Thanks a million for answering my question Paul - and everyone's suggestions in the comments. I love the dome shape of the Unna and the way you can open up the whole side of the tent and the space in the inner. I suppose the fact that I asked the question means what I really want is an Unna .. I'll be spending tomorrow looking into all your suggestions - huge thanks everyone xx
No problem Sue. Thanks for the question. It’s opened up a nice discussion in the comments and there’s some other good suggestions. I’ve learned a bit about the Trekkertent Saor so make sure to check that one out too 👍🏻
Thanks for the kind words and interest Paul. Good take on the X-Dome. I think it’s quite sturdy compared to 3-season ultralight tents, but yes certainly not at the sturdiness level of a 4-season rated Hilleberg. For a lot of people I think it’s all they need, but if someone wants a true Unna competitor this is not that since it is focused on being much lighter. We call it a 3+ season tent. Regarding the poles, in Steven's case it broke where he had improperly installed an oversized sleeve that was essentially putting a kink force on the pole and would have broken a lot of poles. There was a glue defect on the pre-production pole, but if it would have been repaired with a proper repair sleeve this wouldn't have broken. The hubs are aluminum and quite sturdy, but yes you are right that if it did break at the hub there is a possibility that it couldn't be repaired. If just the pole broke you could put the sleeve onto the hub. If the hub itself broken then you couldn't repair it, but again they are quite sturdy aluminum. For the tie outs, we have 8 options now (1 per corner, 2 end hubs, 2 cross bar tips) which is working well, but we can improve it further with more, so we are going to move to 2 per leg for our next run. They should wind up about 420 GBP after VAT and duty in the UK. Cheers, Dan
I've invented a diet based on this principle - take a chocolate cake and cut it in half - half the amount means half the calories which means you can eat twice as much.Simples.
Hilleberg every time for me. I know they're heavier than many, but - 1) They are STRONG, and I know which tent I'd trust most in a big blow (I have been in a few over 50 years), and 2) Durability. This breaks down into two thoughts. First is that a Hilleberg will last years longer than most, or possibly all others. And second, if anyone has any principles re-environmental considerations - especially as we are all madly into the great outdoors, which we want to keep pristine as possible, buying one tent and using it for decades rather then years... My original Nallo 2 is 30 now, and with a replacement floor and new elastics all round, plus new guys - Hilly type, natch - it is still a really good, tough tent. Yes it weighs 2.6 kg, and yes the fabric must be weaker now (although I spoke with Bo about this, and he said the original fabric that all their tents were made from was Kerlon 1500, ie, 15 kg tear strength, so if now half that strength has gone, that still makes it stronger than a great many tents on the market now. I have much lighter tents, so yes, I am a hypocrit! - Tarptent Moment, a true 1 kg single pole tunnel, mostly solid inner, quick to pitch etc, scary in a big blow and there are potential weak points which if breached would shout disaster, and a Durston X-mid two man. I have seen a friend's same tent in gale force winds and it was definitely impressive. But if I was going out into the wilds (I'm between the Torridons and Fisherfiled, there are zero sheltered or 'safe' pitches in winter conditions) it's hands down which tent I would choose; my Hilleberg Akto! Even though it must be 20 years old now, and 1.7 kg, the Akto is bomb-proof, will take a second pole (same length as the old Nallo I have, so I have one already), and with double guying is pretty sturdy. I have, like Paul, had many, many tents over the years (I was there at the dawn of specialised backpacking tents, had one, it was great then, and with modern fabrics would still be great now, although its design would look very old-school). Sorry for the usual too-long message, but I love the subject, and have half a century (of my 67 years) to contribute to the conversation... (-;)~
Great video Paul. A really fair and balanced view there. I’m with you on the Dome (although I’ve not tried one). I’m not saying it’s a bad tent, far from it, but from what I’ve seen I wouldn’t like to spend a 16hr night on a mountain in one, if the weather got rough. ATB bud 👍
I personally highly recommend the Vango Nexus-2 F10 UL… Very sturdy/storm worthy shelter, reasonably lightweight at 1,760g (without the supplied stakes) too, which isn’t bad for all the space your actually getting inside!! It pitches outer-first and packs down tiny, (even with the poles in the bag) and comes in at just £300. I personally only paid just £260 for mine! Out of the 8 tents I now own, this is by far my favourite.. I wouldn’t say it was an outright 4-season tent, more of a 3+ season shelter really, but one certainly worth considering if your not willing to splash out £600+ 👍🏻 I also wanted to add that the Vango Sil-Nylon, doesn’t appear to go saggy and stretch like others do, like my Lanshan-1 for instance. I don’t know why that is, but it certainly is the case from my experience, it’s been soaking wet on both inner and outer fly in the morning - yet is still tight as a drum, just as I had first pitched it when dry the night before!
Hi Paul, thank you for the recommendation I really appreciate it.. I have notice a big jump in my Subscribers and video views due to this video you have made so thank you once again.. I agree entirely with your thoughts on the X Dome but I see that Dan has replied so fair play to him for that.. best wishes Tom
It irritates me when people say Hilleberg tents are heavy, they're not heavy, they are the weight they are for the materials they're made out of. You can buy a tent that resembles a Hilleberg in size/shape at half the weight, but it's not a Hilleberg. It will gain it's weight saving by the use of thinner, weaker, less durable materials and poles, less guy lines and peg out points etc. I'm really glad you pointed this out in your video. Good video.
