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Hilleberg Akto

Hilleberg Akto Review

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Product Grade
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Best Feature:
Linked inner-outer tent design can be pitched in 2-3 minutes
Worst Feature:
Pricey and some complaints about ventilation system
Best Uses:
All-season solo backpacker who needs a mobile camp
Pricing:
$465 (Warranty varies by region and country)
Manufacturer:
Hilleberg

Where to Buy

Store Name
Price
Moosejaw
$465.00

Overview

Hilleberg is a family-run tent manufacturer that was started in Sweden over 40 years ago when a talented seamstress married an avid outdoorsman who was frustrated that the only camping tents on the market had to be pitched before they could be covered with a rainfly. Together, the Hillebergs developed the first commercial tent to have the inner and outer tent linked so they could be pitched simultaneously, and the company achieved immediate success. The revolutionary design not only expedites the set up process and gives the tent more stability, but the detachable outer tent also gives campers the option of pitching the outer tent first in wet conditions to keep the inner tent dry.

One of Hilleberg's most successful all-season solo tents with this design is the Akto tent. It was introduced in 1995 and has since become essential gear for the solo traveler on extended trips who needs a mobile campsite. One of the lightest tents on the market, the Akto has a single pole tunnel construction and a detachable outer fly made from exceptionally durable Kerlon 1200 fabric. While the Akto isn't meant for use in extreme conditions or above the tree line, Hilleberg claims that it has been used on extended polar expeditions and stood up to severe weather. It performs well in all-seasons because the Kerlon 1200 outer fly provides excellent protection from the elements, the inner tent fabric is highly breathable and the adjustable ventilation system combats internal condensation and allows you to regulate temperature. In terms of space, the inner tent is comfortably large for sleeping and storing gear, and, despite the triangle roof design, you won't feel claustrophobic lying down because Hilleberg incorporated sturdy fiberglass rods in the corners of the outer tent to provide extra height around your head. For additional space, the Akto also has a vestibule alongside the inner tent that is large enough to store your gear or even cook in if you want protection from wind/rain. On longer trips, you'll be happy to have a comfortable shelter that is only slightly heavier than a bivy and small enough to fit in the side pocket of your pack.

You can purchase the Hilleberg Akto Tent from Hilleberg.com or other online retailers like Moontrail.com for about $465.

Product Report Card Grade

We give Hilleberg’s Akto an A- because it is a lightweight, durable and comfortable tent that can withstand almost any weather conditions. We also like that its linked inner-outer tent design means you can pitch it in 2-3 minutes and won’t get the inner tent wet if it is raining or snowing. We deducted a few points because it is pretty expensive and some customers reported issues with condensation inside the tent.

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Comparison at a Glance
 
This Product
Product Name
Hilleberg Akto
Terra Nova Ultra Quasar
Eureka Copper Canyon 5 + Screen Room
Price
See Prices
See Prices
See Prices
Overall Score
Our Awards
Date Reviewed
April 2013
April 2013
June 2012

Pros/Cons
Pros
extremely lightweight; quick/easy to set up; offers great stability and protection in inclement weather; spacious interior and vestibule; Kerlon 1200 fabric is extremely durable (4-5x stronger than most so-called "expedition grade" tent materials)
exceptionally lightweight 2-person tent; stable, "bombproof" design that performs extremely well even in severe weather conditions; features improved ventilation system compared to other tents in the Quasar series
relatively inexpensive family tent with 160 ft² of space; vertical walls offer more interior space; interior door offers privacy and great ventilation; ability to block windows in the screen room for additional privacy/weather protection; good water resistance; E! Power port
Cons
expensive; not freestanding; some issues with condensation inside the tent
very expensive; inner first pitching could be problematic in wet conditions
screen room doesn't have a floor and the sod cloth didn't protect a few reviewers from insects (and even a small animal) from getting into the tent; cabin style tents are very unstable in windy conditions because of their high walls; flat top means water can pool on the fly if you don't use guylines to change the slope; pretty heavy

