User Review: Hilleberg Nallo 3

I'm beginning to love this tent. I wanted a four season tent that really would stand up to Scottish winter conditions, but I also wanted one that was large enough for extended use, and was not as heavy as the geodesics. In terms of space to weight ratio it's among the very best. A comfortable 3 person tent that weighs only 2.8 kg! Quality of construction and materials are as good as they get. You have to seal the seams, but this is a small price to pay for having top quality fabric. (If your seams are taped your material is not as strong as it might be.) Pitching is simple, inner and outer going up together, it takes just 4 or 5 minutes and one person can do it in a gale. That is essential in our sometimes arctic climate. It's also easy to optimise ventilation, get it right and there's virtually no condensation. I've recently used it in windy and wet weather (force 7 gusting to 8) and it performed perfectly. We were warm, dry and secure that night, when a disturbingly high number of tents on the site were flooded, blown flat, and in several cases ripped to shreds. Guyed out, the Hilleberg was rock solid. I've not had a chance to try it in snow yet, but it's very taught and strong so it should shed snow well.

Disadvantages, well you do need to be able to get four pegs in, so you could not pitch it on rock as you can with a geodesic - but then sleeping on rock hurts! Tunnels are reputed to be a little more noisy in high wind, but I've not noticed this to be a problem. Just tension it properly! They are expensive, but good things often are. If my Hilleberg lasts as well as my cotton Vango Force Ten, now 25 years old and still going strong, then I will be pleased. (For friends across the pond, Hilleberg is a Swedish tentmaker of high repute.)