Snow Peak Alpha Breeze 4 Tent Overview, Set Up, Awning & Takedown

This video provides an overview and set up/take down steps for the Snow Peak Alpha Breeze 4 family/group camping tents. cirq-rentals.c...
cirq-rentals.com

[@cdesfusa]

I'm an avid backpacker and camper, and watch a lot of tent videos on KZbin. This is by far one of the best demos I've ever seen. Well done, congratulations on a fine job

[@CirqRentals]

Thanks Gerry! We really appreciate it! We're always working to get better and add more value with each video. Taking inspiration from the Alpha Breeze definitely helps. Happy camping!

[@DustyTail]

I was thinking same.

[@gregp-h6242]

Great detailed video. I wanted to compare with the amenity dome I currently have and this video provides so much more nuance of the tent functions than are apparent on dealer websites. SP added a lot of value in small but smart function to this alpha breeze over the amenity dome that I think it makes for a worthwhile upgrade. Both great tents, so I’ll keep both in the arsenal. Thanks again for the content!

[@CirqRentals]

Hi Greg, Thanks so much! You really can't go wrong with either of these tents, both are really well designed and offer great complementary features. Even better to have BOTH in your quiver! Glad you found value and enjoyed the video. Happy camping!

[@DustyTail]

Just got mine. Hate reading half discript instructions. This video is…AWESOME! Thanks .

[@habituallinestepper8839]

Love this tent. It’s on my wishlist.

[@CirqRentals]

It’s a beaut! And, so functionally breezy. Let us know if you have any questions on it or help with renting or buying one when the time is right. Happy camping!

[@yuriorozco9016]

I just purchased the snow peak and im excited to put this together. Your video is my instruction manual, so clear and simple. Im only confused about the knots that go on the vestibule. Do you have any videos on that or can point me to one?

[@ksussl]

Thank you for this video. I feel so much more confident about setting it up on my own :-)

[@CirqRentals]

Thanks for the note and glad the video helped you out! Enjoy your airy new tent and have a blast camping!

[@ksussl]

@@CirqRentals As a short person, throwing the rainfly didn't work, however, I tied a guy line to it and threw that over the tent and was able to pull it over and set it up that way instead. Thanks again:🙂

[@CirqRentals]

Great adaptation and suggestion, thanks for sharing! We'll work that suggestion into future videos and I'll use it on some of our taller/larger family tents as well! The other trick I've done in the past is to just drape the rainfly over the tent assembly just before I elevate the poles (depending on the tent of course). If I know I'm using the fly, it can make that step a little easier too. Thanks for sharing your rainfly technique and glad you were able to get out and enjoy your Alpha Breeze!

[@ldc89]

Hey love the video. I think this might be the best showing of a solo pitch on the Alpha Breeze. I’m curious. How wide is the awning?

[@CirqRentals]

Thanks, Luke! Glad you enjoyed the video. We don't currently have one set up and we haven't documented the exact width of the awning/opening at the front. We'll note to measure that and report back here in the comments at some point in the future with and EXACT measurement. I imagine you're trying to mate it to a vehicle, tarp or adjacent awning opening so you probably need a precise measure. Generally speaking from use, I'd share its roughly 2m/6ft opening. We'll get a more precise number for you in the future. Most people can fit a couple of chairs and small table under the vestibule/awning area. Thanks, and happy camping!

[@DoritosResidue]

I hope they make a bigger alpha breeze with a bit more foot print and head room (not in height but square footage). Good video. Visually we can scale the size easily.

[@CirqRentals]

A bigger Alpha Breeze would be sweet! Definitely share your thoughts with Snow Peak. They take great pride in listening to and taking inspiration from their customers. The Alpha was born from those same types of conversations. A Six or 8 Person version of the Alpha would be great. The Land Lock or Zekka may be a good alternative in their current line up. Happy Camping!

