by Tortoise » Sat 28 Jul, 2018 8:39 pm
I have a Hilleberg Akto (red label) and a WE First Arrow (the lighter, larger 2014 or 2015 version, which I think is the current one).
FWIW, the Akto is sturdier, in terms of poles & floor (and the rest of it iirc), than the First Arrow.
I LOVE the design of the First Arrow, as a tweaked tunnel with side entry. Much easier to get in and out during wild weather without getting any water/snow in the inner, IMO. I love the flexibility of increasing the size of the vestibule for cooking etc, or increasing the size of the inner for sleeping.
I hope they've fixed the toggle problem I had. Some loops were waaaaay to big, so the toggles would fall out during packing/unpacking, when I wanted to keep fly and inner attached. Other loops, notably the ones that are used to change the size of the vestibule, were waaaaay too small. It took me forever with warm dry fingers at home to get the toggles in and out of them. Next to impossible with cold fingers and damp loops. I ended up partially sewing up the big loops to make them smaller, and unpicking part of the small loops to make them bigger. Figured I shouldn't have to do that with a tent of that price. I actually got a fantastic deal on it by checking out specials on the internet, and having a more local shop kindly match the price to another real-life store interstate. Very helpful when I also had a problem with one of the zips being very hard to use. Got it fixed pretty well under warranty.
Not sure re taller people like yourselves. The bottom end isn't wide, so just check the specs. But I'm sure it's made for people much taller than us!
The only other thing I'd mention is that I'm a bit concerned with what happens when the wind changes direction, as it often does in Tassie. Maybe it's more predictable in winter? The First Arrow is a great design if oriented properly with the wind, but that could change. I personally would feel a bit more secure in a multi-pole-crossing dome for true 4 season use - which of course will be heavier. With the give in the SIL nylon when wet/cold, you'd probably need to tighten the guy lines at some point, especially if you end up with the wind hitting you broadside.
I've had small dumps of snow on the First Arrow, and have needed to push it off from below to prevent collection and sagging. That may have been because I didn't get up and tighten the guys, toasty and snug as I was.