I just purchased the staika. I don't have a problem about the weight or cost. I want a tent that I trust to get me through climates I'll face in Africa; The Drakensberg, Congo-Nile trail, Musanze to Kigali, Rwenzori Hike, and Fabedougou Dome
I just camped with the X-Dome and it’s surprisingly sturdy for a 3 season ultralight tent. However, it’s definitely only a 3 season maybe a 3+ season tent in its current configuration. I really wish the x-dome had a fly sheet that went all the way to the ground with a solid inner. That would make it much more appealing for winter use. It does have a lot of characteristics that I LOVE about my Unna though! A very spacious interior with a small footprint and it pitches and takes down very quickly. Being able to open the entire side of the tent is also nice. I’m really excited to see the updates Dan makes to this tent design over the coming years. The Unna is definitely something special though 🙌
Great feedback Todd. I held off with the X-Dome as I from previous experience Dan quickly listens to feedback and makes little changes to each iteration. A solid inner and a fly to the ground is more suited to UK but I guess his biggest market is the US. I hope you're well mate
@@euphonekyeah I heard. Just wish it was here for this first release since we are moving into winter. I believe the tents in the April release will also have the extra guy out points 👍
Trailstar MLD still using it.... 580grams.... multiple configs and used it in from Alaska to Kenya and beyond and in Winds over well over 90Kmh... Been my go too for nearly 9 years.... I have 40 plus tents and this is still my Fav and most used...
@@StephenDannatt-vn3pi I test them for clients.. I am an outwardbound instructor etc.. I keep them, too loan out when needed.. and besides I'm a bit of a kit whooore
Thanks Paul as always: It's been said many times about us getting kicked in the pocket here in the UK for equipment / electonics etc when in the USA it is so much cheaper. My suggestion ( though not easy to organise) would be try have a friend buy in America when visiting or on holiday there and bring back to UK. Thanks again for all your advice and help. Michael
IMO the X-Dome Is an extremely good tent for anyone who don't have to camp on top of a mountain. If you absolutely must have the best views then I'd go for one of the sturdier/heavier options.
I like and respect very much Tom Heaney's evaluations of equipment. I may well end up with an Arcdome for my motorcycle travels. I am a Hilleberg person so I don't take change lightly. I have many models and confer with them often. They have saved my life. And if it's so bad I can't ride to cover then I need the best tent I can get to take shelter. Tom has place with natural high winds to give these a good test. One you can rely on. Good report Paul. Liking the OR jacket. Seems it was about to get a real test too with the rain ready to blow you over. All good. Now go shopping for a tent. All good from east Kentucky USA Next time
Agree about the x-dome although it’s not like for like. I’ve got one on order for April as a summer 3 season tent. I own a Unna and thought as soon as I saw the x-dome that it looked like a lighter version of the Unna, which is a good thing. But the x-dome isn’t a 4 season tent which ever way you cut it. 😁
This I am sure you know already but here goes, if you buy a lot cheaper tent ie. Rakoon 2.1 " my go to" and do double poling it is a lot lighter and a bomb shelter. I think similar adaptions on other tents would work. Thanks for all the work you do and love to all clean campers.
BlackDiamond hilight 2p. Difference is you piptch the tent from the inside. And it’s very blue colour and vestibul is an extra. Trekkertent DCF scout (not sure about the name )
I've been eyeing up the trekker tent saor for a long time, but no one's really done any reviews of them. The standard Saor is half the weight, half the price of the unna and designed in Scotland so one would think that they're capable of withstanding a fair bit of weather
X-Dome next batch in April is coming with additional guyout points, and it looks like it will be able to withtand 100 km per hour winds if staked correctly. About MyLifeOutdoors review - he was using a prototype X-Dome, and the glue connecting the carbon fiber to one of the aluminum hubs failed, so to repair it he put a sleeve on that was badly sized, which put weird preaure on the edges of the carbon fiber pole. This won't happen in a production model, firstly because glue is checked by pulling and pushing to make sure the connection is strong. Secondly, a repair sleeve that actually fits properly will be available from Durston, and that will offer a quality repair.
I really don't need more tents but I'm down the rabbit hole now researching your picks Paul 🤣 it's like a drug. Great upload man. I am really liking the 3FUL Taiji 1 at the moment. Lovely tent to be honest and great for the cost.
I'm down the rabbit hole with you Martin and hooked 🙃I should spend less time on RUclips and more time camping! Thanks for the suggestion. I live in Ireland and subscribe to your channel too
I'd suggest your little terra Nova Lazer compact AS I grabbed mine on a flash sale for about £530 with a footprint from hill and dale outdoors but terra November also do a trade in offer where I think you get 30% off a "new" model on there website when you trade in any old tent to save on waste but when I found the flash sale it was still cheaper with a footprint
Thanks for the mention Paul. Put it this way i havent sold the PreTents ..yet 😅 Having said that i think the F10 Nexus and Taiji 1 might be on my shortlist too. Atb A
The Mandingo has a Nortent Vern 1 that looks really sturdy, but he uses whaskey power at the same time, too so those poles must be able to take some battering. Ohh Matron! 😂
Have a look at the ASTA gear crescent 1p. Basically a 2 pole version of the bobcat or macpac microlite. It’s a solid tent semi freestanding. Double poles double crossing. No reviews that I could find but I took a chance on it and couldn’t be happier. Choice of inner, 2 way ykk zips, pitch together or fly first, foot print included, useful but smallish vestibule, storm worthy. Can bring weight down to around 1350 with small mods. I wouldn’t rate it as full 4 season but definitely UK/NZ 4 season not withstanding snow.
I thought the "bomb proof" wild country helm compact tents might have been on the list? Not much lighter, but loads cheaper and sturdy in rubbish conditions
I didn't pay anywhere near £500 for the XDome, i paid around £297 + £58 customs... with regards to the guy who tested the XDome, it was a bit crazy to continue with a pole that was obviously faulty. Saying that, ive got it to use in Winter instead of the xmid solid and i have a feeling ill feel far more secure in the xmid, time will tell i suppose. But the Geordie Wildcamper has just popped a video up, ive not watched it all, but what i did see was water was coming in the vents and the zips were leaking.. Not filling me with much faith for Scotland in Jan lol
@@craig3401 The zip is a normal YKK AquaGuard that many tents use (including Hilleberg). They are only water resistant rated, so it is possible to get drips through but that is why we position them only above the vestibule.
