James Roddie finds the versatile Bach Apteryx impressively spacious, quick to pitch and lightweight for a 4 season option that stands up well in windy conditions.
The Bach Apteryx 2 is a tunnel-shaped tent intended for 4 season use. With a maximum weight of 2790g this is a lightweight 4 season tent, whilst being impressively spacious for the weight. I was particularly impressed with the vestibule, which provides an extremely large space for storage. There are two doors in the vestibule, providing easy access to the tent, and these can be opened and secured in a variety of ways. In warm conditions or fine weather, the entire vestibule can be rolled back to the entrance of the inner. It is a versatile and effective design.
- Stars: 4
- Price: £850 (available from bach-equipment.com)
- Weight: 2790g including poles/pegs/stuff sack
- Pros: Durable, versatile, quick to pitch
- Cons: Expensive
Pitching: Inner and flysheet as one unit | Flysheet: 30D ripstop nylon | Inner: 15D ripstop nylon | Groundsheet: 40D ripstop nylon with TPU laminate | Poles: 3 | Pegs: 8 twisted Y pegs (16cm), 4 irregular Y pegs (24cm) | Porches: 1 | Inner Dimensions: 135cm (W) x 220cm (L) x 115cm (H)
Pitching is quick and intuitive. The three poles are colour coded to make it easy to find the corresponding pole sleeve. Pitching can be done with the inner and flysheet as a unit, or flysheet first if required. The gap between the bottom of the flysheet and the ground is very small, even when pitching the tent on bumpy and uneven ground.
The BACH Apteryx 2 in the wilds of Norway. Credit: BACH Equipment
Along with the bathtub-style floor of the inner, this ensures that draughts are kept to a minimum. Overall I was impressed with how this tent performed in windy conditions, even when not pitched at quite the right angle in relation to the wind. There is a kickstand vent at either end of the tent to help with airflow, and large mesh panels in the inner help with ventilation.
The inner feels spacious, allowing ample room for two people and plenty of head-room. There are six large stash pockets in the inner, providing some of the most ‘stash space’ I have ever come across in a tent of this type. I also really liked the double stash pockets for the inner door.
James Roddie testing the BACH Apteryx 2 tent during a Scottish winter. Credit: James Roddie
The materials feel high quality and durable throughout. I did think that the floor material felt a little thinner than I would like for pitching on rough or stony ground, but this helps keep the overall weight down. A full length footprint can be purchased separately, but unfortunately this is very expensive at £150.
Overall this is a versatile, lightweight and spacious tent, ideal for use in a variety of conditions.
Read more: Our gear reviewers put the best one-person backpacking tents to the test.
Tested by James Roddie
James is a wildlife photographer and guide based in Inverness. He has been hillwalking and climbing in Scotland since 2007 and is nearing the end of his first round of Munros. Highlights of his outdoors career have included first ascents of rock-climbs in Glencoe, backpacking in the Yosemite backcountry, and perfect winter days on the Cuillin Ridge. He tested the Bach Apteryx 2 in November 2023 at home in the Highlands.
