Hilleberg Tent thread

[Stephen M]

Just ordered an Unna to replace my Soulo.

I ordered it from Bear River outfitters who is owned by Charles Jennings who posts on here :-)

Outstanding service from Charles.

[David Ure]

Yup, I always recommend Charlie (purchased from him a three times, twice Hilleberg).

Fantastic buying experience.

[Stephen M]

What started as a Pm last night asking his advice ended up with me purchasing the Unna :-)

[backpackerchick]

Me too!

They were out of the new tan :( I ordered a red one.

What conditions will you use it in? How are you justifying the weight? I am not a gram weenie…but it's gonna be an extra kilo.

I got great service from shannon at hilleberg. You get a couple weeks (or even longer I was told if necessary) to play around with it inside and send it back if you change your mind.

Wish there was something out there of similar design of lighter materials. I have always wanted a tent with no vestibule!

Help me justify the weight ;) I want this tent!

And thank you to everyone who contributed to this thread! The photos are awesome.

[Ken Thompson]

Congrats! Sure it is not the lightest tent out there. It's no tarp. Tarps are great for the times you don't need a tent. The other trips I'll take the hit on weight and stay warm, dry, and stress free in my rock of a shelter. 60mph winds. Slept the sleep of the dead. And when staked out you do actually get a small amount of vestibule space. Scoot the inner back a bit, I've cooked in there. Plenty of room in between the inner and outer for shoes anywhere along the perimeter. Without the inner it is positively huge in there.

[Donald Browning]

I have a Unna on order, along with a mesh inner. I got a 20% off coupon from prolitegear and had to jump. I love the Hillebergs for bombproof simplicity, and I have a Soulo, but have always wanted a Unna to compare. I will likely sell the one that I decide against. Also have had a Jannu and Allak for comparison, and ended up keeping the Allak for the two person trips.
Don

[backpackerchick]

It only took one day to get to SoCal FedEx ground. I ordered from Hillebrand. They were out of the Sand color so I got red. It seems like the red is a bit brighter than other Hillebrands I've seen on the trail. Shannon at Hillebrand told me that the sand color is darker this year. Sand was not available at the time I ordered. I may check back before I take my Unna outside. The red is nice though.

I set it up indoors. It is SPACIOUS! The simplicity of the design and set up is awesome. 2 minutes max on the first try…allow another 2 minutes for staking probably. No vestibule to struggle in and out of. This would be the perfect starter tent!

4.5 lbs…still struggling with that. There are clearly some mods that could be made to lighten it. (There is a thread somewhere covering this.)

I agree with the manufacturer's description in that this could double as a 2 person tent in a pinch. Most certainly a "one and a mutt" even for a bigger person and a good size "mutt".

Any thoughts about or experience with the Rajd. Clearly, a different class of tent for a different use. Looks more idiot proof than other tents in that class!

Photos to come…soon.

Thanks again for this thread and the inspiring photos (especially those by Jedi5150)!

[peter vacco]

Unna : wonderful accommodations. simply palatial.
kind'a big. kind'a heavy. kind'a has two EXtremely long poles.
but .. for a place to live in for days, while it's raining .. ohhh dear, it is sweet.

they are very nice inside. dry, spacious, open, and warm.
i installed a large window in mine (was long ago), and that made it more open visually and vented.

cheers

[Ken Thompson]

Radj? Get a Lunar Duo. Gain two vestibules.

"4.5 lbs…still struggling with that"

I just think of the weight difference between it and my other shelters. So it's only a pound or so heavier. Big deal. Everything else is so light. Added warmth from the tent allows you to go slightly lighter on sleep gear.

Those long poles. You can feed them in and out in sections of assembled pole so you don't need ten feet of swinging room behind you to pitch.

[Stephen M]

Just back from a quick overnighter with two buddies and we used the Kaitum 3, night time temps where about 55f and we slept with the doors wide open and just the mesh inner door closed, it was nice and comfy.

One of my buddies did complain when I got out for a power room break but as its my tent I told him where to shove it :-)

[Eric Blumensaadt]

If I can rig a crossing pole inside my Moment why can't a crossing pole be rigged inside a Hilleberg Akto in the same manner?