I think another option if you have a lot of patience, is to buy second hand, I bought my unna from eBay from a local seller so I could see it for about 400 and it was perfect.
I am a big advocate of Terra nova especially and have made videos showing that. This question was related to the Unna design so I chose a few tents that met that style. I have learned from the comments that trekker tent make one similar and they are U.K. Every day is a school day for me
there are a few tents half the price of a hilleberg, half the weight - but some compromise has to be had. there's MSR access 1 , and fjallraven abisko 1 and 2 ;(plus some black diamond and vango) all under £600 and weight from 1.4 to 1.8kg. the compromise is you might not get the unna shape. what i would say though is if you're going proper 4 - season conditions with full snow and gale you need proven 4 season equipment - it would be better to carry a 2kg-3kg tent - but sacrifice other stuff in your kit to bring weight down. The other thing people never do but probably should do more is take a decent tent with a partner and share it like what bushman and blue did recently. how many times have we seen two folk go up with 2x 2.8kg tents and they could have had 1x3kg tent and share it ? lol
i have my Lightwave T10 Trail (£349 new) and while its small, so i keep seeking a worthy 2 man alternative, i just cant find anything ithink is worth using over this one. its coming with me to the cairngorms this winter and i feel confident in it. i do wish i have a touch more space in the footprint though, the vestibule is also a tight fit but it works well with a tarp extension. 1.8kg all in.
Great review. I like Durston gear and I have an Xmid tent and Kakwa pack, but I'm really skeptical about the carbon fibre poles of the XDome. In 50+ years of backpacking, I have never had a quality aluminum tent pole failure, and in my opinion the extra few grams weight is well worthwhile.
Robens starlight,1 or 2. Have the 1 had that in all weather's ,it just smiles, highgale winds . Storms , -10 snow storm Bargain. 120 . Well made. This company fantastic camping tent maker . Need more recognition. I love this 💚had few years ,nether once let me down, feels bomb proof .whats your views on robens ?
You could have a tie to go with it. I'm interested in time travel and ordered a Time Machine from Amazon but the warehouse picker misread the order so i ended up with a Tie Machine !😂
If I'd be on the lookout for a true 4-season tent, I would get that TarpTent ArcDome without thinking twice. That being said, I just ordered the new Durston X-Dome (which is not a 4-season tent, and we shouldn't expect it to be since it weighs only 1 kg).
Agree with everything you say. I worry a bit about the hype of the xdome that some people may overestimate its intended use and capabilities. We like to test a tent to destruction here in the U.K. 😂
@@PaulMessner Absolutely! By the way, another alternative that I am curious about is the SlingFin CrossBow 2. However, it's also expensive, and packaged weight about the same as the Hilleberg. Slingfin Portal 2 is lighter and looks like it also could be a really strong tent.
Arc dome is near the weight of the unna and tnt material has a massive pack size, I've seen they have a silpoly version coming though. I bought a xdome last week. Un boxed it and and then out it for sale, the poles are thin, I've already seen two tents have issues with these carbon poles in the durston group, and the material is 15d. Have a look at Justin out doors vid also where he storm tests.
@@cuprajake1 Nope, TT Arc Dome is about 700 grams lighter than the Unna. Justin Outdoors is one of those people I absolutely don't trust at all. In his "wind test" he didn't even stake out the end wall. Andrew Beavers' video shows the X-dome handling blizzard conditions. Again, it's not made for that, but in those conditions the Big Agnes & MSR lightweight tents would definitely not survive.
@@jorisev TT weighs close to 1700g without pegs, and bag, unna is 2040g. That's like for like solid inner and the thicker carbon poles. The durston pole issues are on brand new tents where the aluminium inserts are coming away from the carbon pole, it's 3 season tent, which is what it's being sold as, people are taking it out past it's limits really.
Very good Paul, glad to see the Tarptent from my fellow North Californian so highly rated. The tariffs proposed by our new fearless leader would cause a price hike in items from China at least in the states but possibly the UK also.
Awesome discusion! We seem to be going down the same rabbit hole on youtube, I recently got into backpacking (based in Sweden) and bought last spring the Fjallraven abisko view. I am really happy about the tent when sharing it with my partner or friend. But i am looking into doing some lighter winter camping in the future and will probably be doing so alone 😢. I currently have the Unna on my wish list of tents to possibly buy, but have been curius about tarp tent since its relese. Hopping like you said they will release an update whit bigger doors before i decide to pull the trigger.
If your going to go £600 might as well wait to spend the extra and get the tent you really want 👍 ps look at the Robens Sprinter crazy wind test plus sub £300 for 1.9kg 🤙
Sue needs to ask first, “where am I going camping “, girls have to carry heavier sleeping bags for same for same rating which is unfair. But Arctic, winter UK in Cairngorms, or a camp site on a summer weekend in Bournemouth. By doing this she knows which tent to choose. UK isn’t the USA nor the Arctic but very often it’s wet and windy. The other thing is how long are you going for one night on peaks or one month in the Pyrenees or western Sweden in winter. Space inside then a one person tent is really past its sell by date and 2 person give you space for crappy weather and being stuck in a storm for a day/week/month.
