Lightwave

Lightwave was launched into the UK market in 2002 with a small range of 9 tents that were lighter than any comparable products on the market. These immediately made an impact with their clean, unfussy and minimalist designs. They also offered a unique modular approach to purchasing a tent, offering different performance and price levels for each model of tent.

In 2004 Lightwave made its first foray into backpacks, introducing its “S” and “C” series. The “S” series were the world’s first truly lightweight backpacks: at around 1 kg, they nonetheless featured a carrying system with a full frame and ergonomic wrap-around hip-belt.

The following year, 2005, saw the development of the second generation of Lightwave tents featuring their now distinctive ARCHitekture pole structure. This stiffened the pole structure to make the tents stronger and at the same time improved pole reliability (by reducing stress build-up).

R&D on new backpack designs resulted in the launch, in 2008, of the Lightwave Fastpack and Wildtrek ranges. These built upon the technical expertise developed in the original “S” series to achieve greater commercial success and plaudits from the specialist media.

The Fastpack and Wildtrek ranges were joined in 2010 by the Ultrahike backpack. At the same time Lightwave began phasing in its 3rd-generation tent models. These latest, re-dimensioned versions of our existing designs have a double-digit naming system and respond to the demand from our taller customers for longer tents.

2012 has seen a new and highly significant addition to the Lightwave tent range. After a decade of “inner-first” pitched tents, Lightwave this year launches its first multi-pitch tunnel tents: the Trail and Hyper ranges. Although Lightwave remains a firm advocate of the inner-first pitching system (and steadfastly maintains this is the superior method if a tent is to withstand seriously strong winds), both its retailers and customers had vociferously requested that Lightwave brought its design intelligence and excellence to a more mainstream market.