And since I'm getting a Moment DW (as soon as the ripstop inner is available) and modding it for winter with the aforementioned inside crossing pole and a hearvier duty main hoop pole why can't that be done to an Akto as well?

All you Akto owners may want to give this some thought for a true winter worthy tent.

[Stephen M]

Eric,

How dare you even mention modding a Hilleberg.

Please go back to your desk and write out.

"I will not dream of modding a Hilleberg"
"I will not dream of modding a Hilleberg"
"I will not dream of modding a Hilleberg"
"I will not dream of modding a Hilleberg"
"I will not dream of modding a Hilleberg"
"I will not dream of modding a Hilleberg"
"I will not dream of modding a Hilleberg"
"I will not dream of modding a Hilleberg"
"I will not dream of modding a Hilleberg"
"I will not dream of modding a Hilleberg"
"I will not dream of modding a Hilleberg"
"I will not dream of modding a Hilleberg"
"I will not dream of modding a Hilleberg"
"I will not dream of modding a Hilleberg"
"I will not dream of modding a Hilleberg"
"I will not dream of modding a Hilleberg"
"I will not dream of modding a Hilleberg"
"I will not dream of modding a Hilleberg"
"I will not dream of modding a Hilleberg"
"I will not dream of modding a Hilleberg"
"I will not dream of modding a Hilleberg"
"I will not dream of modding a Hilleberg"
"I will not dream of modding a Hilleberg"
"I will not dream of modding a Hilleberg"
"I will not dream of modding a Hilleberg"
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"I will not dream of modding a Hilleberg"
"I will not dream of modding a Hilleberg"
"I will not dream of modding a Hilleberg"
"I will not dream of modding a Hilleberg"
"I will not dream of modding a Hilleberg"
"I will not dream of modding a Hilleberg"
"I will not dream of modding a Hilleberg"

:-)

[Charles Jennings]

"If I can rig a crossing pole inside my Moment why can't a crossing pole be rigged inside a Hilleberg Akto in the same manner?"

I suppose you could do this, but I think that is why they designed the Soulo model.

[peter vacco]

there are scads of different ways to change the rigging of an akto. if you follow Roger C. he will lead thee into thinking about all manner of cross-rigged options.
the reality of the situation is that as it comes out of the box, the end rigging is set in a way that relies upon "somehow" holding down the lower corners. how this is done with rock anchors i may never know.
you can double up and splay the side guys (thank you Roger C.), and this greatly stiffens the pole support it gets from the fabric.
one might (will do it next spring) add a pair of adjustable tapes across the interior for those really nasty nights.
the end rigging is a complex thing unless you add a third (and unwanted) anchor point per end.

my standard set is the 4 corners. if you are a moment DW owner, you know that is 2 many.
if it's breezy, then it needs at least one side guy. now at 5.
more breeze = 6.
way outt'a hand = now 6 + the 2 side splayed lines + the another 1 at each end, and now we are at TEN !!!
that is 10 large heavy stacks of rocks. no need for a sleeping bag, i'll just stay warm all night moving granite.
my god, by the time you're done, a man could have staked a tarp !

planning a u-tube vid on akto rigging.

v.

[Johan Engberg]

I agree that Akto has one too many mandatory rigging points. It's not easy to pitch properly. Remember though that with fewer stakes comes a greater need to stake in good ground and/or reinforce with stones since each stake have to take a higher force. Above tree-line where Hilleberg has it's main focus a ****-load of guy-outs is something I like. Each Point won't take all the pressure and therefor there's less risk of a stake to be pulled out during a gust. Quite a few tents out there like to point out that it only has 4 or 5 stakes. Problem is that they can only use 4 or 5 stakes… My Jannu has 18.

It weighs in that region aswell though, I prefer lighter choices 90% of the time, 60% of the time. But for shoulder season, winter above tree line it's my bunker.

[Eric Blumensaadt]

(With apologies to Stephen and Hilleberg)

The design differences between the Akto and Moment account for very different abilities for each tent to shed heavy, wet snow.

The Akto has wide ends and consequently wide, and flatter canopy areas to hold snow.