Details
Seasonality
4-season (but not designed for use in extreme weather or above the tree line)
4-season
3-season
Ideal Activities
Backpacking
Backpacking/Mountaineering
Family, car, or base camping
Capacity
1-person
2-person
5-person
Price
$465
$699.95
$419.90
Warranty
Varies by region/country
Limited lifetime warranty
Limited lifetime warranty
Interior and/or Vestibule Space
It has an 18.3 ft² sleeping room and an 8.6 ft² vestibule.
It has a 32 ft² sleeping room and two 10.8 ft² vestibules.
It has 160 ft² of interior space that is divided equally between the sleeping room (80 ft²) and the screen room (80 ft²).
Interior Height (max.)
3'
3' 5"
7'
Weight
3 lbs and 8 oz
6 lbs and 5 oz
35 lbs and 6 oz
Design Type
Stake down, tunnel style tent
Freestanding, geodesic style tent
Freestanding, cabin style tent
Frame
Single 9 mm DAC Featherlite NSL pole (small fiberglass rods in the bottom corners of the outer tent provide extra height around your head when lying down)
Four 8.84 mm DAC Featherlite poles
Nine 12.7 mm & 16 mm fiberglass and 19.5 mm steel poles
Tent Body Materials
Highly breathable fabric that has a durable, water-repellent finish.
Nylon rip-stop with 7000 mm waterproof polyurethane coating
75D 190T polyester taffeta, 1200 mm coated
Rainfly Material
Kerlon 1200 (nylon fabric that has three coatings of silicone on both the inner and outer surface)
SilNylon rip-stop with 6000 mm waterproof polyurethane coating
75D 190T polyester taffeta, 1200 mm coated
Floor Material/Design
Kerlon 1200 (one-piece bathtub style design)
Nylon rip-stop with 7000 mm waterproof polyurethane coating (one-piece bathtub style design)
75D 190T polyester taffeta, 1200 mm coated (one-piece bathtub style design)
Mesh Material
No-see-um mesh
Unknown Mesh
68D polyester no-see-um mesh
Ventilation
The tent has a mesh panel on the door, a triangular mesh window on the opposite wall and two opposing vents on the other walls. All are fully adjustable and make it easy to regulate internal moisture and temperature.
Features mesh doors that allow for adjusting ventilation when necessary.
Features 6 large mesh windows, 3 mesh doors and a full panel mesh roof, all of which can be opened/closed based on the amount of ventilation needed.
Doors
1 door
2 doors (protected by vestibules)
3 doors (2 exterior and 1 interior)
Packed Dimensions
22.83" x 6.69" dia.
21.26" x 7.09" dia.
29" x 10" dia.
Vestibule/Storage
Tent has one 8.6 ft² vestibule and also features an interior storage pocket.
In addition to the two 10.8 ft² vestibules in the front and rear of the tent, it is also designed with interior storage pockets.
In addition to the 80 ft² screen room, the tent is designed with interior storage pockets and comes with 2 gear lofts.
Set Up
With its single-pole tunnel design and linked inner and outer tents, a solo traveler can easily pitch the Akto in 2-3 minutes. It comes with 10 stakes total but only requires 4 stakes for each of the guylines to pitch it. You can use the other 6 stakes if you want additional stability.
It does not have a fast pitch option, but it can be easily set up in about 15 minutes since it has color-coded poles and continuous pole sleeves on the four poles. The inner tent must be pitched first, and then the flysheet and enhanced guy line system with titanium pegs help secure it to the ground.
Two people can easily set up the tent in about 20 minutes thanks to its shockcorded steel and fiberglass frame, clip attachments, and ring and pin assembly. You won't need to use stakes or guy lines except in case of severe weather.
Extras
None
This is an updated version of the popular tent and features a redesigned inner tent that is lighter and better ventilated.
Designed to accommodate the Eureka! rope light if you want to purchase one ($20).

