Walking Forum
Main Boards => Gear => Topic started by: taxino8 on 13:11:30, 06/04/19
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I’m considering saving up and lashing out on a Hilleberg tent but haven’t any experience of them except watching loads of YouTube videos.
I’ve narrowed it down in my head to either an Akto, Soulo or a Niak, I’ll only be using it from Spring into Autumn and I’m leaning towards the Niak because of the extra space (I like a bit of room and I’ve seen the Akto likened to a coffin!).
Any advice from people who own or have owned these tents will be greatly appreciated.
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If you're only going to be using it spring to autumn, do you really need something that bombproof? Hilleberg tent are expensive twice or even three times as much as other brands. Personally, I wouldn't say they were any better that other quality brands.
Alto's are cramped, Soulo's are heavy, not seen the Niak.
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What Owen says.
You could buy a top notch 3 season tent for half the price of a Hilleberg, and a perfectly serviceable one for a quarter of the price.
Are you backpacking, wild camping, or 'boot of the car' camping?
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If you're only going to be using it spring to autumn, do you really need something that bombproof? Hilleberg tent are expensive twice or even three times as much as other brands. Personally, I wouldn't say they were any better that other quality brands.
Alto's are cramped, Soulo's are heavy, not seen the Niak.
I’m at an age where I can more or less buy what I want gear wise, within reason, so thought I’d like to upgrade and go a bit lighter and also have some comfort knowing should the weather get really wild I’d probably not have a tent around my head.
Thanks.
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What Owen says.
You could buy a top notch 3 season tent for half the price of a Hilleberg, and a perfectly serviceable one for a quarter of the price.
Are you backpacking, wild camping, or 'boot of the car' camping?
A bit of wild camping and hopefully some backpacking too.
No intention of car camping, I’ll be up on a hill somewhere in the UK.
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I had a look at the Niak, curiosity got the better of me, and I am struck by how similar it is to the £340 TrekkerTent Saor, which is a slightly smaller one man 4 season tent weighing in at 1.25kg. A tent that I have had my eye on.
I know which one I would go for.
http://www.trekkertent.com/home/home/35-saor.html#/colour-green_40d_silnylon (http://www.trekkertent.com/home/home/35-saor.html#/colour-green_40d_silnylon)
Owen has a different model made by TrekkerTent, if I recall correctly.
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I had a look at the Niak, curiosity got the better of me, and I am struck by how similar it is to the £340 TrekkerTent Saor, which is a slightly smaller one man 4 season tent weighing in at 1.25kg. A tent that I have had my eye on.
I know which one I would go for.
http://www.trekkertent.com/home/home/35-saor.html#/colour-green_40d_silnylon (http://www.trekkertent.com/home/home/35-saor.html#/colour-green_40d_silnylon)
Owen has a different model made by TrekkerTent, if I recall correctly.
Thanks, I’ll have a look. Just the sort of information I’m after.
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I have to laugh at the Hilleberg prices - £43 for a set of 10 Y extruded alloy tent pegs (I paid £4 for 6 exactly the same in Millets), and £12 for a set of 10 plastic guy line runners (I bought what looks like exactly the same thing from ebay for £1.66). Rip off, in my opinion.
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Thanks, I’ll have a look. Just the sort of information I’m after.
I've just noticed that the Saor tent is subject to design change. I believe that TrekkerTent are a one man band, and that the tents are made to order. I particularly like this line on their website - "Trekkertent will work directly with customers to tailor these products to a specific fit or functional requirement." Why not get in touch?
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http://www.trekkertent.com/home/home/35-saor.html#/colour-green_40d_silnylon (http://www.trekkertent.com/home/home/35-saor.html#/colour-green_40d_silnylon)
Owen has a different model made by TrekkerTent, if I recall correctly.
I have the Phreeranger, very well made, up to similar standards to Hilleberg tents. I'm happy to use it year round. I also have both the summer and winter inner tents. The summer one has mesh sides, the ground sheet is made of a very shiny silnylon. The winter inner has solid sides and a Matt finish ground sheet. Weighs 1250g summer and 1300g winter.
