Hilleberg Atko in Scotland
If you live in the States, it’s likely that you’ve never heard of Hilleberg, a Swedish tent company that is very popular in the rest of the world. When I was hiking in Scotland last May, I saw quite a few different models of Hillebergs, including the very popular Atko, shown above, and reviewed below by my friends at Trail Testers in the UK.
At 3 lbs 8 oz., the Atko isn’t the lightest solo tent you can bring on a trip, but if you need a 4 season tent that can stand up to fairly extreme conditions, it’s a darn good candidate with:
- Double guy line attachments on the sides of the center pole for stability.
- Partial no-seeum mesh on the inner door, with an optional fabric door for cold weather comfort.
- Side vestibule for gear storage that serves as a wid break for cooking in high wind.
- High walled bathtub floor to keep rain away from your sleeping bag.
- A detachable inner and outer tent so you can set up the outer in extreme weather without getting the inner tent wet.
- Zipper adjustable vents at the head and food to vend internal condensation.
- Short fiberglass poles at the end of the tent raise the outer skin to provide more interior room .
Like the Atko, the other other tents in the Hilleberg product line are similarly bombproof. Here are some good Youtube Videos that provide an overview of each one.
- Hilleberg Nallo 2 GT – 3 or 4 person tent, 5 lbs, 15 oz.
- Hilleberg Jannu – 2 person tent, 6 lbs, 6 oz.
- Hilleberg Kaitum – 2 or 3 person tent, 6 lbs, 4.oz.
- Hilleberg Bivanorak – 1 person, combination bivy & poncho, 1 lb 4 oz.
- Hilleberg Soulo, 1 person tent, 4lbs 13 oz.
- Hilleberg Keron 3-4 person tent, 3 GT, 10 lbs 4 oz
- Hilleberg Allak – 2 person tent, 6 lbs 10 oz.
- Hilleberg Saivo – 3 person tent, 10 lbs 4 oz.
- Hilleberg Tarra, – 2 person tent, 8 lbs, 15 oz.
- Hilleberg Staika – 2 person tent, 8 lbs 3 oz
- Hilleberg Unna -1 person tent, 4 lbs 8 oz
- Hilleberg Atlas – 8 person tent, 18 lbs 11 oz
- Hilleberg Atlai UL – 6 person tent, 4lbs 13 oz
- Hilleberg Rajd – 2 person, tent 2 lbs 3 oz
If you’re interested in learning more about Hilleberg Tents and shelters, make sure to request Hilleberg’s catalog. If it is full of useful information and is an excellent guide for selecting the tent capabilities and features that you need. Distribution in the US is still very limited, but you can purchase the full selection of Hilleberg tents and shelters direct from Hilleberg USA. MooseJaw also carries the Atko, the Allo, and Nallo 2 and 3 person models.
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Hilleberg tents are of the highest quality and I've spent many nights in them. They are a bit heavier than some of the others but the construction and strength they offer are unmatched. They are perfect for the wild weather we experience in the Whites. Especially above timberline in the winter. :)
The Akto is my current tent. I modify it by pitching it without the inner tent and use only the footprint as the bottom. This makes the tent a bit roomier and lighter. This model also has the all mesh inner tent available which can be pitched separately. No seam sealing and four season rating is what sold me.
I've got a Nallo 2, in fetching fire-engine red, that gets used when Mrs CJW comes along. It's bomber and very comfortable. My only complaint (and this seems to run across the Hilleberg line) is that condensation in summer/hoarfrost in winter is a problem unless you pay special attention to ventilation – pitch into the wind, leave a gap in the door, etc. I've had it up in some very bad weather and it hasn't budged an inch. Beautiful workmanship, too. Two thumbs up!
I have a Nallo 2 GT. A great weight to space tent. Used it on one trip with a friend. Where the third friend was able to sit in the vestibule pretty comfortable for two days.
The Akto is a legendary tent in Europe but it is also quite heavy – there has been a mass of interest in the Scarp 1 and a couple of English bloggers you have listed in your blogroll have reviewed it thoroughly – Robin Evans at blogpackinglight and Martin Rye at Summit and Valley. I wonder whether the Scarp 1 is fast becoming the new pretender to the 4-season throne…?
I own a Scarp 1 and wouldn't recommend it. In fact, I'll be selling mine soon. I find the legs at the end to be quite tricky to set to in the snow. Interestingly, with all of the hype about Scarps, there was only 1 on the TGO challenge that I saw vs dozens of Atkos. I'm not saying that the Atko is a better, but the Scarp is not a major leap forward in my opinion, just a knock-off of some of the Atko's existing traits.
That's really interesting as it's the first time I've heard negative comments on the Scarp 1. The Akto is a legend as I said spawning many derivatives – be interesting to see if the Scarp adapts to your criticisms.
oh, negative on the scarp 1.
Just checking out your other writings about it.
i'm all about wintercamping, and thought the legs at the end woukd be perfect for keeping the tent away from the bag.
Well well, still looking then.
Thinking about the hilleberg unna, wider, but no front porch. A great norwegian, Lars Monsen used it across Canada, and says that you only need to lear to live without the extra space :)