I looked at all those and the trekkertent saor either the colour or guy points or doors just had me going back to the unna so I got that yes expensive and a little heavier but I think it does most things better and will last longer
Trust me Paul, if you're aging or carrying some illness or weakness then weight saving could be critical to some. Or if you have a disability for example. To say weight saving is not necessary is not very considerate and frankly, not very professional. To some of us, it's make or break.
agree with this but you can save weight with other items, ive just bought an unna and my full pack weight for winter is under 8.5kg with food and water, thats with a -9 comfort bag, if not using the unna i could get that closer to 7kg
I live in NE Japan. The mountains, gorges and forests are epic here. I could justify a Hilleberg for camping all 4 seasons, and even as an emergency shelter due to this being a disaster prone area. But I think I'll avoid camping during blizzards in the mountains and save 800 or 900 USD equivalency of whatever currency😂
£800?? £400 for a tent? Now as an ex paratrooper I'm outrageously tight or I'm thinking who on earth buys a tent at these prices? It's great you can buy indestructibility but why not just pitch up somewhere you know is buffered from the elements? A far more interesting question for us 'ordinary' folk would be can the likes of a vango nevis at a more reasonable budget hold its own against the silly money priced 'shelters'?
That Arc Dome is going to attract nearly £200 of Import Duty, VAT and handling charge so it's not going to be much less expensive than the Unna, it doesn't really meet the challenge that your viewer gave you. What about the Panacea, you said that it was rock solid when you used trekking poles to add stability, of course it is going to be heavy but it would meet the challenge at least on price. An interesting video, thanks.
I would recommend the kuiu mountain star 3 season tent tested by an airboat at 65 mph winds lol.😂 price £450 . weight is around 1.6 kg .not sure you will get a tent as good as the unna at half the price and weight ?? Cheaper tent is possible .but lighter is going to be an issue ??? But the kuiu is what I would look at .if I was going to replace the unna ???
hey Paul, thanks again. Awesome channel. Question: I'm looking for a large backpack that i can use in freezing winter conditions and carry a Hilleberg Soulo BL + Thermarest Xtherm + winter sleeping bag, food, water, chair, down jacket etc. What size of backpack would you go for? 75liters or maybe 85liters to be safe? P.S. i'm not into ultralight stuff as you can see. More about comfort and feeling safe, especially in the winter.
quick question what tent nd gear t=would you and joe go ouyt intio the hills im 40 mph specialy im told the sleeoinh bage limer heaterb and a heated bottle
Yes if your going to camp in extreme conditions especially with snow and high winds it's worth paying for the Hilleberg. If you get spindrift in your sleeping area and your sleeping bag gets wet you could well end up with hypothermia or worse. That's a much bigger price to pay than a Hilleberg! I wonder how many people have gone out in those conditions in a 3 season tent and a mossie net inner:)
It's slightly annoying how a lot of the UK camping channels just jump on the latest trending tent when there are so many good alternatives out there. I am looking at a ferrino tent (a long established European brand). They have some interesting 4 season offerings, do you think i can find any reviews on them anywhere?? Can I hell
I know it’s not a fair comparison. I wasn’t trying to make one. I mentioned this because it’s 1kg so half the weight and it’s also half the price. That’s what you get for that money. It’s a great tent but I thought I made the point that compromise has to be made with those parameters. Hope this clarifies. Great question 👍🏻
Of course you can afford it, use the equation x=y+1 for your sums, where x=desired number of unnecessarily expensive tents to own and y=number of unnecessarily expensive tents currently owned. It’s just maths and the law of materialism, tell Jo I said!🫣
Thanks a million for answering my question Paul - and everyone's suggestions in the comments. I love the dome shape of the Unna and the way you can open up the whole side of the tent and the space in the inner. I suppose the fact that I asked the question means what I really want is an Unna ..
I'll be spending tomorrow looking into all your suggestions - huge thanks everyone xx
No problem Sue. Thanks for the question. It’s opened up a nice discussion in the comments and there’s some other good suggestions. I’ve learned a bit about the Trekkertent Saor so make sure to check that one out too 👍🏻
@PaulMessner I will thanks xx
Mountain Star 2 also
Thanks for the kind words and interest Paul. Good take on the X-Dome. I think it’s quite sturdy compared to 3-season ultralight tents, but yes certainly not at the sturdiness level of a 4-season rated Hilleberg. For a lot of people I think it’s all they need, but if someone wants a true Unna competitor this is not that since it is focused on being much lighter. We call it a 3+ season tent.
Regarding the poles, in Steven's case it broke where he had improperly installed an oversized sleeve that was essentially putting a kink force on the pole and would have broken a lot of poles.
There was a glue defect on the pre-production pole, but if it would have been repaired with a proper repair sleeve this wouldn't have broken. The hubs are aluminum and quite sturdy, but yes you are right that if it did break at the hub there is a possibility that it couldn't be repaired. If just the pole broke you could put the sleeve onto the hub. If the hub itself broken then you couldn't repair it, but again they are quite sturdy aluminum.
For the tie outs, we have 8 options now (1 per corner, 2 end hubs, 2 cross bar tips) which is working well, but we can improve it further with more, so we are going to move to 2 per leg for our next run. They should wind up about 420 GBP after VAT and duty in the UK.
Cheers,
Dan
I've invented a diet based on this principle - take a chocolate cake and cut it in half - half the amount means half the calories which means you can eat twice as much.Simples.
My god, this is genius and will dramatically change my life. Going to get this printed on a T shirt.