[@kronika1111]

Hi there, thank you for this video. Quick question, around the 11:00 mark - Do you think I can attach the back part of the tent to the rear of my crossover? (Audi Q3) so I can perhaps use it for car camping?

[@nawwk79]

$40 per day is quite a good deal for such a big and versatile tent.

[@CirqRentals]

Thanks Minimalist! Our goal is to help get more people outside with their friends and families, and to make some of this higher end gear even more accessible. Pricing changes dynamically through the season and we of course factor in the free shipping & return shipping. Definitely an art & science. It's always good to hear that we are in the right ballpark on our pricing & value proposition! Thanks for sharing and happy camping!

[@itsmejerkface]

Hey there! Are the AB's guylines reflective? Thanks!

[@CirqRentals]

Hi L, no as we recall they are not reflective unless SP has updated them for latest release. They are thicker, burlier guy out lines than most so they will likely last a long time. You could replace them with thinner reflective guy outs (we like Sea to Summit & MSR) of course or sometimes we'll use reflective tape (often found in cycling departments) glow sticks, or small led lights, placed at strategic locations to help kids & adults see them at night when our guy outs are non-reflective. Hope this helps and happy camping!

[@itsmejerkface]

Thanks for the speedy reply! Reflective tape...genius.

[@dhrtiwalter8670]

So it’s hot during summer? Even with all that ventilation? Can you suggest a different tent around this size for summer?

[@CirqRentals]

Hi Dhrti, thanks for reaching out. We must have said something confusing in the video because we'd all put this tent at or near the top of the list for summer ventilation. It might have been our comment about the full coverage rainfly-which is a good thing for weather. Any tent with the fly on during summer will get a little steamy. Highly recommend removing the fly entirely if you can safely expect dry weather, or at least rolling up the sides/doors so that you keep the shade but allow airflow laterally. Often I'll leave the fly off all day and then put it on at night just before bed in case of an evening shower and to trap some of the evening warmth. You can also consider pitching the tent under a tarp that is pitched higher above the tent (than the fly would be) and going w/o the fly. That way you keep the shade but promote maximum venting and breeze. The Big House 4 does have a shorter side to the rainfly which promotes some airflow but it doesn't have the side mesh door/window openings that the alpha incorporates. For ventilation, we'd rank the Breeze first then BH4/6.

[@dhrtiwalter8670]

@@CirqRentals thank you much! You read my mind lol BH is on my list lol. The Aloha Breeze is in my top three! I’m only concerned about all the verbiage in the owner manual under preparations before use about waterproofing. “A waterproofing treatment with seam taping has been applied to the stitching of the tent. However the ventilator and fasteners on the Fly and part of the bottom sheet cannot be treated with the seam tape due to their inherent design. Though capable during periods of normal rain, long spells of heavy or driving rain, or prolonged contact with water pools on the ground, may result in the penetration of water along the stitching. In such cases the application of seam sealer is recommended.” In another video, he resealed the whole rain fly after hardly any use out in the sun. Do you have any feedback about the waterproofing or seam sealer that I sure need to know before I rent or buy this tent. Thank you!

[@CirqRentals]

Hi Dhrti, it is interesting that SP doesn't just go ahead and apply the seam sealer to those 'hard to tape' areas given their overall quality, attention to design and customer experience. That one baffled us a bit as well. We should also mention this is somewhat common in the industry, I just think SP is more forthcoming with acknowledging thea areas they can't tape/seal in the sewing process. On the plus, the sealers wear out over time, so by applying it yourself you know it hasn't been sitting in a warehouse for 2 years and loosing its effectiveness. We've run the Alpha both ways; Some of our tents have had no seam sealer treatment applied and others we've treated the areas depicted in the owner's manual (we plan to do a video on this in the future). The seam sealer is definitely recommended but I can honestly say we haven't had any issues with the untreated tents under normal conditions, either in our use or in feedback from our rental customers. I wouldn't let this be a deterrent to you in considering the Alpha Breeze. We recommend resealing and retreating rainflies and tents with DWR about every 2-5 years anyway as a way of prolonging the life and quality of the tents and treatment. It takes some time but is not difficult and a good skill to have for all your outdoor gear (jackets, tents, tarts, etc.). Let us know if you have any other questions and happy camping!

