Hilleberg - Unna or Soulo

[stu]

Anyone have any experience with either of these tents?

1. Hilleberg Unna : http://www.moontrail.com/tents/hilleberg_unna.php

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Looks like a great solo tent, no vestibule but apparently you can unclip part of the inner to form a 'virtual' vestibule?
Almost ticks all the boxes; a little heavier than something like a Macpac Microlight but performance wise seems far superior.

cont...

[stu]

2. Hilleberg Soulo : http://www.moontrail.com/hilleberg-soulo.php

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Again, seems to tick all of the boxes; again a little heavy? Also 5cm less headroom than the Unna, but has a vestibule. Looks tornado-proof!


Alternatively, even tho they are not free-standing & similar to my Macpac Minaret, I also like the look of the
Hilleberg Nallo 2 : http://www.moontrail.com/hilleberg-nallo.php
(I know a few forum members have them - tasadam - any comments?). They have a heap of room & the vestibule appears to be about twice the size of my Minaret! Same weight as the 2 1 person tentx I have already discussed.

If the Unna had extra fly material to form a pegged-out vestibule I would be sold, not sure why they didn't do this?

Any comments on these or Hilleberg as a whole would be most helpful.

Cheers.
Stuart.

[Franco]

Hi
Have a look at this review.
http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews ... rd%20Lyon/
Note that the reviewer is 193 cm tall.
The comments I see on line from users are positive.
The Soulo (one of my favourite designs) is reportedly a bit short if over 183cm (6'...) , ideal for me at 171cm
It is all about perception. If you prefer a large interior then go for the Unna and use the temporary pull back for cooking or fiddling during the day if stuck inside.
If you don't want to fiddle and the smaller interior is fine , then go for the Soulo. Still bigger inside than the Microlite. (shoulder room)
Franco

[Ent]

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[ollster]

Good one Stu, I'm also interested in a one person tent that suits the taller gent, me being the 188cm monstrosity that I am. Those look interesting... a bit more length than the MD or Macpac one persons. Any idea what the floor length is on the second one?

Oll.

[Ent]

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[ollster]

LOL. Not edited quick enough...

[stu]

Thanks for the info guys, still undecided, but would still prefer free-standing for the flexibility of pitching locations (including in scrub, on rock shelves etc).

Oll, added an additional pic of #2 - 220cm long (10cm shorter than the Unna & 5cm lower in height).
Will discuss more when I see you on Sunday for SW trip.

[Peaksnik]

I recently purchased a Soulo from Moontrail in the US. I am really very impressed by this tent, it is bombproof and very roomy. I'm 185cm and the length of the tent is just fine. The vestibule is excellent - plenty of room and with the ability to peel back the inner can be made huge if needed for some cooking extravaganza!

I wanted freestanding for use in tight situations, camping on tent platforms, rock and hard ground etc.

The Moontrail bonus points thing is terrific; if there is other stuff that you want it can bring the effective price of the tent down quite sharply. They even threw in a surprise gift of a Leatherman Micra!

The only significant downside is postage - It was about $US70.

I considered lighter tents but didn't think they could offer the complete package by handling winter alpine use succesfully.

[stu]

Thanks Peaksnik, definitely wanted to hear some first hand accounts.
Do you have any photos of it in action yet?
I know Moontrail has heaps of pics but more pics speak more thousands of words!
Do you find the height sufficient? ie. can you sit upright in it (i'm 175cm so if you can I'll be in luxury).

[Peaksnik]

The height is okay when sitting. The wall of the tent is sloping immediately above the head when lying down but because the curve is not far off vertical at the bottom of the walls I don't feel at all claustrophobic i.e plenty of airspace above the face.

Sorry, I don't have any pictures at the moment but as I'll be using it in Tassie in just over 2 weeks time in the company of digital camera toting friends I'll have some photos taken then and post here when I get back.

However, the Hilleberg catalogue photos are an excellent guide to what you get. Also, see the Soulo on Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfwyLYcL1zo

On the bonus points deal, I calculated that I was getting for free about $AU200 worth of stuff.

[stu]

I ended up getting the Hilleberg Soulo from Moontrail & just cashed in my 'bonus' shopping points for a cash discount off the tent price.
AUD $600 including shipping - arrived in 4 days flat, very quick.

I know even with the strong dollar this sounds expensive, but this little tent has to be one of the best one person, all season, bombproof tents on the market - more than exceeding my expectations (sure, it's only set up in my living room at the moment, but I am confident it will be up to any adventure I am going to throw at it). I have been researching just about every tent on the market for the past 2 years & this seems to fit every category I was looking for. I also know Hilleberg provide fantastic ongoing support to their customers.

Will report back with feedback from the field in the next few weeks

[ollster]

I know even with the strong dollar this sounds expensive, but this little tent has to be one of the best one person, all season, bombproof tents on the market - more than exceeding my expectations (sure, it's only set up in my living room at the moment, but I am confident it will be up to any adventure I am going to throw at it).

You must suffer from low expectations, and over confidence...

Just need to get out and try the little beastie (and the Hubba HP... ehem)!

[stu]

Hmmm, I thought over expectation & low confidence was my thing?
Sorry, I'm looking forward to checking out the Hubba HP too

[Ent]

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[stu]

I'm only 5'9" (hobbit), not a towering giant like you other chaps.
Having said this, I still have probably +10cm clear height above me when sitting up & at least a foot and a half clear length.
Due to the steep side walls it feels very roomy indeed; sorry blacksheep, but I am sooo glad I didn't go for the Microlight, even at the discounted price.
Heaps of vestibule space for pack, boots, wet weather gear & still room to cook;
can unclip more of the inner for much more vestibule / cooking space if required but seems to be ample space already.
2 sqm. of floor area feels like plenty to sit out a stormy day if necessary, play solitaire. yoga etc.
Seems to sit pretty well in the living room, but would get even more taught / stable with a few peg outs in the field.
Lots of zipping options on the outer & inner doors for viewing / venting etc.

