Hilleberg Unna

Let me start by saying no tent is perfect for everyone...but this one is perfect for me. The Hilleberg Unna is an exoskeletal design (poles on the outer) as all Hillies are, making it much easier to set up in wet snow or rain.

The interior of the tent is never exposed when setting up as it is already attached to the outer fly with toggles (my word, not sure what Hille calls them!). I'm not completely sure why every other tent manufacturer hasn't started this yet, but they should.

Usage

I have had this tent for about a year now and had the chance to use it at least once in every season. I live in Ontario, Canada, and do the majority of backpacking in Northern Ontario. Temps ranging from I believe -28c was the coldest, to 26c. I am 6 feet, 160 lbs and often travel with an 120 lb Mastiff and 100 lb Eurasier.

Positives

In my opinion this is the perfect solo tent and that starts with the kerlon 1200 fabric. If you haven't already, order the Hille catolog (free), it comes with fabric samples of the kerlon 1200, 1800 (its beefier brother) and standard ripstop nylon.

The first thing it encourages you to do is try to rip the three samples. The ripstop is easy but I was unable to rip the kerlon and eventually took a knife to it out of curiousity. The durability of this fabric is amazing. I bought mine used at a cheaper price and it looked untouched. I've put it through some tests, still untouched.

The next positive is the ventilation options. There are lots of different ways to set up the two (inner and outer I mean in this case) doors and the one window to ventilate. From battening down the hatches to a free view on a starry night. It has what I call a little rain hat, again I'm making my own descriptions, to allow you to ventilate through the fly door while still leaving it closed.

This is a solo tent so having only one vent does suffice, I wouldn't want to get two people in there unless it was an emergency. Almost all my trips are myself and two large dogs (100lbs plus each), and condensation has never been an issue.

The last positive is a couple little things that put this tent, and company, head and shoulders above. The tent has the ability to double up poles. I own both the 9mm and 10mm DAC poles and have used, albeit overkill, both sets together in heavy, wet snow. I have no idea the weight these two sets could bear but would bet my life on them rather then most other 4-season tents. I see no expense spared in this tent and you can see the quality in the metal tensioning strap and re-enforced pole pockets.

Interior space or vestibule? This tent lets you chose. There is no built in vesti, but rather enough interior space for a solo trip plus gear. If you want you can detach the toggles and make less interior space and have a vestibule.

Another of my favourite features is that worker that makes your tent (one worker does all the parts — start to finish) sews his/her name on the tent. In my opinion that brings them a sense of accountability to the product they personally, as well as the company, are sending out.

Negatives

Very little. But being subjective the V stakes included are nothing special, standard quality. Don't get me wrong they work, and I havn't broken one, but they are not any better then most standard included stakes.

I've read Tipi's concern with the elastic that attaches the inner and outer fly and I think its a valid one. It certainly has to be the "weak point" if this tent has one. I am keeping my eye on that, no problems yet.

Price, has got to be a negative, but I bought mine used and at 300 dollars with both sets of poles it's a steal. Last is the specs, it is slightly smaller in all dimensions on the inner then on the website (91*44*40 inches) as the measurements were taken on the outside and the inner uses about an inch and a half of elastic to connect.

Bottom line

Step #1 — Save up, collect pennies, go in the fountain and fish for quarters, do what you have to do to get the money, and then buy the Hillie that best suits you.

Step #2 — Never have to worry about your tent.

Step #3 — Enjoy when your friends have to look for a new tent again, and again, and again.

I've put up more pics in an album on my profile but didn't want to bog the review down too much.