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I have the Phreeranger, very well made, up to similar standards to Hilleberg tents. I'm happy to use it year round. I also have both the summer and winter inner tents. The summer one has mesh sides, the ground sheet is made of a very shiny silnylon. The winter inner has solid sides and a Matt finish ground sheet. Weighs 1250g summer and 1300g winter.
Thanks, I’d never even heard of them.
Just been on their website and had a look and will now do a bit more research.
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Weighs 1250g summer and 1300g winter.
So little difference between the two!
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You just have to watch the lead time, order it well in advance of when you want it.
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I note a number of adverse comments on the Hilleberg, and wonder how many of the originators actually have one? I hadn't commented because I don't have any of the models that the OP listed, but I do have the Nallo 2 and have been using it for most of this century. It's a great tent, but the prices have really rocketed since I got mine, in fact the Nallo 2 is now more than double what I paid. I'm sure that some of the other tents mentioned are good tents and may suit the OP's requirements, but ease off on the negative comments if you've never owned a Hilleberg.
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I note a number of adverse comments on the Hilleberg, and wonder how many of the originators actually have one?
My only negativity is about their ridiculous prices, Snowman. I'm sure that they are great tents.
Would you pay £43 for a set of 10 aluminium tent pegs that could be had from China for £3.81 (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10Pcs-18cm-Aluminum-Alloy-Outdoor-Camping-Trip-Tent-Peg-Ground-Nail-Stakes/262765084490?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D56112%26meid%3D40ce92b413df4a10bfa82301b0bf70f0%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D15%26sd%3D262765084490%26itm%3D262765084490&_trksid=p2481888.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3Aea71ef46-5903-11e9-9780-74dbd1806310%7Cparentrq%3Af6a0549d1690ac80728758f6fff47416%7Ciid%3A1) ?
They probably even came from the same factory.
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"Would you pay £43 for a set of 10 aluminium tent pegs that could be had from China for £3.81 (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10Pcs-18cm-Aluminum-Alloy-Outdoor-Camping-Trip-Tent-Peg-Ground-Nail-Stakes/262765084490?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D56112%26meid%3D40ce92b413df4a10bfa82301b0bf70f0%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D15%26sd%3D262765084490%26itm%3D262765084490&_trksid=p2481888.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3Aea71ef46-5903-11e9-9780-74dbd1806310%7Cparentrq%3Af6a0549d1690ac80728758f6fff47416%7Ciid%3A1) They probably even came from the same factory."
Absolutely not, but then I've still got the pegs that came with the tent. However if someone is going up Everest and needs 100% reliable pegs then maybe these do represent good value (I don't know because I don't have them). I did buy a box of heavy duty tent pegs (the ones that are about a cm thick and probably made in China) to go with my 5 berth family tent. I took the kids camping during good weather so hard ground, and still managed to bend one of them.
What I'm getting at is that I just don't know (and probably neither do you) whether these pegs would perform exceptionally well or not, or better than the £3.81 pegs from China or not. Similarly, I know nothing about the Phreelander or Trekkertent previously mentioned so wouldn't make adverse comments about either. I got my Hilleberg when there wasn't much competition, especially at a lower price, so these comments praising those items may well be good advice to the OP.
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It's not that there's anything wrong with Hilleberg tents, far from it. I was just saying that they were very over priced and that there are other brands which are just as good but cost less. This is of course just my opinion and you should really take anything on the internet with a large pinch of salt.
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The point I'm trying to make is that you actually don't know that the Hilleberg is 'just as good', just as I don't know whether the other brands mentioned aren't as good. I'm saying that while suggesting and recommending alternatives to the OP is fair and helpful, I'm not sure that slagging off Hilleberg as being overpriced is fair or helpful.
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Well I have actually used Helliberg tents in the past, as well as many other brands. Not "slagging off" anything, just giving an option. Isn't that allowed anymore.
