Hilleberg Soulo Issue

The Soulo and similar design tents “feel” smaller than the stated length (which is 86 inches) due to the inward slope at the head and foot. This is widely discussed in virtually every review I’ve seen.

You note that you are using a “regular” length or size sleeping bag and pad – but I think the readers would appreciate knowing exactly which pad and what loft of bag.  It may also help if. you mention your height.  The taller the combination of pad and bag the closer you will get to the sloped ends.

I haven’t slept in a Soulo, but I’m sure others that have done so will chime in who will be better able to comment on condensation wicking from the inner tent into your sleeping bag.

Thanks, James. I tested it with a Thermarest Xlite and Feathered Friends Eider -10 sleeping bag. I am 6 feet tall.

I did expect the slope, but didn’t expect the sleeping bag pressed up against the walls on both ends. Even when I’m not in the bag, and I lay it out in the tent, it is pressing up against the walls at both ends enough to slightly compress the bag.

This is not meant to disparage Hilleberg in any way but the end slope on a dome tent is a function of pole length and end to end span to create the arch geometry.  The poles are listed at 135 in and the span is something like 98 in so the slope is fairly shallow. The only way to correct that in the same design is to increase the pole length which then steepens the end slopes and increases the apex height but also the panel size and weight.  It’s all a tradeoff and another data point that listed floor length and useable length are often very different things.

-H

Have a  Tarptent MOMENT DW  (similar to the Hilleberg ENAN) and find its length very adequate for me (5′ 10″) with room to spare.

I use an overstuffed (to 20 F.)  Western Mountaineering Megalite and REI FLASH 3 Season insulated mattress.

The new MOMENT DW tents have a thicker silicone coating (higher hydrostatic head) and a stronger, larger diameter main pole plus two guy points on each side. Still lighter than the ENAN.

In addition to the slope of the walls, the other thing that doesn’t help this is that the tent is a dual/outer pitch.

While these types of tents have the obvious weather advantage when setting up in the rain, one of the many downsides is that the inners can sometimes hang quite loosely from (usually elastic) ties within the structure and can sag in a bit.

Inner pitch tents tend to suffer less from this as the inner is attached directly to the poles and is usually noticeably tauter and less flappy.

k

@ John

I think what you might be missing is the Soulo is a 4-season tent whose the outer rain fly comes down right to the ground. So even if your bag is pressing up against the inner tent, there is still a couple of inches of dead air space between the outer surface of your sleeping bag and the inside surface of the outer skin of the tent which in my experience mitigates the risk of condensation.

In most USA-designed, double-skinned tents, when your bag is pushed against the inner tent, what is on the other side is the cold, outside air since the outer rain fly does not come to the ground.

For winter camping, I use a somewhat different Hilleberg tent, the Akto.  In my Akto I do not experience condensation at the foot or the head. The condensation appears around the door vent and inside the vestibule.

You might need to check is whether there is enough headroom in the Soulo.  I have been using a Hilleberg Akto for years but recently switched to a NeoAir pad and now wish for a bit more headroom when changing clothes inside the tent in winter.

If you think you need more length and your tent has not been used outside, and you bought it direct from Hilleberg, exchange it for a Nallo 2.

If you’re in a position to exchange it, also consider the Unna. It’s lighter overall and longer/roomier inside (yes, very little vestibule space), and more than strong enough. Never been a fan of true solo inner spaces, especially in winter, and the Soulo is like that to me: too cramped and tight.

I’m 6’2″ and sleep diagonal in the Unna to have room for the dog, and don’t press against the ends. I do touch as I shift around, but that’s hard to avoid. In winter I always use an overbag of 10d ripstop nylon lined with Alpha Direct to mitigate falling rime, wall rubbing or windblown snow making it in when cooking.

You can unclip a corner of the inner and peel it back if you need room to cook, otherwise I have also done it in the ‘vestibule’ itself with care, see vid. I can fit my pack and outer boots plus cook stuff and still get in and out unhindered. But since I mostly ski with a pulk, I have that as a great overflow storage area fully sealed from blowing snow

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