[@woolengrappler]

What are the interior dimensions of the tent?

[@CirqRentals]

Hi Woolengrappler, great question. The interior height is 6.1'/186cm, Interior length: 9.1' /278 cm, 8.5', Interior width: 8.5'/258cm. Happy Camping!

[@jacobpetersen5662]

What knots do I use for the guy lines on that metal ring? Thanks.

[@CirqRentals]

Hi Jacob! You've just opened up a whole chapter of the internet -> "the best knot for...". It is a great question and sorry we didn't include in the video! There are a million videos on this subject on YT you can check out, that are way better qualified that me, but personally I like to keep it as simple as possible: For most of my tent and tarp guy out lines, I just tie a loop at the end w/o the adjustment tensioner. I make the loop big enough (say 1-2 inches tall) that I can girth hitch it around the metal loop or guy out anchor on the tent. In making the loop I usually just use a simple overhand knot on a bight, or if I expect the need to untie it later, I might use a bowline or a figure 8 on a bight (which are both easier to untie after loading). I'm sure you know the girth hitch, but it just means I pass the loop end through the anchor point and then I pass the other end of my guy out line back through it's own loop and then pull it all the way through to 'girth hitch' the line to the anchor. Then I use the tensioner adjustment on the stake side to fine tune the pitch. I like the girth hitch because it's easy to 'un-girth' without untying anything when I'm taking the tent down if I don't want to leave the lines attached to the tent. The next time I want to use it the loop is already tied and I can quickly girth it back onto any anchor point w/o tying anything. On personal tents, I usually just leave them attached to the fly semi-permanently. This loop method also makes it easy to use another trick/hack that I love, especially for tarps; and that is the quick release stick tension method. Here I'll pass the loop end through the grommet on a tarp (or maybe a guy out anchor on a tent), then I'll take a small piece of stick (1/4-1/2 inch 5-10cm) in diameter and 1-2 inches 25-50mm in length and pass it through the loop on the other side of the grommet/tarp. Once I tension the line on the stick, the stick holds the pressure and provides a wider area for the load on the tarp. It serves two functions - one is quick release. To drop the tarp or anchor point, I just relieve a little pressure and slide the stick out of the loop and the loop passes through the grommet or anchor point. It's like having a carabiner on every anchor w/o the need to buy/carry store all that gear. Just pick up small sticks at camp! The second benefit is that it protects the grommets and anchor loops by distributing the force over more surface area. If you've ever ripped out a grommet on a tarp, this can help prevent that from happening. It also cuts time again because your lines are pre-tied with the loop so you don't have to fiddle with knots at camp when you are setting up in the rain. You'll pitch circles around your friends! Unfortunately/fortunately on the Alpha Breeze in particular, Snow Peak provides great guy out lines! - they are strong and burly and thick, but as a result the girth hitch loop is often too big to pass through the metal anchor loop on the Alpha Breeze. It prevents the girth method and the stick tension method. In this case I either use a bowline (for the reason mentioned above) or an overhand or figure eight follow through knot to tie a loop around/through the metal anchor on the tent fly. Plenty of YT videos on these knots you can explore, but please let us know if you have any follow up questions. If it's your personal tent, you'll only have to tie them once and you can just leave them attached to the fly. If for some reason my guy out lines don't include a tensioner or adjuster (as they do with most modern tents and nearly all Snow Peak and Big Agnes), then I'll use a taut-line hitch so that I can adjust the tension via the knot itself. People use this for ultralight as well but in my world, the convenience of adjustable tensioner is worth it's negligible weight. Many great videos/animations out there on the taut-line hitch knot as well. Good luck with perfecting your anchor system and happy camping!