ProductReportCard Editors' In-Depth Review

Pros And Cons

Pros

  • Great ventilation system
  • Extremely lightweight
  • Offers great protection in inclement weather
  • Spacious interior and vestibule
  • Good stability
  • Kerlon 1200 fabric is extremely durable - it is 4-5x stronger than most so-called "expedition grade" tent materials
  • Easy to set up

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Not freestanding
  • Some issues with condensation inside the tent

Key Features

Recommended Use
All season solo backpacking for extended trips needing mobile campsite. Not recommended for extreme weather conditions or above the tree line.
Product Size
The inner tent is 18.3 ft2 with a height of 36" (just enough to sit upright). The vestibule area is 8.6 ft2. The Akto\'s minimum weight is 2 lb 13 oz (outer and inner tents and the poles only), and its packed weight is 3 lb 12 oz (includes all items that come with the tent). In warm, dry conditions, you can make the tent even lighter by only packing the mesh inner tent (sold separately).
Frame and Fabric
The frame is a single 9mm pole tunnel construction, and there are fiberglass rods in the bottom corners of the outer tent to provide extra height around your head when lying down. The outer tent is made with very strong Kerlon 1200 fabric, which is nylon coated with three layers of silicone (as opposed to polyurethane). Kerlon 1200 is not only lightweight and waterproof, but it is also incredibly durable. The inner tent is made from a highly breathable fabric that wicks away internal moisture to keep you cool, dry and comfortable. There is also no-see-um mesh on windows and on the top half of the inner door that can be covered by a zipper-adjustable fabric panel.
Product Design
The Akto has either a green or red fly with black trim and the interior tent is yellow.
Doors
The Akto only has one door.
Floor
The Akto\'s floor is made from Kerlon 1200 fabric and features a high bathtub style design that offers more protection from ground water.
Set Up
The tunnel design and linked inner and outer tents make the Akto very quick and easy to set up. You will only need four pegs for each of the guy lines to pitch it, but you have the option of staking 6 additional points if you want more stability.
Vestibule/Storage
There is one vestibule with 8.6 ft2 of space and there is also a storage pocket in the inner tent.
Ventilation
One of the main reasons the Akto is such a great all-season tent is because of its extraordinary adjustable ventilation system. The main vent is that is integrated into the door (the no-see-um mesh panel) is fully adjustable and protected by a generous hood. There are also opposing vents on each side of the tent for cross ventilation and an additional triangular mesh window on the side wall which all have zipper closures to regulate internal moisture and temperature.
Accessories
Akto Mesh Inner Tent, Tent Bag, XP Tent Bag, Akto Footprint, Extra V Pegs, Extra Poles, Pole Holder Kit for Inner Tent
Warranty
The warranty varies by region/country, so you should check with your local dealer or the Hilleberg office in your area.

Reputation

The Hilleberg Akto Tent has received a few great reviews online including a 5/5 on Trailspace.com (9 reviews) and a 4/5 on Trailspace.com (3 reviews). As a brand, Hilleberg tents are known for their high quality, durability and design. With that reputation also comes a high price tag, however, and some reviewers thought the Akto was a bit expensive. Hilleberg's website listed a number of awards the Akto has won, and, given that it was first introduced over 15 years ago, I think it is impressive that the tent continued to receive accolades. It received a "Best Buy" award from Britain's The Great Outdoors magazine in April 2002, July 2005 and July 2008. It also received awards for being the best solo tent by Germany's premier outdoor magazine Outdoor in September 2003 and by Finland's highly technical outdoor magazine Retki in 2004. This tent is really best suited for backpackers who are on extended trips where they are changing camps frequently and the weather is bad or just unpredictable. If you are more of a fair weather camper, the Akto probably is a little more tent than you need. That said, its versatility makes it great buy if you enjoy camping solo and need a lightweight tent that can withstand whatever nature throws at it.

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