Yes, another very happy Hilleberg owner I think!

[ILUVSWTAS]

2. Hilleberg Soulo : http://www.moontrail.com/hilleberg-soulo.php

.

That thing looks cool Stu! I LOVE the pic of it set up on that rock.....

[Ent]

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[ollster]

I'm only 5'9" (hobbit), not a towering giant like you other chaps.

Funny, I would have said less... Bah, you short people all look the same height to me.

[stu]

Funny funny funny...
Less height = less tangling in the scrub + less vertigo on cliffs;
that's why I always look back & see your head wrapped in bauera Oll,
giants can't fit through hobbit scrub tunnels

[ollster]

Fair points, but you forgot less strain on joints...

[stu]

So a very quick review of the Hilleberg Soulo & a few photos from my most recent trips (Southern Ranges & Franklands).

I so love this little tent, it has been everything I was hoping it would be & much, much more.

The set up time is a couple of minutes tops with the exo-skeletal pole system & with integral pitch the inner can be removed from the inside when the weather is soggy to keep seperate & dry when packing up.

For those wanting to minimise weight, the outer & poles can be set up without the inner for fast & light / summer trips, with the addition of a ground sheet obviously (i'm just using the Tyvek for the moment but will probably buy the proprietary ground sheet as well).

This tent came with 12 guy lines but I have removed 6 of them as it seemed like overkill (it is a mountaineering tent so designed for Himalays etc.). The 6 guy lines hold the tent solid in even the worst winds, what we got on the Southern Ranges a few nights was pretty atrocious & the Soulo stayed very stable.

Tho it is probably deemed too heavy for some at around 2.0 kilos I am happy to compromise a little extra weight for the features that you get & the very liveable space (plenty of head room, vestibule is big enough & can be enlarged by unclipping more of the inner if space is required).

The freestanding design is what I was always looking for & just increases the flexibility of camp sites; also if you set up & find your site too lumpy simply pick the whole tent up & move it. In favourable conditions I don't usually worry about the guy lines, just a few pegs to hold it down.

Downsides -I guess the weight for some, but not an issue for me.
Maybe more pockets (it has 2 little pockets for essentials) or a loft in the ceiling, but this could be added pretty easily, there seems to be some
clip in points on the ceiling.
Some may say the red colour is too loud, but my tent probably stood out the most on the Franklands trip & hence was easy to see in misty
conditions. Also, as I do a lot of off track walking being able to get back to your tent when base camping is very important, any additional help
from increased visibility of the tent is a bonus, I don't want my tent to 'blend in' in these remote environments.

Can't really fault this little tent & can only praise the quality design & workmanship.
Also I have heard Hillebergs after market support is second to none, nice to know if anything ever goes wrong with it.

A few pics from recent trips:

PB low camp in gale force conditions.

Cavern Camp next to New River Lagoon, in more favourable conditions.

[stu]

A few more photos:

Camp below Double Peak on the Franklands.

Camp at Citadel Shelf on the Franklands (Citadel West Tower in the background).

Camp below Right Angle Peak on the Franklands.

Cheers.
Stu.

[kanangra]

Thanks for the feedback Stu. Some great camping locations there. That tent certainly looks bombproof. Perfect for Tassie conditions. Is the piece on the top for venting? what is its purpose?

k.

[stu]

The piece on top covers a vent at the top of the vestibule.
Venting options are pretty good, 1 side of the door can be unzipped from solid inner to mesh (see photo at Cavern Camp);
this is both a great additional venting option when not too cold & also for viewing outside with the vestibule door pinned back.
The entire width of the tent can be opened, ie. 1 vertical zip & 2 horizontal zips.
Lots of good design ideas fom Hilleberg.
Some friends had the Hilleberg Allak on the Southern Ranges walk which looked like a fantastic 2 person version of the Soulo type design;
they were very happy with it & their second Hilleberg tent after the Nallo 3 GT (I think?).

[Nuts]

Nice one stu. We have some Red Atko and Nallos. They are a cheery little place to return to. I dont think the colour is a big deal, perhaps if camping somewhere dodgy overseas where you want to be hard to see but otherwise the red colour has some good points. Very photogenic tooboot

[Ent]

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[photohiker]

Looks like a nice tent.

The two main poles are crossing poles, yes? How does the third pole attach?

[stu]

Brett - I havent seen the Akto yet, tho I know someone with one so may see one side by side in the near future. The free standing dome design won me over with the Soulo, it was just what I was specifically after so nothing against the Akto. I am only 5'9" so only a mere hobbit compared to you. I have probably 5-6" of clear headroom when sitting up in the middle of the tent, & probably 1.5' clear space at my head, so I'd imagine plenty of room for those much taller than myself. Yes, the devil is in the details as my old Uni Architectural lecturer used to say...I am an Architectural Detailer / Draftsman by trade so the fine attention to detail in the Hillebergs was most impressive.

Photohiker - the third pole is also part of the cross design (ie. 3-way pole configuration), whcih also forms the vestibule. The poles sit in half-sleeves at the base of the tent (maybe a foot long) then the rest of the tent gets clipped up onto the poles / exo-frame. This makes for very quick setup time.

[Ent]

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