Hilleberg Tent thread

[Stuart .]

Which population control toys would you be referring to, Stephen? Motorcycles or the other, unmentionable ones that would get this thread booted over to Chaff faster than a speeding bullet?

[Stephen M]

Guns or motorbikes had not even crossed my mind Stuart, I was thinking of Jet skis, canoes, sailing boats, snow mobiles and the rest.

[Donald Browning]

I've had a tough night out in a sleet storm in an Akto, and ended up selling it. I absolutely love my Soulo for trips that I take with Sully my Belgian Sheepdog. When my daughter comes along, the Allak gets the nod (traded away a Jannu for that, and my daughter still sobs over losing "Big Red"). Have a new Nammatj 2GT that I've used a couple of times and really love the room in bad weather. I also use cuben tarps, and several types of hammocks…….half the fun is planning the gear for the trip.
Hille's rock,
Don

[Stuart .]

Hi Don, I've never seen a Jannu up close and personal. Any regrets trading that for the Allak?

[Stephen M]

Hi Don,

Do you think that the Allak is as strong as the Soulo?
I would love to hear your views.

Cheers,

Stephen

[Ryan McCabe]

Ken, or anyone else,

How is the Unna for multiple days in the rain??
Is entering or exiting an issue without a vestible? Is there a way to keep a flap open for ventilation or even views without the rain getting in?

Thanks for any insights, and sorry if I missed mention of this earlier in the post.
Any other comments appreciated,
Ryan

[Peter Evans]

Here is a thread about the Anjan:
http://www.trailspace.com/forums/gear-selection/topics/124226.html

This is a link to a poor review:
http://www.trailspace.com/gear/hilleberg/anjan-2/#review25589

To summarize, the reviewer said the fly rides up way too high on the sides and in heavy rain the water can splash up and get into the tent. Does anyone here have any experience with this?
I thought I had my mind made up on the Anjan, but now I don't know, I don't want to spend a load of cash on a tent that under-performs. A tent that won't keep you dry during heavy rain is not much use, rain is what I need it for.

The Atko looks too cramped to sit out a bad day… most of the other models seem too heavy.
I wish I could just buy the fly and poles for the Nallo… then I'd be able to carry an acceptable load and ride out the worst weather.

[BlackHatGuy]

"I wish I could just buy the fly and poles for the Nallo… then I'd be able to carry an acceptable load and ride out the worst weather."

You can do that with a Trailstar, as many have done. And it would be lighter.

As far as the Nallo, while you can't buy it separately, you can set it up with just the fly and poles if you wish, but you probably already knew that.

[Anna T]

Hi all. I'm looking at buying a Soulo or an Unna for a winter tent (I've got a Tarptent Moment and a Lightheart Gear Cuben Solo w/ Awning for the other seasons). I was hoping you'd help me choose.

I'm a 5'6" woman, and I prefer having my gear in the tent with me and not feeling too cramped. For this reason, I'm tending towards the Unna. However, I have two hesitations/questions:

1) Does anyone have experience cooking in the 'virtual' vestible some have claimed can be made by pulling back the inner? How does this work? Does it work well/safely and with sufficient ventilation? Does anyone have a picture of this?

2) Is the tent sufficiently storm-worthy for Australian and NZ alpine conditions? (I've seen references saying that the Soulo is stronger, but to me this doesn't mean that the Unna couldn't manage those conditions).

Also, as a bonus question, it looks to me (on paper specs and from the earlier image in this thread) that you could fit two people in the Unna without gear with the inner still attached. Has anyone tried this?

Thanks in advance (and forgive the slight thread drift). I'm just not comfortable heading into winter conditions without a bomber tent (I'm only just starting to look into winter backpacking for the first time this year.)

[ed hyatt]

The Unna is as tough a tent as I have used; in 60mph + winds and driven rain in Scotland it has been like a limpet for me.

With regard to 'views when raining' – who could say, possible but it obviously depends on the pitch and if weather conditions change…

You could fit two (cosy) in the tent.

The 'virtual vestibule' has proven itself well on the few occasions I have had recourse to it…

[Anna T]

Ed – that is perfect, thank you! I think Hilleberg just picked up another sale :D

[Jan S]

"I can't see a reason NOT to go with a Hilleberg."

I can. It's the size. I'm 6' 2'' and in my Akto I manage to touch the walls at the foot end and the head end with my winter sleeping bag. The condensation in it is to be expected as it's a really old one without the top vent. But being build for short people seems to be a recurring thing with Hilleberg tents. As far as I know the Nallo (and the heavier version Nammatj?) seem to suffer from the same problem. The wall slopes simply aren't steep enough. My guess would be the Unna does too. Not really sure if the Soulo has steeper walls.