😂
😂
Hilleberg every time for me. I know they're heavier than many, but - 1) They are STRONG, and I know which tent I'd trust most in a big blow (I have been in a few over 50 years), and 2) Durability. This breaks down into two thoughts. First is that a Hilleberg will last years longer than most, or possibly all others. And second, if anyone has any principles re-environmental considerations - especially as we are all madly into the great outdoors, which we want to keep pristine as possible, buying one tent and using it for decades rather then years... My original Nallo 2 is 30 now, and with a replacement floor and new elastics all round, plus new guys - Hilly type, natch - it is still a really good, tough tent. Yes it weighs 2.6 kg, and yes the fabric must be weaker now (although I spoke with Bo about this, and he said the original fabric that all their tents were made from was Kerlon 1500, ie, 15 kg tear strength, so if now half that strength has gone, that still makes it stronger than a great many tents on the market now. I have much lighter tents, so yes, I am a hypocrit! - Tarptent Moment, a true 1 kg single pole tunnel, mostly solid inner, quick to pitch etc, scary in a big blow and there are potential weak points which if breached would shout disaster, and a Durston X-mid two man. I have seen a friend's same tent in gale force winds and it was definitely impressive. But if I was going out into the wilds (I'm between the Torridons and Fisherfiled, there are zero sheltered or 'safe' pitches in winter conditions) it's hands down which tent I would choose; my Hilleberg Akto! Even though it must be 20 years old now, and 1.7 kg, the Akto is bomb-proof, will take a second pole (same length as the old Nallo I have, so I have one already), and with double guying is pretty sturdy. I have, like Paul, had many, many tents over the years (I was there at the dawn of specialised backpacking tents, had one, it was great then, and with modern fabrics would still be great now, although its design would look very old-school). Sorry for the usual too-long message, but I love the subject, and have half a century (of my 67 years) to contribute to the conversation... (-;)~
Great video Paul. A really fair and balanced view there. I’m with you on the Dome (although I’ve not tried one). I’m not saying it’s a bad tent, far from it, but from what I’ve seen I wouldn’t like to spend a 16hr night on a mountain in one, if the weather got rough. ATB bud 👍
I personally highly recommend the Vango Nexus-2 F10 UL…
Very sturdy/storm worthy shelter, reasonably lightweight at 1,760g (without the supplied stakes) too, which isn’t bad for all the space your actually getting inside!!
It pitches outer-first and packs down tiny, (even with the poles in the bag) and comes in at just £300.
I personally only paid just £260 for mine!
Out of the 8 tents I now own, this is by far my favourite.. I wouldn’t say it was an outright 4-season tent, more of a 3+ season shelter really, but one certainly worth considering if your not willing to splash out £600+ 👍🏻
I also wanted to add that the Vango Sil-Nylon, doesn’t appear to go saggy and stretch like others do, like my Lanshan-1 for instance. I don’t know why that is, but it certainly is the case from my experience, it’s been soaking wet on both inner and outer fly in the morning - yet is still tight as a drum, just as I had first pitched it when dry the night before!
Hi Paul, thank you for the recommendation I really appreciate it.. I have notice a big jump in my Subscribers and video views due to this video you have made so thank you once again.. I agree entirely with your thoughts on the X Dome but I see that Dan has replied so fair play to him for that.. best wishes Tom
It irritates me when people say Hilleberg tents are heavy, they're not heavy, they are the weight they are for the materials they're made out of. You can buy a tent that resembles a Hilleberg in size/shape at half the weight, but it's not a Hilleberg. It will gain it's weight saving by the use of thinner, weaker, less durable materials and poles, less guy lines and peg out points etc.
I'm really glad you pointed this out in your video. Good video.
I just purchased the staika. I don't have a problem about the weight or cost. I want a tent that I trust to get me through climates I'll face in Africa; The Drakensberg, Congo-Nile trail, Musanze to Kigali, Rwenzori Hike, and Fabedougou Dome
I just camped with the X-Dome and it’s surprisingly sturdy for a 3 season ultralight tent. However, it’s definitely only a 3 season maybe a 3+ season tent in its current configuration. I really wish the x-dome had a fly sheet that went all the way to the ground with a solid inner. That would make it much more appealing for winter use. It does have a lot of characteristics that I LOVE about my Unna though! A very spacious interior with a small footprint and it pitches and takes down very quickly. Being able to open the entire side of the tent is also nice. I’m really excited to see the updates Dan makes to this tent design over the coming years. The Unna is definitely something special though 🙌
Great feedback Todd. I held off with the X-Dome as I from previous experience Dan quickly listens to feedback and makes little changes to each iteration. A solid inner and a fly to the ground is more suited to UK but I guess his biggest market is the US. I hope you're well mate
Dan's already said a solid inner is coming, so we should be able to purchase that separately and swap between inners as needed. 👍
@@euphonekyeah I heard. Just wish it was here for this first release since we are moving into winter. I believe the tents in the April release will also have the extra guy out points 👍
Trailstar MLD still using it.... 580grams.... multiple configs and used it in from Alaska to Kenya and beyond and in Winds over well over 90Kmh... Been my go too for nearly 9 years.... I have 40 plus tents and this is still my Fav and most used...
Why have 40 tents when you can only use one at a time?
@@StephenDannatt-vn3pi I test them for clients.. I am an outwardbound instructor etc.. I keep them, too loan out when needed.. and besides I'm a bit of a kit whooore
Thanks Paul as always: It's been said many times about us getting kicked in the pocket here in the UK for equipment / electonics etc when in the USA it is so much cheaper. My suggestion ( though not easy to organise) would be try have a friend buy in America when visiting or on holiday there and bring back to UK.
Thanks again for all your advice and help.
Michael
Looks good,But I watched The Geordie Wildcamper put the Durston X-Dome to the test and I wasn't very impressed by it's performance to be honest!
IMO the X-Dome Is an extremely good tent for anyone who don't have to camp on top of a mountain. If you absolutely must have the best views then I'd go for one of the sturdier/heavier options.
