Bikepacking — camping with a two-wheel support vehicle — relies on much of the same equpiment as backpacking with a few subtle differences. Often, those subtle design quirks make all the difference in how and where you can pack your gear. Now, Swiss newcomer Aper has its sights set on one of the most challenging pieces of gear for bikepackers: The tent.
The all-new Apex 1 will be, in the company’s words, “the most packable bikepacking tent.” By the numbers, the clever solo shelter looks to be just that with a modular design that allows for maximum packability. Packing just the fly (sleeping on bare ground), the compression bag, the support pole, and seven pegs totals just 490 grams (a little more than a pound). Scaling up to add the floor and inner tent makes for an all-in kit that weighs 790 grams or just under 1.75 pounds for us Statesiders. The entire affair packs down into a single bundle that includes the pole and pegs, plus a one-liter compression bag with roughly the same volume as a standard Nalgene water bottle.
We’ve seen numerous crowdfunded hiking and bikepacking gear projects come and go over the years. But, this one is backed by Fabian Furrer, who’s an avid bikepacker, industrial designer, and former Head of Design for Equipment and Footwear at Mammut Sports Group.
The Swiss-made Apex1 is currently available for pre-order through Kickstarter. Early bird investors can score one for 420 Swiss Francs (approximately USD $530) ahead of the tent’s 560 Swiss Franc (USD $700) retail price. As of this writing, the company has already doubled its crowdfunding goal in less than a month, so there’s a good chance this project sees production.