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It's not that there's anything wrong with Hilleberg tents, far from it. I was just saying that they were very over priced and that there are other brands which are just as good but cost less. This is of course just my opinion and you should really take anything on the internet with a large pinch of salt.
They are bomber tents, speaking as someone who owns the Soulo and has used the Tarra, but in my experience you're paying for reliability and peace of mind in extreme conditions - which isn't especially necessary if you're going to find useful in Spring to Autumn in UK conditions. That said, I've seen people love the Enan for these conditions, and if you want a 'gucci' tent which doesn't weigh a tonne this may be it.
Personally I'm more about lighter gear these days and would prefer something like a MLD Solomid XL or if you want to go British made, the Terra Nova tent range (Laser Comp 1 etc) are cheaper but well put together - but like anything it is about compromise. To the OP - in my opinion you can't get bomber gear which weighs nothing and lasts a long time for little money, and you certainly feel every kg on your back during longer trips.
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Well I have actually used Helliberg tents in the past, as well as many other brands. Not "slagging off" anything, just giving an option. Isn't that allowed anymore.
Of course you can give an opinion, however since it is a subjective opinion it might help if you clarified that it is only your opinion. I've been trying to be objective and have not attempted to make comments regarding other products along the lines of 'xyz tent is cheap crap'. I don't think it helps the OP either since he asked for opinions on the suitability of a selection of tents and not whether others had an opinion as to how expensive they were. By all means provide information such as alternatives and their relative costs, that is being objective, however making statements such as '... tents are overpriced' is subjective and ignores experiential information such as that provided by forgotmyoldpassword.
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"Would you pay £43 for a set of 10 aluminium tent pegs that could be had from China for £3.81 (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10Pcs-18cm-Aluminum-Alloy-Outdoor-Camping-Trip-Tent-Peg-Ground-Nail-Stakes/262765084490?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D56112%26meid%3D40ce92b413df4a10bfa82301b0bf70f0%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D15%26sd%3D262765084490%26itm%3D262765084490&_trksid=p2481888.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3Aea71ef46-5903-11e9-9780-74dbd1806310%7Cparentrq%3Af6a0549d1690ac80728758f6fff47416%7Ciid%3A1) They probably even came from the same factory."
However if someone is going up Everest and needs 100% reliable pegs ...
A lump of extruded aluminium is a lump of extruded aluminium. And Taxino8 isn't going up Everest - he's after a 3 season tent for UK use!
And I repeat again, I am NOT slagging off Hilleberg tents, only pointing out that they are VERY expensive, and that far cheaper alternatives that would suit taxino8's needs are available.
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I don't think it helps the OP either since he asked for opinions on the suitability of a selection of tents and not whether others had an opinion as to how expensive they were.
And yet the OP has thanked us for our input!
Why have you got such a bee in your bonnet over this?
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Actually I think it's you who has the 'bee in the bonnet'. I read post after post criticising Hilleberg so simply exercised a right to reply, hardly having a 'bee in my bonnet'. The barrage I've received back is more aggressive than I've been in my posts, in which I have NEVER criticised another product.
All I've tried to say, in response to various comments that Hilleberg tents are overpriced, is that if you don't have one then that statement is unjustified since you could easily be comparing chalk and cheese. I've made it quite clear that I don't criticise other selections of tents, and in fact have stated that providing that information could be helpful to the OP, but I don't feel that the comments aimed at the Hilleberg are fair.
Yes, you are probably right that the OP doesn't need a Hilleberg, however that doesn't make them too expensive for what they are. What it means is that if he's not going to need the function provided because he'll only ever walk in the UK then other options are open to him.
I don't think this discussion is going to move forward so I'm signing out of it.
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Ok, we'll leave it at that, Snowman. Enjoy the rest of your day. :)
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taxino8 - sorry that this thread has got a bit off track. I want to emphasise that I am not in any way slagging off Hilleberg tents - they have a very good reputation and I am sure that they are of the highest quality - the one that I had a close look at certainly was (can't remember the model).
