Bushwalk Australia

Hi everyone, been lurking for a while... some great info here, very helpful team so decided to sign up

I'm in the market for a new 1-2 person 3-4 season lightweight tent, suitable for 1-2 week backpacking trips above the snowline (primarily in the Australian high country, but also NZ South Island).

The biggest problem is getting one long enough!
I'm 195cm or 6'5" tall and it has been a real struggle to get the length to fit me plus a winter sleeping bag on a reasonable insulated sleeping mat.

I've looked at 'the usual suspects' and even slept in one contender (MacPac Apollo) in torrential NZ South Is rain but at 220 cm its barely acceptable in summer use... great tent though with an impeccable reputation. Others I've had a trial lie-in are Exped Venus II (just long enough if I lie slightly diagonally... but a bit HUGE and heavy for single use).
Very much liked the Exped build quality, but they just don't seem to have exactly what I need.

WE Dart SN240 has great cross poled rigidity but is too small and coffin-like, with insufficient gear storage.

So I'm looking at the Hilleberg range... Akto appealed at first as it seems long enough but the single pole configuration means the inner is too close to my face for comfort when lying down.

Allak or Staika both have very strong cross braced poles, 230cm internal dimensions... and stacks of storage space. I liked the ability to put the inner and outer up at the same time, and the small pole pockets combined with fast clips.

Allak has a lighter weight construction using 1200 Kerlon fabric and 9mm poles, but other wise they seem identical. Eye-poppingly expensive though when you include freight to Australia!
One thing I haven't been able to determine is whether the fixed doors on the Staika are diametrically opposed (so one entrance is always out of the wind) or opposite like on the Allak (flow through ventilation side-to-side making it more suitable for use in summer too).

There is nothing on the Hilleberg website, and it is very difficult to determine via Google images!
Any assistance gratefully received

The cross pole is slightly offset on the Allak where as on the Staika all poles cross at the apex of the rook. This photo probably confirms your thoughts that the 'doors' are diagonally opposite on the Staiker unlike the Allak.

The One Planet Goondie 2 might also be worth a look. Not quite as bomb proof as the Hillebergs but much lighter, half the price and somewhat more length according to the specs.

Hi

At 6'3.5" I know the feeling. Can rule out the Akto for you. Lovely little tent but I am at or past the limit. The Nallo is worth a look but again not really long enough. I have both.

I have just brought a MSR Nook. Similar internal space to the Nallo but shorter as the vestibule is not as large. It is a 3 season tent that might be ok for most conditions and at 1.5 kilograms very light. The Nallo claims 2.1 but mine is 2.3 kilograms. Would trust it about any where assuming you can peg it out. The Nook can be semi self supporting.

Heavier option but one that will work is the Katium but being a tunnel tent not self supporting and is very looooong.

Testing will prove or not if the Nook is a worthy contender to the Nallo. Be interested in what you ultimately chose.

Cheers

Ent wrote:Hi

At 6'3.5" I know the feeling. Can rule out the Akto for you. Lovely little tent but I am at or past the limit. The Nallo is worth a look but again not really long enough. I have both.

So, would you be interested in selling your Akto?

Hi

Generally I never sell anything as lousy at working out what is a fair price but with three Hillebergs and five tents maybe I should as the Nook can be my "take in case hut full" tent. Comes with ground sheet. PM me if you are interested. I will be up in Devonport for a show and sell.

Cheers

sthughes wrote:The One Planet Goondie 2 might also be worth a look. Not quite as bomb proof as the Hillebergs but much lighter, half the price and somewhat more length according to the specs.

Thanks for the tip... yes, the Goondie 2 has a floor 2300mm x 1220mm (tapering to 1000mm) with two good sized vestibules... I'm struggling to find any Melbourne based retailer who has floor stock though.

What are general thoughts about the One Planet 15D fabric vs the 30D grade... at 1.96kg vs 2.12kg... a virtually negligible weight save for greater UV resistance and durability on the 30D?
Or are there other considerations... apart from the bright orange colour

Tilleyman wrote:
What are general thoughts about the One Planet 15D fabric vs the 30D grade... at 1.96kg vs 2.12kg... a virtually negligible weight save for greater UV resistance and durability on the 30D?
Or are there other considerations... apart from the bright orange colour

Hi

Son of a Beach would be the best person to ask as he has the single person tent. Tent fly material nowadays is generally very good unless abrasion damaged. The thicker the material the better for resisting abrasion but generally the floor of the tent is the most vulnerable part prone to fail. Hilleberg are very good in posting tear strength so you can rate a 1800 to 1200 to 1000 strength materials. Might pay to drop One Planet a line. As they do both thicknesses it will be interesting to find their reasons. You might find it something as simple as they can not get enough 15D so use 30D.

Cheers

Just found out that Exped have a new range of 3 season + tents I wasn't aware of... the Gemini II and III, 30D nylon and seems to have good ventilation for multi-use conditions in Australia.
Looks pretty good... only issue is that interior length is 220cm vs 230cm on the One Planet Goondie...

http://www.exped.com/exped/web/exped_homepage_int.nsf

The end walls on the Exped are almost vertical , so I bet that the usable space (laying down) is about the same if not better.
Franco

Tilleyman wrote:

sthughes wrote:The One Planet Goondie 2 might also be worth a look. Not quite as bomb proof as the Hillebergs but much lighter, half the price and somewhat more length according to the specs.

Thanks for the tip... yes, the Goondie 2 has a floor 2300mm x 1220mm (tapering to 1000mm) with two good sized vestibules... I'm struggling to find any Melbourne based retailer who has floor stock though.

What are general thoughts about the One Planet 15D fabric vs the 30D grade... at 1.96kg vs 2.12kg... a virtually negligible weight save for greater UV resistance and durability on the 30D?
Or are there other considerations... apart from the bright orange colour

I've got the Goondie 1-15D. See here for a comprehensive review (read all the way to the end for more recent updates). I've used it in a variety of conditions (hot, cold, dry, rain, snow) and it has performed very well. However, I've not yet had it out in strong winds.

I think that it is in strong winds that the 30D fabric would be better, but I reckon the 15D would still be OK. It feels reasonably tough. I think One Planet regard the 15D as '3 season' and the 30D as '4 season'. I can only guess that wind is the difference in 'seasons' that they had in mind when labelling them as such. I'm confident enough in the 15D to try it out in strong winds if I get the opportunity. I reckon it'll be OK. Either way, I'll post to the review topic when I do.

Other than that, the Goodie is a very good tent. Near-vertical walls where they meet the floor. Tough and high bathtub floor. Plenty of head space when sitting up (height and width in both directions). However, I'm nowhere near as tall as you (I think I'm about 178cm - about average height anyhow). But the Goondie 2 would probably be a good one-person tent for a very tall person sleeping diagonally.

(Take everything I say with a grain of salt - One Planet are a site advertiser. However, I aim to be objective.)