Hilleberg Tent thread

[Christian Edstrom]

I got a Rogen. A friend wanted to sell one before moving and offered me one at half the new price. How could I resist? I don't really need a Rogen, but it'll be nice to have two 2p tents for family camping. My basement is starting to look like a Hilleberg showroom. Not much about these on the web, so I'll try to take some pics and review it.

[BlackHatGuy]

So you Hille owners out there, can I sent up the inner, and then, if it starts to rain, just drape the fly over the inner and stake it down? I KNOW that it's not meant to be that way, I'm just curious if it would work, or if it simply wouldn't work. Especially interested in the Saitaris. Thanks.

[Stuart .]

I'd be concerned about getting the flysheet taut enough to avoid abrasion if the wind picked up. Especially on as complex a design as the Saitaris. Some of the tunnel models allow you to roll up the foot end of the flysheet over the rear pole, giving the best ventilation other than pitching just the inner. If bad weather rolls in, simply roll that part of the fly down. From memory it's easier with the red label tents (Nallo, Kaitum) than the black label models (Nammatj, Keron).

[Charles Jennings]

It might work, but I would only try it if there was ZERO wind. I am interested to understand why you would even want to do it. The design is an exo-skeleton design by nature, so structurally speaking you would lose nearly all strength and rigidity by draping the outer over the inner tent in the fashion which you described.

[BlackHatGuy]

"I am interested to understand why you would even want to do it." I'm still trying to decide on a car camping tent. For such a thing, I'd prefer to set up just the inner when it seems nice, but be able to throw the fly on if it begins to rain during the night (instead of just retreating to the car).

[Stuart .]

It always struck me that Hilleberg's solution to pitching the inner tent only is pretty cack-handed. Combine that with limited availability of their mesh only inners for the black label tents (Nammatj 2/3 and Staika only), and it doesn't seem worth the bother. The Saitaris seems the worst choice for throwing the fly on top quickly because of the extended vestibule and its additional pole. That being said, Doug, I'd love to see the expression on the face of an RV owner who pulls up next to a pitched Saitaris. That shelter takes some major design cues from an igloo.

[Christian Edstrom]

I think that pitching the inner and then draping the outer over it is generally a bad, bordering on unworkable, idea for Hilleberg tents. It goes against their fundamental design philosophy. If you want a tent that pitches inner-first, you should get one. For car and motorcycle camping, many would be suitable. This strikes me as trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.

[J P]

I have been looking for a good winter tent for a long while. I have asked for guidance from the members of BPL, and Stephen, Stuart and several others here on BPL have very generous with their time and advice. Thank you to each of you. Some time ago, I promised Stuart I would post my thoughts about the Hillebergs that I have tried. I am running a little behind in keeping that promise but for what it’s worth, here are my impressions. I bought a Keron 3 and have really enjoyed it. I love the extra room that the vertical walls on the end afford. I also like that the tent is the same height and same width for the entire length of the tent. So far, I haven’t encountered problems finding a spot to pitch it or encountered ground that will not receive a stake. I am planning to take it to RMNP later this year. I have tried several other Hillebergs, but none have worked for me as well as the Keron. I found that the Tarra was too narrow and short (IMO) for two 25” pads and two 6’6” bags. I know others may disagree. The Nammatj did not work for me, although I really wanted to like it because of the comparatively light weight (for a Hilleberg) and the availability of the mesh inner, because I don’t want my sleeping bag to touch the end of the tent. I think putting a shell over the end of my sleeping bag (as some suggest) is too much of a compromise given the expense of the Hilleberg tents, and it doesn’t work for me anyway as I tend to turn from side to side at night which causes the shell to fall off. I found the Staika and Allak to be too short as well. I have considered some of the solo tents, particularly the Soulo and the Unna, but it appears to me that they are the same length and have the same sloped ends as the Staika. I know the Kaitum has a loyal following but I preferred the taller entrances and the greater overall interior height of the Keron. I am still in the market for a second winter tent—my family of four plus one dog just won’t fit into a Keron 3 (or Keron 4). I would like to get a dome for the second tent which would give me some flexibility on trips I take without my family. I may try the Saivo, if I can find a nice used one, but other than that, I think I have run out of options with Hilleberg. I know this is a Hilleberg thread, but if anyone has any thoughts about a four season dome that will accommodate two 25” pads and two 6’6” bags, I would really appreciate a PM. TNF and Terra Nova seem to have a couple of interesting options that I have not explored yet and there may be others as well.

[Stephen M]

Great post JP, Like you I have tried many Hillebergs, one thing I have realised is I much Prefer the GT models, for obvious reasons. For winter trips the Keron 4GT has worked out well with my two buddies (my wife does not like winter camping) but I recently found out one of my cohorts is moving to a sunnier climate so looking for a Nammatj 3gt.

[Stuart .]