I like and respect very much Tom Heaney's evaluations of equipment. I may well end up with an Arcdome for my motorcycle travels. I am a Hilleberg person so I don't take change lightly. I have many models and confer with them often. They have saved my life. And if it's so bad I can't ride to cover then I need the best tent I can get to take shelter. Tom has place with natural high winds to give these a good test. One you can rely on. Good report Paul. Liking the OR jacket. Seems it was about to get a real test too with the rain ready to blow you over. All good. Now go shopping for a tent. All good from east Kentucky USA Next time
Hey Sam, thank you for your kind words.. Best wishes Tom
My Robens Starlight 1 was tested to 80mph and it cost me £160. 👍
Robens tents don't get enough love on YT, but they're great value for money and robust too.
I agree, i have 2 robens, starlight 1. Arch 2 . My starlight few years and in extreme weather. Seen online now 120 . Bargain.
Agree about the x-dome although it’s not like for like. I’ve got one on order for April as a summer 3 season tent. I own a Unna and thought as soon as I saw the x-dome that it looked like a lighter version of the Unna, which is a good thing. But the x-dome isn’t a 4 season tent which ever way you cut it. 😁
Terra Nova Voyager for me every time. And then Wild country Helm 2 compact the rest of the time, Cheers.
Cheers mate. Time to come to the other side of the pond and test all the American gear where we make it.
If you factor in a preference for a dark colour then the choice gets even smaller.
A Terra nova Helm takes some beating literally!
I have been really impressed with Helm 2 compact in bad weather!
This I am sure you know already but here goes, if you buy a lot cheaper tent ie. Rakoon 2.1 " my go to" and do double poling it is a lot lighter and a bomb shelter. I think similar adaptions on other tents would work. Thanks for all the work you do and love to all clean campers.
BlackDiamond hilight 2p. Difference is you piptch the tent from the inside. And it’s very blue colour and vestibul is an extra.
Trekkertent DCF scout (not sure about the name )
Trekkertent Saor has always peaked an interest
I've been eyeing up the trekker tent saor for a long time, but no one's really done any reviews of them. The standard Saor is half the weight, half the price of the unna and designed in Scotland so one would think that they're capable of withstanding a fair bit of weather
Cheers Paul. I'm still using my 20 year old plus Robens Fortress. Not the lightest but still going strong. Have just had to seam seal for first time 😂
X-Dome next batch in April is coming with additional guyout points, and it looks like it will be able to withtand 100 km per hour winds if staked correctly. About MyLifeOutdoors review - he was using a prototype X-Dome, and the glue connecting the carbon fiber to one of the aluminum hubs failed, so to repair it he put a sleeve on that was badly sized, which put weird preaure on the edges of the carbon fiber pole. This won't happen in a production model, firstly because glue is checked by pulling and pushing to make sure the connection is strong. Secondly, a repair sleeve that actually fits properly will be available from Durston, and that will offer a quality repair.
I really don't need more tents but I'm down the rabbit hole now researching your picks Paul 🤣 it's like a drug. Great upload man. I am really liking the 3FUL Taiji 1 at the moment. Lovely tent to be honest and great for the cost.
I'm down the rabbit hole with you Martin and hooked 🙃I should spend less time on RUclips and more time camping! Thanks for the suggestion. I live in Ireland and subscribe to your channel too
I'd suggest your little terra Nova Lazer compact AS I grabbed mine on a flash sale for about £530 with a footprint from hill and dale outdoors but terra November also do a trade in offer where I think you get 30% off a "new" model on there website when you trade in any old tent to save on waste but when I found the flash sale it was still cheaper with a footprint
Thanks for the mention Paul. Put it this way i havent sold the PreTents ..yet 😅 Having said that i think the F10 Nexus and Taiji 1 might be on my shortlist too. Atb A
The Mandingo has a Nortent Vern 1 that looks really sturdy, but he uses whaskey power at the same time, too so those poles must be able to take some battering. Ohh Matron! 😂
Have a look at the ASTA gear crescent 1p. Basically a 2 pole version of the bobcat or macpac microlite. It’s a solid tent semi freestanding. Double poles double crossing. No reviews that I could find but I took a chance on it and couldn’t be happier.
Choice of inner, 2 way ykk zips, pitch together or fly first, foot print included, useful but smallish vestibule, storm worthy. Can bring weight down to around 1350 with small mods. I wouldn’t rate it as full 4 season but definitely UK/NZ 4 season not withstanding snow.
I thought the "bomb proof" wild country helm compact tents might have been on the list? Not much lighter, but loads cheaper and sturdy in rubbish conditions
I didn't pay anywhere near £500 for the XDome, i paid around £297 + £58 customs... with regards to the guy who tested the XDome, it was a bit crazy to continue with a pole that was obviously faulty. Saying that, ive got it to use in Winter instead of the xmid solid and i have a feeling ill feel far more secure in the xmid, time will tell i suppose. But the Geordie Wildcamper has just popped a video up, ive not watched it all, but what i did see was water was coming in the vents and the zips were leaking.. Not filling me with much faith for Scotland in Jan lol
@LisaTheWanderingGeordie I just watched his vid water in vents can happen but yes the zip leaking isn't good
@@craig3401 The zip is a normal YKK AquaGuard that many tents use (including Hilleberg). They are only water resistant rated, so it is possible to get drips through but that is why we position them only above the vestibule.
@durstongear could it be a faulty zip because I've used aquaguard zip on my of my tent including my xmid and 2 hilleberg none of those have leaked.
I think another option if you have a lot of patience, is to buy second hand, I bought my unna from eBay from a local seller so I could see it for about 400 and it was perfect.
