Hilleberg Saitaris

I just received this tent yesterday, and while I have not yet used it, my first impressions on its quality are superb. My former tent was a North Face Him 35, but after 90+ nights of use and abuse I retired it. I still have it, but not sure how sound it is, as it has mold starting to form in the very top. It must not have been totally dry the last time I packed it up.

I plan to use this tent in the coming weeks in the high country, but I do not foresee using it in as tough an environment as it was made for. So this review that I will make after using it likely will not have any useful information for some of the more extreme environments that it is in fact made for. However, the build quality and material used seem to me to be in a class well above that of the North Face Him 35 four-season tent that I owned, but I am no expert in materials used.

It is rather heavy as well, coming in at around 14 pounds packed. So if you're alone, pacing yourself will be required for most people, due to the excess weight. It is recommended to spread the load between backpackers but I usually go solo.

I will update this review as the fall/winter/spring seasons of 2011-12 continue.

I special ordered it through Neptune Mountaineering in Boulder, Colorado. If anyone is interested I suggest contacting Brannon Fisk, Neptune Mountaineering's hardgoods buyer. Neptune Mountaineering has simply an amazing customer service team.