Arata AX-130

A tent that offers strength, lightness, and functionality without compromising on anything



Lightweight and Wind Resistance
A Challenge to Balance Contradictory Demands in a New Dimension

"Ensuring wind resistance suitable for use in mountainous regions above the treeline in all four seasons.""Providing a spacious environment for two people while keeping the weight as light as possible."

We have taken on the challenge of balancing these contradictory demands in a new dimension, distinct from existing tents.

At the very beginning of development, calculations of material weight quickly revealed that it was essential to adopt tent poles prioritizing lightness over strength. Finding a solution that achieves lighter tent poles while ensuring strength equal to or greater than existing mountaineering tents seemed a daunting task.

The history of mountaineering tents reveals that the current dome-shaped tent emerged over 50 years ago. Since then, pioneers have carefully selected materials of their times and continuously improved them to arrive at today's mountaineering tents. Seeking the solution to our challenge within the existing tent structures seemed difficult.

Drawing on our engineering experience, we brainstormed and worked with our hands, arriving at a unique sleeve-hub structure combined with a truss structure utilizing guy lines. The sleeve-hub is a revolutionary structure that combines the strengths of the sleeve and suspended methods, traditionally chosen as either-or by conventional tents. Furthermore, by combining it with a truss structure using guy lines, the tent's strength can be enhanced according to the weather conditions.

In terms of livability, which we prioritized as much as strength, we have made it attractive with our unique ideas. The depth of most mountaineering tents from Japanese brands, labeled for two people, ranges from 120cm to 127cm. In this context, the AX-130 boasts a spacious short side of 130cm. Additionally, with a width of 210cm, it provides a spacious floor area. By also incorporating a unique rear room space, we have maximized livability.

Despite offering such performance and livability, we have achieved a minimum weight of 1045g. This results in the largest floor area for a two-person mountaineering tent. The AX-130 is a new generation of Japanese mountaineering tents, allowing two people to enjoy ridgeline hiking with tent accommodations.

(*The average dimensions mentioned in the text are based on research by Arata.)

Technical Note
Here are the technologies and innovations we have incorporated into the AX-130:


Uses high-performance tent poles "DAC Featherlite NFL 8.7"

To achieve this weight without compromising on essential features, it was imperative to adopt the "DAC Featherlite NFL 8.7" poles for the AX-130, prioritizing lightness over strength.

However, DAC does not recommend using these poles for alpine use, where strong winds are prevalent. Therefore, a breakthrough was essential to make this pole suitable for an alpine tent.

In the graph below, the X-axis represents the weight per 40cm of the pole, and the Y-axis represents the second moment of area, illustrating the relationship between the weight and strength of DAC tent poles. (The farther to the upper left, the lighter and stronger; the farther to the lower right, the heavier and weaker.)


The DAC NFL 8.7 poles (blue square) used in the AX-130 are approximately 22% lighter compared to the DAC Featherlite NSL 8.5 poles (red square), which are commonly used in mountaineering tents of this size. However, this results in about a 17% reduction in strength.

To compensate for the reduced strength of the poles and to ensure the tent achieves the necessary robustness for alpine use, the AX series incorporates the following three innovative mechanisms into its structure:

1. **Sleeve-Hub Structure:** Combining the best aspects of sleeve and suspended methods, this design enhances the overall strength and stability of the tent.

2. **Truss Structure with Guy Lines:** Utilizing guy lines in a truss configuration allows for adjustable reinforcement based on weather conditions, significantly improving the tent's wind resistance.

3. **Unique Rear Room Space:** This addition not only enhances livability but also contributes to the structural integrity of the tent, providing additional support and stability.


1. Full sleeve inner tent x unique sleeve hub



In the AX series, sleeves are used to connect the inner tent and the poles. While the sleeve system is generally recognized for distributing the load on the poles more evenly compared to the hook system (suspended type) commonly seen in recent tents, arata believes its main advantage lies in limiting the deformation of the poles.

When a tent deforms due to wind, one side of the pole straightens while the other side bends more sharply. The sleeve restricts the shape into which the pole can deform, protecting the pole from excessive bending. However, in existing sleeve-style tents, the two sleeves are independent and do not support each other. This means that when one pole deforms due to wind, it is not supported by the other pole. This is a drawback of existing sleeve-style tents. In contrast, the hook system has the two poles connected at the center by a swivel, allowing them to support each other.

To combine the advantages of both sleeve and hook systems, arata developed the unique sleeve-hub structure. As shown in the above photo, the two sleeves are connected via a hub, allowing the two poles to support each other despite being in a sleeve system.

While entry-level users might find this structure seemingly difficult to set up, it actually allows for faster setup than the hook system because there is no need to attach individual hooks. Additionally, the flysheet, inner tent, and groundsheet can be pre-attached and set up simultaneously, offering a significant advantage during rainy weather.


2. Sleeve hub guy point



The AX series features attachment points for guy lines on the sleeve hub. As shown in the photo above, crossing the guy lines over the poles and pegging them down allows the two poles to be rigidly connected, similar to how they would be with a swivel in the hook system.

Using the optional emergency guy line kit can make this process even more convenient.




The sleeve hub guy line can be threaded through a hole at the top of the flysheet, allowing it to be anchored outside. Due to the large projected area on the long side of the AX-130, it is more susceptible to wind from the sides. The sleeve hub guy points, by pegging down the long sides from the highly displaced top of the tent, significantly enhance the tent's wind resistance. This is a unique mechanism developed by arata.

*Please note that guy ropes are not included with the sleeve hub guy points upon shipment. You can either purchase the optional emergency guy line kit or attach your own guy ropes cut to the appropriate length.*



3. Inner guylines



The AX Series inner tent has an inner guy rope installed on the inside of the short side. This has the same function as the reinforcement braces commonly seen in prefabricated buildings, and serves to prevent the tent from deforming due to wind from the long side.

In addition, the AX series can be equipped with an optional emergency guyline kit, which can dramatically increase the strength of the tent at the expense of internal space. We recommend carrying this kit especially when setting up a tent on a long-distance traverse where the weather is difficult to predict or in a location where the weather is prone to change.

Technical Specifications
Arata AX-130
Seasons: 4-season
Sleeping Capacity: 2-person
Packed Size: 24 x 17 x 12cm (L x W x H)
Minimum Trail Weight: 1045g
Floor Dimensions: 130 x 210cm (L x W)
Peak Height: 100cm
Number of Doors: 1 door (There is one other door for luggage.)
Pole Material: Aluminum DAC Featherlite NFL 8.7
Inner Fabric: 10D breathable nylon
Floor Fabric: 15D ripstop nylon silicone coated (PU1500)
Stake Material: DAC J-STAKE
Rainfly Fabric: 15D ripstop nylon with silicone coating (PU1200)

Close-up detail

Equipped with a spacious anteroom that is excellent for cooking and storing luggage.

Large door for easy access (mesh switchable)

There is a small window on the opposite side of the entrance that allows access to the rear room.

You can easily access the rear room from inside the tent. You can store hiking boots, crampons, and other items that are difficult to store inside the tent. By using a rear room ground sheet (sold separately), your luggage will not come into direct contact with the ground, making it more comfortable to use.

Equipped with ventilation with chimney-shaped mesh window Since nylon is not completely sealed, the risk of suffocation is reduced in the harsh winter when there is snow. It is designed to let in cold air through the mesh window below the entrance and let out warm air through the bottom.

The fly sheet entrance has a convenient double slider structure.

The top is equipped with a ventilation rod to improve ventilation. It is designed to prevent rain from entering even when the bag is open.

There are two mesh pockets on the left and right bottom short sides of the inside of the inner tent.