Hi, J Pr. To echo Stephen's response above, yours is the kind of post that provides real world insight into Hilleberg's confusing product line. There are so many options to choose from, and on paper at least one model seems very much like another. But put a couple of sleeping pads and bags in there, and all of a sudden the reality is quite different. I was just in my local Hilleberg dealer at the weekend, and they had a much broader range of shelters on display than normal. Side-by-side I had the opportunity to see the Akto, Anjan 2, Nallo 2 GT, Allak, Nammatj 2, Tarra and Keron 4 GT. In particular, seeing five 2P shelters next to each other showed the differences between them that a catalogue or a website cannot. The Nammatj 2 is still my preference for a 2P Hillie. Hillie models were clearly designed when 20" wide CCF pads were the norm. These days they say coyly that you should size up for true comfort. What that translates to is: if you use a mixture of regular and LW inflatable pads, go +1 every time. That's especially true for winter. My latest acquisition is a Nallo 4 as a three season 3P family shelter. It's perfect for that purpose. You could kind-of-sort-of squeeze in a fourth if you had to, but I wouldn't do so out of choice.

[Stephen M]

I am wondering how the Anjan 3GT would work in winter conditions below treeline. The 3 pole span should be fine in a not too heavy snow dump, but I am thinking the lack of a vent could cause issues as it normally get ventilation from the bottom (mine is the newer version with the lower fly) and wind blown snow might block the sides. I have a Soulo for Solo trios and a Keron for trips with my 2 buddies, this would be for trips with one other (as the Keron is too heavy between 2) and only for 1 to 2 nights at most. I was toying with getting a Nallo 3gt or Nammatj 3gt but already have the Keron and it's a lot of extra cash for a tent that might get used once or twice a year. Any thoughts?

[Tipi Walter]

Doug I— About setting up a Hilleberg without the fly—I've never done it because in a sudden rainstorm it would be difficult to pull the tent poles out of the inner tent and thread them thru the fly sleeves (or clips) and then connect the inner tent to the fly. Regular two wall tents have an inner set up with poles to form the skeleton with the fly thrown over top. As others have said, most (or all?) Hillebergs are not really designed to be inner-only tents. As Charles Jennings ask, why would you want to do it? J Pr— Love your post. My go-to Hilleberg is also a Keron. I'm just shocked that Dave Family Guy allows you to get away with such a post and not blast you for using such a heavy tent. He may even ask you why you post on BPL as obviously your tent choice is not UL. But this is a Hilleberg thread so it's all okay. Here's a recent pic taken in the Big Frog wilderness in September 2015:

[David Ure]

"I'm just shocked that Dave Family Guy allows you to get away with such a post and not blast you for using such a heavy tent. He may even ask you why you post on BPL as obviously your tent choice is not UL" Tsk, Tsk, Tipi It might be that he is asking for a winter tent to use with his family. As per your picture, you still don't understand the concept of not using a winter tent for the summer as a solo shelter. How was the condensation given you set right up next to a creek?

[anders ahrsjo]

Hi. I've got a Anjan 3 (not GT) of first year model. Used it in northern Sweden just below the treeline. Had problems with drifting snow into the netting and at -25C the cold mountain air rinses through the inner tent. It gets really cold! Besides the summer problem of heavy rain "jumping" below the fly into the netted inner tent….. Anders

[Charles Jennings]

After using the Anjan 3 in the Winds for a week in the summer, we found it worked very well when pitched in a cluster of trees while we encountered high winds and driving rain. I would not trust it as much above tree line in exposed environments however. A nallo which is similar in shape would be better suited for high exposure.

[BlackHatGuy]

Will a Hilleberg fly, specifically an Unna, stretch when wet, requiring re-tensioning during prolonged rain?

[Ken Thompson]

Yes Doug.

[Roger Caffin]

Yes, it will stretch when it gets cold and wet, but once adjusted for that it will not stretch further. Cheers

[Ken Thompson]

See. Roger and I can agree.

[BlackHatGuy]

"See. Roger and I can agree." It's a trick. I'm not falling for it….

[Crow]

My sand Keron 3 arrived today – a decision that took me a long time and was preceded by reading this entire thread. Thanks everyone and happy to join the ranks! :)

[Stephen M]

Very nice Casey. Here is a photo of my one to inspire you.

[Ryan ALLISON]

Folks, Of those who have cut off all the metal zippers, replaced them with ties, and replaced your poles with thinner poles, how much savings in weight did you gain? I'm just curious. RA

[Crow]

I just did a meticulous weight assessment on my Keron 3 with a gram scale. Hahaha! Here are the results: * Hilleberg Keron 3 Outer Tent: 1492g * Hilleberg Keron 3 Inner Tent: 1334g * DAC Featherlite NSL 10mm – 328cm: 3 x 237.3g = 711.9g * Hilleberg Pole Bag XP: 21.1 * Hilleberg Guy Line – 3mm: 176.6 * Hilleberg Line Runners – 3mm: 14 x 2.0g = 28g * Hilleberg 63 x 23 cm Tent Bag XP: 110.7g * Hilleberg Keron 3 Footprint: 605.2g * Hilleberg Keron 3 Footprint Stuff Sack: 17.5g * Hilleberg Y-Peg: 18 x 12.8g = 230.4g * Hilleberg Y-Peg Pull Cord: 18 x 0.8g = 14.4g * Hilleberg Peg Bag XP: 10.6g * TOTAL: 10.48lb What use are numbers without a pretty graph?

[Stephen M]

Way to go with the pie chart, very impressive. You just introduced PowerPoint to kit lists ;-)

[Author]

Posts