The Moment has narrow AND peaked ends terminating with the strong shape of triangles. Its canopy goes from arched to pointed and snow more readily slides off.

Also it is easy to use just one crossing pole to support the Moment's canopy.
For the Akto I'd rather have TWO crossing poles as with the Scarp 1. (Of course, being an inveterate modder, I'd run them beneath the fly to grommets in each inside corner.)

CONCLUSION: The Akto can be made "Unna strong" by using TWO diagonal internal crossing poles (exactly as I did with my modded Scarp 2).
The Moment needs only one crossing pole to achieve the same effect.

Both tents need a stronger (thicker wall, larger diameter) main hoop pole for winter wind and snow loads. Tentpole Technologies can make 'em for you. About $40.

[peter vacco]

" The Akto can be made "Unna strong" by using TWO diagonal internal crossing poles "

peter is look'n at this as using tapes (straps, lines, etc) in tension. the pole in my sketches should be restrained from failing sideways by the windward splayed side guy lines. the internal tension lines are intended to keep the leeward side of the pole from failing by bulging outward.
i guess that inside poles would work in compression as well, and that might help, but you'd need to bring them all the way to ground for them to push against something. that would really cramp the internal volume, which that still beats 100% blowing out a tent.
but does it not seem that tension costs less weight ?

will post pics when i make something worth seeing.

v.

[Stephen M]

I forgive you Eric :-)

[Johan Engberg]

I like that modification of your TT Moment Eric. I wonder if it could be done to a Laser Comp? I'll think I'll give it a try. I like that tent but it's way too flappy in serious wind.

Question, if one would modify his/her double walled tent by adding an internal pole, how to make it easy to set up? What I mean is since the fly and the inner goes up at the same time the lazy solution (Construction wise) is to simply hook off the inner and insert the crossing pole. But I wonder if there's another way? External pole-sleeve with a "dent" making the pole a V-shape. Maybe external hooks is easier?

By the way, thicker poles can be bought directly from Hilleberg.

[Eric Blumensaadt]

Johan,

1.-> I leave my Scarp 2 iner attatched to the fly one ONE side at the corners. door area and at the top.

2.-> Then I set up the tent with the main hoop pole and corner stakes.

3.-> Next I go inside the fly and place the two crossing poles (the inner tent hangs from the opposite side giving me room to do this).

4.-> Finally I re-attatch the rest of the inner tent.

5.-> If heavy snow or wind is forecast I then add extra guy lines and stakes or snow deadmen.
REALLY high winds require fly bottom stakes, main hoop guy lines and at each end ski/hiking poles as struts for guying out the center of the fly guy points. (Again, see Tarptent online catalog photos of this.) This is a "belt-and-suspenders" solution because some of the guys may pull their stakes in a bad storm.

[backpackerchick]

I sent back the Unna and ordered a Rajd. I opened the Rajd and realized I need something idiot proof.

I ordered the Unna again. Shannon at Hilleberg has been a great help. She knows the tents…and uses them. She has been SO patient! I am getting a Sand (Shannon says it's a bronze) colored Unna this time. It isn't on the Hilleberg site. Some retailers have it. And sometimes Hilleberg seems to find a few. I can't wait to post photos of my Unna in the Alps and Pyrenees. Now to find a way to shed 1.5 lbs elsewhere!

Thanks again for this thread!

[Bob Dromgoole]

Came across this today…

http://podbay.fm/show/618500240/e/1161907901?autostart=1

[Peter Evans]

Bivanorak…
I like it, it has been used mostly as a bivy, but I have worn it in wet/windy conditions and it holds up well.
It makes the sleeping bag much warmer, and I don't need to worry about moisture so much, or bring a groundsheet.

[Stephen M]

I had my Kaitum 3 out again two weeks bringing my wife on her 1st backpacking trip, this is about my 5th or 6th trip in the Kaitum and I like it more every trip, split between 2 the weight is ok but split between 3 its an easy carry.

I have not had a chance to use my new Unna yet (bought to replace a Soulo) but hope to do so soon.

[Stephen M]

Keeping the thread alive :-)

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