Sad that you didn’t consider any uk manufacturers. Terra Nova and vango force 10 both make viable alternatives to a hilliberg
I am a big advocate of Terra nova especially and have made videos showing that. This question was related to the Unna design so I chose a few tents that met that style. I have learned from the comments that trekker tent make one similar and they are U.K. Every day is a school day for me
there are a few tents half the price of a hilleberg, half the weight - but some compromise has to be had. there's MSR access 1 , and fjallraven abisko 1 and 2 ;(plus some black diamond and vango) all under £600 and weight from 1.4 to 1.8kg. the compromise is you might not get the unna shape. what i would say though is if you're going proper 4 - season conditions with full snow and gale you need proven 4 season equipment - it would be better to carry a 2kg-3kg tent - but sacrifice other stuff in your kit to bring weight down. The other thing people never do but probably should do more is take a decent tent with a partner and share it like what bushman and blue did recently. how many times have we seen two folk go up with 2x 2.8kg tents and they could have had 1x3kg tent and share it ? lol
Vango F10 Nexus UL 2
i have my Lightwave T10 Trail (£349 new) and while its small, so i keep seeking a worthy 2 man alternative, i just cant find anything ithink is worth using over this one. its coming with me to the cairngorms this winter and i feel confident in it. i do wish i have a touch more space in the footprint though, the vestibule is also a tight fit but it works well with a tarp extension. 1.8kg all in.
Great review. I like Durston gear and I have an Xmid tent and Kakwa pack, but I'm really skeptical about the carbon fibre poles of the XDome. In 50+ years of backpacking, I have never had a quality aluminum tent pole failure, and in my opinion the extra few grams weight is well worthwhile.
Just an FYI, the x dome comes in at £380 all on with vat and import tax 👍
Cheers mate. I was going off Andy’s community post (backpacking UK) where he said he paid over 500 with the footprint & guylines. 👍🏻
@PaulMessner ah yeah that'll add to it but who needs guylines anyway 😂
@ they are very much overrated 😂
Robens starlight,1 or 2. Have the 1 had that in all weather's ,it just smiles, highgale winds . Storms , -10 snow storm Bargain. 120 . Well made. This company fantastic camping tent maker . Need more recognition. I love this 💚had few years ,nether once let me down, feels bomb proof .whats your views on robens ?
You could have a tie to go with it. I'm interested in time travel and ordered a Time Machine from Amazon but the warehouse picker misread the order so i ended up with a Tie Machine !😂
If I'd be on the lookout for a true 4-season tent, I would get that TarpTent ArcDome without thinking twice. That being said, I just ordered the new Durston X-Dome (which is not a 4-season tent, and we shouldn't expect it to be since it weighs only 1 kg).
Agree with everything you say. I worry a bit about the hype of the xdome that some people may overestimate its intended use and capabilities. We like to test a tent to destruction here in the U.K. 😂
@@PaulMessner Absolutely! By the way, another alternative that I am curious about is the SlingFin CrossBow 2. However, it's also expensive, and packaged weight about the same as the Hilleberg. Slingfin Portal 2 is lighter and looks like it also could be a really strong tent.
Arc dome is near the weight of the unna and tnt material has a massive pack size, I've seen they have a silpoly version coming though. I bought a xdome last week. Un boxed it and and then out it for sale, the poles are thin, I've already seen two tents have issues with these carbon poles in the durston group, and the material is 15d. Have a look at Justin out doors vid also where he storm tests.
@@cuprajake1 Nope, TT Arc Dome is about 700 grams lighter than the Unna. Justin Outdoors is one of those people I absolutely don't trust at all. In his "wind test" he didn't even stake out the end wall. Andrew Beavers' video shows the X-dome handling blizzard conditions. Again, it's not made for that, but in those conditions the Big Agnes & MSR lightweight tents would definitely not survive.
@@jorisev TT weighs close to 1700g without pegs, and bag, unna is 2040g. That's like for like solid inner and the thicker carbon poles. The durston pole issues are on brand new tents where the aluminium inserts are coming away from the carbon pole, it's 3 season tent, which is what it's being sold as, people are taking it out past it's limits really.
Very good Paul, glad to see the Tarptent from my fellow North Californian so highly rated. The tariffs proposed by our new fearless leader would cause a price hike in items from China at least in the states but possibly the UK also.
Awesome discusion! We seem to be going down the same rabbit hole on youtube, I recently got into backpacking (based in Sweden) and bought last spring the Fjallraven abisko view. I am really happy about the tent when sharing it with my partner or friend. But i am looking into doing some lighter winter camping in the future and will probably be doing so alone 😢. I currently have the Unna on my wish list of tents to possibly buy, but have been curius about tarp tent since its relese. Hopping like you said they will release an update whit bigger doors before i decide to pull the trigger.
If your going to go £600 might as well wait to spend the extra and get the tent you really want 👍 ps look at the Robens Sprinter crazy wind test plus sub £300 for 1.9kg 🤙
Thanks for the honest review.
thanks for watching
Worth also thinking about pyramid tents for four season use - very different to the Unna / Soulo etc. - but lots of tents out there using this design
Sue needs to ask first, “where am I going camping “, girls have to carry heavier sleeping bags for same for same rating which is unfair.
But Arctic, winter UK in Cairngorms, or a camp site on a summer weekend in Bournemouth. By doing this she knows which tent to choose. UK isn’t the USA nor the Arctic but very often it’s wet and windy.
The other thing is how long are you going for one night on peaks or one month in the Pyrenees or western Sweden in winter.
Space inside then a one person tent is really past its sell by date and 2 person give you space for crappy weather and being stuck in a storm for a day/week/month.
I looked at all those and the trekkertent saor either the colour or guy points or doors just had me going back to the unna so I got that yes expensive and a little heavier but I think it does most things better and will last longer
Excellent video Paul... very instructive and of course very helpful as always....👍
Something to consider if weight isn't an issue is a Nortent Vern 1. It's half the price but unfortunately a tiny bit heavier.
I really like the vern tents, I just bought a vern 2 for the Mrs, the dogs and me and it is nukeproof!
