

AktoMan said...

Your Jedi mind tricks don't work on us, young Martin. The Akto is the best lightweight tent ;-)

Martin Rye said...

In a Galaxy long, long ago maybe. We are in the 21st Century now :)

Laser Competition
Laser
MSR Hubba HP
Scarp 1

The list goes on and on ;)

AktoMan said...

Metre, centimetre, millimetre, etc. The list goes on and on. ;-)

There is nothing to stop you from calculating the weight based on one AktoMass.

AktoMan said...

Go for it, Martin ... You know you want to
;-0

Martin Rye said...

If they added 10cm, top and end poles to the hight, and lost 200g of weight - I would return to the fold. Till then I am staying with the Dark side.

AktoMan said...

Aye, a lot of people would be interested if there was an Akto(L).

As to material weight, well, that leads to a question of updating manufacturing processes to keep up with modern developments. And also that some people might think a lighter material is therefore a weaker one.

I can't say that I've heard of anyone having had an LC tear, have you?

Martin Rye said...

No and the fact the laser and Akto have the same weight of material is a surprise to lots of folks. I would like to see a new Akto come out as the Scarp 1 will push it hard and take a lot of orders of Hilleberg. I like the look of the Scarp 1 and the MSR Hubba hp. I think I need a tent make over.

AktoMan said...

Don't give in to the Dark Side, Martin. You don't need a new tent just because of a few grammes saving. There's enough of that nonsense pushed already. Only buy one when you need a replacement. Tents aren't like mobile phones.

Martin Rye said...

I do. Not to save weight just as I want more room and wont save any weight. Just looking at the moment. Might not and might. We will see. Had mine a year and half and fancy a change to be honest. I get like that after a while.

MSR Hubba HP or Scarp 1 look good.

AktoMan said...

Just make sure you get free Internet access with it. Oops, you're still talking about lightweight tents ;-)

BG! said...

I may never go solo-backpacking again, as my preferred tent weighs in at 1.6Am and it's likely that I'll be hounded off the hills by ULW gurus toting fiery brands and titanium pitchforks.

Or I could go anyway, and when I've pitched it, I could paint the words "Feck Off and mind yer own" on the fly.

AktoMan said...

LOL - and rightly said, BG!

It seems that some people like stirring up a storm in a titanium teapot. Some have a vested interest, but a lot is just friendly information being read the wrong way. And some is by people going on the offensive, tired of reading about new kit. In the last case, the simple answer is to stop reading about new kit. Advertising supports the magazines, and some online blogs and many online forums. Obviously it is in their interest to get people talking about and buying new kit. Maybe it is the price that new media has to pay as it develops itself?

Martin Rye said...

BG, plus 1.5 kilo tents is so old hat. You need a 2g tarp and 0.1g tent pegs ;)Don't forget the 1g Pepsi can for a stove :)

AktoMan said...

And you can now see where this is going officially on the Monty Python channel
;-)