Hilleberg Akto or similar recommendations

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mylofitz

Member
Apr 19, 2012
31
4
Cheshire
Hi,
I tend to be a belt and braces sort of chap and looking for a robust 4 season tent. I've a Nallo 3 which is great for two but too heavy for single backpacking.
The Akto used to be the go to 1 man tent but I'm well out of touch these days with so many options now available. Would welcome advice and recommendations.
 

Nohoval_Turrets

Full Member
Sep 28, 2004
348
10
52
Ireland
I got my Akto in 2003 and it's been in regular use ever since. Hard to beat Hilleberg for quality, but the price is steep. Still, I definitely recomment it.
 

Rabbit leg

Forager
Nov 9, 2016
117
73
UK and world
The new prices for this year are ridiculous. Almost doubled in 10 years. But I have heard of people sending in 20 year old Aktos for repair - and it was done for free under warranty.
 

SCOMAN

Life Member
Dec 31, 2005
2,583
452
53
Perthshire
I've used my Akto for 3 - 4 years, it was second hand but in great condition. For robustness I don't think it can be beat. An MSR Hubba Hubba in 50kt winds I had the ceiling bowed down nearly to my face (although to give them credit the poles didn't break or de-form). The same in my Akto, just meant I had no condensation due to the through breeze. I find you do need to fiddle around with them to get them pitched just right and taut but it's worth it in the end.
 

mylofitz

Member
Apr 19, 2012
31
4
Cheshire
Thanks for the feedback. I've fancied an Akto for a while. A good second hand one would be my first choice. However the Scarp 1 does appear to get excellent reviews especially with the optional cross poles. Will do further research.
 
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Icthec

New Member
Nov 6, 2015
1
0
Burton
Unna for me. Love the fact it is free standing so pitching on beaches in sand or ground where there is poor peg holding is never a problem. Lack of a porch can be a pain in the wet but tend to always have a tarp with me as well.
 

Erbswurst

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Mar 5, 2018
4,079
1,766
Berlin
Silicon Nylon tents shouldn't be brought in contact with sand. You risk, that the silicon closes in the sand if you press it without cleaning it very well before packing it.

(For summer camping at the beach you can buy a cheap Decathlon tent like the Arpenaz 2 or 3. They are very good for that use and cost round about 20 to 30 €. And water proof and light they are too. 2000g without pegs weights the autoportant Arpenaz 2. Wind resistant only till 40km/h. If you hide it behind a hedge or wall it will survive higher wind speed...)


I own a Hilleberg Nallo 2 since many years and thought about to buy an Akto one man tent, two years ago. I looked at every other option and came back to the Akto because in my opinion it is the best one person all weather mountain and expedition tent in the world.
But then I decided simply to use the Nallo2 I just own. It's portable too, roomier and for me the cheapest option because I just own it... :0)

I bought it many years ago because It can be used for one or two persons hiking tours in nearly every conditions, nearly every where. It was a good investment.



I bought two years ago additional a relatively cheap Silhexpeak V4a in coyote brown.
That's a nice option!

https://luxeoutdoor.de/de/Sil-Hexpeak-V4a.html

You can hang it under a branch or under a washing line or use each nature stick you find, or you can use a walking stick, for example the Decathlon carbon fibre walking pole with the additional plastic cap. That's the right size, because the plastic cap gives you additional 2 cm to the walking stick and so it fits perfectly.

I usually hang the tent under a tree or a washing line between two trees in round about 4 meters distance. A central pole is less comfortable than nothing in the middle of the tent, of course. And if you hang the tent under a branch, you don't have to carry the pole!


That's a very light option if you stay in woodland. (But with walking pole you can use this storm resistant tent in the mountains too.)

You usually don't carry the heavy poles around! Only on full camping grounds you can get problems, but with just one tree, you can fold it in half and use it as a tarp, attached to one tree. Or you have to walk out and surch for a long stick, if you didn't pick it up before you reached the camping ground...

The outer tent of the Luxe Outdoor Silhexpeak V4a weights only 600g, and I own just that and no inner moskito net tent.

With pegs and lines my tent weights around 700g. !!!!!!!
And that's a relatively tough fabric, no extremely thin ultra light stuff.


I use the outer tent in combination with German Army folding mat (425g) and Snugpak Special Forces bivvy bag (340g), in very hot conditions with a light military poncho like the Defcon 5 (350g) as ground sheed instead of bivvy bag.

As you see, I prefere to use the lightest modern original military equipment with NATO Stock numbers (mat, bivvy, sleeping bag, poncho), and the Silhexpeak V4a is made from similar fabric in a similar quality like modern military stuff as a modern version of the old Wehrmacht tents or the polish army tent.
The german constructor told the calling German army that he doesn't deliver to the army, when they asked him. That's the reason, why they didn't get it...