Good informative video, but am sticking to my UL lanshan and avoiding stormy weather whilst pocketing the spare cash for family days out 😅
And that my friend….is the sensible option 👍🏻
another nice video THANKS
Thanks
My best so far is Opalus 2 ( budget tent ) , loads of space , 1.8kg
Trust me Paul, if you're aging or carrying some illness or weakness then weight saving could be critical to some. Or if you have a disability for example.
To say weight saving is not necessary is not very considerate and frankly, not very professional. To some of us, it's make or break.
agree with this but you can save weight with other items, ive just bought an unna and my full pack weight for winter is under 8.5kg with food and water, thats with a -9 comfort bag, if not using the unna i could get that closer to 7kg
I live in NE Japan. The mountains, gorges and forests are epic here. I could justify a Hilleberg for camping all 4 seasons, and even as an emergency shelter due to this being a disaster prone area. But I think I'll avoid camping during blizzards in the mountains and save 800 or 900 USD equivalency of whatever currency😂
£800?? £400 for a tent? Now as an ex paratrooper I'm outrageously tight or I'm thinking who on earth buys a tent at these prices? It's great you can buy indestructibility but why not just pitch up somewhere you know is buffered from the elements? A far more interesting question for us 'ordinary' folk would be can the likes of a vango nevis at a more reasonable budget hold its own against the silly money priced 'shelters'?
That Arc Dome is going to attract nearly £200 of Import Duty, VAT and handling charge so it's not going to be much less expensive than the Unna, it doesn't really meet the challenge that your viewer gave you. What about the Panacea, you said that it was rock solid when you used trekking poles to add stability, of course it is going to be heavy but it would meet the challenge at least on price. An interesting video, thanks.
Oh to ad you have to seam seal the floor on the arcdome
I thought the Terra Nova Comoact AF might get a mention. Not quite half the weight but its definatky a good option.
Excuse the typos....
Yeah. I went for freestanding options with a similar design
@PaulMessner I actually bought it after watching your review. Not been disappointed and your review was spot on!
@ it’s a cracking tent. Good balance of strength weight and room inside
Hi Paul. Think you made a mistake by missing out the Terra Nova Vault Duo. Can pick this up for £600 !!!
You need to look at the Trekkertent Saor in this comparison.
More like an Unna than any of these you mention.
1.35kg and £480.
Full 4 season design
Nice video 👍
I had an aluminium pole snap on a Vaude Ferret 1 many years ago.
It won't be long before there's a Chinese tent that out performs hilleberg and is a 3rd of the price. Seems to be the way of alot of things.
Maybe also worth considering a Trekkertent Saor (model sr12) in silpoly, 1.35kg £480.
Hi Paul, have you looked at the Kuiu tents? Mountain Star is worth a look. 👍
The bobcat from OEX
I would recommend the kuiu mountain star 3 season tent tested by an airboat at 65 mph winds lol.😂 price £450 . weight is around 1.6 kg .not sure you will get a tent as good as the unna at half the price and weight ?? Cheaper tent is possible .but lighter is going to be an issue ??? But the kuiu is what I would look at .if I was going to replace the unna ???
great tents them, stormstar even better, the mountain star is mesh inner though..
@cuprajake1 I own the storm star .great tent but it's heavier than the unna at 2.6 kg .
@@kinderkev better tent though haha
For a would be newbie to camping, these prices are too high.
Paul, good video.
Competition closed on December 8th that you mentioned, how can we get notified to be in with a chance please?
hey Paul, thanks again. Awesome channel. Question: I'm looking for a large backpack that i can use in freezing winter conditions and carry a Hilleberg Soulo BL + Thermarest Xtherm + winter sleeping bag, food, water, chair, down jacket etc. What size of backpack would you go for? 75liters or maybe 85liters to be safe? P.S. i'm not into ultralight stuff as you can see. More about comfort and feeling safe, especially in the winter.
Trekkertent Saor. Now with pole clips 🫡
Hadn't seen this one mate. Just had a look and I like it
@ try one out so I don’t have to buy one 🤣
@ haha. I have the unna so can’t really justify it to save a can of beer in weight 😂
quick question what tent nd gear t=would you and joe go ouyt intio the hills im 40 mph specialy im told the sleeoinh bage limer heaterb and a heated bottle
cloud peak 2 and its better in my book even thou the zips our crap or a bobcat 1
Can't believe you mentioned the my life outdoors video. That was a prototype and he messed up the pitch
I know. I said that in the video
Yes if your going to camp in extreme conditions especially with snow and high winds it's worth paying for the Hilleberg. If you get spindrift in your sleeping area and your sleeping bag gets wet you could well end up with hypothermia or worse. That's a much bigger price to pay than a Hilleberg! I wonder how many people have gone out in those conditions in a 3 season tent and a mossie net inner:)
Trekker tent soar?
It's slightly annoying how a lot of the UK camping channels just jump on the latest trending tent when there are so many good alternatives out there. I am looking at a ferrino tent (a long established European brand). They have some interesting 4 season offerings, do you think i can find any reviews on them anywhere?? Can I hell
Decathalon mh100
Why include the Durston when it is not a four season tent? You are comparing apples an oranges.
I know it’s not a fair comparison. I wasn’t trying to make one. I mentioned this because it’s 1kg so half the weight and it’s also half the price. That’s what you get for that money. It’s a great tent but I thought I made the point that compromise has to be made with those parameters. Hope this clarifies. Great question 👍🏻
👍
Not really answered her question all 3 tents are over 600 plus with shipping/tax added on stay english and buy terra nova
👍😊
You can never have too many tents. 🤣
Of course you can afford it, use the equation x=y+1 for your sums, where x=desired number of unnecessarily expensive tents to own and y=number of unnecessarily expensive tents currently owned. It’s just maths and the law of materialism, tell Jo I said!🫣