Other then that I think they're exceptionally well designed and built. The only trouble I can find with the two entrance tents is the weight and that I'm not sure I need the option to go to the south pole with my tent.

[Eric Blumensaadt]

I predict Henry Shire's new Moment Double Wall tent will far outsell the Hilleberg Akto. And the Moment DW design features will be as responsible for sales as the lower price.

But we should all pay homage to the Akto for its groundbreaking design.

[Jan S]

Yes. I just ordered one to use instead of my Akto for 3+ season use. The high vertical ends and the better ventilation options (at least on paper) did it for me. The better price and weight helped. Although the price with Hillebergs is relative given that you get a solid tent for long, long time.

[Ken Thompson]

+1 w Ed. At 6'3" The Unna is long enough for me.

[Ben Wortman]

I took the time to weigh all the components of my Kaitum 3 this afternoon. I thought I would post them incase anyone was interested. I always like to see this type of breakdown before I buy a tent so here it is:

Note: All weights were rounded up to the nearest oz.

Inner: 2 lbs 6 oz
Outer: 2 lbs 12oz
Stakes in sack: 8oz
Poles (no sack) 1 lb 2oz
Extra pole section and splicer: 1oz
Guylines: 6oz
Footprint: 1 lb 6 oz

Ben

[Stuart .]

Ben – Your measurements are close enough to be identical with my K3. Total packed weight, excluding the footprint, is 7lb 3oz. I've yet to take the footprint out with me, as the floor is pretty robust, but if I expect high humidity from constant rainfall or spring snow, then I have it in reserve to help moderate the condensation inside the tent.

How'd you like the K3 so far?

[Ben Wortman]

So far I really like it. It has withstood some serious conditions in my basement. I actually have not had a chance to take it out in the wild yet, but I can't wait to get it some use. I haven't seen a tent build this robust, and I am sure it could handle any weather that I would take it out in. I am hoping to use it above treeline in CO ans WY. I always seem to find awesome camping spots on ridgetops or by some lake above the trees, but I have never used a shelter I felt comfortable in at those locations.

Have you used your's in severe conditions at all?

Ben

[Stuart .]

Let me guess, you fired up the hairdryer and let 'er rip :-) The Kaitum's arguably better suited to above treeline use than below, given its large footprint. After I left it at home and suffered with lesser shelters on two wildly windy trips in the Rockies last May and June, I took it out on a group trip at the end of September. Both nights we pitched at about 11,000ft, close to treeline. We expected decent snowfall but it didn't happen. And we barely got a puff of wind once we got off the continental divide. I bought it as more of a winter basecamp tent, but this year has been a bust so far due to work travel. I'm looking forward to taking it out in late April or May and will report back. There should still be some good snows on the ground at higher elevations, and the wind will be a solid test.

[Stephen M]

This was taken two weeks ago on the Manistee River Trial in Michigan.

There was about a foot of snow on the ground which was totally unexpected. As we did no have skis or snowshoes or a shovel stomping out a pitch was a bit of a faff.

[Stephen M]

Here are some pictures taken on a trip last April in Ireland.
Also shown is an Atko, Tarp Tent Scarp 1 and Terra Nova Superlite Voyager.

[Ben Wortman]

Stephen, how do you think the scarp one held up next to the Hillebergs?

[Stephen M]

Ben,

I have used a Scarp in some hairy conditions and it performed very well but the Soulo performs much better than it.

I am just in the door from the pub and Will give a more indepth reply tomorrow.

Cheers,

Stephen

[Stephen M]

I was pitching the Soulo in the garden on Sunday and noticed a small hole and abrasion on the pole and vent cover. The tent was a display model and I have only used it for 3 nights on it.

Hilleberg are repairing it.

[Jon Solomon]

I am sure this has almost certainly been linked here, but just in case it has slipped out of people's minds: http://www.fliegfix.com/kategorien/optimierte-zeltgestaenge/154 Fliegfix offer aftermarket poles for Hilleberg tents (and others) in carbon fibre and scandium. Soulos, Unnas, Nallos…they could all benefit from different combos of these poles.

I'm using them with a Soulo. I have both carbon and Scandium ones. I also have and like very much the carbon ones for use with the Rab Latok Lite/ID MK1. Carbon poles are stronger than similar diameter alloy poles (though perhaps more prone to catastrophic failure, right?!) and they don't attract condensation inside tents the way alloy ones do.

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