You might also want to look at Terra Nova tents; their Southern Cross 1 is another 4 season solo tent that I have my eye on, although I baulk at the price a little (£415 the cheapest that I can spot online at the moment).
https://www.terra-nova.co.uk/tents-and-spares/all-tents/southern-cross-1/ (https://www.terra-nova.co.uk/tents-and-spares/all-tents/southern-cross-1/)
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taxino8 - sorry that this thread has got a bit off track. I want to emphasise that I am not in any way slagging off Hilleberg tents - they have a very good reputation and I am sure that they are of the highest quality - the one that I had a close look at certainly was (can't remember the model).
You might also want to look at Terra Nova tents; their Southern Cross 1 is another 4 season solo tent that I have my eye on, although I balk at the price a little (£415 the cheapest that I can spot online at the moment).
https://www.terra-nova.co.uk/tents-and-spares/all-tents/southern-cross-1/ (https://www.terra-nova.co.uk/tents-and-spares/all-tents/southern-cross-1/)
No apologies needed from anyone. A bit of healthy debating does no harm.
I completely understand about me NOT needing a Hilleberg and I’d never heard of the other make before and will look into it but as per my original post I’m at an age where I can afford to spoil myself and had already decided on a a Hilleberg, it was just which one as there aren’t any places near me where I could get to see one erected.
I’m not in a rush so I’ll explore the other alternatives as well as the Hillebergs.
Thanks everyone for responding.
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Some photos of a Niak pitched in the Rhinogs on this thread.
http://www.trek-lite.com/index.php?threads/trekkertent-saor-sr1-and-others.3650/page-2 (http://www.trek-lite.com/index.php?threads/trekkertent-saor-sr1-and-others.3650/page-2)
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Tarptent Scarp is another tough little tent that I am interested in. There was a TR posted last year with one pitched in the snow in the Lake District. I'll try and find it.
Not sure where you would get one in the UK though.
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Some photos of a Niak pitched in the Rhinogs on this thread.
http://www.trek-lite.com/index.php?threads/trekkertent-saor-sr1-and-others.3650/page-2 (http://www.trek-lite.com/index.php?threads/trekkertent-saor-sr1-and-others.3650/page-2)
Thanks.
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Tarptent Scarp is another tough little tent that I am interested in. There was a TR posted last year with one pitched in the snow in the Lake District. I'll try and find it.
Not sure where you would get one in the UK though.
You can't buy them here, they have to be ordered from California. Tarptent are another one man outfit, Henry. He posts them to you but you then have to pay the duty once they arrive in the UK.
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Thanks Owen; thought that was the case.
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Never owned a Hilieberg but like the designs and always have a bit of tent envy when I see one. However, as already mentioned on this thread, I do think that you are also paying a premium for the name.
I have the Alpkit Ordos 2 which weighs in at 1.25kg, great tent, but like the common issue that appears from what I can see with Hilieberg suffers with condensation. However, the customer service from Alpkit is among the best I have ever seen.
It's worth looking around as there are lots of smaller cottage companies that offer some great products now.
Good luck in your search, half the fun for me is researching equipment as well as using it.
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Never owned a Hilieberg but like the designs and always have a bit of tent envy when I see one. However, as already mentioned on this thread, I do think that you are also paying a premium for the name.
I have the Alpkit Ordos 2 which weighs in at 1.25kg, great tent, but like the common issue that appears from what I can see with Hilieberg suffers with condensation. However, the customer service from Alpkit is among the best I have ever seen.
It's worth looking around as there are lots of smaller cottage companies that offer some great products now.
Good luck in your search, half the fun for me is researching equipment as well as using it.
I’m an Alpkit fan too but want an outer pitching or inner and outer together tent.
Thanks for the input though.
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We've pitched our MSR Elixir outer first it's not difficult 8)
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We've pitched our MSR Elixir outer first it's not difficult 8)
I've managed to pitch the Ordos 2 outer first when using the footprint. Wasn't the easiest thing in the world, but managed to get in and get damp outerwear of before putting the inner up.