:0)



Off course it's easier to take the poles with you if you use camping grounds, and it's the only option in the mountains.

But for wild camping in the woods the Luxe Outdoor Silhexpeak V4a is a very good option. By the way: I usually don't close it to avoid condensation.

But owning a really nice tent collection for all conditions and in all sizes, for hiking in Germany I most times just use german military folding mat under Snugpak Special Forces bivvy bag and SF1 sleeping bag. And the MILITARY PONCHO AS TARP AND RAIN COAT. 350g to carry is far lighter and more comfortable than every tent.

That's a really light and comfortable option if one doesn't has a midges problem or heavy wind and rain from all sides.

I prefere not to crouch in a tent. Bivvy bag and poncho shelter is comfortable to use and comfortable to carry. And cheap on top! And I sleep in the nature, not in a fully enclosed tent. I can watch the animals and plants around me, and that's the reason why I go for hiking.

I mainly use tents on camping grounds or in really windy and rainy areas.
 
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Tiley

Life Member
Oct 19, 2006
2,364
374
60
Gloucestershire
As has been mentioned in one or two earlier posts, the Tarptent Scarp 1 is superb. Light in weight, bombproof in all weathers and without the condensation problems that quite a lot of Akto users experience, it really is the tent of choice for solo adventures. I don't know what the rate of exchange is like at the moment but, when I bought mine (all those years ago...), the Scarp 1 was cheaper than the Akto even after HMRC had hit me for duty and VAT. Definitely worth considering.

As ever, I've no association with... et cetera - I'm just one very happy customer!
 

Erbswurst

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Mar 5, 2018
4,079
1,766
Berlin
An other interesting option is the Six moon designs Gatewood Cape, available in green or grey. That's high quality ultra light equipment.

I don't own it, but a lot of very professional hikers love it.
 

Erbswurst

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Mar 5, 2018
4,079
1,766
Berlin
I know the German constructor and seller of the Silhexpeak V4a.

But I bought mine from him and don't get payed by him, unfortunately...

I just got a tea and a piece of pizza, when I visited him.

:0)
 

Billy-o

Native
Apr 19, 2018
1,981
975
Canada
I like my Hillebergs a lot ... there is something Rolls Roycey about them, luxurious, indestructible, expensive. But the Scarp 1 is now pretty close to the top of my list of things to get whenever next there is cash available. One of the Hillys will have to go though, and that is a painful thought.

This thread took me back to the Hilleberg site. I remembered how much I do like the Nammatj 2. I have seen it set up under a big tarp. It is like a little House, but, as a two-seater, apparently not burdensome when divvied up:)

Campsaver seem to have good prices on some Hillebergs
 

C_Claycomb

Moderator staff
Mod
Oct 6, 2003
7,354
2,365
Bedfordshire
Anyone looked at Seek Outside, specifically the Silex and Silvertip. Different sort of shelters in that they are not free standing, but both can be had with stove jacks and run floor-less for winter hot tenting.
 

Erbswurst

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Mar 5, 2018
4,079
1,766
Berlin
I love well working, correctly designed and well made stuff. That's the reason, why I usually use military equipment. It is as simple as long lasting and idiot proof.

I forgot what I payed for my Hilleberg Nallo 2 more that 20 years ago.
Yes, off course I still know that I payed as a student more than 1000 Deutsche Mark, but I don't think about it, when I am in the tent...

I just see, that it works well in all conditions. And that's how trekking equipment has to be made.

I am often at camping grounds, because I travel a lot for my work. Other tents usually are made somehow wrong. To complicated, to specialised, to fragile, to small to large, whatever...

HILLEBERG black and red label tents are always well made, and if you choose the simple ones like Namatj 2, Nallo2 or Akto you get an idiot proof product that you can use always and everywhere.

The Yellow label series is usually less well designed than the old ones. Perhaps they work well for dwarfs.
;0)
 

Rabbit leg

Forager
Nov 9, 2016
117
73
UK and world
The Akto has condensation because the outer has no gap to ground to allow air flow. This makes it more weather proof and also warmer ( which saves weight with a lighter sleeping bag). So to say the Akto has condensation issues is to not understand the tent.
The large vestibule also increases condensation - from the moist ground. So cover this area with a sheet or dry gear.

The Akto is very noisy in winds, so for a light sleeper, it is not a good mountain tent.

The Unna, if used by 1 person, has a vestibule. You unclip 1 corner and pull the inner tent back. This is what the instructions tell you to do. And it works well.
 
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Erbswurst

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Mar 5, 2018
4,079
1,766
Berlin
I use the Nallo 2 but I think, with the Akto it's the same:

I usually put my stuff in the inner tent, close it behind me, and that's fine!

I usually don't see any reason to close the outer tent, and the result is, that I usually have no condensation problems.

Whith my other tents it's the same by the way...
 

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